THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2006
Staff: Convert Executive Plaza To Residential Area
By DWIGHT ESAU
Journal Reporter
Executive Plaza in Park Ridge should be converted from an office park to a residential area, possibly including senior housing.
This is the conclusion of the first definite recommendation from the city's staff regarding the plaza property at Touhy avenue and Washington Street.
"While existing uses may remain for the immediate future, it is recommended that Executive Plaza be redeveloped primarily for multiple family residential purposes, with the potential for some office and retail uses incorporated with them," the staff said in a memo this week to the city's Planning and Zoning Commission.
"This development scenario would also include a range of senior housing options," the report went on. "Multi-family residential uses should be located throughout Executive Plaza," the staff went on. "Both townhouses and condos would be appropriate. Senior residential uses would also be appropriate. A wide-range of housing types, from independent living to assisted living and nursing care, could be provided, along with accessory uses such a doctor's offices, pharmacy, and service-retail."
At the same time, Herbert Zuegel, a Park Ridge resident who is a strong advocate of senior housing (he calls it "Continuing Care Retirement Community"), said he has privately received several inquiries of interest in the plaza site from CCRC-related developers.
Commercial and office uses could be located along Washington Street, on the western side of the plaza area, the staff report added. The staff emphasized that office uses would probably be a secondary use in the area, since the office market is very soft in the O'Hare area, including Park Ridge, and demand for office space is low.
Located on the eastern edge of Uptown, this property is bounded by Touhy Avenue on the north, Northwest Highway on the south, Washington Street to the west, and the back yards of Berry Parkway homes on the east. It has been the subject of much discussion among city officials and land use consultants in recent months.
The staff's report was discussed by the commission Monday night, but no action was taken.
The staff said there is strong demand for multi-family residential in areas like the plaza, along with modest-sized retail facilities.
The area currently includes eight office buildings, each with a surface parking area. Two of them are vacant. They are generally maintained in good condition, the staff said, but some of them are dated and unattractive, having been built in the 1960s.
The city has not received any definite proposals from developers or businesses for this site but it says it has received a number of inquiries about it.
The property will probably be redeveloped in stages, the staff said, with new construction mixed in with existing buildings for a few years.
The site is located immediately west of an area earmarked for redevelopment in Uptown in the near future, and some officials have said they want to make sure the plaza development is coordinated with surrounding areas. The plaza is bounded on the north and east by single family homes, on the south by St. Paul of the Cross church and school and F.M. Global offices, and on the west by small office uses.