Des Plaines moves in on Miner Street

Des Plaines has started to "land bank" Miner Street property downtown for future development.

Aldermen this week unanimously approved plans to buy 1486 Miner St., which houses a hair studio and vacant storefront, for $350,000. Officials took the action after a closed-door meeting late Monday.

The building is located in one of the city's most historic downtown blocks, which includes the Des Plaines Theatre and Sugar Bowl Restaurant. The Sugar Bowl is seeking someone to lease the space, but its bar remains open.

Such historic structures are essential to understanding a community's past, Director of Community and Economic Development Michael Conlan said in a memo, but the block also has properties of "marginal quality and impact."

He said the city has no specific, immediate plan for the building or the block.

But city officials want to acquire properties as they become available to "land bank" them for future redevelopment, Conlan said.

Des Plaines officials decided against redeveloping Miner Street when the massive Metropolitan Square project was built behind it.

Metropolitan Square features a downtown grocery store, a Jimmy Buffett's Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant and stores.

Within the city's new comprehensive plan is a drawing of Miner Street downtown. It shows the theater and another existing structure known as the Brown building as bookends on the block. A pair of mixed-use buildings sits between them.