A long vacant corner of moved closer to development Monday night as a city commission approved a preliminary plan for the site.
The northeast corner of Harlem Avenue and Route 83 once held a car dealership, almost held a high density mixed use development and a restaurant, retail and professional space.
The Planning Unit Development Commission gave preliminary approval to developers with a 7-1 vote. More detailed plans about the aesthetics of the development, tenant categories and traffic issues would be ironed out in future hearings.
Developer Tad Lagestee fielded questions and concerns from the eight committee members present and clarified his plans for the land and how the development would meet the city's needs and desires.
"We are doing something that's simple, that's functional and that works," Lagestee said. "It is not too complex, or too dense with too many parking requirements or hoops to jump through."
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So far interest has been strong and a bank, restaurant, automotive center and retailers have been approached, Lagestee said.
The preliminary plan does designate about 90 percent of the space as retail, however that number could change and a binding agreement would be made before final approval.
Potential businesses for the site would attract local community members and fill a need in town. Lagestee remarked on the absence of a casual restaurant in Palos Heights with a seating component like Panera Bread or Five Guys.
The spaces would likely be filled by national companies. The preliminary plan does includes a bank, a decision some members cited as a possible issue.
"You should be prepared to come up with a plan to compensate the city and the residents for having that non-taxable business there, and if you do I think that would help move the process along," said Ald. Michael McGrogan, citing the city's agreement with where the bank paid the city for lost sales tax revenue.
Lagestee stressed that banks often serve as a stabilizing force for developments and would not be the focal point of the plans.
Aesthetically, the importance of finishing the buildings on all four sides with high-quality materials was discussed. Lagestee said the most likely design would include brick.
The development is close to the soon to be built Cal-Sag Trail which includes links to Lake Katherine. Lagastee said that project was extremely exciting and he hoped to find ways to link the trail to the development while incorporating sustainable and native plant life.
Developers already met with Gareth Blakesley, operations manager at Lake Katherine, to discuss ways to incorporate the nature center's mission into the development, Lagestee said.
A large swath of land east of the proposed development and around the Cal-Sag Channel is owned by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, and is in a leasing agreement with . Development of this parcel would hopefully include an examination of how that land could be better utilized, Lagestee said.
Alderman Alan Fulkerson, the only dissenting vote, was firm in his belief that the project was not forward thinking enough for Palos Heights. He cited a desire to return to the plan that was presented five years ago by another developer that included a multi-story senior living facility among other mixed uses.
"I think this is just a re-bake of everything that is already on the west side of Harlem Avenue and I don't think that's a good idea," Fulkerson said.
He voiced his concern that the commission would let the economy dictate what would be feesible for that space and indicated that the land should remain undeveloped until a more ambitious mixed-use project is a possibility.
Lagestee said that he would like to move ahead quickly with the project and begin construction by next spring. Although not required by ordnance, the plan now moves to the Planning and Zoning Committee for further discussion before it is presented to the full council.
If you have questions about the planned development, leave them in the comments and we will do our best to answer them.
Senior living and a bank should not even be a consideration for this development. The existing senior living facilities in Palos aren't even at capacity so where is the need? As far as John and the rest of the owners of homes along 83 across the from the proposed development they need to get with the program already. This space is a focal point and an entrance area to our city. It is too valuable to leave undeveloped and left as a natural landscape. Sooner or later buildings will be constructed in a development that is hopefully conducive to our city.
I am not opposed to development from the 'not in my backyard' stand point. Trust me 83 produces enough noise and traffic now. I don't feel as though this development would add any. Provided them landscape it nicely I do not think it would change my view much either. I just hate to see us add more empty retail space. I believe the crown jewel of Palos Heights it the Old Palos section and that should be concentrated on. I know this would essentially be an extension of it and I agree that moving forward is important. But I think this is hastily put together and doesn't address the city's needs. Something fresh and creative needs to be put in this space.
I am glad to hear of an involved resident that has lived in the community for over 10 years. I have not yet reached my second year and I love where I live more and more each day. My view on it, unless there is a great reason, why remove the existing green space? Palos Park and Heights seem to pride themselves on their greenery so it would seem as though they would choose to keep it unless there was a great reason to remove it. For example if we had a shortage of retail space, which we do not. A shortage of tax revenue, I admittedly do not keep very close tabs on this but I was under the impression we were doing alright. A shortage of basic needs, and while yes we do seem to have quite a few Italian restaurants (I agree with Marilyn, not complaining) there is a descent enough variety. We all are in agreement we don't need another bank nor a senior living facility. So what does this development bring to the table? Yes it cleanups up the corner, which has long been neglected and that is okay. But you shouldn't do something just to do it, you should do it to be the best, make an impact, shine, show off, be original, etc. Time to research more reliable internet in the rainforest!
I do enjoy supporting Palos businesses whenever I can. That being said I am pretty sure I know what you are getting at and I agree. I do a lot of online shopping. But you cannot turn down the convenience of a store that is close by, even if I have to pay a little more. For example we buy most of our groceries at Jewel because it is the closest. It is too bad that the taxes are going to be .5 percent higher there (if I understand it correctly). I also love our ACE. I am not a fan of what RadioShack has become, but since it is so close I find myself in there from time to time. My parents live in EP and the pushed this redevelopment thing and they have a bunch of new empty stores and another bank. The residents were promised many things over the years and in the end I think the Village settled because they couldn't get what they wanted. I think quite a few existing businesses and residents were unhappy in the end. Eh, I should just give up on politics. :-)
I live in Ward 2 so I guess that means I am in New Palos!
First, is any "TIF" money going into this project from the Lake Katherine TIF? I seem to recall a push a few years ago to extend the Lake Katherine TIF to fund the develpment East of Harlem. This, of course, would be patently unfair to taxpayers East of Harlem in Palos CSD 118 and HS district 230 because we'd be deprived of tax revenues promised from the Lake Katherine TIF for development from which the districts would NEVER receive additional revenues. The other question is regarding municipal bond sales to support this project. We've just seen and incredibly corrupt and risky municipal financing scheme for a $63 million apartment and mixed use development in Orland Park near 143rd and Lagrange Rd. Is the developer intending to finance this out of his own pocket, or does he/she plan to try to get financing or loan guarantees from Palos Heights? I just can't see the banks financing this incredibly risky venture at affordable rates lower than "junk bond" status. SOMEONE surely has brought up these issues. Did I just miss them on the Patch, or has Dan just not geot around to them yet?
As is stated in my previous story on this issue, according to my conversations with Palos Heights' business development coordinator the existing TIF covers this parcel of land and the Tiffany Square Shopping Center on the other side of Harlem. For a time Lake Katherine was included in that TIF district, but it was amended to remove Lake Katherine from the TIF several years ago. There has been no talk of using municipal bond sales for this project. The developer is funding this project.
Has there been any vetting of the developer to ensure that he has sufficient credit to pull this off? The typical routine is that a developer gets the whole commuity worked up. gets the municipality zoning it to move forward, then thety get the sob story, "Gee if only we could get you guaranteeing this loan, we could really get this moving forward." Did you do a story about the developer and how he's pulled this kind of project off successfully before? Sorry if I missed it.