NT_051619

More documents

Recommendations

Info

6 | May 16, 2019 | The Northbrook tower news northbrooktower.com Northbrook Plan Commission Developers make final adjustments to Northbrook Court proposal Commissioners weigh changes before scheduled May 21 vote Neil Milbert Freelance Reporter The Northbrook Plan Commission concluded its prolonged hearings on the proposed redevelopment of Northbrook Court during its Tuesday, May 7 regular meeting, and directed Village staff to prepare a resolution on the proposal that has as its key component luxury apartments targeting active adults, young professionals and empty nesters. “Next meeting on May 21 we will vote either up or down,” Commission Chair Marcia Franklin said after her resolution motion passed unanimously, concluding the public hearings that began on March 5 and continued on April 4. “There will be no public comment at that time.” Following the Tuesday, May 21 vote, the redevelopment proposal and the Plan Commission’s recommendation will be submitted to the Village Board of Trustees for further deliberation and a final decision on the fate of a property that currently produces 25 percent of the village’s tax revenue. The applicants are Northbrook Anchor Acquisition, LLC — which is a joint venture of Brookfield Properties and Ryan Companies — and Westcoast Estates, owner of the land where the shopping center that dates back to 1976 is located. Following each of the prior hearings, in response The Northbrook Plan Commission is scheduled to vote on a Northbrook Court redevelopment proposal at its Tuesday, May 21 meeting. Included in the proposal is the construction of a 315-unit luxury apartment building where Macy’s now stands. Design rendering courtesy of Brookfield Properties. to strong objections from residents of the neighborhood, the board asked the applicants to make modifications. Mainly their complaints concerned the proximity of the apartment building to residences, the height of the building and the inclusion of a grocery store in the redevelopment package. At the May 7 meeting, members of the commission heard presentations from Michaela Kohlstedt, Northbrook’s deputy director of development and planning service, and the would-be developers Brookfield Properties Senior Vice-President Adam Tritt and Ryan Company Senior Vice-President Dan Walsh, and listened to ongoing concerns of neighborhood residents. Franklin, Steve Elisco, Johannah Hebl, Mark De- Bartolo and Norm Jacobs seemed inclined to vote in favor. Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Melnick and Dan Pepoon still had some misgivings but weren’t adamant. Speaking before a standing-room-only crowd of more than 70 people that came to the hearing, Tritt and Ryan addressed the third revision modifications in the proposed project that entails the construction of a 315-unit luxury apartment building where Macy’s now stands. The developers also consider the ground level and a grand lawn connecting the development with the existing mall where Lord and Taylor and Nieman Marcus department stores are located to be integral parts of the makeover. “The lawn is the pivotal point,” Tritt said. “It’s important to us that the new and existing work together.” Among the other major components in the redevelopment are parking for apartment residents and guests, a restaurant, a fitness center, dance studios, amusement and recreation facilities and a car dealership. Kohlstedt provided a detailed rundown of the modifications submitted by the developers. They call for the residential building to be shifted 28 feet to the north to increase the setback; the accompanying grocery store to be shifted to the north; residential units to be shifted to a new north wing; the parking/drop off area to be reconfigured to accommodate these shifts; and grading to be modified to cover the parking podium to the south with landscaping to be added to this area. Walsh and Ryan elaborated on the updates, adjustments and refinements. “We’re moving mass from the upper floors,” Ryan said. “The top floors are set back further. The height of the southernmost façade is now 52 feet. The berm area will fully cover parking area and we add landscaping to soften (the impact).” Tritt talked about the Northbrook Court redevelopment vision, grocery market studies, retail development use studies, alternative master plan considerations and the proposed site plan alterations. A market analysis conducted by the shopping center consultant, Melaniphy & Associates, LLC, showed that only 2 percent of grocery sales are e-commerce, a stark contrast with the sale of merchandise via the Internet outlets and Amazon. According to Tritt, grocery sales in the Northbrook area total $140 million but 17.4 percent of these sales are outside the area and predicted that a Northbrook Court grocery store would not only significantly reduce this percentage but also that 20 percent of the new grocery volume would come from outside the area. He said in the last nine years his firm has added 15 grocery store locations in 11 states and 11 additional stores, including the one in Northbrook Court, are in the development stage in six states. Tritt cited the success of the firm’s mall redevelopment ventures in Maryland, Massachusetts and the Oakbrook Center in the western suburbs. 14 locals continue to express concern Following the presentations, 15 members of the audience addressed the Plan Commission. Despite the modifications, all but one expressed their dissatisfaction. “Moving the building 28 feet is still not acceptable to residents,” said Ken Smith, president of the Glenbrook Countryside Property Owners Association. “We had a neighborhood meeting and the main thrust of comments were about the building. Everyone was against it. Where it is right now is not viable for us. The top floor is too close to backyards, too close and too high. “We’re not against this project at all. We’re for it. It’s just not acceptable right now.” Mark Lenz, an attorney representing landowners south of the complex, said the apartment building will impact privacy and may impact property values. Janice Gould, president of the Williamsburg Square Homeowners Association, asked: “Who will help us get in and out when our roads are blocked (because of traffic created by the apartment residents)?” “It would be nice to redo Northbrook Court and redevelop Lord and Taylor instead of doing it piecemeal,” suggested Jim Beckett, who has put on hold his plans of selling his home. “We are concerned with the loss of property value because the development is too close and too high. We can do better.” “There is no compelling evidence that the grocery store cannot go to the south side of the building,” argued Leonard Ginzbeg. Ken Slepicka, a 20-year Northbrook resident who spent four years as a Park Board Commissioner, was the lone proponent to address the Commission. “Northbrook Court needs a redesign,” he said. “Oakbrook Center is a thriving complex. We need that kind of complex here. If we lose Northbrook Court, taxes will go up 25 percent.” “Do what is best for the Please see court, 8
northbrooktower.com northbrook the northbrook tower | May 16, 2019 | 7 COMING SOON NEW ON MARKET NEW PRICE HALF ACRE LOT HIGHLAND PARK CLUB FIRST FLOOR MASTER 4109 APPLEWOOD LN | NORTHBROOK $525,000 |4109ApplewoodLane.info 591 GREENWOOD RD|NORTHBROOK $725,000 |591GreenwoodRoad.info 978 CONVENTRYLN|HIGHLAND PARK $575,000 |978CoventryLane.info 1119ADAMS ST,UNIT B|NORTHBROOK $549,000 |1119AdamsB.info LOOK AT THE LOVELY OFFERINGS THIS SPRING YOU WILL LOVE WORKING WITH SUSAN!! ROYAL RIDGE NEW PRICE NEW ON MARKET MEADOW RIDGE FIRST FLOOR MASTER COURTS OF NORTHBROOK ROYAL RIDGE BALLANTRAE 2268 WASHINGTON | NORTHBROOK $549,000 |2268WashingtonDrive.info 2025 ROYAL RIDGE DR | NORTHBROOK $849,000 |2025RoyalRidgeDrive.info 43 WELLINGTON|NORTHBROOK $375,000 |43WellingtonRoad.info 2269 ROYAL RIDGE | NORTHBROOK $535,000 |Call for Details 710 BALLANTRAE #C | NORTHBROOK $325,000 |710BallantraeDriveC.info LOT FOR SALE 4771 TRENTON COURT | LONG GROVE | $250,000 |Build your dream home in Royal Melbourne NAMED ONE OF CRAIN’S NOTABLE CHICAGO BROKERS 2019 847.275.6566 | STEPER@ATPROPERTIES.COM OVER $150 MILLION SOLD SINCE 2011 * *Source: MRED and Brokerage Firm data, 1/1/2011-11/30/2018 Some closed volume attributed to broker’s previous brokerage firm.
Page 1 and 2: ® The Northbrook Tower Northbrook
Page 3 and 4: northbrooktower.com news the northb
Page 5: northbrooktower.com northbrook the
Page 9 and 10: northbrooktower.com northbrook the
Page 27 and 28: northbrooktower.com sound off the t
Page 29 and 30: the Northbrook Tower | May 16, 2019
Page 31 and 32: northbrooktower.com Life & arts the
Page 33 and 34: northbrooktower.com life & arts the
Page 35 and 36: northbrooktower.com life & arts the
Page 39 and 40: northbrooktower.com Classifieds the
Page 41 and 42: northbrooktower.com sports the nort
Page 45 and 46: northbrooktower.com Sports the nort

NT_051619

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?