Five Developers Present Their Best Ideas for the Hahn Street Project This Week

While Elmhurst aldermen continue to debate a parking and retail development on Addison Avenue, five developers are preparing to present their plans for another Elmhurst development area: Hahn Street.

A Little History

Planning for the Hahn Street development, bounded by North Avenue, Addison Avenue, York Road and Third Street, began in 2006. A purchase agreement was signed in 2008 with Morningside Group, which originally was planning condominiums, townhomes and retail businesses for the site. Morningside also developed Crescent Court Condominiums in Elmhurst.

Due to economic difficulties, Morningside scaled down their plans for Hahn and ultimately had to abandon it. The City of Elmhurst ended its contract with Morningside at the company's request in early 2012. 

About a year ago, a consultant hired by the city said the best use for the property would be apartments, but aldermen were not fond of that idea. Since then, the city took the Hahn properties out of the downtown tax increment financing district, TIF 1, and added them to TIF 4, which extends from Grand Avenue to the south end of the Hahn project. They city also sent out new requests for proposals to developers for the languishing property.

If You Go...

Monday, Sept. 9

• 8 p.m. Morningside Group
• 9 p.m. Jupiter Realty Corp.

Tuesday, Sept. 10

• 7 p.m. Lincoln Property Co.
• 8 p.m. Buckingham Companies
• 9 p.m. Banner Apartments LLC

The city is encouraging residents to attend the presentations, which will be held in the council chambers, at 209 N. York St. All presentations will be recorded and available for viewing on the Elmhurst You Tube channel within 48 hours.

Committee Meetings

Prior to Monday's presentation, the city's four standing committees will meet at 7 p.m. Their agendas are as follows:

Public Affairs and Safety Committee will discuss the York and Vallette Fall Fest.

Finance, Council Affairs and Administrative Services Committee members will continue their review of GASB statements regarding financial reporting for pension plans and alternative funding scenarios.

Development, Planning and Zoning Committee will look at a request for a front yard setback variation for an unenclosed front porch at 666 S. Hillside Ave. The Zoning Board of Appeals has signed off on the variance.

The Zoning Committee also will discuss a request from Lakeside Bank for a conditional use to allow drive-through banking and a variation for a wall sign at its proposed bank at 165 S. York St. The Zoning Board of Appeals also has signed off on both of these requests.

The Zoning Committee also will discuss the city's marketing efficiency, and a strategy going forward.

Public Works and Buildings Committee has six items on its agenda, and they all have to do with flood remediation:

• Stormwater update
• Sanitary update—private sector sanitary flow reduction investigation, RJN proposal
• 2013 watermain improvements project
• Saylor/Jackson lift station force main replacement project
• Saylor Avenue dry weather force main resident engineering services
• Storm and sanitary sewer repair on Sunnyside Avenue.

Public comment is welcome at all committee meetings.