Geneva, Shodeen Inc. at odds over downtown project

“Shodeen” and “Geneva” go together like “milk” and “cookies” and “bread” and “butter.”

The Geneva-based company has built much there since 1961: the Herrington Inn and Spa, the Dodson Place retail and residential complex, Riverside Receptions, River North condominiums, Herrington Station train station, six subdivisions and more. Mayor Kevin Burns sings the company’s praises in a video on the company’s website. And chief executive officer Kent Shodeen received the Wood Award, Geneva’s equivalent to a citizen of the year, in 2010.

But that relationship has soured, at least over building higher-density housing downtown.

The city, its staff and Shodeen Inc. say they agree that having multifamily housing would help the downtown, by providing more customers for businesses. But Shodeen Inc. is questioning whether the city staff agrees.

Staff criticized

Shodeen Inc. President David Patzelt told the city council Tuesday the firm is frustrated with interference from the city’s development staff, especially on a project at South and Second streets.

Thus, instead of continuing to pursue building 17 or more apartments, Shodeen will build just five townhouses — something that fits the 12-year-old design plan for Dodson Place, without need for a public hearing.

“This is the wrong damn building, but we are going to build it,” Patzelt said.

Shodeen Inc. has proposed various plans, including one for more than 50 apartments. Applications are reviewed by city development and building officials before being set for public hearings before the Historic Preservation and Plan commissions. Those commissions then make recommendations to the city council.

“Where our back is up against the wall is staff,” Patzelt said.

“Candidly, after eight buildings (at Dodson) and 10 years of work, to be told ‘Your plans need detailed design expression’ ” is an insult, he said.

“ ... I find it hard to believe with all of the work we have done in Geneva that we need to be told how to design the outside of a building.”

City’s response

Development director Dick Untch and city administrator Mary McKittrick took exception. McKittrick said she was told three years ago Shodeen was having problems with the staff, and so has sat in on development staff meetings. She called Patzelt’s remarks “disingenuous.”

“Shame on you for trying to pit the council against the staff, for trying to imply there is a wall there,” McKittrick said.

Untch said city staff hasn’t asked anything of Shodeen Inc. that isn’t required under the city law, and thought it was getting close on a “mutually acceptable plan” for 17 apartments. Because the site is part of a planned-unit development, anything over six units would have to address nine specific criteria, including the building’s effect on neighboring properties.

City staff members needed final elevation drawings before scheduling public hearings, Untch said, and had suggestions on landscaping and questions about parking and the design of a facade. The developer withdrew the plans in the fall of 2011, and submitted the townhouse plan in September.

No reconsideration

Aldermen asked Patzelt to reconsider. But a motion to table the matter for a week failed, and Patzelt said his bosses don’t want to spend more time or money on the matter. The council then approved the townhouses.

Patzelt questioned the value of the downtown master plan the city has commissioned.

“After our experience with staff, we don’t care where you plan for that, it (high-density housing) won’t be built. ... It (the plan) is simply a farce,” he said. And if it is because the staff is bound by city ordinances, then policymakers have to address that issue, he said.

The city’s consultants began work on the downtown master plan more than 18 months ago. The downtown master plan committee plans to review a draft at a workshop sometime this month.

“What we’ve learned here tonight is we need to get this master plan moving,” Alderman Sam Hill said.