Empire's highrise project will bring new life to Kerr Village
Paul Golini knows that other developers are keeping a close eye on what his company is doing in Oakville.
They’re interested to see if Empire Communities ’ Rain Condominiums , a 532-unit, two-tower project, can succeed.
“All these other developers who are on the fence about whether to purchase a piece of land (in the area), or who are holding a piece of land, are waiting to see what happens with our site, if we can make it work,” says Golini, Empire’s executive vice president.
Rain is being built at the northeast corner of Kerr St. and Speers Rd. in Kerr Village, a rundown section of town that has largely been ignored by developers over the years and could use a boost.
But “barriers to intensification” in Oakville represent a serious challenge for developers looking to build there, including municipal development charges and parkland dedication fees that Golini calls excessive; they are the highest in Canada.
Religion Briefs
Spaghetti Dinner: Salem Lutheran Church, 12951 S. Maple Ave., Blue Island, offers a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10. Information: (708) 388-1830.
Community Fair: The American Islamic Association presents its Community Fair 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Frankfort Mosque, 8860 W. St. Francis Road, featuring games for children; a variety of foods, including Pakistani, Indian and Arabic foods; health screenings by Ingalls Hospital staff; Mosque tours; petting zoo and pony rides. Information: (815) 469-1551 or www.aiamasjid.org.
Bean Bag Tournament: The Men’s Club of Our Lady of Loretto Parish, 8925 S. Kostner Ave., Oak Lawn, hosts a Bean Bag Tournament Sunday. Check-in is at 2 p.m. and the tournament begins at 2:30 p.m. Cost is $30 per team, and players must be 18 or older. There will be cash prizes for top finishers. Information: Mike Hibberd, (708) 636-6719.
“We're excited; it allows for us to keep a cleaner fleet, take care of it right on our own property without having to go to a car wash or the county shop,”
