I attended the Madison Development “Neighbor meeting” last Thursday. There, the developer, Viktor Jakovljevic, shared that he is an owner of Cigar Oasis, formerly of River Forest. This information only increased my concern about the proposed Madison development. Here’s why:
Cigar Oasis was the last business to leave the Lake and Lathrop property and only did so after a court-ordered eviction on July 27, 2019. Our Village administrator was required to appear in circuit court to testify that the owner was not entitled to an extended lease. The Wednesday Journal reported on another project extension in October 2019. [1] Village President Cathy Adduci blamed the Cigar Oasis owners for delaying progress at Lake and Lathrop for several months.
“It took a little while to get the tenants out,” Adduci said in explaining the request for an extension while noting that the owners of Cigar Oasis fought eviction efforts.
I then remembered that in 2018, strongly against resident sentiment, Cigar Oasis attempted to relocate with an outdoor smoking lounge directly across from a fully occupied condominium building with balconies on 400 Ashland. [2]
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Cigar Oasis was cited for COVID violations. [3]
Fast forward to January 2026. Residents strongly object to the Madison/Ashland development proposal on many levels, including a neighborhood fit. We’re to believe the village board chose a developer out of several interested parties who just so happens to have a connection to the failed Lake and Lathrop development, and not a positive one.
Why would the village board choose a developer who was willing to work against village interests on a different development and who flouted the laws during a national pandemic?
Why weren’t all trustees made aware of this connection?
Why wasn’t information about the connection between Cigar Oasis and Five Thirty-One Partners/V3 publicly shared when the developer was announced?
I question whether residents can be assured that a business owner who was at odds with the village, attempts to locate a non-conforming business within a residential neighborhood, and ignores rules during a global pandemic will appropriately address resident concerns related to this development.
River Forest has limited land to develop. How was the developer vetted more broadly? After the failed development at Lake and Lathrop, how can we risk using a developer with this local track record?
Taxpayers deserve concrete answers, not empty assurances.
Sources:
[1] (https://www.oakpark.com/2019/10/15/lake-and-lathrops-last-extension).
[2] (https://www.oakpark.com/2018/05/15/cigar-shops-plans-up-in-smoke-after-neighborhood-outcry)
[3] (https://www.oakpark.com/2020/12/31/flouting-covid-limits-cigar-lounge-faces-oak-park-action and https://www.oakpark.com/2021/01/06/oak-park-closes-cigar-oasis-for-24-hours-for-covid-violations)
Viktor Jakovljevic can be found on the village website for the development https://www.vrf.us/uploads/cms/documents/guides/updated_faq_feb2026.pdf.
Patty Henek
River Forest
