Palatine OKs developer's scaled-down plans

A Palatine townhouse development that quickly stalled after its approval five years ago is finally moving forward - albeit with more modest amenities.

Dagan Park Estates, located on Maple Avenue at the northwest corner of Northwest Highway and Quentin Road, originally called for 23 luxury units with a $490,000 price point. Less than half have been built due to the economic downturn, developer Jerry Balog said.

On Monday, the village council approved Balog's redesigned request to construct 25 units to be priced around $300,000, making it the development with the highest density of dwellings per acre in the area. The future units will be shorter in length and narrower, though they'll maintain a similar exterior architectural facade.

Balog said that while there's no way for him and his wife to eliminate their losses to date, the village's cooperation on his modified development will mitigate future expenses. Balog has built just nine units thus far, selling five of them and renting one.

Balog's first move is to demolish the current sales office on Northwest Highway by June 30. The updated planned unit development requires he complete the project by January 2012.

Councilman Aaron Del Mar was concerned about Balog's intention to use alternative materials to lower costs, saying he didn't want to see wood and stucco when the current units have mostly masonry work. But Balog said he'd still use a similar brick and proposed major changes to the exterior be made to rears of the units.

Councilman Brad Helms was reluctant to add a caveat that Balog couldn't use any different materials, saying that could financially "make or break the deal."

In the end, Village Manager Reid Ottesen recommended the council approve the modified development, saying Balog has to use comparable materials unless he submits a specific plan for village approval.