Wilmette calls for downtown development plans

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Updated: February 20, 2012 8:49AM

Wilmette has put out the call for developers willing to buy into its Village Center Master Plan, and is asking them to provide proposals for three village-owned properties by Feb. 24.

The lots at 611 Green Bay Road, 1225 Central Ave, and 624-630 Park Ave. – the former Wil-Shore Ford site, the Mid-Central Printing storefront building on Central and the village’s municipal parking lots between the Wilmette Public Library and the post office – are all up for sale, officials emphasized.

When he announced the request for proposals last week, Village Board President Chris Canning also urged those interested in the municipally owned lots to consider looking at adjacent privately owned properties too.

Acquiring those properties could make the block between Green Bay Road and Park, Central and Wilmette avenues even more desirable as a development site.

Village’s wish list

What Wilmette is looking for, Canning said in a Jan. 11 news release, is “high quality, transit oriented development that places multistory mixed-use buildings, a parking deck, and public open space” close to the Metra station at 711 Green Bay Road, as well as the three Pace bus routes that go through the center of town.

The right development, complete with easy access to transportation and nearby shopping, entertainment and dining, will convert underdeveloped downtown land into new real estate and sales tax revenue to finance village services, he said.

“We look forward to considering those proposals that create residential, commercial and office uses more compatible with the goals, needs and character of our community,” Canning added.

Mixed-use construction could include rental housing, Community Development Director John Adler said last week.

He said the village chose to seek proposals for the property rather than simply put them up for sale, “because (Wilmette) obviously wants to have some sort of control over what is considered for the area.”

Interest in sites

“We’ve heard from a bunch of people since the village purchased the 611 Green Bay property, so we know there’s some real interest,” he added.

The proposed blend of retail, living space and parking availability lies at the heart of the Village Center plan, which the Village Board approved in January 2011 after roughly three years of study, consultant work and residential and business input.

At its heart, it’s a collection of development guidelines, traffic circulation suggestions and proposed zoning changes aimed at creating a business and pedestrian-friendly downtown.

The plan covers the largely business-zoned area bordered by Lake and Linden avenues to the north and south; 11th Street to the east; and properties west of Green Bay stretching to Park Avenue, including the subject properties.

Wilmette has owned the parking lot property for several years. It bought the long empty Wil-Shore Ford site for $3.675 million in February 2011, roughly a month after approving the plan later.

Buy halted dispute

The purchase also ended a battle with the former owners, the Wilmette Village Center LLC group. In October, the village bought the 1225 Central Ave. property for $630,000.

Financing for both was initially short term, based on the long-term municipal strategy of selling the properties.

Adler said last week that environmental studies have been done for both the Wil-Shore and Central properties.

One found evidence of possible underground fuel tanks and metal contamination from a former metal-plating facility at the Green Bay property. However, properly disposing of affected soils should remediate the site, according to Wendler Engineering Services, the company that undertook the Phase II study.

The Phase I study of the Central Avenue property, done by AES Due Diligence Inc., found that underground fuel storage tanks might still be under the property from either a former gas station or a previous auto repair business. It also found asbestos and lead-based paint in the existing storefront building.