Story posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Expect Decision Soon On SSA Site
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
A decision on where the Social Security Administration (SSA) will move to out of Prospect Hts. is expected to be made by mid-to-late December, according to Susan Sylvester, director of Office of Executive Communication for Public Building Service, a real estate extension for the General Services Administration (GSA).
The GSA works as the middle party, collecting rent from the federal government and paying a property owner to locate facilities on a particular site. The current SSA building is located at Euclid Avenue and Elmhurst Road, just inside the City of Prospect Hts.
According to broker Tom Vincent, a possible site for the SSA at 401 E. Kensington Rd. in Mt. Prospect has made "the final cut."
Sylvester said all applicants who submitted plans could have made the final cut. She would not disclose information on who is in the final running.
"The only way there would have been a red flag is if someone's plans were so outrageous or expensive," said Sylvester.
In addition to 401 E. Kensington Rd., a location at the corner of Kensington and Wheeling roads is also being considered as the next home for the SSA.
There were talks that property owned by Tom Lichter at Kensington and Wolf roads was also being considered, but Lichter said he never submitted plans to the federal government because developers he hired "misrepresented" themselves. Lichter claims the company owes him money for attorney fees and money spent on analyzing the project.
That 7.5-acre property remains vacant, but Lichter hopes some type of senior housing development can be built on the land soon.
The Journal & Topics Newspaper recently learned that property owner Larry Keefe submitted plans to the federal government to have the SSA situated on his two acres of vacant property, once occupied by Edward Hines Lumber Co., 604 W. Central Rd., just west of downtown Mt. Prospect.
"We can meet the minimum rental square footage and parking spaces the federal government is requiring," said Keefe.
The federal government is looking for a building that will span between 14,000 and 15,000 sq. ft. and possess a minimum of 75 parking spaces. There are approximately 55 spaces at the Prospect Hts. facility.
Keefe purchased the property two years ago when Hines closed.
Keefe said if his property is awarded the SSA site, it would take approximately 6-9 months to construct and begin operations.
"This location is on a major thoroughfare that gives access to senior citizens and it's centrally located to the area it would serve," said Keefe.
In regards to 401 E. Kensington Rd., in early September, village trustees approved rezoning the property owned by Robert Hsu from residential to business, with conditions.
One condition is if a lease is not signed with a governmental entity within one year, zoning will revert to residential. According to Director of Community Development Bill Cooney, a lease must be signed with Hsu by Sept. 1 of next year, unless he requests an extension.
If Hsu's property is chosen by the federal government to be the next home for the SSA, Hsu will need to come back to village staff to finalize plans and go through the formal review process before building permits are issued.
Hsu's plans include 80 parking spaces, and a building that accommodates approximately 133 people at once.
If the federal government chooses another site, or another governmental entity doesn't sign a lease with Hsu within one year, the zoning will revert to residential.
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