By some measures, Des Plaines was late to the punch bowl when it comes to overhauling an aging downtown.
Drawing up new plans for the area did not always go smoothly. Lengthy discussions took place, in particular, about what to do about the city’s public library. Then there was the effort to attract top-level developers of upscale condominiums.
The process at times was inevitably painful. But now the city is seeing its hopes come to fruition.
Mayor Anthony Arredia says it took awhile, “but we were able to change the attitude of some in our city toward developers.”
The result, he said, has been rapid progress in the last decade on downtown projects. The city also will see three new major hotels built in coming months.
Housing consultant Steven Hovany says it is understandable that Des Plaines took time to get its ideas off the ground.
“Des Plaines has been trying to rejuvenate its downtown area for 30 years, and the process has had its ups and downs,” said Hovany, of Strategy Planning Associates in Schaumburg.
“One of the problems is the city’s system of government–Des Plaines has a ward system that is very competitive, with a lot of internal battles.”
But Hovany said the suburb is turning up as a winner, because of its many advantages.
“Given the fact that location is everything, the city’s proximity to mass transportation and the airport is a great asset,” he said. “Des Plaines has been able to take full advantage of that.”
The latest plan rolled out by the city calls for a $49 million mixed-use development for the north side of the Union Pacific Northwest line Metra tracks. It would include a mix of retail, office and residential properties; a parking deck; a major chain supermarket, and even a health club.
Highland Park-based Tucker Development Corp. and Joseph Freed and Associates LLC, Wheeling, will pick up most of the costs, with Des Plaines providing assistance with the purchase of the land.
Mayor Arredia said demolition work should begin in the spring, at which time aldermen will see drawings of the proposed buildings.
The development would add to Des Plaines’ reputation as what local builder Ray Franczak calls “the condo king” of the suburbs.
Director of economic development William Schneider, who also is acting city manager, said Des Plaines has added about 100 condominium units a year.
That rate has accelerated considerably during the last decade.
“Our plan for some time has been to redevelop the downtown area by tearing down older properties, and adding a retail and residential component,” Schneider said.
“We currently have about 12,000 people living within walking distance of the downtown corridor, and so retailers looking to come here know there will be foot traffic for their stores.”
Ann DeJulio, 30, moved to Des Plaines a year ago. She works as a flight attendant for United Airlines and bought a one-bedroom condo in the community, which cost her considerably less than it would have in Chicago. She likes the security she feels being surrounded by other condominium owners.
“Being close to the airport and major transportation options doesn’t hurt either,” she said. “I don’t own one of the newer units here, but I still was able to buy for a lot less.”
Lee Cho has been in Des Plaines for 37 years. She said the city “is a real bargain.”
“The taxes here are low compared to Park Ridge just to the east of us, we have great schools, and people grow up and come back to live here,” she said.
“I’ve worked for years in the youth services division of the library, and I’ll see adults in here who remember working with me when they were kids.”
Speaking of the library, it has become the crown jewel of the city’s downtown development. The new 80,000-square-foot facility cost more than $13 million.
Library administrator Sandra Norton said since opening in the fall of 2000, use of the facility increased by nearly 50 percent the first year, and another 20 percent so far this year.
“The vision was to recreate a vibrant downtown, not some place that was quiet and deserted,” Norton said. “I believe that has happened. Gradually, things are coming back to life here, and we’re getting the vitality everyone was hoping for.”
Des Plaines, with about 58,000 residents, has some advantages over neighboring communities.
“People enjoy better tax rates here, as compared to just about any other municipality in the northwest suburbs,” said former city manager Scott Miller. “People also like having the easy access to the transportation corridors and our general quality of life.
“There’s a low turnover rate, too. My neighbors moved here in 1948, and when they sell their house, they’ll probably move into a condo right here in town.”
Developer Franczak began building condo units in the city back in 1979, and has built 1,000 during the last 23 years.
He said the success of the condo market could be traced to “visionary city officials” who first rezoned a portion of the city’s central core back in the 1960s.
“Back then, the City Council took what amounted to about a three-block radius and rezoned it for high density, multiple-family dwellings,” Franczak said.
“Unlike other places, all the zoning was in place, so you knew if you bought a piece of property, all you’d need was a permit.”
Franczak’s Park Laurel project, with 95 condo units, sold out last year. It was built on a one-square block parcel on Washington Street. A total of 13 single-family homes were bought and razed over a 10-year period to make way for it.
“It took us a decade to assemble the parcel, but because of the zoning, we knew there wasn’t any risk,” Franczak said. “We eventually built one-, two-, and some three-bedroom units.”
Norwood Builders is currently completing Library Court condominiums, a project President Bruce Adreani says was designed to work within the scope of the city’s vision for its downtown revitalization.
“I think the city’s goal was to create a place with an `urban village’ feeling that would satisfy both the existing residents and the retailers,” Adreani said. “They wanted to take advantage of location and demographics, as well as Metra’s train service and relative proximity to Chicago.”
Norwood’s condominium project consists of two buildings, which will contain a total of 190 units. The first building is complete and the second is under roof, awaiting interior work.
One, two, and three bedroom units are available, from 1,100 to 3,500 square feet. Prices range from around $225,000 to $500,000.
A few years ago, Norwood completed River Pointe, a 156-unit condo project that is sold out. Adreani said a new project located at River Road and Mill Street, dubbed River Mill, is set for groundbreaking with completions next fall.
In addition to the Park Laurel condominiums, Franczak’s group is also working on the Meridian, with 50 condos planned for one building, and 30 for another.
One and two bedroom units, from 1,100 to 1,450-square feet are being offered for prices ranging from $200,000 to $250,000. Move-ins are already under way and the entire project should be completed by March.
A former Des Plaines resident from 1971 until 1985, developer Franczak said he understands the lure of the city and the desire for residents to stay.
“This is a great community with good location, and their planning has been sound,” he said. “They took their time with the library, which was a good call.
“The high density suggests Des Plaines is reaching that all important critical mass. I still think the city fathers in the 1960s were visionaries.”
