Published March 22, 2007
Hinsdale Club revisions earn village
support
By
Pamela Lannom
plannom@thehinsdalean.com
The third time was the charm
for Foxford LLC.
The third version of The Hinsdale Club, a planned unit development
for almost 20 acres north of Ogden Avenue, has passed
the first two hurdles for village approval.
Plan commissioners voted 6-1 to recommend the plan after the third
public hearing on the project March 14. The proposal’s
next stop was at Monday’s zoning and public safety
committee meeting, where members voted 4-0 to recommend
the plan to the full village board.
“I did not like this thing the first time,” ZPS Chairman Coleman
Tuggle said, referring to an initial plan that called
for 10- and 12-story condo buildings, a 12-story hotel
and a freestanding pharmacy. He praised the plan
commission for its work.
“I think community input really made a big difference with the
final product here, so I’m supportive as well,” he said.
The plan commission must approve its findings on the development
April 11 before the full village board can vote on it.
The board meets April 17 and May 1.
Monday’s night’s crowd was far smaller than those at the public
hearings. Only two residents spoke against the project
Monday, down from nine at the March public hearing.
For the first time at that hearing, audience members spoke in
support of the project. Jim McMahon, co-chairman of the
Ogden Avenue solutions exploration group; Paul Sigfusson,
park and recreation commission chairman; Kevin Kane,
village finance commission chairman; and Dave Friedman,
chairman of the northtown solutions exploration group
and part of the strategic planning committee, all argued
for its approval. So did Jackson Street resident Dave
Nelson.
“I’m just excited that this project could possibly happen, mainly
because it’s going to be a destination where you can go
to a restaurant,” he said. “There’s going to be retail.
My family can stay at a hotel when they come to visit.”
The residents who spoke against the project cited concerns that
have been raised before — primarily density and traffic
and questions about whether the development is
appropriate for Hinsdale.
Plan commissioners decided it is.
“Each time the developer has come back with something better than
the last time,” plan commission Chairman Laura LaPlaca
said March 14. “At a certain point, it is their best
offer, and I think the fact that they came down
significantly in height on all the buildings, including
the hotel, is really positive.”
Commissioner Dennis Parsons said the plan’s architecture improved
1,000 percent.
“I think overall it’s a lot better than what we saw at the
beginning and it’s definitely more in keeping with the
Hinsdale environment,” he said.
Commissioners agreed the revenue The Hinsdale Club would generate
is needed in the village. Projections show the
development generating $1.1 million a year for the
village, $1.3 million for Community Consolidated
Elementary District 181 and $833,000 for Hinsdale High
School District 86. The estimates take into account
additional costs the development might mean for each of
the taxing districts.
“It’s certainly about the money,” Commissioner Neal said. “Right
now, the buildings there are generating no revenue or
are revenue neutral. This project certainly would
provide revenue.”
The winning proposal
Foxford’s latest plan for
The Hinsdale Club shows several changes from the plan
presented at the March 14 public hearing.
The condo buildings are shorter and the number of living units has
been reduced from 298 to 271. Parking near the
three-story mixed-use building east of Salt Creek Lane
was moved underground.
The latest revision calls for the following:
• a 6/7-story condo building with 54 units
wrapped in 14 townhouse units at the north end of the
site
• a 7/8-story condo building with 60 units
wrapped in 10 townhouse units and six work-live units on
the west side of the site that allow for professional
work space below with living space above
• a 7/8-story condo building with 58 units
wrapped in 11 townhouse units and eight work-live units
in the middle of the site
• a nine-story hotel with 180 rooms east of Salt
Creek Lane toward the rear of the site
• a three-story mixed-use building at Elm Street
and Ogden Avenue with 9,780 square feet of retail and
restaurant space and 20 condo units above
• a three-story mixed-use building along Ogden
with 17,600 square feet of retail and restaurant space
with 30 condo units above
• a three-story mixed-use building on Ogden east
of Salt Creek Lane with 22,700 square feet of
first-floor retail space, 12,780 square feet of
second-floor office space and 12,780 square feet of
third-floor office space.
