S. Elgin trustees like new housing plan

A plan to erect 242 luxury apartments in South Elgin was met with positive reviews Monday night, but trustees said the developer should be very mindful of providing enough parking.

"I don't think there's any (trustee on the board) who is not concerned about that," said Village President Jim Hansen, adding "(The plan) is an attractive package. You guys have done a good job. It's a tight space."

South Elgin-based Land Shapers Inc. hopes to build 10 apartment buildings at 1800 McDonald Road at a former golf driving range behind the Jewel Food Store at the northeast corner of Randall and McDonald roads.

Land Shapers President Pete Perisin said the McDonald Village would contain a mix of apartment styles and plenty of amenities, such as a club house with conference rooms, gazebos and a path surrounding a large retention pond at the center of the site.

Perisin said a best case scenario would have construction beginning in fall 2008. He said the apartments will be built first and then the retail area developed with possibly three stand-alone buildings.

Perisin agreed that parking was of utmost importance. "We can lease them if we can't park them," he said.

About 13 acres will be used for the apartments, another 3.8 acres at the south end facing McDonald for retail or business uses, and the remainder set aside for a road connecting Gyorr Road to McDonald Road.

Steven Super, the village's director of community development, said that connection will help relieve traffic created years from now when the Stearns Road bridge and corridor extension is completed.

The Land Shapers' plan is still in the concept stage and must go before the village's plan commission and trustees for final approval.

Super said his staff supports the idea because it offers another housing option. "We have a lot of employers that we didn't have five years ago," Super said. "This is part of the housing market that we really don't have."