Northbrook in 60 seconds
Coffee, anyone?
The southeast corner of Shermer and Waukegan roads will be the site of a new Starbucks Coffee shop, as approved by the Northbrook village board on May 10.
Approved at the second of two public hearings before the Northbrook Plan Commission by a unanimous 9-0 vote on April 19, a 6,300 square-foot building including the planned Starbucks with drive-through proposed by GW Northbrook 2, LLC - an offshoot of GW Properties of Chicago - will replace a nonoperating Mobil gas station at the location.
In 2019 the developer had submitted a proposal for a newer gas station and 7-Eleven at 1103 Waukegan Road, but the tenant's desire to operate 24 hours daily was a sticking point with nearby residents and the village. In December 2020 that application was withdrawn.
Village board members were enthused, however, when on Aug. 10, 2021, they first heard GW Northbrook's proposal that included a Starbucks at the site. The proposal is actually for a multi-tenant commercial building whose largest component would be a divisible 4,100 square-foot space for a "retail/medical" tenant or tenants, as noted in its site plan. The Starbucks itself is about 2,200 square feet.
The applicant requested, and received, variations on aspects such as setbacks, open space and the drive-through itself. A two-lane entry from Waukegan Road allows room for 16 vehicles, which a traffic study provided by the developer said exceeded the average and peak usage at other similarly situated stores.
Lights on
The Northbrook Park District is scheduled to receive nearly $690,000 from ComEd to install energy-efficient lighting throughout its parks and facilities.
The savings are expected to reach $135,616 annually, about 28% of the park district's 2019 usage. ComEd's Energy Efficiency Program requires no matching funds from the park district.
Approved for this project are:
• Village Green Park and Village Green Center
• Joe Doud Administration Building
• Tower Rink
• Meadowhill Park outdoor ice rink
• Heritage Oaks outdoor practice range
• Techny Prairie Park and Fields athletic fields, skate park and batting cages
• Anetsberger Golf Course
• Park District Leisure Center
• Northbrook Sports Center ice rinks and pool
Since 2008 this ComEd program has saved northern Illinois resident and businesses about $6.7 billion on their electric bills.
Last-minute good idea
Northfield-based Family Service Center is throwing its annual casino night, this year titled "All-in on Hope," from 7-10:30 p.m. June 4 at Fields Mini of Glencoe, 2100 Frontage Rd.
People can watch magician Benjamin Barnes, listen to a disc jockey play music, play blackjack, poker, craps and roulette, and bid on some raffle and silent auction prizes like tickets to a Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers football game. The grand prize is a two-our Sunset sailboat cruise on Lake Michigan for four people with beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres.
In lieu of a sit-down dinner, food trucks will be on premises, with late-night fare provided by Lou Malnati's Pizza and Graeter's Ice Cream.
This year Family Service Center also will honor the group, CATCH (Community Action Together for Children's Health) as its 2022 Heart of the Family award winner.
Tickets are $175 each, or $150 each on a party of 10 or more. Visit familyservicecenter.com to purchase them and for more information. Raffle tickets also are available at $20 apiece.
Family Service Center is a nonprofit mental health agency that helps individuals, couples and families.
Food stuff
Volunteers and members of the Northbrook Senior Center, in partnership with Whitehall of Deerfield, are collecting nonperishable food donations for the Northfield Township Food Pantry, on Friday, June 10.
A drive-by drop-off will be held at the Senior Center's Leisure Center parking lot, 3323 Walters Ave., Northbrook, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Some of the most requested food items include canned protein, granola bars, canned fruit, oatmeal, coffee and tea.
For a full list of accepted items, and to help volunteer, Eileen Gabrial-Galan, (847) 291-2995.