Making one of the most expensive and significant decisions in downtown Oak Park‘s history isn’t easy. That’s why the village board looked for help Thursday night.


Trustees met last night to gather input from several volunteer commissions that advise the village board on matters from historic preservation to the environment.


Leaders from six different commissions dissected two proposals to redevelop a key area in downtown Oak Park. Nicknamed the “Colt superblock,” the parcel includes the Colt building across

Lake Street
from Chipotle restaurant, the adjacent
1121-23 Lake St.
 building, a
North Boulevard
 parking lot and 1145 Westgate.


Architecture, finances and preserving downtown’s character were some of the common themes discussed Thursday.


“Overall, my commission was not particularly pleased with the architecture, in terms of its … originality,” said Bob Tucker, chair of the Community Design Commission.  “I think we as a village can do better.”


Tucker appreciated Mid-America Development Partners’ plan to add a hotel and entertainment complex downtown. He also liked environmentally friendly aspects of each proposal and developer AvalonBay Communities’ plan to keep its tallest building closer to the train tracks.


However, Tucker expressed concern that a new north-

south street
between Marion and Harlem might expose unsightly sides of buildings that were never intended to be seen.


Doug Gilbert, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, worried about how the project would affect the “historic core” of downtown Oak Park.


“We swallowed hard and said we’re going to have to lose some buildings that we’d rather not,” he said, speaking of the tradeoff between losing some older buildings and revitalizing downtown.


Both proposals plan to knock down the Colt building, along with

1121-1123 Lake Street
and 1145 Westgate, which Gilbert contends all have historic merit.


Paul Aeschleman, chair of the Transportation Commission, cautioned the board against subsidizing public parking.


“We’re already running a significant deficit in our parking facilities,” he said. “Anything that can be done to minimize or, preferably, eliminate the subsidized parking … or make sure that it’s priced at a fair market rate. Free is not a fair market rate for a $20 million facility.”


Mid-America is seeking $41 million in incentives from the village and AvalonBay $27.5 million, partially to create garages with over 400 spaces in each proposal.


The village is working to review the finances of each project.  Once that information is determined, the board will eventually choose a preferred developer, possibly this month. The board could also pick neither, Village President David Pope added.


For a full report, see the April 9 Wednesday Journal.


CONTACT: mstempniak@wjinc.com

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