Published Sept. 18, 2008
Hinsdale Club developers
scale back again
By
Christine Cuthbert
ccuthbert@thehinsdalean.com
High construction costs have led The Hinsdale Club
developers to scale back the size of their project once
more.
During a public hearing before the plan commission Sept. 10,
attorney Bruce Goldsmith proposed doing away with the
underground parking structure as well as two stories of
office space above store fronts in building F at Ogden
Avenue and Salt Creek Lane.
“Costs have increased substantially for concrete and steal,” said
Goldsmith, who represents the developer, Foxford LLC.
“Six months ago we priced out asphalt, and already since
then it has had a 20 percent increase.”
With only one floor, the building will now stand 39 feet high
instead of the original 52 feet. Despite the lower
height, the proposed upscale hotel behind the retail
space will not be visible to passersby on Ogden,
Goldsmith said. Since the development sits at the
village’s eastern gateway, Foxford also made adjustments
to assure the street side of the property remains
aesthetically pleasing.
“There will be low lying vegetation and canopy trees,” Goldsmith
said. “You’ll have 20 foot trees from the beginning of
the project. It has been upgraded to enhance the
landscaping so we have a very nice streetscape on Ogden
and the Salt Creek side.”
Space in the first floor of the building that would have been used
for lobbies and elevators leading to the second and
third floors now will be used for extra retail space.
Goldsmith said the village still will receive roughly
$100,000 in annual tax revenue from the development.
Knowing the village will still benefit financially from the
development sat well with Commission Chairman Laura
LaPlaca.
“There was some concern just looking at the benefit versus the
detriment to the village at making these changes at this
time,” LaPlaca said. “I understand the concern of the
economics of it. The major economic component to the
village is generated by the retail space, and the retail
space has been increased.”
Foxford plans to begin construction on building F this fall and
already has potential upscale tenants, according to
Goldsmith. Board members Neale Byrnes, Doug Geoga and
Lisa Moore voiced concerns regarding who will fill the
space.
“It’s going to be a gateway, so obviously you don’t want empty
store fronts,” Moore said.
Goldsmith urged the commission to have faith in the developer and
the village’s name recognition.
“What’s going to drive the retail here is the pricing,” he said.
“The rent is substantial and it’s going to drive the
type of tenant.”
After two hours of discussion, the commission approved Foxford’s
changes with a 5-1 vote. The request still must be
approved by the full village board.
This is the second time this year that Foxford has downsized its
plans. In April, as a part of a settlement between the
village, Foxford and residents named in a lawsuit,
Foxford agreed to lower the height of several buildings
and cut the number of residential dwellings from 271 to
145. Foxford first approached the village with plans to
build The Hinsdale Club in September 2006.
