ELMHURST
Consultant backs 1 downtown plan
One of two developers hoping to build a multimillion-dollar residential and retail project in downtown Elmhurst got a boost from a consultant Monday.
Stephen Friedman of S.B. Friedman and Co. told the City Council that Morningside Group outranked the Gammonley Group in a comparison of their proposals. Both groups have proposed three-story buildings, housing roughly 80 condominiums and ground-floor retail shops facing York Street, in a city tax-increment finance district.
In a separate review, city staff also ranked Morningside higher. Six criteria were used to grade each proposal, including availability of parking, architecture styles and economic benefits to the city.
Since late 2006, the council has been bogged down in discussions over finding a builder to redevelop the blocklong Hahn Street, between Addison Avenue and York.
The city estimates spending nearly $10 million for land at the proposed site, including $2.1 million for a gas station. Developer incentives could reach $13 million, officials said.
— Steve Brosinski
CLARENDON HILLS
Restaurant wins sprinkler waiver
Clarendon Hills trustees voted unanimously Monday night to let the owner of the downtown building that houses Scapa Italian Kitchen expand the restaurant into an adjoining storefront without immediately installing a sprinkler system as required by the fire code.
Trustee Donald O’Toole said waiving the sprinkler requirement at 31 S. Prospect Ave. for nine months would allow Scapa to expand into its new space before the winter holidays.
— Christine Martin
BLOOMINGDALE
Trustees OK bonds for resort district
Bloomingdale trustees Monday night unanimously approved the issuance of $9.7 million of general obligation bonds to finance improvements in the Indian Lakes Resort business district.
The bonds were issued in two series in order to pay for separate items. The proceeds from the first series, worth $4.8 million, will be used to buy 34 acres of property, formerly part of the Indian Lakes Golf Course. Village officials plan to develop the property as open space.
Finance Director Gary Szott said the bonds for the open space will be repaid over a 20-year period using the village’s home-rule sales tax.
A second series worth some $4.8 million will help defray costs of the renovation and expansion of the new Indian Lakes Resort.
“We feel the new resort gives the village an identity and is a major employer here,” Szott said. “We feel an investment in this property is important for the resort, as well as the well-being of the village.”
The second series will be repaid over a 12-year period, Szott said, thanks to a newly approved 1-percent sales tax for the business district in which the resort is located, as well as the village’s 6-percent hotel tax.
— David Sharos
