Developers present design for Giesche Shoes site
Developers say their plans for the former Giesche Shoes site in Glen Ellyn will blend with the architecture of downtown, but some residents and officials still have concerns.
Representatives from The Opus Group met with the village's architectural review commission to discuss their design for the proposed development that would cover the Giesche property, a former rectory and the Main Street, Glenwood Avenue and St. Petronille Parish parking lots.
The proposal calls for a five-story mixed-use development containing residential units and some ground-floor retail space along with a new public parking structure.
Village planner Michele Stegall said the project potentially could generate additional parking and revenue for the village. More apartments in the downtown area also would add residents who could help support the business community, she said.
The preliminary architectural designs call for a building with five facades fronting Main Street that feature Tudor, Italianate and Italian Renaissance architectural styles.
Chris Hurst, the lead designer, said the Tudor sections pay homage to nearby buildings.
"Our neighbors are Tudor and it's a very important part of downtown Glen Ellyn," Hurst said. "These historic buildings across the street, we don't want to ignore them, we want to incorporate them."
The design also calls for a promenade between the building and Santa Fe restaurant and a tower structure with a clock face.
Concerns with the project were far-ranging.
Architectural Review Commissioner Mark Senak said the design lacks retail space from the middle of the block on Main Street to Hillside Avenue.
"I'm not really inclined to sacrifice a potential sales tax that comes from that retail space in return for what is in your proposal: parking," Senak said.
Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Lee Marks said the design needs a few architectural fixes, but a big concern is the mass of the building. He said the developers should consider anything to "alleviate the appearance of height."
"The residents are very, very concerned," Marks said. "They're telling us we don't want to live in downtown Lombard surrounded by condos and overly tall buildings or downtown Arlington Heights."
Architectural Review Commission Chairman James Burdett said he liked the different facades but would prefer the Tudor sections use more brick than stucco.
Commissioner Sharon Wussow said she doesn't want the Tudor sections to look like carbon copies of one another.
"We talk about Glen Ellyn and its historic character and I just do not feel this building fits in with the character," Historic Preservation Commission member Christine Wilson said. "And I can't get past the size, I'm sorry, I just can't get past it."