Buffalo Grove, eSkape closer to deal on dance area

After police, officials and planners began hashing out compromises for a new dance area at a Buffalo Grove bowling alley and family entertainment center, a new plan is nearly ready.

Bill Feldgreber, managing partner of eSkape Entertainment Center, 350 McHenry Road, is expected to contact the village next week so new plans can be included in the board's Dec. 7 agenda.

Feldgreber met with village officials last week to address concerns, largely raised by police, about the proposal.

Police Chief Steve Balinski outlined concerns - underage drinking, drugs, gang activity and criminal damage to property - at previous board meetings. He based his view on conversations with police departments in surrounding towns, he said.

Trustee Jeffrey Braiman said he shares worries, based on his experience as an attorney for a now-defunct club in Des Plaines, The Hype.

"We're getting closer," Feldgreber said of the meeting, which included Village Manager William Brimm and Trustees Steven Trilling and Beverly Sussman. "We're going to try to get it to where it makes sense for both of us, because I think it would be a great addition to eSkape and to Buffalo Grove."

The club, which would occupy a former laser tag area and include a mezzanine level, was originally set to cater to two groups: one night would be for the 17- to 24-year-old crowd, with ages 21 and older able to drink alcohol. Another night would be for ages 21 and older.

A compromise was reached that would open the club one night for 17- to 22-year-olds and another night for 21 and older.

For Feldgreber, the aim was to give area youths something to do. But he is worried that the cost of security is too high.

Buffalo Grove police want two police officers on hand in front of the building, which is located in the village's Town Center mall. Police also want advance notice on when dance events would be held.

At a recent village board meeting, Feldgreber threatened to walk away.

Trilling said the parties worked out about three-quarters of the issues.

"That doesn't mean the board is going to agree with 100 percent of these issues," he said. "What staff may feel is acceptable, we may not agree with."

Brimm said there were roughly 25 points discussed, with agreement on all but about six.

He said one of the areas of agreement was having eSkape pipe the feed from its security cameras to the village.