Palos Heights Council Wants Retail On Harlem Avenue, Not Offices and Banks

Two shopping center owners sat in the audience Tuesday night as the Palos Heights City Council reconsidered motions that would allow more non-retail businesses to open up shop along Harlem Avenue.

At a special meeting on March 29, the motions failed by a 4-4 vote. One of the original dissenters would have had to change their mind to allow for a second vote. None did.

The motions would have allowed Palos Plaza, located at Harlem Avenue and 127th Street, to designate three of its nine suites as B-1 zoned. This zoning change would allow financial institutions, medical and professional offices to move in.

Another motion that would allow for an accounting firm to move into space at 12236 S. Harlem Avenue found no new support either.

Chris Sioukas is a lawyer representing Louis Apostol, the owner of Palos Plaza. He says that the zoning change would allow the shopping center to eliminate vacancies. 

“We think that would enhance the community without detracting from the retail spirit,” he said.

Sioukas said he has not faced similar objections from other suburbs. recently shut its doors creating another vacancy in the shopping center, however it is clear that the majority of the council is dedicated to pushing for retailers to fill those vacancies.

“We are going to do our best to keep the center full and work with retailers,” Sioukas said.

Nick Carras of Carras Corporation, which owns the shopping center located at 12228 to 12246 S. Harlem, said every one of his tenants has been given concessions that allowed them to stay open.

“When retail comes we would be more than happy to put it there,” Carras said.

While addressing the council Carras argued that filled storefronts are better for the community than vacant ones and would bring additional traffic to the area.

“I think even thought we might lose a little [sales tax], we gain it somewhere else,” Carras said.

Ald. Jack Clifford was firm in his belief that a retail center along Harlem Avenue should continue to be the goal.

“I am a firm believer in that we will get that back,” Clifford said.

Clifford also took issue with the state of the parking lots behind retail centers along Harlem. 

“Those parking lots back there that you own are a disgrace, they are a disgrace to everyone here.” Clifford said. “There are pot holes everywhere.”

After the meeting, Carras said the parking lots are patched every year and the reoccurring issue has to due with a lack of drainage that resulted after the city put up a barrier of trees behind the lot.

“We fix it every year and it pops up, but without revenues it is hard to make major repairs,” Carras said.  

Carras cautioned that he is not bitter and is invested in the community as well, but the lack of interest in retail space is an ongoing problem.

A motion to consider rezoning the storefront at 12240 S. Harlem Avenue to allow for a bank to move in was struck down. Five aldermen voted no, and Ald. Michael McGrogan cast the only approving vote.  Aldermen Jean Gnap and Alan Fulkerson were absent.