‘It sets a standard’: Mundelein officials consider planning, design concepts for key downtown area

Hundreds of apartments, a 600-space parking garage, commercial and retail areas, mulitple-use open spaces and elements like a second-level walkway are among an array of concepts and possibilities for a key area known as the “Bank Triangle” in downtown Mundelein.

“Our task has been to consider potential,” said Scott Hezner, vice president of the Hezner Corporation, a Libertyville-based architectural/planning firm, during a presentation Monday to the village board.

At this point, what can or should happen on the 6 acres east of Seymour Avenue and north of Hawley are hypothetical and there are no specific projects to review or developers in the wings.

But village officials have been encouraged to think big as they try to get a handle on the viability and potential scenarios for various publicly and privately held properties and structures that comprise the site.

“It's obvious there’s a lot of work, but the main things that we really need to walk away with (are) place-making, walkability, density, commercial and residential, icons — a way to draw people not only from the community but outside the community to Mundelein,” Hezner said.

The intent is to be prepared and have a vision for redevelopment possibilities to pursue, village officials say.

To get there, Hezner was hired to outline various ways to redevelop or reuse the properties and/or buildings on the site. Doing that minimizes the time it will take to go from concept to construction, according to the village.

“Mundelein is going to grow immensely over time. It needs something like this in the downtown area,” Hezner said during the overview. “Mundelein needs to broaden its idea of who they are and what they want to be and how they can get it, and now is a great time to do that.”

The Bank Triangle includes two former bank buildings, two homes, a former village water division building now occupied by Mundelein Tool Library, and a former Citgo gas station.

Main elements, as presented, would be 180 to 200 units of residential development in four- to six-story buildings on the north side of the site, which would bring the number of residential units in the downtown area built, under construction or proposed to about 1,275.

New retail and other commercial on Seymour Avenue and Hawley Street with multiple possibilities, such as an entertainment area or a “town hall mall” with up to 15 retailers within the site, also were outlined.

Another key would be a four-level parking garage fronting railroad tracks just east of North Chicago Avenue. A second-level walkway, for example, could connect to commercial and other areas and become a recognizable and unique element.

Visit agendas and minutes and select the committee of the whole meeting at https://www.mundelein.org to see the presentation.

Hezner dubbed the planning area “The Spur” in recognition of the former interurban electric train line branch from Lake Bluff to Mundelein along Route 176, just north of the Bank Triangle.

Hawley Street would become a major entry and Seymour Avenue a pedestrian-friendly streetscape in what is considered the center of a core of ongoing downtown redevelopment in the area.

Hezner and Lucas Confalonieri, architectural associate with the company, packed a lot into an hour-long presentation that included a variety of potential uses throughout the site with an emphasis on making the area a destination.

Having identifiable landmarks, walkability and a sense of place for the area, punctuated with new residential and commercial uses, open spaces and more, was emphasized.

“It sets a standard. It kind of sets a level of expectation of what's possible,” said Mayor Steve Lentz.

The village in 2017 adopted a north downtown implementation plan focusing on the area north of Hawley Street. The Bank Triangle is within that area, which calls for development and investment to spur economic development.

“People are recognizing we’re big, and this is the time to think big about what big looks like,” said Trustee Jenny Berman Ross.

“You can tell there’s going to be a lot of conversation — many conversations and a lot to think about,” Lentz said of the presentation. “It's a little overwhelming to look at immediately. You've got to digest it and process it and really kick it around from many different angles.”

The village plans to hire an architect to develop up to three site options to work with investors and developers.