The proposed QuikTrip development at the Mohr Concrete site on Harlem and Garfield is being promoted as a solution for a long-vacant parcel. But while the site deserves new life, this proposal represents a missed opportunity for Oak Park.
As the Wednesday Journal editorial rightly observed: “We lack confidence, if QuikTrip is denied, that any other better development is in the offing.” That hesitation is understandable. Yet lowering our standards out of fear that nothing better will come is not leadership — it is surrender. Oak Park has a long history of thoughtful, community-oriented development. We should not compromise that legacy by accepting a highway-style gas station and convenience store as “good enough.”
Neighbors closest to the site have voiced strong concerns about traffic, pollution, and the lack of alignment with Oak Park’s values. Their message is simple: this project is wrong for this location.
This isn’t about saying “no” to development. It is about saying “yes” to better development. Call it YIMBYism — Yes In My Backyard — for housing, mixed-use retail, transit-friendly density, and green space that enhances our neighborhoods rather than clutters them.
When the Plan Commission meets on Sept. 11, I urge them to think beyond expediency and insist on something better. Oak Park deserves development that reflects its vision, not just a quick fix.
Robert Milstein
Oak Park
