Inclusivity, infrastructure, sustainability and development were the focus of Northbrook Village President Kathryn Ciesla’s State of the Village Address on Friday, Jan. 31.
“As I think of the state of the village over the course of a year, the topic I lived this year is inclusivity,” Ciesla said, opening her speech to a standing-room-only crowd at the Northbrook Public Library. “The village has had horribly anti-semitic incidents in town. We know from the FBI that hate crimes are on the rise. We want to hold the line here in Northbrook.”
Ciesla said the village does that through its partnership with the local YMCA, which has hosted cultural events for hundreds of Northbrook residents since about 2012.
“It started as an Asian heritage event,” she said. “Now we celebrate all of the cultures and diversity that are Northbrook.”
When she became village president, Ciesla said, the first thing the Village Board voted on was opening each meeting with an “inclusive pledge.”
“It’s a pledge where we say we accept diversity,” she said. “It’s more than just saying we like it and accept it. It means we have our neighbors’ backs. I invite you to find the pledge and take it.”
The mayor said the infrastructure of public safety and public works is currently one of the village’s initiatives. She called the Public Works Department’s 12,000-square-foot fleet maintenance garage “hideous.”
“It was built in the 1950s and does not fit much of the equipment,” Ciesla said. “Public works is half in and half out of the building to deal with the machinery.”
For that reason, Northbrook purchased a 30,156-square-foot building in the Sky Harbor area to accommodate the needs of the public works department, she said. The village is currently working with architects to get the building ready for a 2026 opening.
Northbrook also purchased land near Fire Station 11, the fire headquarters and the oldest of its fire stations at 740 Dundee Road, where construction will begin during 2025, she said.
“Some of these buildings were built so long ago they do not have facilities for women,” Ciesla said. “We need to do things appropriate for today’s public safety.”
The village also needs to build a new 85,000-square-foot police station and is purchasing a parcel near the current headquarters that may be used to expand, she said.
“The new facilities will house all of the modern equipment and police cars,” Ciesla said. “A prior board knew we were outgrowing and purchased an option on a nearby parcel. It came up for sale, and the village is purchasing that land. We’re studying to see if we can put a police station back there.”
Among the sustainability measures are a 10-cent fee intended to reduce the one-time use of bags at local stores, the composting program and a partial ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, she said.
Data shows that even under the bag fee, sales taxes rose by $117,227 from 2023 to 2024, Ciesla said. “So we’re not losing sales,” she said.
As for development, Ciesla said businesses and individuals invested $132 million in construction in Northbrook last year.
“That is a healthy, good sign,” she said.
Ciesla pointed to numerous new businesses slated to open in Northbrook soon, including a Fresh Market, Buffalo Wild Wings to go, Landmark on the Hill, Hi Five Sports Zone, RH Outlet, and pop-up Lucid Motors at Northbrook Court.
Meanwhile, the village is committed to re-shaping Northbrook Court and downtown Northbrook, she said.
“We committed to an urban design firm to help us re-envision downtown,” Ciesla said. “We’re working with stakeholders and developing a master plan.”
CONTINUE READING
“As I think of the state of the village over the course of a year, the topic I lived this year is inclusivity,” Ciesla said, opening her speech to a standing-room-only crowd at the Northbrook Public Library. “The village has had horribly anti-semitic incidents in town. We know from the FBI that hate crimes are on the rise. We want to hold the line here in Northbrook.”
Ciesla said the village does that through its partnership with the local YMCA, which has hosted cultural events for hundreds of Northbrook residents since about 2012.
“It started as an Asian heritage event,” she said. “Now we celebrate all of the cultures and diversity that are Northbrook.”
When she became village president, Ciesla said, the first thing the Village Board voted on was opening each meeting with an “inclusive pledge.”
“It’s a pledge where we say we accept diversity,” she said. “It’s more than just saying we like it and accept it. It means we have our neighbors’ backs. I invite you to find the pledge and take it.”
The mayor said the infrastructure of public safety and public works is currently one of the village’s initiatives. She called the Public Works Department’s 12,000-square-foot fleet maintenance garage “hideous.”
“It was built in the 1950s and does not fit much of the equipment,” Ciesla said. “Public works is half in and half out of the building to deal with the machinery.”
For that reason, Northbrook purchased a 30,156-square-foot building in the Sky Harbor area to accommodate the needs of the public works department, she said. The village is currently working with architects to get the building ready for a 2026 opening.
Northbrook also purchased land near Fire Station 11, the fire headquarters and the oldest of its fire stations at 740 Dundee Road, where construction will begin during 2025, she said.
“Some of these buildings were built so long ago they do not have facilities for women,” Ciesla said. “We need to do things appropriate for today’s public safety.”
The village also needs to build a new 85,000-square-foot police station and is purchasing a parcel near the current headquarters that may be used to expand, she said.
“The new facilities will house all of the modern equipment and police cars,” Ciesla said. “A prior board knew we were outgrowing and purchased an option on a nearby parcel. It came up for sale, and the village is purchasing that land. We’re studying to see if we can put a police station back there.”
Among the sustainability measures are a 10-cent fee intended to reduce the one-time use of bags at local stores, the composting program and a partial ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, she said.
Data shows that even under the bag fee, sales taxes rose by $117,227 from 2023 to 2024, Ciesla said. “So we’re not losing sales,” she said.
As for development, Ciesla said businesses and individuals invested $132 million in construction in Northbrook last year.
“That is a healthy, good sign,” she said.
Ciesla pointed to numerous new businesses slated to open in Northbrook soon, including a Fresh Market, Buffalo Wild Wings to go, Landmark on the Hill, Hi Five Sports Zone, RH Outlet, and pop-up Lucid Motors at Northbrook Court.
Meanwhile, the village is committed to re-shaping Northbrook Court and downtown Northbrook, she said.
“We committed to an urban design firm to help us re-envision downtown,” Ciesla said. “We’re working with stakeholders and developing a master plan.”
