Glenview board approves reconfigured parking behind downtown businesses

Glenview village officials addressed another of the "spark sites" identified in the Glenview Connect process to invigorate the downtown area.

On Feb. 7, trustees unanimously approved resolutions authorizing parking lot license agreements with adjacent Antiques & Porcelain by GK and Glenview Coin & Collectibles Inc., 1705 and 1713 Glenview Road, respectively. Waukegan Road borders the collectibles shop on the east.

A third resolution that was part of the omnibus approval executes a purchase-and-sale agreement with Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road, for about 1,700 square feet behind the building. The $184,000 cost of that property will come out of the village's permanent fund.

The rationale, which concerned updating the south side of the 1700 block of Glenview Road, was to create a larger and more efficient parking lot and to connect the south lot with an existing, village-owned lot just west of the Oil Lamp Theater.

Currently there are 19 parking spaces and two accessible parking stalls. The lot reconfiguration would provide 39 spots, two accessible spots and nine spaces for valet parking.

Some of the parking spots would be shared after business hours. Three residential spots affiliated with the theater building will remain for use by those residents.

The village first started working on this spark site in the 2021 Glenview Connect Downtown Strategic Plan, when it purchased the vacant Scot Cleaners' 3,816-square-foot lot at 966 Waukegan Road for $295,000 in February 2022. That building has been demolished to help reconfigure and add parking.

After an inspection period and closing, permitting is scheduled for the spring with construction this summer, Glenview Director of Community Development Jeff Brady said.

The South 1700 Block plan also includes a restaurant with outdoor dining on about 6,000 square feet next to the North Branch of the Chicago River and on the other side of the existing parking lot from the theater building. Brady said that is still being considered.