The plan commission last night recommended approval of a mixed use retail and residential condominium building at the site of the former TCF Bank at Forest and Gilbert.
The proposed development, like other similar buildings in the downtown district, would include first-floor retail and restaurant space with condos ranging from about $350,000 to $650,000 above. Downers Grove Village Square LLC is the petitioner.
At least one neighboring business apparently has registered its concern about the impact of such a development on parking in the area. The municipal lot behind the Downers Grove library is at near-capacity virtually all day long and parking on nearby streets is restricted.
So it may not be too far-fetched to consider that the proposed development could bring with it reconsideration of the parking options on the downtown’s northwest side. And one of those options might very well be a parking deck on the site of the library lot.
It will be interesting to how deeply the village council delves into the parking issue when it considers the development proposal sometime this fall. In the meantime, the indefatigable Mark Thoman has much, much more information on the proposal.
I read about this building project on In Downers Grove and my first reaction was MORE CONDOS? Do we really need more condos in the downtown district? Retail space is another issue. We have a lot of empty retail space in Arcadia on the Green, who is going to fill all those store fronts?
More people, more tax dollars Trish. Thats how we roll in Downers Grove!!
Time to hold the developers feet to the fire: approval of the project only if the retail space is for a food store. Tic for TAC !
A Casey’s Market sort of place would be excellent! The Jewel on Ogden is still small and has less selection than Dominick’s, even after it’s rennovation. I would rather shop in DG for food than Westmont. At least a new development in that area would not have the PO noise problem, but when I lived at Oakwood and Warren, the commercial area was noisey and crowded with cars and workers’ and Semi’s up and down the street all day and private garbage trucks at 4am.
Folks, understand that in this free-market-philosophy town with this developer-friendly Village Council, there ain’t a heck of a lot of control the Village has over this project. It’s private property, after all. And the developer’s not asking for any special favors from the Village.
Maybe there’s room for a little negotiation over appearance based on the request for a “special use” for a mixed retail/residential development, but that’s about all. Watch for Commissioner Schnell to be concerned about appearance items, and for Mayor Sandack to pronounce it’s none of the Council’s business.
If you want the Village to exercise more control over what is and what is not in downtown, you have to accept a role for the Village to purchase properties, maybe even through condemnation. That goes against the grain in this free-market-philosophy town.
What the heck kinda freaky tofruti food do you buy that you need to go to Westmont? You have (2) Jewel’s, Dominick’s, Whole Foods, Westbrook Market all with in less than 10 minutes drive from anywhere in Downers. I would love to see another parking deck and the condo’s built. There are soo many different types of housing and styles in that area it will be impossible to please everyone. The free market will regulate what the builder can afford to put there. As long as its with in the code I say you can take your Mansard roof’s and shove them up your ______!
FYI to Chad: Maybe the best place in the area to buy quality fruits and vegetables, and they do have tofu too, is Nature’s Best Market at the corner of Cass and Chicago Avenues in Westmont. Their home-made guacamole and salsa is also worth the trip.
And why be vulgar about a Mansard roof, how exactly does that add to the conversation?
Chad,
I live 1/2 mile from Ogden, Jewel on 63rd, Whole Foods, etc. is not 10 minutes away from me, it’s more like 20-25 minutes. Nature’s Best and Dominick’s in Westmont are closer to me and NB has great fruits!
I’ll add to the recommendations of Nature’s Best.
Kelly, the Dominick’s at 42 Ogden Ave. (east of Fairview and just east of Office Depot and Trader Joe’s) is in Downers Grove.
I spoke to a village councilman regarding opening a grocery store at that location and I was told that there wasn’t enough parking area to support the grocery store. My response was that many people might walk or bike to an intown grocery. Forest Finer Foods didn’t have a whole lot of parking spaces and they did well for many, many years at Forest and Warren.
Others were also interested in that site for a grocery/fresh food store. Seems everyone recognizes the need for such a store downtown, but so far no one has taken the leap. Too bad.
Kelly,
It takes you 25 minutes to get the the whole foods on Lemont and 75th? You must drive really slow.
John,
I am mocking the stupid roof thing because that is what people where so upset at the builder on Forest for ommitting. No big deal to me. Its just a roof.
If you feel the need to get your fresh fruits, veggies and fresh mole in Westmont that is your choice. I want a stir crazy there but I doubt that will happen. Since it takes me 25 minutes to drive from 63rd all the way to Oakbrook.
Kelly,
Its a Ultra Foods not a Whole foods on Lemont and 75th, my bad. I don’t shop Whole or Ultra foods. It would take you 20-25 minutes to get to Willowbrook. Sorry for the mix up.
It’s a side effect of redeveloping downtown that the rents have outstripped the grocery category. With current pricing at$20/sf and up, it is cost prohibitive to low margin operations.
The village would be damned if they sought to subsidize a grocer downtown. It would be the antithesis of a free market. Unless something changes, CBD dwellers will need to shop outside of the CBD for food.
Given how marginal, questionable, and contentious some recent development proposals and projects have been, this one stands out like a beacon in the dark. It remains to be seen how it will proceed, but as presented, it’s nearly a benchmark project.
I shop at Kramers in Hinsdale along with quite a few other DG residents and I can get over there in less than 10 minutes and stop at Natures Best on the way back.
I like Kramers too! And you are so right Trish, it’s a straight shot right down Chicago. I have no idea why Chad is insisting that I am making it up, driving 10 miles per hour, or that I should shop at 75 & Lemont when even he does not. Even Mapquest says 20 minutes from my place to Ulta, etal. Thanks CG for clearing up my mistake about the Dominick’s – I feel much better now, I forget that DG spreads a few blocks east of Fairview.
A parking deck at the library lot would absolutely help with parking in town, but would’t it dwarf the library? I am picturing downtown Napeville which has 3? parking decks for thier downtown and the newest at the North end of the downtown is quite tall, but they gave it some cutey theme which escapes me at this moment – but it makes it seem less like just parking and more like a building. What about making the library lot into underground parking?
Easy to armchair quarterback, but from what I’ve heard of the rental rates downtown, it’s nearly double that of Westmont’s. I know one acclaimed restaurant that wanted to come to DG, but is paying half in Westmont. With the lack of success in most many stores and eateries, I would think that landlord 101 would dictate that stable/successful tenants paying a fair rent would be better than failing businesses leading to empty storefronts and new tenant search and store remodeling at over escalated fees.
Does anyone know more first hand how DG’s rental rates are compared to other towns? I drove through Westmont yesterday, and was amazed at how many businesses and nice restaurants were along Cass and the tracks.