Glenview Connect bears some fruit
Glenview village board members praised public input and a good "first step" of a resolution that would turn vacant Scot Cleaners into a parking lot and aid future downtown development.
By a 5-0 vote on Feb. 15 the board approved the resolution to execute a purchase-and-sale agreement with GMOL Property Holdings for the 3,816-square foot lot at 966 Waukegan Road.
The site is within one of the downtown "spark sites" identified through the Glenview Connect process, the 1700 Glenview Road portion called "Glenview Road Infill & Reconfigured Parking."
Demolishing the Scot Cleaners building and creating an additional 22 parking spaces creates a more efficient parking layout and more room to dedicate a new restaurant on the west side of the block, fronting Glenview Road.
"I think it's fantastic," said trustee Mary Cooper.
"I think it leads into the opportunity to help support the local (Oil Lamp) theater and this potential restaurant space, so it just makes so much sense on so many levels. And, we have had the money set aside to enhance the downtown parking, so it all just kind of checks a lot of boxes," she said.
Funds for the $295,000 purchase come from Glenview's Fiscal Year 2022 budget earmarked for downtown parking improvements under the village's Permanent Fund.
In his presentation, Glenview Director of Community Development Jeff Brady envisioned "purchasing another piece of property to the west of this" for a restaurant with outdoor parking and further reconfigured parking west of the Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road.
Brady said environmental studies are underway as part of a 30-day inspection period of the Scot Cleaners site. The process for the site includes demolition, removal of asphalt and the cleaner's concrete slab and re-encapsulating any contaminated earth. Closing would be within 40 days of the signing of the purchase-and-sale agreement.
The village should take ownership of the property by April, a village spokesperson said.
Trustee Adam Sidoti appreciated public input through Glenview Connect that indicated a preference for reconfigured parking and a pedestrian plaza for the 1700 Block.
"It's what we heard consistently through that process," Sidoti said. "This is not the final step, it's a first step, but it's a significant first step."
Trustee Gina DeBoni said, "To be able to see the visions that were a part of that process starting turning into reality is just exciting. I hope we can build upon that momentum for downtown."