Wheaton sells long-vacant Main Street building
A city-owned building that has stood vacant for roughly two decades in downtown Wheaton has been sold to a developer who plans to open a Vietnamese restaurant in the space.
While the sale of the building for $160,111 was unanimously approved by the city council earlier this month, it creates one problem: the restaurant, Luong-Loi, is already located in the downtown area, just a few doors down from its future home at 111-113 N. Main St. When the move occurs, Luong-Loi will leave behind a new vacant storefront at 110 N. Main St.
City officials started soliciting proposals for what could be done to the property this spring. The hope was to sell the two-store brick building "as-is" to someone who would convert the ground floor into a retail use and the second floor into an office or residential unit - which is exactly what the new owners plan to do.
The city gained ownership of the 3,200-square-foot property in 2006, after six years of condemnation proceedings. Director of Planning Jim Kozik said the process began because the city was upset with the previous owner's failure to develop the property.
City Manager Don Rose said six proposals were received and those were narrowed to two serious considerations - the Vietnamese restaurant and a vinyl record shop, which opened on Front Street instead.
"They're anxious to get in there as quickly as possible," Rose said. "We're waiting on the closing until they get their financing. They were hoping to get that done and the closing done early next year."
Joseph Mahady was the only resident to speak out against the sale of the property during a city council meeting earlier this month. He said he felt the city could have received more money if the building was sold to someone else.
"I am getting quite concerned about the uses of the downtown spaces that we have going," he said, adding that he thinks there are "too many restaurants and salons" in the area already. "It's not a good location for a restaurant, and I don't think it's going to encourage our other restaurant businesses."