Alderman Mark Mulliner Wants to 'Slow Down,' Rethink Addison Avenue Project

Since Elmhurst's Zoning and Planning Commission last month denied Addison Corridor Development LLC its request to build a six-story building at 135-149 N. Addison Ave., at least one Elmhurst alderman is suggesting the city "slow down" and take a fresh look at the property.

During discussion at Monday's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee meeting about whether to recommend a fourth extension to the contract with Addison LLC, committee member Mark Mulliner said much has changed since the first letter of agreement with the developer in 2009.

"I think there are a number of things that have changed in the core block, enough that we need to take a different look at this," Mulliner said, citing vacant businesses downtown, including Plass Appliances. "We probably need to look at zoning in that area to provide flexibility so developers don't have to fight for different things."

He said there is potential for the "doughnut hole" in the center of the block, which currently is used for rear access to businesses and parking, to be put to better use and "potentially open up the Schiller Walkway."

"We need to take a step back, take a deep breath," Mulliner said. "Let's see what we really want to do here then let developers come back and give us some creative ideas. There are a lot of possibilities on that block, and even extending further than that block. Why lock ourselves in and say we're going to build a garage with a fancy facade that will basically look like the Schiller (parking) deck?"

Mulliner suggested black-topping the area for a year. With stormwater remediation on the city's plate at a cost of tens of millions of dollars, the city shouldn't rush into spending another $10 million on the Addison project, he said. The city owns the property in question.

"If changing the zoning entices a business to come in and put in something completely different, and we don't have to dump $10 million into it, this is a good opportunity," he said. 

Committee Chairman Scott Levin said he doesn't think there's been a marked change in the downtown just because businesses leave Elmhurst. He said the city has a "critical need" for parking.

"Every time we delay, we hear stories of businesses that do not want to renew leases because there is not enough parking downtown," he said. "The property has been acquired, the leases ran out and now we're ready to meet the need that was identified long ago."

He said the parking problem has only gotten worse downtown, and new businesses will create a demand for more parking for customers and employees. "Condos won't solve the problem," he said.

"To have a paved-over lot in our City Centre, when there are other properties coming on without addressing the parking need after so many years of planning is not the way to go," he said.

Committee member Dannee Polomsky said parking and new ideas for the project can go hand-in-hand.

"I would like to hear more ideas about changing zoning … and something more creative in that area," she said.

Mulliner said he recognizes the need for more parking, but he said he is "not convinced" businesses are struggling solely due to a lack of parking.

"Not every problem in the downtown is a parking problem," he said. "I know of a restaurant that blamed the city for closing down, and we had nothing to do with it. I listen to those concerns, but there are other issues that go on when running a business."

Committee members agreed to recommend extending the contract with Addison LLC a fourth time, and to continue discussing options for the site. In the meantime, it's up to Addison LLC to come back to the city with a revised plan for the property. The contract extension would allow the development company to do that.

Resident Tamara Brenner voiced her opposition to continuing the contract.

"This is not a straightforward project, even if it stays at four stories," she said.

Read more about the Addison Avenue project:

• Residents Speak of Broken Rules, Sweetheart Deals and Conspiracy at Zoning Meeting
• Minutes and Tapes of Closed Sessions Regarding Addison Avenue Project Made Public
• Hear Discussions from Closed Session Meetings on Addison Avenue Development Project
• Developer of Addison Project is Granted More Time to Prepare for Hearing on Building Height
• Developers of Addison Project Tackle Residents' Concerns at Public Hearing
• Residents' Opinions of Downtown Six-story Structure Unchanged After Public Hearing
• Six-story Building on Addison Gets a Big 'No' from Elmhurst Zoning Commission