Neighbors Oppose Planned La Grange 4-Story Building

LA GRANGE, IL – Neighbors of a proposed four-story building containing apartments and businesses said Tuesday it was a bad fit and would worsen parking, traffic and stormwater flow.

But the developer's representatives countered the building follows the village's nearly two-decade-old plan, which calls for developing the west end.

About 75 people attended a public hearing at Village Hall about the building, which would take up 811 to 901 W. Hillgrove Ave.

It would involve razing three buildings, which include such entities as the Boys Scouts of America and the Bernard Martin Law Office.

The hearing was before the village's Plan Commission, which makes recommendations to the elected Village Board.

Troy Pavelka, an architect who lives on La Grange's Arlington Avenue, speaks against a proposed four-story building Tuesday at a Plan Commission meeting. (David Giuliani/Patch)

The developer, 817-821 West Hillgrove LLC, is seeking a taller building and more density than the village's code allows. It also is requesting a waiver from the rule requiring 1.5 parking spaces for every tenant.

The plan is for businesses on the first floor and 31 apartments in the rest of the building.

"There has been very little development on the west end," said attorney Tim Foley of La Grange's Fornaro Law, which represents the developer. "I know it's not for a lack of effort, but you have to ask why. Part of it is because it's hard. It's tough walking into a new area, an area that's established, where very few properties are available."

Village officials said they have been working with the developer on the project for two years. However, neighbors said they didn't find out about it until the last few weeks.

During the hearing, Troy Pavelka, a resident on nearby Arlington Avenue, said he drafted a petition against the proposal, drawing 171 signatures in the last couple of weeks.

The petition states the scale of the development seems out of character with the neighborhood and that the building's materials are inconsistent with the look and feel of the area.

The document says the development does not include enough parking spots for an area already struggling with the issue. And it notes the developer designates no parking for the businesses.

Pavelka, an architect and a former member of La Grange's Design Review Commission, said he was surprised the developer's architect didn't consider whether the building's materials fit into the neighborhood.

"As an architect, I don't see how that's possible," Pavelka said.

Steve Palmer, former owner of Palmer Place Restaurant in downtown La Grange, supported the project, saying the town desperately needs it.

"This project is not perfect. In general, I'm thrilled to death that a developer has brought a project like this," said Palmer, who lives a couple of blocks away on 41st Street. "This is definitely needed on the west end."

Apartments, he said, bring "walking people" who patronize nearby businesses such as restaurants, which he said were big sales tax producers.

Palmer said arguments against the development were legitimate "to an extent," but he said similar cases have been made against other proposed condo and apartment buildings in town.

"These buildings have done nothing but bring great things to town," he said.

A Plan Commission member asked whether the developer considered open space in the development.

In response, Adam Codilis, a lawyer who has an ownership interest in 817-821 West Hillgrove LLC, said it would be hard to include such space. The firm, he said, has already reduced its proposal to four stories, from five. And he said the firm cut the number of apartments to make way for more parking.

Those reductions, he said, would mean less income for the business.

"We don't know that we can go any smaller," Codilis said. "To me, this building fits within the area."

Another attorney for the developer, Phil Fornaro, a La Grange resident, said it was difficult to be a developer, especially with rising construction costs.

"This is a huge risk to be developing this lot, and he's willing to do it," said Fornaro, referring to Codilis.

He continued, "I'm all for him, not as his attorney but as a resident."

The Plan Commission did not make a decision Tuesday. It requested a few things from the developer, including more information on stormwater control and samples of the materials to be used in the building.

Members also said they wanted to hear from the developer's traffic and parking consultant.

The next meeting on the four-story building is set for 7 p.m. May 14 at Village Hall.