Economic Development & Neighborhood Renewal

COMMISSION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL MEETING SUMMARY Thursday, July 21, 2016 Persons in Attendance: Executive Committee: Mayor Andrew Przybylo – Ex-Officio Charles Ostman – Executive Director Ross Klicker – Associate Executive Director Mike Shields Alan Zielinski Joe Bialko Jason Trunco Stakeholders: Julie Genualdi Iwona Filipiak Judy McNulty Barbara Nakanishi Linda Stoops Janet Lee Rich Wlodarski I. Call to Order Meeting was called to order at approximately 5:35pm. II. Presentation and Discussion of the Touhy Triangle Master Plan Scott Frères, Principal of The Lakota Group, made the presentation and led the discussion. Scott provided color handouts of the 15-page slide presentation to each attendee and used the big screen in the Council Chambers to make the presentation. Scott focused on several key slides (ii (Existing Conditions), v (Site Development Analysis Map), vi (Site Organization – including highlighting Area 1, Area 2, and Area 3), ix (Preferred Development Master Plan), and xii (Birdseye Illustration of Envisioned Entertainment District). Here are key points made by Scott during the presentation: * The Vision for this project is a combination of ‘Rosemont and Ravinia’. * A key aspect of developing this into a successful project is getting to a traffic solution to allow people to easily get in and out of this proposed new Touhy Ave. ‘Triangle District’ to ensure they enjoy their experience there. * Creating a Vision for the ‘Triangle District’ will involve a long-term implementation timeframe; this project will not be completed in the short term; it will involve some relocations and reuses of existing businesses and land and those changes will come intermittently over the years as ‘new usage’ and development opportunities arise. * This proposal, although it is quite detailed with some professionally done color renditions (slide xii a good example), is NOT a construction plan. Instead, it is meant to be ‘a realistic interpretation of what could be’. To say it another way, it is intended to get people thinking of new possibilities for this 110-acre site (between Caldwell and Lehigh and Touhy and Gross Point Road). * With the new Zoning designation passed by the Niles Village Board recently for this entire ‘Triangle District’, there is much more flexibility to take advantage of the potential opportunities – office, entertainment, retail, industrial, etc - this still untapped location with its unique combination of traffic volume (potential customers), proximity to major expressways, Chicago, and O’Hare, a landmark icon (Leaning Tower), and a willingness on the part of the Village to consider the possibilities of developing it into something special. * The Lehigh Corridor in the ‘Triangle District’ has great potential, as does the northern tip of the Triangle along Gross Point Road. The idea was not to just sell the frontage lots along Touhy to the standard ‘fast food businesses’ but to create something much more substantial, comprehensive, and appealing. * One aspect of this project will be the possibility to go vertical to avoid large parking lots such as the ones Costco and target have, thereby freeing up land for other uses and to present more green space. * The area ultimately will likely be more ‘denser’ in terms of land use and occupancy; a variation of ‘new urbanism’ in the suburbs. * It is recognized that new uses, including entertainment and retail, for this site are not currently in the public’s consciousness and therefore the development philosophy will be one of ‘Market Maker’ – the need to create an entirely new market for this site. * Although the new oval green common, with its entertainment and retail and green space is a marquee aspect of this overall ‘Triangle District’ proposal (slide xii), that common area will take up only 2-3 acres of the ‘Triangle District’s 110 acres. * Key aspects of this project’s entertainment area will be walkability and green space, two things that so many people, particularly younger people with families, crave these days. After completing his presentation the floor was opened to questions and comments: * Ross Klicker started this part of the meeting off with a thought that perhaps one type of business that could fit well into the former industrial space would be microbreweries, one of the fastest growing industries in the country these days. Perhaps there would be Individual breweries and a common taproom with unimpeded roof top views of Chicago’s skyline towards the Southeast. * Mike Shields then posed a question, not looking for a specific answer, as to what was the financial goal of this project – to bring in a certain amount of more annual tax revenue to Niles? Would that ‘financial goal’, if it existed, constrain Niles on the type of ‘tax generating businesses or organizations’ that might go into this ‘Triangle District’? Shields suggested that perhaps companies like Abbott or Abbvie might want to set up ‘a mini campus’ or a single facility of sorts, halfway between Chicago and their far north suburban corporate headquarters to mitigate time and travel issues and even help in recruitment. Also universities like Northwestern or the University of Chicago might be interested in some of the site to set up either classrooms or research facilities. Ross agreed that all things were possible, and nothing has been ruled out in terms of possible businesses or uses for this ‘Triangle District’. *Mike Shields suggested that, although he believed the project was a good one. He suggested thinking about the thought of selling the project to developers and to the public as the ‘country’s first fully self- sustaining mixed-use site’. Given that the color ‘green’ shows up extensively in the slides in terms of more ‘green space’, expanding the meaning of ‘green’ beyond that to the usage of more self-sustaining energy usage could be a powerful hook for developers and businesses. Scott responded by saying that although he appreciated the thought, almost all developers at this time are simply not looking for ‘sustainability’ to sell their developments. * Janet Lee asked about the future of the YMCA, not just where it would move to but what would happen to the people who live there now. The Mayor pointed out that the proposal did include a relocation of the current high rise Leaning Tower Y to a low-rise Y north of the current site in the ‘Triangle District’. He asked Janet if she would prefer a modern new 2-story Y facility or keeping the old and outdated one? Ross interjected that the charter of the YMCA’s National Board is not to build any more residential Y’s but to focus mainly in recreation, particularly aquatics. Janet agreed that aquatics (swimming lessons), given a reasonable price, would be quite attractive. Ross, a Board member of the Leaning Tower Y, did state that there has been no discussion at this time for the Leaning Tower Y to move to a new facility. * Joe Bialko, asked the question, given all the great Niles Park District parks and recreation facilities, including the new one on Caldwell, ‘Who is this ‘Triangle District’ for? Niles people? Ross, acknowledged that it was a good question and said that it is not being developed for Niles people alone but really being developed as a ‘regional attraction’ (to support Niles’ economic goals). * Janet Lee made another point that she finds the curved streets in Randhurst and the Rosemont Entertainment District very confusing and asked if this ‘Triangle District’ could avoid that type of confusion. Both Ross and Scott reiterated that the streets in ‘the Triangle District’ would be gridded and straight line – no curves. – to avoid driver confusion. * Mike Shields proposed that other attendees give their general view of the proposal: - Barbara Nakanishi said she liked it. - Janet Lee said she thought it was good. - Lynda Stoops said she liked it. - Iwona Filipiak said she liked it. - Julie Genualdi said it was good and agreed with the comments on the need for a new and improved Y – including a swimming pool given that the Niles Park District does not have a pool like the one a Y could provide for swimming lessons. - Alan Zielinski said he thought it was a great project. - Joe Bialko liked the proposal. * Ross said that the proposed Vision for this ‘Triangle District’ was to present it for Village Board Approval, perhaps as early as September. * Finally, Ross brought up the subject of a new METRA Station north of Shure on Lehigh being put on the RTA’s 10-year capital plan list of possible projects. He said this could be a huge game- changer if it came to fruition. He went on to talk about how downtown Palatine was transformed thirty years ago by the new expanded METRA service and additional parking and in fact the RTA worked with Palatine back then to commission a study to show where to find more parking. Jason Trunco suggested that perhaps Niles should fund a study for a new station, given its presumed benefits. Mike Shields seconded the idea. Scott Frères noted, when asked, that a study showing viability of a new Niles METRA station, including the all-important parking, might cost $100- $200K. Shields strongly suggested to both Chuck Ostman and Ross that a study should not just be mentioned as a possibility but actually recommended to the Village Board in September given its ‘game changing’ potential. IV. Other Business Ross noted that the presentation and discussion of the ‘Touhy Ave. Triangle District’ proposal had taken double the time he anticipated and therefore suggested to discuss ‘Small Business Tools’ at the next general ED & NR meeting. He then said he would quickly bring the attendees up to date on various economic development happenings around Niles recently: - Golf Mill is getting two new tenants (but still unnamed); out lots will see more building come fall. - The new Holiday Inn Express is in the final phases of completion. Janet Lee, who lives nearby, asked what was going in to the former Aldi site on Waukegan Rd; Ross mentioned a new swimming school was going in but that nothing had been seen by Niles as to what will go into the property just south of the new swimming business or when the former site of the former uniform company on Waukegan would be filled. Ross did mention that the ART, expected in 2017 along nearby Milwaukee Ave., could generate new interest along that part of Waukegan Rd. - Janet also asked what would be going into the former Lucky Magee’s OTB site. Ross said nothing had been decided although the owners of Arlington Race Track were evaluating the possibility that they might buy it and operate it as an OTB. Further on the gambling front, Ross mentioned that Niles did approve video gaming a few months ago and that 23 applications had been received by the July 11th deadline. The Niles Liquor Commissioner is sorting out the applications and make recommendations as to who will get the approved video gaming licenses. - The former Meijer store on Golf Rd. is still under lease to Meijer until 2024; Golf Glen Shopping Center, however, is about to undergo a renovation on a new façade and will see a new micro-brewery locate there – both of which will help drive more customer traffic to this location. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:50pm.