O’Fallon mayor to lay out vision, solicit new ones for Southview Plaza and Hwy 50

During the next two years, O’Fallon is expected to add more than 600 residential units – single-family and multi-family, 15 commercial sites, and two hotels.

This new construction doesn’t factor in renovated buildings, businesses moving into old properties and ongoing changes that you can see while driving around town. One of those areas is the old Southview Plaza location at U.S. Highway 50 and Lincoln Avenue.

Mayor Herb Roach plans to address this topic and other community development issues at the next Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Both Roach and Community Development Director Justin Randall describe the city’s goal as “smart growth,” which ideally means city officials oversee expansion in an organized manner.

Southview Plaza Concepts

Roach said he wants to hear from residents on what types of land uses and layout would be preferred for the old Southview Plaza, which is located at U.S. Highway 50 and South Lincoln Avenue.

Once a major hub of activity, built in 1959, the shopping center thrived through the 1990s. It had been in decline and was demolished in phases from 2018 to 2020.

“This is an excellent opportunity for any of our citizens to come and give us recommendations on how you would like to see it developed before any types of plans are submitted,” he said.

Currently, a new Starbucks Coffee location is planned on the north part of the property, but as to what will go on the other three acres available hasn’t been determined.

“I will have several different hypothetical concepts to discuss and share with everyone that could be developed on the Southview site,” he said recently. “I would like to get our citizens’ feedback and top recommendations.”

He said that information will be shared with the city council for their upcoming discussions.

“This is not about any given types of stores or companies because we cannot guarantee that a company would like to locate there or that the owner of the land can work out the required needs of some firms,” he said.

The site has been a key component to the Forward 50 study for future development of U.S. Highway 50, which should be complete this summer and can help identify a general concept and development potential.

Starbucks Coffee Location

Currently, the JRJ Family Ltd Partnership’s request to divide the 4.9 acres into two lots has been approved and is under development. Lot 1 will include the Starbucks on 1.30 acres. Lot 2, the southern lot, will be 3.64 acres.

Randall said the Illinois Department of Transportation has granted the necessary permits and his department has issued a building permit. IDOT has ultimate authority on any traffic improvements regarding development at Southview Plaza.

This is a scaled-down version of a previous mixed-use development project. The Starbucks drive-through café will be 2,016 square-feet and have an outdoor patio.

It is the third location in O’Fallon – the other two are located at 1126 Central Park Drive and 1411 W. Highway 50. There is also a Starbucks in the Target store located at the Green Mount Crossing in Shiloh.

The Seattle-based coffeehouse, founded in 1971, is the largest coffeehouse chain in the U.S., with nearly 16,000 locations. It is known for its signature roasts, specialty beverages, light bites and baked goods, and its Wi-Fi availability.

Residents had discussed traffic throughout the site, in Southview Gardens, and on East Highway 50 and South Lincoln at several meetings.

Staff said Starbucks would have a right-in right-out access point. A sidewalk will be required along Lincoln Avenue.

Robert B. Kim of JRJ Family Limited Partnership agreed to the changes. His father, Yong B. Kim, now deceased, owned the property for 30 years.

In 2021, a proposal was scrapped for a 4.93-acre mixed use development, including a 9,000-square foot retail strip center on Lot 2, including a full-service restauran with alcohol sales, not to exceed 2,000 square feet. It also includes a drive-thru restaurant, plus a 41,500-square foot multifamily apartment or mixed-use building.

Southview Plaza History

As a shopping center, Southview Plaza was home to Keck’s Tomboy grocery store, Ben Franklin, Dollar General, several Hallmark shops, Bollmeier Hobby Shop, Movie Mania video rental and a few chain stores, now defunct in the U.S., including P.N. Hirsch department store and Western Auto.

Mom and pop restaurants, like the Barrel Room, Schiappa’s and House of Hunan, plus clothing stores, beauty and barber shops, dry cleaners, hardware stores and gift shops were tenants during its 61-year history.

Forward 50 Study

The Great Streets project team on Forward 50 will host the next public meeting in April. After months of public design workshops, planning meetings and open houses, they continue to share information that will help strengthen the function and appearance of U.S. 50. The study is expected to be completed in June.

Highway 50 was the main thoroughfare through O’Fallon until Interstate 64 was built in 1975, and its function has changed over the years.

The city has been studying the road from Exit 14 to 19 as a part of the East-West Gateway Council of Government’s Great Streets Initiative.

Randall said O’Fallon residents’ ideas, concerns, and preferences have been taken into consideration for refining the concepts. The goal is to ensure that the community is connected and supported throughout all the neighborhoods, as they look at market demands and potential changes in land use, identify strategies to improve safety for all modes of travel, and imagine aesthetic improvements to strengthen the area’s appeal.

RDG, a national planning and design group with an office in St. Louis, is the project director.

For more information about Forward 50, visit: https://www.ofallon.org/planning-zoning-division/pages/forward-50-great-streets-initiative

Looking Ahead

Infrastructure improvements go together with economic development, and new sewer plant construction will expand capabilities, reduce operating costs, and satisfy state and federal EPA requirements, according to Public Works Director Jeff Taylor.

Public Works will be part of a study on the use of solar energy at the sewer plant as well. Among the street improvements is a new intersection at Central Park and Hartman Lane.

During the past year, upgrades to the 100-year-old Community Park located on U.S. Highway 50 included an All-Abilities Playground and work has begun on a new swimming pool and Cavins Community Center that are targeted for 2025 completion. New walking and bicycle paths and additional parking are in the works as well.

The city’s website is being refurbished as well, for easier navigation for residents.