Orland Park Record — Interactive Timeline 1834

Population Growth:
The Chicago Migration & Suburb Explosion

1940–2026 · From 650 People to 58,703 · Every Census Year Documented

1940

650

First wave settlers still farming

1950

2,600

Post-WWII first housing boom

1960

6,391

+146% — The Chicago migration begins

1970

13,000

+103% — Cornfields become tract housing

1980

23,045

+77% — Orland Square Mall opens 1976

1990

35,720

+55% — Fastest growing suburb Chicago area

2000

51,077

+43% — Orland Park: 58th largest IL city

2010

56,767

+11% — Growth slowing, aging population

2020

58,703

PEAK — Now declining -0.23%/year

2026

57,757

Declining — Debt burden, aging residents

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau · Illinois State Demographic Office · Chicago Tribune growth coverage 1985–2000

The Debt He Left Behind:
$67M → $90M → $251M Projected

Under Keith Pekau 2017–2025 · Documented by PMA Financial Consultants

$67M

2019

When Pekau
took office

$90.67M

2025

When Pekau
left office

$251M

2033

Projected if
Pekau won
(PMA Financial)

November 6, 2023: $33 Million to One Donor.
No collateral. Performance-forgiveness clauses. Jim Dodge: the only NO.

November 6, 2023:
The Vote That Gave Away $33 Million

Village Board Vote · $33M TIF to Edwards Realty · Campaign Donor · No Collateral

Keith Pekau

Mayor · Campaign Recipient

YES

Received $9,800 + $5,800 + golf + $1,000 from Edwards Realty donor Ramzi Hassan

William Healy

Trustee · People Over Politics

YES

Wife Nancy on Library Board. Sister-in-law: George Wendt's sister.

Cynthia Katsenes

Trustee · Real Estate Broker

YES

Licensed real estate broker. Benefited from every development approved.

Sean Kampas

Trustee · Pekau Endorsed 2021

YES

Lost reelection April 1, 2025.

Brian Riordan

Trustee · Pekau Endorsed 2021

YES

"Came into this without a whole lot of knowledge." His words.

Joni Radaszewski

Trustee · Pekau Endorsed 2021

YES

Did not seek reelection 2025.

Jim Dodge

Trustee · The Only NO Vote

Every single time. $10K/month March 2021: NO. $33M Nov 2023: NO. Won mayor April 2025.

Retail & Commerce Growth:
From Loebe's General Store to a Regional Retail Capital

1898–2010 · Every Major Retail Milestone · Loebe Brothers Store Stood Where Main Street Triangle Is Now

1898

Loebe Bros.

First general store — 14314 Union Ave — now Main Street Triangle site

1950s

Small town

LaGrange Rd corridor: feed stores, hardware, post office

1960s

Builders arrive

Housing developers flood in — Chicago migration fuels housing demand

1973

Pre-mall buzz

Chicago Tribune Nov 1973: Orland Square development announced

1976

Orland Square

Orland Square Mall opens March 15 — Homart/Urban Investment — Rafacz sod farm site

1978

Two years in

Southtown Star Aug 3: Betty Renkor — "Two years of Orland Square" — $X million sales

1981

Orland Court

Orland Court strip mall opens May 1981 — 143rd & LaGrange Road

1985-90

Boom decade

Chicago Tribune: Orland Park "fastest growing suburb" — car dealers, restaurants, big box

1990s

Blockbuster era

Blockbuster Video, Home Depot, Best Buy, Circuit City — 159th Street corridor explosion

1994

Major expansion

Orland Square expands — Chicago Tribune Apr/Jul 1994 growth features

2000s

Regional capital

Orland Park: Cook County's dominant southwest retail hub. 95th & LaGrange becomes major corridor

2010+

Retail decline

Amazon kills big box — Sears, Circuit City, Blockbuster gone — Main Street Triangle stalled

Loebe Brothers General Store (1898–1950s) stood at 14314 Union Avenue — the exact site of the proposed Main Street Triangle development. Franklin Loebe, born above that store on the same day as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, served as Village Treasurer for 65 years. Keith Pekau erased his name from the Recreation Center. Jim Dodge is restoring it.