===== PDF PAGE 1 ===== WHERE HISTORY & PROGRESS MEET 475 Main Street West Chicago, Illinois 60185 T 630.293.2200 F 630.293.3028 westchicago.org Daniel Bovey MAYOR Viviana Ramirez CITY ADMINISTRATOR Downtown Revitalization Commission Monday, August 24, 2026 - 6:00 p.m. West Chicago City Hall - Council Chambers 475 Main Street West Chicago, IL 60185 A G E N D A 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes: July 27, 2026 4. Follow-Up Incubator Discussion 5. 2027 Constructions Impacts 6. Role of Preservation in Revitalization Efforts 7. West Washington Street Site Concept Plan Status Update 8. Public Comment 9. Adjournment ===== PDF PAGE 2 ===== WHERE HISTORY & PROGRESS MEET 475 Main Street West Chicago, Illinois 60185 T 630.293.2200 F 630.293.3028 westchicago.org Daniel Bovey MAYOR Viviana Ramirez CITY ADMINISTRATOR DRAFT MEETING MINUTES Downtown Revitalization Commission Monday, July 27, 2026 - 6:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order Chairperson Salzman called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. 2. Roll Call Members present included Chair Salzman, and Commissioners, Beebe, Czuba, (arrived at 6:09 p.m.), Myers, Phalen, Sabathne, and Rodriguez. Commissioners Ballines, Espinosa, and Kolode were absent. Other individuals present included Business and Community Relations Director Kelley Chrisse, Director of Community Development John Sterrett, and Kevin Echevarria, President of RRIA Holdings. 3. Approval of Minutes Commissioner Phalen made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Myers, to approve the draft meeting minutes from June 22, 2026. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 4. Dream Hall Presentation Kevin Echevarria, President of RRIA Holdings, gave a presentation on his food hall operation in Elgin known as Dream Hall as well as other hospitality endeavors. Mr. Echevarria went through the process for incubation for entrepreneurs, which he described as an incubation ecosystem. The operation began in a shared kitchen to lower costs of core kitchen infrastructure. Food trucks are often the entryway for those starting in the industry. Mr. Echevarria explained the evolution of the business from being a start-up in a warehouse space to a food hall. The food hall has a coworking space, commissary space, shared kitchen, and a variety of seating. This arrangement allows for people to interact with one another. A shared kitchen food hall can provide the large infrastructure common in a kitchen but does not include specialty culinary items. Mr. Echevarria explained that a pilot food truck park was created as an outdoor incubation space to allow for more start-ups, which has been largely successful. A successful incubator must plan for what happens after a business outgrows shared space. Mr. Echevarria stated that the City does not necessarily need to operate the incubator but it can strengthen the conditions around it. This includes recognizing operator-held facility occupancy while users maintain their own licenses and compliance. Mr. Echevarria went over how West Chicago could adopt a similar framework including identifying home-based businesses, mapping out vacant buildings, underused lots, utilities, and nearby anchors, pilot food trucks, markets, pop-ups, or coworking before overbuilding, updating zoning and licensing for shared-use real estate, use grants to help entrepreneurs access existing spaces, and planning the next steps for the start-ups. ===== PDF PAGE 3 ===== Areas to focus on include where the strongest entry points for local entrepreneurs are, which buildings or lots can be tested before permanent buildout, and what zoning, grant, and programming tools would unlock shared-use spaces. The Commission discussed the increase in competition that would result from food incubator spaces, which Mr. Echevarria pointed out is good for a local economy. Mr. Echevarria discussed the success rate of the operators within the food hall. The Commission discussed how the idea can assist with the revitalization of the downtown. Mr. Echevarria pointed out that many businesses like to locate near other similar type businesses to compete with existing crowds. Mr. Echevarria said that boardwalk shops and food trucks are the easiest starting points for creating an incubator space, which could eventually lead to a commissary or shared kitchen. The topic of food trucks and how they can help or hurt a downtown and the perception of food trucks taking business away from brick-and-mortar establishment was discussed. His venture included avoiding any food truck where there was already a cuisine similar to the food truck. The Commissioners suggested producing an asset map to help build upon the existing “ecosystem” of the downtown’s economy. The Commission also pointed out that the arts are an item that are working in the downtown. This could all be tied together by establishing a quality third-space for residents. This third space could be located at the West Washington Street property. The Commission will further explore food incubator spaces at the next meeting. 5. Form Based Code Mr. Sterrett provided an overview of Form-Based Code and how it is a beneficial zoning tool for both the City and developers. The Commissioners discussed the merits of using Form-Based Code for the City-owned property and if that were a necessary method for securing the type of development that the community wants to see. Mr. Sterrett went over Form-Based Code could establish leniency in certain aspects of zoning so the developer has a more predictable outcome. Commissioner Myers made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Phalen, to advise staff to further explore Form Based Code as a priority for 2027 and include it within the FY27 budget. Roll call vote found Commissioners Myers, Phalen, Beebe, Rodriguez, Sabathne, and Chair Salzman voting yes, no one voting no, and Commissioner Czuba abstaining. The motion carried. 6. Guidance on Food Trucks in the Downtown The Commission briefly discussed potentially using some type of incentive to start a pilot food truck program. 7. Public Comment None. 8. Adjournment Commissioner Czuba made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Myers, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.