Alderman vows to keep Pace out of former Salvation Army property in Des Plaines
Pace Suburban Bus is making an offer to buy the Salvation Army property in Des Plaines, but the likelihood of bus noise and fumes in neighboring backyards has residents and the local alderman prepared for a fight.
"What I do know is that every single resident of the 8th Ward who is close to that will be fighting tooth and nail to stop Pace from coming in there," said Alderman Mike Charewicz. His west side ward includes the 17-acre Salvation Army property at the northwest corner of Algonquin and Mount Prospect roads.
The land was originally part of the large Universal Oil Products (UOP) headquarters campus on that corner.
"I could not support a bus shop being put in that proximity," Charewicz. (The property) is basically three sides surrounded by residential, and nobody's going to want it."
Pace's board of directors this week directed their staff to extend an offer for the property, in hopes of relocating the bus agency's Northwest suburban garage from 900 E. Northwest Hwy. in Des Plaines. The agency has been looking throughout the Northwest suburbs for a new spot for its growing bus operations.
The potential deal with Salvation Army is contingent on Pace inspecting the property and also securing approval from city officials, according to Patrick Wilmot, a Pace spokesman.
"Our board is made up of current and former mayors and it was very important to the board members that we do work with the city and get their approval," Wilmot said. "We believe it's a good plan. We want to make sure we are a good neighbor and will appreciate the opportunity to work with the neighbors and the alderman to hear their concerns."
Salvation Army could accept or reject Pace's offer, or come back with a counter offer of their own.
Wilmot didn't reveal the amount of the offer.
But in order for the deal to go through, Pace has to petition the city council to remove a planned unit development designation put on the property in 1979, according to George Sakas, the city's director of community and economic development.
The property is zoned for industrial use, but any changes made to the site, including demolition or construction of buildings, would require the old PUD to be removed, Sakas said.
There's currently three office buildings there, and Pace officials anticipate demolishing some of them. The exact placement of a new bus garage hasn't been determined, but Wilmot said there may be design elements architects can work into their plans to alleviate neighbors' concerns.
Pace has 127 buses at its Des Plaines garage, and has plans to expand its fleet. Most buses are done operating by 10 p.m., though some routes go until midnight. Service on some lines starts at 5 a.m.
Charewicz, who is also chairman of the city council's community development committee, favors a use for the property similar to what has been there, such as an assisted living facility. He previously favored converting the buildings into a new Des Plaines city hall and police station, but as reported by the Daily Herald in June, the estimated $8 million price tag - plus another $3 million to $4 million for renovations - was deemed by city officials to be too much.
Sakas said Pace isn't the only one interested in the property. His office has fielded calls from a number of parties about possible industrial, commercial and residential development.
Wilmot says Pace has contingency plans if their pursuit of the Salvation Army property falls through, but officials consider it to be a "very good option."
The Salvation Army is moving its central territory administration headquarters to a business park on Prairie Stone Parkway in Hoffman Estates.