Village Inks Deal for Spartans’ Square Cleanup

Romeoville trustees signed off on a deal to progress with cleanup efforts at the Spartans’ Square shopping center.

The village signed off on a two-part agreement Wednesday with V3 Companies, a firm that has already been involved with phase one and two studies on cleaning up the site as part of plans to revitalize the downtown.

According to village documents, V3 would be charged with crafting remediation plans once the existing shopping center is demolished.

But according to village officials, that’s just one possibility for the site.

“That does not mean we have to do that, it’s just the way the grant is written,” Assistant Village Manager Dawn Caldwell said, referring to a $200,000 cleanup grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If the village opts not to demolish the site, the contract with V3 would be renegotiated and would come at a higher cost the village, she added.

On Wednesday, Mayor John Noak said “there’s a good chance” the development will be razed to make way for a redeveloped downtown.

“Right now that's the concept," he said. “ … Obviously, market factors will determine that and we will work with the developer on the final scope of the work.”

This summer, the village announced the hiring of Land and Lakes as the lead developer on the project, aimed at revitalizing the Route 53 corridor.

The village purchased Spartans’ Square in 2008 and the site has long been part of downtown redevelopment plans.

Currently, three tenants remain in the shopping center, once anchored by a Jewel grocery store and an Ace Hardware franchise. Noak said the village is working with the remaining leaseholders — a Subway restaurant, a laundromat and a currency exchange – on finding new locations.

"We'd really like to keep everyone in the area," Noak said.