In fall 2024, the village of River Forest spent approximately $20,000 to conduct a series of “Neighborhood Dialogues” intended to gather public input on future development (particularly of the vacant land at Ashland and Madison) and quality-of-life priorities.
My husband and I hosted one of those focus groups. As a communication professional myself, I’ve facilitated many such gatherings, preparing detailed reports of the proceedings and articulating recommendations based on participant feedback.
When I read the village’s Neighborhood Dialogues report, I was pleased to see that, by and large, details of the meeting we hosted were accurately represented. But when I learned about the development the village is now proposing at Ashland and Madison, I was more than a little surprised. A multi-story, 72-unit apartment building in that space — that somehow provides parking for all — bears virtually no resemblance to the expressed concerns of folks who attended those gatherings.
The Neighborhood Dialogues report shows residents calling for development that fits River Forest’s character: low-profile buildings, thoughtful design, adequate parking, minimal traffic impacts, and uses that serve the community, such as restaurants or neighborhood-scale amenities. Many participants were adamant in holding the village accountable, no matter what project is ultimately proposed for the Ashland-Madison site — this in light of the abject mismanagement of the failed Lake-Lathrop project, which stands today as River Forest’s own morality tale.
Time and again, village residents voice strong opposition to high-rise buildings where green space is an afterthought. We express concerns about congestion and parking. We want projects that enhance our community and use our admittedly limited space wisely.
What’s more, we want transparency and accountability from our local government. When I learned the village had engaged JLL to identify a developer for the Ashland-Madison site, I was hopeful it was a step in the right direction. But when the village’s letter to residents provided virtually no information about Five Thirty One Partners (and it was invisible on the web), the signal was loud and clear: business as usual at 400 Park Ave.
Kathryn Jandeska
River Forest