Main Street Promenade expansion is moving forward
Main Street Promenade plans to grow with Phase II and Phase III expansions along S. Main Street between Van Buren and Benton avenues, opening in 2013 and 2014 respectively. BBM Incorporated, which developed the 127,000-square-foot Main Street Promenade, has new plans for what’s often called the “gray box on stilts.” The four-story Promenade East, a $30 million project, is expected to begin in August, adding 100,000 square feet of space connected both to the Van Buren parking garage and the original Main Street Promenade.
BBM developers Dwight Yackley and Ruth Yackley eventually hope to connect the second floors of new Main Street Promenade East to the original Promenade on the west side of Main Street. The project will add approximately 110,000 sq. ft. of additional office space to its already existing 80,000 sq. ft. The balanced mix-use project also will add 50,000 sq. ft. of retail space to its existing 40,000 sq. ft. that includes Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, seven retailers, one spa and two financial institutions.
During a recent Rotary Club of Naperville/Downtown weekly Wednesday meeting, BBM developer DWIGHT YACKLEY presented an overview of his new $30 million project set to begin in August. It will replace the “gray box on stilts” with four stories of retail and office space. Because of ventilation systems, restaurants are not being considered for the space, said Yackley.
“Main Street Promenade East has been designed by a different architect, though there are similar features,” noted Yackley. “We always look to try to do things better. Nice features have been added such as balconies.”
Main Street Promenade East is expected to be completed by the holiday season in 2013. If all goes according to plan, the 3-story Phase III will open in 2014.
“When Dwight came to the city council with his plan for the naked garage, we knew Dwight and Ruth would get it done and attract the kind of businesses we would want,” said Councilman Kenn Miller after the plan was approved at City Council in April.
This street view rendering shows the 4-story Main Street East from the southwest corner of Main at VanBuren, just west up the block from the Van Buren parking deck and Van Buren Place with Catch 35.
“Dwight and I served on the Downtown Advisory Commission together,” said former Councilman Jim Boyajian. “He always had the city’s best interests at heart, balancing retail and entertainment. He’s never had an attitude of quick-in and quick-out. Because he lives here, his developments always modernize and keep the downtown feeling like an anchor.”
Ever since the beginning of plans for Main Street Promenade nearly a decade ago, Ruth Yackley has focused on downtown Naperville as a lifestyle center with attractions such as the Riverwalk, Nichols Library, Naper Settlement, North Central College, Kroehler Y, proximity to the train station and other amenities.
“At first we were just going to finish the Promenade,” said Ruth Yackley. “We watched as the property just sat there and decided to get involved so that what happens on that corner is the same caliber of what we have already done— and for the rest of downtown within several blocks with more than 40 restaurants and nearly 100 retail stores, banks, fitness centers and so much more.”
None of the new tenants have been announced. Ruth Yackley told PN that we would be among the first to know!
For more information, call (630) 305-7171 or visit www.mainstreetpromenade.com.
