But two weeks after Schiess and his investors agreed to drop the building from seven to six stories and make other architectural changes, neither the audience nor commissioners voiced objection.
“I can’t say the project is ideal, but it’s a project we can support,” said Jim Kutill, speaking for Neighbors United to Save South Marion (NUSS), a group that previously opposed the development. “This site, if any, does deserve variances from underlying zoning. We’re still concerned about development of the rest of the block, but this project should move quickly.”
“It’s a gateway building that fits in with the character of the neighborhood,” said Bob Loro, owner of Loro Autoworks on South Boulevard, who also formerly objected to Schiess’ plans.
The Plan Commission’s recommendation must be approved by the village board before construction can begin, though demolition of the vacant building began last week.
The 70-foot-tall mixed-use development will feature ground floor retail space topped by 37 high-end condominium units.
D97 prez: ‘we are encouraging good development’ First identifying himself as an architect who formerly worked in an office down the street from the Mar Lac banquet hall, School District 97 board president Ade Onayemi spoke in favor of the project proposed for the site at Marion and South at last week’s Plan Commission hearing.
The Mar Lac parcel is located in the village’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. If the plot is developed, it could be carved out of the district, and tax dollars produced by the project would be returned to local taxing bodies.
Onayemi began his comments supporting the project, and soon noted that he used to have an office at 1033 S. Boulevard near the vacant banquet hall.
“I think it’s an exemplary process to include community input. I’m very much in favor of what we have here,” he said.
Toward the end of his testimony, however, Onayemi also acknowledged he had other motivations for seeing the proposal approved.
“As an architect I do want to see something aesthetically pleasing,” he said. “As president of one of the largest taxing bodies in Oak Park I do have some bias. We are encouraging good development in the village.”
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