Des Plaines alderman meet behind closed doors to hear plans for intersection
Des Plaines aldermen met behind closed doors for more than three hours Tuesday, with multiple developers looking to revitalize the dilapidated northeast corner of Mannheim and Higgins roads.
In a special committee of the whole meeting, aldermen voted to immediately enter executive session, where they listened to presentations from four developers hoping to revive the 4.4 acres of land the city purchased in 2010.
Presenters included the Jaffe Cos., a developer of shopping centers and mixed-use projects, which has proposed a $500,000 purchase of the land; Green Courte Partners LLC, which manages parking garages and proposed $921,000; Pearlshire Capital Group, a hotel owner, for $1 million; and RSMY Fuels LLC for $2 million.
Those general proposals from the developers were first made public in April, but Tuesday was the first time aldermen heard more specific plans. The plans have not yet been made public.
Several proposals have fallen through in the past. A proposal to build a seven-story parking garage, nine-story hotel and 4,000-square-foot fast food restaurant on the property fell through in 2012.
Depending on the size of the eventually accepted proposal, Des Plaines could also build on the 3.7 acres of land owned by the Rosemont Park District just east of the corner. Park district officials have said they could sell if Des Plaines secures a large development.
Because the entire meeting was in executive session, Alderman James Brookman said council members could not discuss the meeting, but he left optimistic.
“The groups did a good job presenting … but I can't talk specifics,” he said. “We're moving forward.”