Dundee Commons proposed to anchor Wheeling Town Center and honor late trustee
In the heart of Wheeling's Town Center Development area, at the northeast corner of Dundee Road and Northgate Parkway, sits five acres of prime, long-vacant property.
It is now poised to become Dundee Commons, a contemporary mixed-use planned development. The proposed complex will add another key piece to the overall Wheeling Town Center Development, as envisioned and championed by the late Wheeling Trustee Trevor Lehmann.
The contemporary buildings, ample green space and amenities are designed to offer both modern residential housing and convenient retail to an intersection often referred to as Wheeling's "corner of Main & Main."
Cedar Street Companies is the Developer of Record. An award-winning firm, Cedar Street has a long-term commitment to Wheeling. The company has owned the property at the northeast corner of Dundee and Milwaukee since 2010, and has been working alongside the village to achieve mutual redevelopment goals for the site. In March 2014, Cedar Street acquired the lot at 370 West Dundee (as part of the Dundee Commons development parcel) and is very enthusiastic about moving forward with Wheeling on the Town Center Development project.
Internationally renowned architectural firm Smith Group JJR is a key partner in the project. Smith Group associate and landscape architect Randy Machelski is the team leader on the proposal. Both Cedar Street and Smith Group are excited about the opportunity to participate in this Village of Wheeling renaissance-level project - creating a new, vibrant Town Center.
The Dundee Commons proposal calls for fronting Dundee Road with a modern brick, steel and aluminum building containing 12,000 square feet of retail space. Commitments have already been obtained for a full 50 percent occupancy. There will be 38 rental units plus an interior community space available for use by the resident community. Renters will benefit from the proposed 18 garage and 48 surface parking spaces.
Rowhomes and carriage homes will compose the larger owner-occupied elements of Dundee Commons. Carriage homes will feature front entry garages and row-home garages will have rear entrances. Each style includes two-car garage parking, plus two surface spaces per home, along with ample guest parking. The plan is uniquely in line as a transportation-oriented development - there is pedestrian access to the nearby Metra nearby and easy motorist access to major thoroughfares.
The spacious floor plans for the rowhomes and carriage homes range from 1,480 to 2,150 square feet and offer 2 bedroom/2 bath or 3 bedroom/2.5 bath options. This variety provides the elements to create a neighborhood feeling, with home size accommodations for every demographic. Young singles, mature seniors and families alike will find well-suited accommodations at Dundee Commons. Homes will access a rooftop patio or, if desired, can allow for an additional story to provide more indoor living space. These homes will meet high energy efficient standards. Interiors will feature stainless steel appliances - including washer and dryer, natural stone finishes, and high-quality fixtures throughout.
The planned exterior will be surrounded with recreational green space. The proposal to be considered by the village includes picnic areas, patios, two gazebos, two firepits, a dog park, walking path and butterfly garden. Close and convenient to additional retail, dining and entertainment, the complex is expected to bring 125,000 square feet of new retail space online over the next 2 or 3 years. New dining options include the American Family Restaurant, currently in the planning and development stage, and there is a nine-screen first run cineplex currently under construction.
The late Village of Wheeling Trustee, Trevor Lehmann, originally owned the land now proposed to hold Dundee Commons. Lehmann envisioned and championed the Town Center concept. It was his dream to create a true downtown, a gathering area for the Village of Wheeling. To date, the vast majority of Wheeling's development has focused almost exclusively on the east side of the village along Milwaukee Avenue, with little attention to the west side over the past decade. To honor Lehmann and his vision, the proposal includes naming a street within Dundee Commons in his memory. It will bear the name "Trevor Way."
View an artist's rendering of Dundee Commons and an aerial view of the proposed development in Wheeling's Town Center here: www.flickr.com/photos/98691945@N08/sets/72157689720338174