A lone traffic cone rests in a puddle of dirty snow melt water in a lot that contained a building products dealer. In the background, you can see old ties of a rail spur that once served the business years ago (I never saw freight move in or out of this place when the dealer still stood). Behind it is the recently abandoned Alan Josephsen recycling company. Only a few months ago was that business still abuzz with truck traffic. In years past, they also took in boxcars from the WCL till CN priced them out of rail service.

But the area isn't bound for years of emptiness (I hope). Mundelein is slowly taking the steps necessary to revitalize their village centres. Already have two buildings been set up in place of older ones. one hopes that the rest of Mundelein sees their gentrification plans come to fruition. But with the economy on the brink of a recession, it's a tough thought to process.