January 14, 2010 - Another high-rise may be in the works for Oak Park. Sertus Capital Partners jumped the first hurdle with a 6-3 vote by the Oak Park plan commission in favor of the proposed 20 story tower. The plan is to construct the high-rise in the downtown area of the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District, according to a Tribune article. This location is controversial because a tower of this height will dwarf many of the historic buildings in the neighborhood. The contemporary design is also causing some debate.
This proposed suburban Chicago real estate development will have 85 luxury Chicago condos, 140 hotel rooms, lower level commercial space and a garage with both resident and public parking.
Oak Park commissioner Susan Roberts was quoted in the article as saying that, “This changes the entire character of the neighborhood and even Oak Park. It’s more a feeling of Evanston, not the feeling of Oak Park.”
Right now all that sits on the property is a parking garage and single story building that Oak Park owns. If Sertus Capital does get final approval for the project in March, the village plans to donate the land and pay for building a new garage. Sertus will also have to get some zoning changes approved because currently the maximum height allowance is 80 feet and this new tower will reach 204 feet.
The site is now a village-owned parking garage and a one-story commercial building that once housed a popular pancake restaurant and a grocery store. If approved, the village will donate the land the existing garage is on as well as money to build the new enclosed garage.
Controversial or not, it’s nice to see Chicago real estate developers making high-rise plans again.
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