The village of Romeoville on Wednesday moved closer to the redevelopment of its downtown district and about three-quarters of an acre of land along the Route 53 corridor.

The board approved entering into a contract with Dewberry Architects Inc. of Elgin to design the new 66,000-square-foot community center that is a piece of the downtown redevelopment initiative.

Dewberry, which has worked on the design for the Romeoville Village Hall and Fire Station No. 3 and the remodeling of the White Oak Library Romeoville branch, earned high praise from village officials, who said the company understands the feel and look of the community.

The new community center is to include indoor soccer fields, basketball courts, multi-purpose rooms and a party room, among other features. Construction is scheduled to be completed in July 2013.

The village will pay Dewberry Architects 5.25 percent of the construction budget, which was negotiated down from 6 percent, village officials said.

The community center is one piece of the redevelopment bordering Route 53 on the east; Townhall Drive on the west, Phelps Avenue on the north; and Alexander Circle on the south. The concept plan also includes a 20,000-square-foot grocery store and three outlots of about 5,000 square feet each.

About a mile away, the Romeoville Village Board hopes to continue its redevelopment of the Route 53 corridor after entering into a contract to buy about .71 acres that consists of land, an apartment building and the currently-closed Crazy Rock gentlemen’s club for $1.35 million.

Contract details are still being finalized, but the village expects to close on the property next month.

Mayor John Noak said the land is located in a tax increment financing district and is poised for the redevelopment and remarketing of the area.

In other news, the village board on Wednesday honored a six-year veteran of its police force, Luka, a Belgian malinois who works as a narcotics-detecting and patrol dog, and is now retiring. Village officials thanked Luka for serving the village, handing out dog bones and treats, and will transfer her ownership to her handler Officer Terry Bailey.