After three months in office, DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow believes DeKalb is seeing a residential and commercial revolution, which is bolstering economic prosperity.

The newly elected mayor added that the budget is on target, expenditures are within what was expected and there’s an economic boom.

“We are estimating that we will be seeing a surplus of $400,000 in DeKalb this year,” Sparrow said.

Sparrow defeated former mayor Bessie Chronopoulos in April by 161 votes. Back in 1997, Chronopoulos ousted Sparrow by 48 votes after he’d spent 16 years as mayor.

As for now, Sparrow said he wants to reinvest DeKalb’s surplus 100 percent back into the community and NIU by revitalizing Greek Row and building up businesses and residential growth.

“The biggest concern of my administration is economic development,” Sparrow said.

Sparrow is looking for change in four different aspects in the community: a more controlled type of growth, an expansion in the tax base, a more diversified residential and commercial economy and an even split between business and residential diversification. He said that his ideal community is 50-percent residential and 50-percent commercial.

“Right now we are at about 60 percent residential and 40 percent commercial,” Sparrow said.

Sophomore psychology major Renee Bursell said said she’s glad to see Sparrow doing some good for the local economy.

“He is bringing a lot of new things into DeKalb that will not only be a convenience to citizens and students, but also bolster economic growth,” Bursell said. “Mr. Sparrow has a purpose and a goal, and it’s refreshing to see this in government officials.”

Sparrow has played a vital part in bringing new businesses and more homes to the area.

“As far as homes, we can expect to see about another 1,000 homes going up in areas such as Heatherstone, the Knolls and Northwest Bridges of River Mist,” Sparrow said.

Within the next year, stores including Old Navy, Pier 1 Imports, Bed Bath and Beyond and possibly Barnes & Noble will pop up. This will accompany the “raving success” of TJ Maxx.

“It is my intention to see as many businesses go up everywhere to accommodate the continual rise in population,” Sparrow said.

Robert Reagas, a junior political science major, said Sparrow has done a unbelievable amount to secure the future of growth in DeKalb.

“You can tell that Sparrow loves DeKalb when his mission is solely to enhance the economic status and re-invest any surplus right back into the community,” Reagas said.