MARION - Mayor Bob Butler and Chamber Director George Trammell say they're stunned with the growth they've seen on the west end of town the last couple of years, most notably on The Hill, which is located just north of Illinois 13 and a short distance from Interstate 57.

The Hill is home to the Southern Illinois Miners with the new baseball stadium presently under construction, Menard's, 17th Street Bar and Grill, Mid-Country Bank, Peoples Bank, Old National Bank, Wal-Mart, Burgers and Cream, the Fairfield Inn and Suites, Asian Bistro, McAllister's Deli, Gold's Gym, Campbell's Harley Davidson, Stevens' Floral Gifts and Framing, Village Green Homes, Foley-Sweitzer and a strip mall with unannounced tenants.

"I never dreamed there would be any growth there at all," said Butler, who likened the area to a devastated wilderness for decades. "It was strip pits and spoil banks. The area looked like it had been bombed. Now look at it. Practically every day, retail-type establishments are contacting us and asking us about building there."

Butler said the credit rests squarely on the shoulders of land developers Doug Bradley, Lynn Holmes and G.A. White, who invested their money and effort into that location.

"They are the ones who had the vision as to the potential of that area," the mayor said. "The Hill has become practically an overnight sensation and there's still room for considerable growth and we don't want to do anything to slow down that growth."

Trammell said the Miners will stimulate tourism in Marion as many out-of-town fans will spend multiple days visiting Williamson County and all of the region this summer.

"When there are games, there will definitely be more crowds at the restaurants and hotels and more dollars spent at our retail stores," he said. "The sales tax and bed tax the city will receive, largely due to development on The Hill, will help support tourism promotion."

Trammell said what amazes him is dining at a Marion restaurant with his wife and not recognizing any of the patrons.

"I've lived here all my life and still won't know a soul," he said. "That shows you how many people are coming here from other parts of the state or even from out of state."

As for the community's growth westward, Trammell said predictions that Carbondale, Carterville and Marion will someday be one extended city along Illinois 13 are coming true.

"The growth has been phenomenal; it really has," Trammell said. "A lot of that has to do with the careful planning of Mayor Butler, the city council and county board. We're moving along at a steady pace and are not up to our eyeballs in debt. One of our goals is to create job opportunities for our children so they will be able to stay here and work if they would so choose. When I was growing up, that wasn't necessarily the case. There weren't as many opportunities to stay."

Laurie Neef, manager with 17th Street Bar & Grill, said the restaurant is in a prime location to see an increase in business.

"In the six months I've been here, we've grown, especially since Menard's opened, and we're really excited about the baseball team playing here."

Neef said there are preliminary plans to turn the outdoor patio into a bar for a spillover of ball fans stopping by the restaurant either before or after the games.

Southern Illinois Miners spokesman Dennis Poshard said there's no telling how big of an impact The Hill development will have on Marion, but early indications are that it will be substantial.

"I would anticipate the area to continue to develop," Poshard said. "The ballpark is such an anchor for other business to locate there. I know we're going to run a lot of traffic through there next summer, especially after the new overpass and exit ramp get built."

Poshard said he's also pleased to see that businesses have located on The Hill without waiting for the stadium to be completed.

"People are willing to invest in this area because they know it's going to be a success," he said. "It's definitely fun to watch. And we're going to offer more than just a baseball stadium. We will have a banquet facility for meetings and parties and we should be able to host concerts, too, which will make our impact on the community even greater."

john.homan@thesouthern.com

(618) 351-5805