Story posted Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Officials To View Oakton Corridor Plans This July
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor
A long-range vision of Des Plaines' Oakton-Lee Street-Elmhurst Road corridors will likely be revealed to members of the city's Economic Development Commission (EDC) and city council in July, aldermen were told Monday night.
Mike Conlan, the city's director of Community & Economic Development, unveiled an artist's rendering at a meeting Monday night in city hall that shows a completely changed north side of Oakton Street from the U.S. Post Office east toward and past Lee Street. The plan, while only conceptual at this time, includes major development on property where Grazie Restaurant and other buildings have stood for many years and the Oak Leaf Commons shopping center at Lee and Oakton streets where the Jewel food store currently operates.
According to both Conlan and City Manager Jason Bajor, a developer has expressed interest in that corner area. They did not identify the developer.
That particular area---most notably property owned by Grazie owner Nick Mitchell---has been the subject of controversy for years. Mitchell had received city permission to build a 140-ft. tall senior residential building on his property, but was never able to move forward despite several city-approved extensions.
Earlier this year, several parcels he owned in that area were the subject of foreclosure filings.
At Monday night's meeting, Conlan said nearly all of the individual parcels owned by Mitchell or companies he controlled related to that property have been foreclosed on.
About two years ago, the city hired a land planning company to conduct a study of the Oakton-Elmhurst corridors to assist in future use. Specific areas targeted include Elmhurst Road on the city's west side from Dempster Street on the north to Oakton Street on the south, and nearly the entire length of Oakton Street east to River Road. Conlan called Camiros' study very complex.
"I think you're going to like the plan," Conlan said to aldermen at the meeting.
The purpose of the plan is to make sure that those major corridors are not redeveloped piecemeal.
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