Long-stalled Des Plaines plaza moves forward

Development plans are moving forward for a long-stalled public plaza project in suburban Des Plaines after the newly elected mayor revived discussions.

The City Council gave an informal nod to Chicago architecture firm Lakota Group to redesign Metropolitan Square after a meeting on potential options, according to the Daily Herald.

“So much of our success down here revolves around this working out the right way,” said Des Plaines Mayor Andrew Goczkowski. “We should consider being ambitious and making sure that this is done right.”

Metropolitan Square, which has retail space and condo, opened in 2006 only to struggle with vacant space. Nine of 22 storefronts don’t have a tenant and at least one was never leased, according to the outlet. In 2015, Lakota proposed changing traffic patterns around the plaza, building entertainment stages and installing outdoor seating. That never happened.

Lakota suggested two concepts for the plaza at a meeting this week. One option was to reduce auto traffic and eliminate some parking spaces to create more open space for pedestrians, which gained overwhelming support from council members. The second was to maintain the current traffic pattern and the parking areas.

Mayor Goczkowski cited an improved economic outlook, including the newly renovated Des Plaines Theatre, for reviving the discussion to develop the plaza. The theater reopened last October after a $6.6 million renovation that preserved an art deco-style stage front and built a new speakeasy-style bar and a restaurant on the top floor.

Now that the project has the city council’s backing, Lakota needs to complete a concept drawing, said Kevin Clark, the firm’s principal and design director.

The project, which will cost more than $6 million, could take about two years to complete, a city spokeswoman said. The development would include roadwork and streetscape improvements on Metropolitan Way near the plaza.

[Daily Herald] – Connie Kim