Jenny Keeps Focus On Business Development, ‘Core Services’

Glenview Village President Mike Jenny takes the podium at last week’s State of the Village address. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)

While taking questions after his annual State of the Village last Friday (Nov. 7) morning, Glenview Village President Mike Jenny addressed federal ICE operations in the village.

Jenny spoke to a full house at the Glenview Public Library, focusing largely on downtown Glenview business development and other notable village mile markers.

“It’s always a tougher discussion, and these social, and, yes, political human rights and human interest issues come up from time to time,” said Jenny. “We had the 2020 George Floyd protests, we had a discussion on migrant busing, we had a discussion about flying the Pride flag, which I personally support, but it leads to what is the role of municipal government? We believe here in Glenview that the role of municipal government is to focus on core services.

“To date, we’ve not seen much to any activity, certainly not on village property, but we’re going to keep focusing on developing and providing core services.” 

Multiple instances of ICE activity have been reported around the Home Depot/Costco parking lot off Willow Road, which Glenview police said they were also made aware of after the fact.

Jenny addressed questions ranging from the availability of internet fiber to the speed of traffic along Waukegan Road — something Jenny said needed to be addressed. 

He discussed business development and how it led to a restaurant boom, with a few new restaurants open and more under construction. He said that it began with the Glenview Connect public input process in 2020 and 2021.

Exterior of the new Jackman & Co. restaurant on Glenview Road. (Photo submitted)

“A vast majority of residents showed a strong interest in downtown revitalization, specifically a strong desire for a greater variety of local and high-end restaurants, shops and special events. Another key outcome of that feedback was a preference for the village to be actively engaged in economic development,” Jenny said.

After downtown and economic development strategic plans were adopted, property was purchased by the village and an economic development coordinator was hired in 2022 and 2023. The village began incentivizing and attracting new restaurants in 2023 and 2024. 

A big crowd attended the annual State of the Village address by Village President Mike Jenny at the Glenview Public Library last week. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)

“Twenty-twenty-five has been the culmination of a lot of the groundwork laid in the past several years,” said Jenny. “Dirt is moving and businesses are opening.” 

More recently, the village adopted new valet parking plans. He said the village has a lot of parking, but it is not all within sight of where people want to be.  

He also discussed available business development grants. 

Aerial view of the 56 acre former Signode property, which the village of Glenview is buying for $23 million. (Photo submitted)

Jenny showed slides discussing the village’s purchase of the Signode property for $23 million just days before his address. He discussed the village’s recent budget process, key personnel changes, and key upcoming capital projects.

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