'A Proud Development:' Council Raves Over Rec League On 1st Reading

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Plans to build The Rec League, a two-story restaurant with outdoor dining and a glass, wood and stone facade reflecting " a California mountain vernacular," received favorable feedback from village commissioners Tuesday night. The development, helmed by the team behind Cadence Kitchen and The Foxtail, would occupy a now-vacant lot at 844 Warren Ave.

During Tuesday's first reading, Commissioner Michael Davenport praised the concept as a "good compliment to the Tivoli," which is located

Davenport said he envisions The Rec League as a sort of "catalyst" for the area "developing into a sort of entertainment destination… district of sorts, especially if we look at how things might develop going east toward Fairview Avenue."

A planned unit development (PUD) had been approved for the lot in 2019, though that restaurant project never panned out. The planned unit development presented for approval by The Rec League is fairly similar to the prior PUD, Community Development Director Stan Popovich said, when concerns about stormwater management were brought up by Commissioner Chris Gilmartin.

Popovich said the site had been paved before, but petitioners are still "accounting for" stormwater management." The restaurant's patio will be permeable to help mitigate stormwater, petitioners said at the meeting.

Gilmartin still praised the project, saying, "This is a repeat investor in our community, a group that has provided us with two amazing restaurants downtown. I think this is going to top both of them."

Concerns about an increase in pedestrian traffic were also brought up during the meeting, but commissioners appeared to agree that it is a wider issue to consider in the future as the area continues to develop.

Commissioner Martin Tully said there are "some other issues that we need to discuss with increased activity of volume of pedestrians and cars and other things on the north side of the tracks, but I think it’s a bigger issue for the council to discuss and shouldn’t in any way, shape or form prohibit this project from going forward."

Tully also praised the building's design, calling it "an absolutely stunningly gorgeous building."

He said the development will be "another step in a long, multi-year process to make downtown, not only make it look better, but make it a true destination."

Related: The Rec League Gets Positive Rec From Downers Grove Zoning Commission