The Madison Street Walgreens may soon have a bigger presence in Oak Park.
In 2009, when the village board approved the development of a 13,800 square foot multiple-tenant commercial development to allow for Walgreens to move down Madison Street to a more visible location, there was a 1,000 square-foot separate retail space included.
The initial concept was to have another commercial retailer join the drug store chain on the site, but today the space remains vacant, other than some storage materials that Walgreens keeps in the storefront window overlooking Oak Park Avenue and Madison Street.
Walgreens’ current business plan is to expand into the vacant retail space, but before this happens, the retailer must go through the planning process again. To allow for Walgreens to move into the space a special use permit would need to be approved. According to a village report, because the proposed modification to the planned development would decrease the number of retail spaces, altering the intent of the initial plans, the request must go through a full review process.
Action at Monday’s meeting allowed for the issue to head to the plan commission for a public hearing and the Madison Street Coalition for review. Those recommendations will eventually head to village board for the final decision.