The Greek Row Neighborhood Revitalization Plan received approval at the city council meeting Monday night.

With a unanimous vote, spearheaded by 1st Ward Alderman Andy Small, the plan should provide the Greek Row area with a rejuvenated look and a cleaner image.

The six objectives of the plan include lighting, code enforcement, neighborhood pride and appearance, parking and public safety.

“We are very pleased about what is going on out there. I can tell people are taking pride in that neighborhood,” Small said. “I hope we continue to use these types of plans to revitalize DeKalb.”

The council also heard a resolution to begin development of Lot 12 near Lowe’s Home Improvement Store, 2050 Sycamore Road. This is the proposed site for the Kohl’s Department Store.

A vote to allow further developing at the site was approved unanimously at the meeting.

As of now, the First Rockford Group is in the process of luring Kohl’s to the DeKalb Market Square property. The developer now will be able to do the necessary land modifications to bring the retail giant to DeKalb.

Another issue that was voted upon and approved by a 6-1 vote was the extension of bar hours on Homecoming Saturday.

Due to the tradition of students going to the early morning breakfast, affectionately called “kegs and eggs,” the council voted to allow bars to open at 5 a.m. on Saturday, instead of the typical 6 a.m.

The only vote against the issue was posted by 2nd Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen.

“I will emphatically vote no on this,” Povlsen said.

During the meeting, the local carpenters union, local 790, briefly spoke and provided information to the council criticizing the developer Construx and its building practices.

The Construx builders are attempting to build the Savannah Green housing development in DeKalb, and the union conducted a survey of residents of previous sites built by Construx.

Of the new-age neighborhood residents surveyed from other towns, 81 percent indicated problems or concerns with their homes.

Additionally, the council passed a resolution to provide $755,948.96 for an engineering assessment by Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick to create design reports to improve South Annie Glidden Road.

The city is attempting to procure state and/or federal funds for the project.

Consequently, the council members made it clear that taking the proper steps to complete the process would ensure that the potential funds could be used.

“To spend three-quarters of a million dollars to get a design done is not cheap, but it is vital,” Povlsen said.

The project could take anywhere from three to five years to complete. Eighteen to 24 months of the potential time to complete the project would be spent on the planning and drawing of the project.

“The front end stuff, there is really no way to shorten it,” Director of Public Works Ralph Tompkins said of the 18-24 months.