It was going to be a sweet, boozy new day on North Avenue with the announcement earlier this year that 2 Fools Cidery was planning to build a new cidery and tasting room at village-owned property, 6641-43 North Ave.
But apparently the deal has soured and 2 Fools backed out.
The Oak Park Board of Trustees now is looking to Orson and Keri Morrison, who run a psychology practice and hold a purchase contract agreement for the adjacent property at 6645 North Ave. They plan to use the vacant lot as a parking lot for their medical offices.
The village previously approved selling the vacant lot at 6641-43 to 2 Fools for $1,000, but John Lynch, executive director of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation, said the deal fell apart due to changes in management at 2 Fools and an investor pulling out of the deal.
The Morrisons will pay the village $20,000 for the property.
The building that formerly stood at the site was in disrepair and purchased by the village to be demolished and redeveloped.
Dr. Orson Morrison told trustees that the first floor of the 6645 North Ave. property would be leased to other medical practices and he and his wife’s psychology practice would be located on the second floor.
The Morrisons also plan to redevelop the empty lot with landscaping that will “contribute to the North Avenue revitalization,” he said.
tim@oakpark.com
