After approval of a condo building proposal at Oak Park Avenue and South Boulevard expired two months ago, a developer says he wants more time to complete the project. But the village board declined to provide that relief Monday, asking the property owner to first address problems at an unfinished development in downtown Oak Park.
Developer Tomasz Litwicki is looking to build a 42-unit glass condominium building at Oak Park and South, which would wrap around two older brick buildings at the corner, which formerly housed Val’s halla Records and Thyme and Honey restaurant.
The village board gave the green light to the development in June of 2008. The developer had nine months to apply for building permits for the project, and that time period expired March 16, rendering the board’s previous approval null and void.
Victor Dziekiewicz, the architect for the project, sent a letter to the village this month, requesting a one-month extension to give more time to arrange building permits. The developer has told the village that 75 percent of the condos have been sold, drawings of the building are 90 percent complete and credit is available for the project.
But the village board postponed the request until Alex Troyanovsky, the property owner of record at Oak Park and South, addresses unresolved issues with another project, located near just north of the corner of Lake and Marion.
According to the director of Building and Property Standards, Steve Witt, 26 issues remain with the Regency Club in an agreement crafted in August of 2008. The project was supposed to be completed in December of last year, according to the agreement, but none of the items on the list have been addressed.
Village President David Pope asked why the board should give an extension on Oak Park and South “if we have no understanding or reason to believe that these other outstanding issues are going to be addressed any time soon.”
The developer pulled permits to address those issues on April 17, according to the village.
The Regency Club was to include three separate parts: townhomes, duplexes and a 59-unit, 9-story condo building. All have been built except for the condo tower, which architect John Schiess says won’t happen, as the lot where the condo building was to be built is in foreclosure.
Litwicki declined to comment after the board’s decision, but Village Planner Craig Failor, who spoke with him afterward, said the developer claims the Oak Park and South Boulevard property will soon change hands in ownership.
Trustee Jon Hale worried about pushing back the timeline on the Oak Park and South development further. The application for the project was first heard by the village board back in November of 2007.
“I’m concerned about that corner and that we don’t delay the development of that corner further by trying to connect this up with a project or two other projects around town,” Hale said.
The board asked that Troyanovsky address the 26 items related to the Regency Club over the next three or months. At that point, they will consider giving an extension for Oak Park and South.
CONTACT: mstempniak@wjinc.com
