A Shadow Across the Alley

Wilmette is hosting the developers of the old Ford dealership, Wilmette Village Center, LLC, as they unveil their plans next Thursday, April 20th at village hall from 4 to 8 pm.

At issue is whether the PUD (Planned Unit Development) ordinance, which has been on the books for years, will be implemented. Up until now the community has resisted building height beyond 3 stories in the village center and 2 along Green Bay Rd. The developers want to take the building to 5 stories, with retail on the first floor and condos above that, stating they need that height for the project to be profitable for them. This is an example of a 3-story building, not the full 5, jammed up to the sidewalk on Central St., Evanston.



The developers would also like to take over the entire block, but have said they will not pursue eminent domain, in concert with the village, to force existing private property owners out. But they keep mentioning the phrase publicly.....


Here is a picture of the site looking across at village hall showing contaminated soil piled up next to exposed fuel tanks. See earlier post here.







The village is also involved in talks about development of the former Kohl Children's Museum site as a "mixed-use" development. No word yet on the ultimate height of that building.


The village consultant's report looks at the entire length of Green Bay Rd. in Wilmette for possible redevelopment, with the village taking a pro-active role in encouraging higher density use. This strip of commercial buildings along Green Bay is mostly a narrow one, with single family homes on the other side of the alley. Putting tall buildings all along here would create an urban canyon, and cast nearby homes into shadow.


Here is the relevant zoning map (GC 1, click to enlarge). This may also affect development in West Wilmette ( GC2, click to enlarge) under the village's newly amended, high-density, subsidized housing plan (See page 5, Section 5).

This kind of proposed high-density development is a sharp departure from Wilmette's village plan to date. The current philosophy is on the village website:

Zoning is an instrument utilized by the Village to control the use and development of land in such a way as to promote the community welfare and to protect the health and safety of our residents. The Zoning Ordinance limits use and density to insure compatibility with existing development.

At the same time the village is establishing historic districts, village officials are pushing for this high-density development. It would be built along our narrow arterial corridor, hemmed in by train tracks on the other side. And eventually, according to this plan, would encroach on our single family homes close to Green Bay Rd and by the old tracks in West Wilmette.....

dividing our town into the haves and have nots.