A proposed condo building that could move the corner of Jackson Avenue and Mill Street toward a more dense downtown feel is drawing early support from Naperville planners.
The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously endorsed a request Wednesday evening from Lakewest Custom Homes to rezone a property just north of the corner, at 222 S. Mill St., to B5 for secondary downtown areas.
If approved by the Naperville City Council, the rezoning would allow Lakewest to construct a four-story building with six condo units on the site, which is currently occupied by an office building and parking lot.
Project attorney Vince Rosanova said plans for the .22-acre site would not require any variances from B5 zoning standards — just a change to the secondary downtown district from the existing OCI designation for office, commercial or institutional uses.
“It’s a rare feat, but Lakewest was able to design the site to meet all of the B5 zoning requirements, without relief,” Rosanova said.
Plans call for parking on the lower level of the building, with two condo units per floor on the three stories above. Described as “historically inspired … timeless and elegant” in petition documents submitted to the city, the building would aim to “fit within the context of the surrounding neighborhood.” Each unit within the building would be roughly 3,400 square feet with custom-designed floor plans, Rosanova said.
Commission members said they appreciated the plan’s lack of variance requests and described the building’s design as appropriate and complementary to the area.
Across Mill Street to the west sits the site of the future Riverwalk Place condo building, a similar development to what Lakewest proposes. Other nearby properties include Joseph Naper Homestead park, Naperville Park District’s Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center and a park district maintenance facility.
Doreen Schweitzer’s home is also nearby, along Jefferson Avenue, and she spoke Wednesday against the rezoning request and condo plan. She said she objects to a four-story building so close to her house and to the way such a large-scale building would change the look of this part of town.
“I don’t care how nicely it’s landscaped or how nice the building materials are, you can’t disguise a four-story building,” Schweitzer said.
She also questioned the lack of sustainability involved with potentially demolishing an existing building instead of creatively reusing it.
“The prairie-style building that’s there is perfect for that location,” said Schweitzer, an interior designer. “It’s a perfect transitional style. One of (the prairie style’s) hallmarks is it lays well into the land. It’s a great backdrop to the Joseph Naper (Homestead) park. It’s a nice transition for those of us whose backyards are going to be facing these buildings.”
Schweitzer was the only resident who spoke against Lakewest’s plan, and while commissioners thanked her for sharing her thoughts, they voted to recommend council approval of the requested rezoning.
Commissioner Mark Wright said the addition of multifamily residential buildings in or near downtown Naperville will bring positive change to an area he called ripe for something new. Commissioner Derek McDaniel said Lakewest’s condo proposal could increase density near downtown — but in a good way.
“I know as a resident, it might not be easy to hear that word ‘density,’ but that is the evolution of downtown Naperville,” McDaniel said. “I think this does it in a smart and respectful manner.”
Marie Wilson is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
