Tinley Park always has and always will be a forward-thinking community, as evidenced by the many developments going on right now in town aimed at improving life for residents and helping local businesses succeed. I've talked at length about two of these developments - the 280-acre Tinley Park Mental Health Center (TPMHC) purchase and the old Central Middle School (CMS) property, which we're now in the process of taking proposals from interested residential developers.
In regards to the TPMHC property, I'm happy to report that we've reached an agreement with the State of Illinois, but with the recent change in administration the state wants to review all contracts and agreements. We're currently awaiting the final approval from the Governor's office.
These developments are exciting, but there are plenty of other great projects going on around town.
Maher Funeral Home is set to move into the old Tinley Park Public Library building along 171st Street. The village's Building Department recently issued Maher an interior remodel permit, and we expect that project to move swiftly toward completion.
Final inspections are complete for Open Bottle at 7101 W. 183rd St., and I'm excited to note that the establishment is now open for business. Stop by for a night cap!
Construction is proceeding with the new Panera Bread Restaurant at Brookside Marketplace at Harlem Avenue and 191st Street. When complete this establishment will make a fine edition to the great collection of retail stores and restaurants already doing business at Brookside.
I'm also happy to report that Parmesans Station inside the 80th Avenue train station is establishing itself very well in the community, and sales are increasing by the day. In fact, this year's sales will exceed $400,000, which crosses a threshold and increases the amount of money coming to the Village. Parmesans' continued success is a testament to that forward-thinking mentality I mentioned earlier, and as the restaurant continues with its expansion plans we look forward to seeing great things from it in the future.
In all, 63 new businesses opened in Tinley Park last year, creating more than 700 new jobs. This means 940 more Tinley Park residents are working today when compared to a year ago. These new businesses have helped our total vacancy rate go down to 8 percent and our Downtown Tinley vacancy rate fall to 6.5 percent. These are the lowest vacancy rates we've seen since the recession in 2007.
Tinley Park continues to outpace other comparable cities in Illinois and the Midwest when it comes to education quality, retail sales, projected job growth, income, low crime and income growth. Simply put, Tinley Park is in the best position it's been in for years, and it's because we're a community that's always striving for a better future
Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). 
p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18. This year's theme is "Heroes & Villains," and artists are asked to create family-friendly benches depicting real-life and fictional heroes and villains.