The Plainfield Village Board this week got its first look at a proposal to redevelop village-owned property on North Des Plaines Street in the downtown area.
The proposal, from Plainfield developer Gerry Clark and his company, The Lakelands Building Corp., was the only proposal received by the village in its search for someone to develop the property. Clark told the board that he felt it was a difficult property to develop and it would be challenging to make it work financially.
Clark’s proposal would have put up duplexes, office/retail and commercial space, apartments and a 30-space parking lot, which the village required. His proposal had hinged on the purchase of an additional property adjacent to the village-owned property, but that deal fell through at the last minute. Clark then asked the village for more time to rework his proposal.
The board granted his request, and Clark said he expected to be back with a new plan before the end of the year. He still hopes to start construction in June or July.
The village had purchased the land, approximately 1.25 acres, in January, and had requested proposals from developers this summer. Village officials said at the time that they hoped to use the land, in part, to ease the downtown parking crunch. By having others develop the land, they could also increase the economic vitality of the area.
