Mt. Prospect reaches settlement with Meersman family
The Mount Prospect village board on Tuesday agreed to drop its eminent domain proceedings against the Meersman family, who own properties on Northwest Highway and Busse Avenue, in return for a $1.275 million settlement for the properties that will be part of a downtown redevelopment project.
The village also will pay attorney fees and moving expenses up to $175,000.
In a 4-1 vote, the board agreed to drop the case and pay the family for the agreed-upon price. The dissenting vote came from Trustee Paul Hoefert, who said the property was not worth as much as the village is paying. He did not specify how much he thought it should cost, but added he believed it had been appraised at much less.
The settlement was not unexpected. Last month, family member Don Meersman said the family's lawyer was working on reaching a conclusion to the litigation.
The family owns three properties, 30 W. Busse Ave., where a hair salon operates, 34 W. Busse Ave., the site of a parking lot and 16 W. Northwest Highway, the Meersman law offices.
Still in play is a condemnation proceeding against Tod Curtis, who owns the building standing next door to Blues Bar. That building contains Ye Olde Town Inn, apartments, offices and retail space at 6-18 Busse Ave.
Despite the condemnation issue, Curtis, through spokesman Frank Salato, has said he intends to pursue redevelopment of his property as Gateway Centre of Mount Prospect, a seven-story residential and retail center.
The board is considering another development at that site. Northbrook developer John D. Heimbaugh, president and founder of Heimbaugh Capital Development Corp., last month presented to village officials his vision for downtown, which largely consisted of two, seven-story buildings on the 2-acre site, referred to as the small triangle. The triangle is bounded by Northwest Highway, Route 83 and Wille Street. The development would offer 105 condominiums and between 30,000 and 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.