In the July 31 Viewpoints, Adrian Marquez revealed a new project by our village board: modifying our Historic District code. Oak Park is famous for many things: Frank Lloyd Wright, massive trees, schools, restaurants, parks and our historic neighborhoods. Random interspersing of duplexes, three-flats and four-flats will change the character of the designated historic neighborhoods. In my view, we should first look at non-historic areas before we change village codes.
My concern relates to our history of supersizing building projects. Although we currently have an ordinance limiting high-rise apartment and condo buildings to eight stories or less, developers have repeatedly convinced our board that constructing bigger and taller, with more units per building is better. This has turned our downtown into a concrete maze. Let us be very careful before we change our code and lose the “village” feel to Oak Park.
Please let the village board know that we can add housing without disrupting our historic area.
Shelly Uslenghi
Oak Park