How developers have revised plans for vacant Giesche store in Glen Ellyn

Developers have made some major changes to a plan to build an apartment and retail complex that would transform downtown Glen Ellyn's southern gateway.

More than a year ago, Opus Group executives and architects met with the village board for informal feedback on plans to redevelop the vacant Giesche store on the northwest corner of Main Street and Hillside Avenue.

Since, the Minneapolis-based real estate firm has adjusted the height of an apartment building that some neighbors said was too tall. A three-level parking deck near Hillside and Glenwood avenues also has been nixed from the project. And the footprint of the development could include a property where the offices of Z+O architecture + interiors now stand on Hillside.

Opus continues to tweak the design — still in the draft form — but has not submitted any formal plans or application for village zoning approvals.

Developers also have been continuing discussions with the village and are expected to make a decision about how they will proceed in the “near future,” says Staci Hulseberg, Glen Ellyn's planning and development director.

“The developer has been working very hard to address some of the comments that were raised during the preliminary conceptual meetings,” Hulseberg said Tuesday. “And so I'm pleased to see that they've listened, and they've been responsive.”

In the May 2015 meeting with the village board, Opus unveiled plans for the parking deck on lots owned by the village and St. Petronille Parish. A proposed long-term, no-cost lease would have allowed the village to build and operate the structure on church property.

But some parishioners worried the public parking deck would exacerbate traffic around St. Petronille's elementary school.

Months later, that deal has not materialized. Under the latest version of the development, parking would be located underground below the new building, at street level and on the floor above.

Also unclear is whether developers will request tax increment financing dollars. Before the parking deck was scratched from plans, the village was considering whether to spend TIF money for its construction.

The Rev. James Dougherty, pastor of St. Petronille, and Sean Spellman, a vice president of Opus, did not immediately return messages for comment Tuesday.

As proposed in May 2015, the tallest point of the new building — containing 110 apartments above roughly 9,000 square feet of retail space — stood 61 feet.

Now, Opus envisions a building less than 55 feet tall, Hulseberg said. That would require an exemption under village code, which allows a maximum height of 45 feet.

Developers also could decrease the square footage of retail space and slightly increase the number of apartments.

Ryan Soukup, who runs Soukup's Hardware & Appliances store across the street, says he's eager to take a look at the changes, but has said the development's parking should be made more visible to drivers and that the footprint set aside for retailers seems like a “token” amount.

At 61 feet, the building wouldn't fit with the surrounding mix of shops and restaurants.

“It's just huge,” he said Tuesday.