Lisle approves redevelopment of former village hall site
Construction of an apartment and retail complex at the former village hall site in downtown Lisle is expected to begin this fall.
Lisle trustees this week approved a redevelopment agreement that paves the way for the village to sell property it owns at Main Street and Burlington Avenue to Naperville-based Marquette Companies. The land, which has been vacant since the old village hall was razed in 2003, will be sold for $1 million.
Once it acquires the property, Marquette plans to construct two multistory buildings with commercial space on the first floor and apartments above.
"This project has been a long time coming," Mayor Joseph Broda said in a statement. "But I'm convinced that in Marquette, we have a developer that will make the wait worthwhile."
At one point, another builder was planning to put a mixed-use project with condominiums, townhouses and retail space on the former village hall site.
However, Lisle officials terminated the contract in January 2011 after the builder left the location virtually untouched for more than two years.
Village officials say the improving economic conditions prompted Marquette to submit its proposal for the site, which is near the train station.
Broda says he's excited about Marquette's plan.
"I'm convinced that the entire community, especially our existing downtown businesses, will benefit from this high-quality project," he said.
As part of the plan, one of the buildings will front Main. It will have three floors and step up to five floors to the east. The second building along Burlington will be five stories tall.
The buildings will have 14,500 square feet of commercial, retail and restaurant space on the ground floors and a total of 201 luxury rental apartments on the upper levels. The buildings also will have 252 parking spaces.
Both buildings will be separated by Spencer Avenue. Trustees this week agreed to vacate that short stretch of road so it can be included in the redevelopment. Marquette will put a pedestrian walkway in the right of way.
During the time village officials reviewed the plan, some residents raised concerns about the height and density of the project. They argued the buildings were too large for the roughly 2.3-acre site.
Trustees supported the project, despite the concerns.
Village officials repeatedly have said downtown businesses would benefit from the influx of residents the apartments will bring.
"When you add 200-plus units to the downtown and those folks will be able to patronize the local restaurants and other shops, that will help," Community and Economic Development Director Tony Budzikowski said Wednesday.
Budzikowski said the project also will bring new businesses to the downtown. He said there's already interest in opening a restaurant, a coffee shop and a health club in the buildings.There's also hope that Marquette's project will inspire others to pursue redevelopment opportunities in downtown Lisle.
"We're hoping that seeing construction occurring (at the former village hall site) will attract other developers to look at the downtown," Budzikowski said.
Budzikowski said construction of Marquette's project is expected to start in late September or early October. If that happens, it's estimated the work will be completed in December 2016.
Complex: 201 luxury rentals part of the plan