Mt. Prospect triangle plan up for debate

Mount Prospect aims to make the area of downtown known as the "small triangle" a restaurant and entertainment hub.

The cornerstone of that vision, developer Errol Oztekin's Blues Bar, at 2 W. Busse Ave., is nearing completion. But much work remains, while the real activity is largely happening behind closed doors.

Mount Prospect Community Development Director William Cooney said the village is working with Oztekin, and Oztekin's prospective partner, Skokie-based Heimbaugh Capital Development Corp., to finalize a development agreement and a development plan for the triangle.

Oztekin is the main landowner in the triangle, which is bound by Route 83, Busse Avenue, Wille Street and Northwest Highway.

Cooney said the goal would be to start construction probably in 2009.

"There will be a public process," he said. "There has been no final decision made on anything. The board is reviewing options for the redevelopment of the entire area."

Heimbaugh is the developer of the 32-acre Chinatown Square project, built on the old Santa Fe railroad yards on Chicago's near South Side.

The firm's president, John Heimbaugh, confirmed he has been in discussions with Oztekin.

"We have had serious conversations and we are very interested," he said, but added, "The village owns a sizable chunk of the land. It's a complicated transaction."

Meanwhile, the village is still involved in eminent domain litigation over properties on both Busse Avenue and Northwest Highway.

A trial date is about to be set on the case involving property owned by the Meersman family, including the family law office on Northwest Highway and Josie's Barber Shop on Busse Avenue. And recently, the village board approved moving to acquire the Ye Olde Town Inn property to the west of Blues Bar.

Tod Curtis, owner of Ye Olde Town Inn, has filed a lawsuit against Oztekin, alleging trespass to his property during construction of Blues Bar and charging that an employee of Ye Olde Town Inn fell into a hole dug by construction workers.

Oztekin was unavailable for comment Thursday, but in past interviews, he has repudiated other Curtis claims.