Mt. Prospect looks to speed up redevelopment

In 2006, Mount Prospect unveiled an elaborate plan for the redevelopment of the section of its downtown known as "the small triangle."

Under the plan, Mount Prospect dentist Errol Oztekin would develop the triangle -- bounded by Northwest Highway/Wille Street, Busse Avenue and Route 83 -- into a dining and entertainment hub. The cornerstone of the development would be Blues Bar, 2 W. Busse Ave.

Two years later, Blues Bar is open, but other than a couple of demolished buildings and the addition of a couple of vacant ones, little has changed.

One of the main reasons has been that the village has been tied up in eminent domain proceedings, which derailed plans for parking.

Mount Prospect is hoping things will move along a faster track now that the triangle has a new developer and new plan.

On Sunday, Mount Prospect Mayor Irvana Wilks said the village plans to go public with the new plans next month.

The new developer is John D. Heimbaugh, president and founder of Heimbaugh Capital Development Corp. The Skokie-based firm's projects include Chinatown Square in Chicago and the Glenshore development in Glenview.

Late last year, Oztekin sold all of his holdings in the triangle, except for Blues Bar, to Homebrook Prospect LLC, which lists Heimbaugh as its agent. The properties include 15 W. Busse Ave., 19 W. Busse Ave., 22 W. Busse Ave. and 108 S. Main St.

The first two properties once contained a hobby shop and a barber shop -- both are now demolished. The third property is vacant, having once housed a military memorabilia shop. The fourth houses A Perfect Petal florist.

Heimbaugh's initial involvement with the triangle project was revealed by Mount Prospect Community Development Director William Cooney last summer.

In August, Cooney said the village was working with Oztekin and Heimbaugh, whom he called Oztekin's prospective partner, to finalize a development agreement and plan for the triangle.

"We have worked with (Heimbaugh) to come up with something that I think is very exciting," Wilks said Sunday.

Because of the cost of land, the concept will be a little different from what the public saw two years ago, she said, although it is likely to include restaurant and retail.

"What impresses me about Mr. Heimbaugh is he truly likes Mount Prospect and he is excited about this project."

Trustee Arlene Juracek said the developer has already shared his concept with the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce and the village's downtown merchants association.

Juracek said the redevelopment is a long time coming.

"I think people are tired of seeing the construction mess down there. They want something to happen," Juracek said. "We're losing valuable tax benefits, as well as valuable economic vitality."

She did, however, praise the Blues Bar.

"I'm delighted with the way the Blues Bar looks. I'm anxious to see something better happen with the rest of that triangle."

Lurking in the background of all these developments is ongoing eminent domain litigation by the village of Mount Prospect against the Meersman family, which owns properties on Northwest Highway and Busse Avenue. Also looming is threatened condemnation against Tod Curtis, who owns the building standing next door to Blues Bar. That building contains Ye Olde Town Inn, apartments, offices and retail space.

Family member Don Meersman said the family's lawyer is working on reaching a conclusion to the litigation, "so we can get out from under the project. We know that we're screwed, that they're going to condemn, so we would like to get out now from the deal and forget it, but they have not altered their price that they wanted to give us."

Despite the condemnation issue, Curtis, through spokesman Frank Salato, said he intends to pursue redevelopment of his property as Gateway Centre.

"We're waiting now to make sure that we have everything in place to meet every request that the village said that we were lacking the last time," Salato said. "We'll meet all their requirements."

Wilks has previously stated that Curtis has yet to show much beyond an initial sketch that appeared in local newspapers. She also said the proposal included property not owned by Curtis.

On Sunday, Salato produced a letter from Village Manager Michael Janonis dated Nov. 29, saying Curtis was invited to discuss the Gateway development in closed session "in the context of the village's open, written offer to purchase the Ye Olde Town Inn property." Janonis also referred to Curtis' interest in purchasing adjacent property.

Salato said he expects a meeting with the village at the end of March.

A message was left for Oztekin at Blues Bar.