Congratulations to Bern Realty. It is the longtime and family-owned development company that owns the commercial corner of Harlem and Circle.
That’s right, the old CVS store.
They’ve done a good job resurrecting the big box that was CVS and now attracting three new businesses to the site. A cannabis dispensary is already open, as is a veterinarian. Rounding out the trio is a wellness venture that features an infrared sauna and cold plunge therapy.
The property owner has also spruced up the Dunkin’ on the corner and remade the parking lot this time with some decent landscaping and a reasonably handsome sign board.
All good.
But it does put us in mind of the possibilities missed, and still being missed, on the stretch of Harlem from north of the Baptist church all the way to the Green Line. At one point Forest Park had ambitions to redevelop this strip of high-octane Harlem auto traffic into some mix of new commercial and apartment housing. More sales tax, more property tax, a small population boost and some minor upgrade from the ugliness of the old Long John Silvers-turned-Mr. Beef turned into whatever exactly is still trying to open in that newly groovy building. An upgrade from the old Sizzler Steakhouse-turned-Blockbuster turned into just another physical therapy joint with way too much parking.
The worthy daydream also included something better than an Osco-turned-CVS and a car repair shop.
We know these things are complex, require just the right economic conditions and a developer willing to take some risk. But they always require a village government with a vision for growth in the right places. And Forest Park has few locations riper for development than this stretch of Harlem. Major auto traffic, adjacent to the Green Line and Metra. And one could always stop in for some cold plunge therapy on your way to the Loop.
The physical therapy parcel is still a candidate for redevelopment. And Original Pretty Thing, the pot-infused bakery/restaurant, likely becomes more available every month the state health department prevents it from opening.
It needs leadership.
Where will that come from?