Since the public announcement of the township’s purchase of the vacant two-story building at 126-134 S. Oak Park Ave., I have received many positive comments and commitments of support [OP Township to buy long-vacant building, News, Feb. 16]. Most questions I have heard can be answered by reading the concise news release at www.oakparktownship.org and the brief links to more information about six features of the new location: senior, youth, financial, pedestrian/commercial, block enhancements, and space and upgrades. Here, I want to clarify three comments that I have heard: the commercial nature of the block, the limits of the food service and the role of offices in the digital age.
Regarding the commercial nature of the block, three points are important to note:
The township use supports village zoning, which includes government services as an appropriate part of the mix in the block’s general-business zoning category, the lowest of village’s three business-zoning classes.
The building is on the east side of a block that is already 66 percent noncommercial, since it includes a church and rectory, a condo, and a parking lot. The entire block is 40 percent noncommercial, 30 percent retail or restaurant, and 30 percent office or service, which includes the township’s current main office and the new site.
Even in the best of times, the most visible retail space in the township’s new building was a Laundromat, attesting to its limited commercial attractiveness.
Only the Maya restaurant lies between the township’s new building and the south noncommercial section of the block. Maya will benefit from its increased visibility to the township’s daytime visitors, and yet have no increased congestion or parking demand during Maya’s prime Friday evening and weekend hours. The township will bring needed services, new life and new customers to the area.
Regarding the limited food service to be available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays for visiting seniors, a private vendor will supply the catering kitchen with prepared food in bulk. No cooking is allowed — only food storage and distribution. The food is packaged early for home-delivered meals and later served at lunchtime. All drop-off and pickup will occur from the back alley side of the building.
The meal is simple, no options, Department of Agriculture approved, served only to people age 60 and older. The onsite lunch is an option in conjunction with educational, recreational, wellness and, most importantly, socialization opportunities. The active seniors who attend are mostly taxpaying Oak Parkers who are now at an age where they, many living alone, need and enjoy the stimulation of people their age. The new facility will allow more of these activities and the expansion of intergenerational programming with children and youth.
Regarding the digital age, it is truly revolutionary in its impact on business and retail. The need among seniors for group socialization and nutrition and support-service office and meeting space will, however, remain fundamental to the preservation of good health and independence. The new center will provide the ownership the township needs to adapt to the changing needs of seniors for activities and services outside their homes.
In 2006, township and other Oak Park officials investigated five nearby community senior centers to plan for improvements in Oak Park. The most important common features found were close attention to ground-level accessibility and sensitivity to senior interests and needs. The township purchase will address both findings and be a good neighbor in harmony with the diverse retail, office, service and noncommercial nature of the block.
David Boulanger is the Oak Park Township supervisor.
