Developers of Driven Car Wash, coming to the northwest corner of Austin Boulevard and Roosevelt Road, have secured a demolition permit to remove the old bank building on the site.
The car wash is intended to be built in 2025. According to village officials, the demolition permit is the first one issued since the village board increased the cost from about $1,500 to $5,000 last January and designated the revenue to the village’s housing trust fund.
In October 2023, residents spoke out against the development, citing concerns about increased traffic, pedestrian safety and noise issues.
Shiner Acoustics of Chicago conducted an acoustics study. They found that the car wash may not have a significant effect on nearby residences, but noises could still be heard.
Kenig, Lindgren, O’Hara, Aboona, Inc. of Rosemont, Illinois, conducted a traffic study. They found that the existing infrastructure is sufficient to accommodate traffic and gave recommendations on how to help the flow.
The village board unanimously granted Driven Car Wash a special use permit for the development at 6000-6020 Roosevelt Road during a Dec. 4, 2023, meeting. The exterior-only car wash will require customers to stay in vehicles. But the facility is also expected to have 25 self-serve vacuum stalls.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will also have to examine the property to ensure proper water retention on site. The MWRD and Illinois Department of Transportation permits have had a preliminary review, according to village officials.
Developers Christopher Niro and Chris Jenks said in December 2023 that they chose Oak Park as a location because they are from the area and saw a need for this service.
But the new drive-through car wash may skirt the electrification ordinance that went into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
The full building permit has not been issued, but the application was submitted in 2023 and is under review, according to Oak Park officials. Village Planner Craig Failor said in December 2023 that if permits were submitted then, the developers would be grandfathered into the 2023 building code, meaning the electrification ordinance might not apply.
Driven Car Wash has locations in Hickory Hills, Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows and Des Plaines. In addition to Oak Park, locations are also coming to Buffalo Grove and Mundelein.