Des Plaines rezones former Littelfuse site as residential
A 20-acre former industrial site in Des Plaines vacant for the last seven years could soon become home to a new $90 million residential development, following initial approval by the city council Monday.
Buckingham Properties plans to construct 24 townhouse buildings with 127 units and a five-story apartment building with 270 units on the site of the former Littelfuse property at 800 E. Northwest Hwy.
The council voted 5-4 on a first reading vote to change zoning of the property from manufacturing to residential, while also approving a variation to allow the homes to be built on smaller lot sizes than what is required by code. Mayor Matt Bogusz cast the tiebreaking vote.
“I don't think we should continue to talk about the prospect of a commercial or industrial tenant since there hasn't been a viable one since this property has been on the market,” Bogusz said. “This is the best use for this parcel moving forward.”
Some aldermen have held out hope that a business come to the property, but the Realtor marketing the property, Dan Benassi of Entre Commercial Realty, said 90 percent of inquiries have been for residential uses.
Benassi also said CBRE, another commercial real estate firm, tried to market the property to potential commercial and industrial users from 2007 to 2013 without success.
“We're not rocket scientists, but when 100 people call and it's all residential, we're just reacting to the market,” Benassi said. “It seems in our experience, it's the highest and best use of the property.”
The site was sold to Four Peaks LLC in 2013 and has been under contract with Buckingham for the last year.
Alderman Jim Brookman, who voted against the project, said the real estate market has been a “disaster” since 2008, so changing the zoning to residential now resists potential future offers for industrial or commercial use.
He also raised potential traffic concerns with a residential development. Littelfuse had an officer to direct traffic when workers arrived and left every day, but residents would be coming and going at all times, Brookman said.
Alderman Patti Haugeberg, another opponent of the plans, noted a letter from Pace Suburban Bus, which has its bus garage next to the Littelfuse site and raised concerns with the project.
The council will take a final vote on the project Oct. 19.