A shortlist of recommended development teams competing to make over downtown Park Ridge unleashed a barrage of criticism from three aldermen who questioned how the five finalists were selected.
After the presentation of the list at Monday’s City Council meeting, Ald. Mark Anderson said city staff members reneged on their guarantee to allow City Council members to have input in whittling down the original list of 19 firms interested in the retail and housing project.
Ald. Don Crampton questioned whether the criteria staff members and a consultant used to evaluate the finalists differed from what was outlined in requests for qualifications mailed out to 150 firms. For example, one criteria used was whether the applicant understood the city’s vision for the project.
Ald. Rex Parker said firms he felt were more qualified did not make the final list and referred to the finalists as mediocre in comparison.
“I’ve never been so disappointed in a process,” Parker said.
City Manager Tim Schuenke defended his staff’s work and called insulting a suggestion by Parker that the staff recommended firms with which they were familiar.
No decision was made on the finalists, and the meeting was continued to Dec. 15.
The city wants to redevelop the area bounded by Touhy Avenue, Northwest Highway, Busse Highway and Morris Avenue. The city has not estimated how much the redevelopment would cost.
