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Chicago

Des Plaines approves rezoning for controversial apartment building

Many residents of Chicago suburb resist the development

Rendering of the seven-story apartment building project at the intersection of Graceland and Webford Avenues in Des Plaines (City of Des Plains, Getty)
Rendering of the seven-story apartment building project at the intersection of Graceland and Webford Avenues in Des Plaines (City of Des Plains, Getty)

After a months-long debate, a Chicago suburb agreed to rezone a property to make way for a seven-story apartment building.

The Des Plaines City Council voted 7-1, with the only opposing vote from Alderman Sean Oskerka, to make the land on the 1300 block of Webford Avenue and the 600 block of Graceland Avenue part of the city’s central business district, the Daily Herald reported. That clears the way for Compasspoint Development to build higher than would have been previously allowed.

The Barrington, Illinois-based developer plans to build a seven-story building with 131 apartments, a restaurant and lounge, a rooftop swimming pool and parking for 179 vehicles.

Residents who spoke out against the project said it would cause traffic problems, ruin the neighborhood aesthetics and be unsafe. One even said that a potential derailment from nearby railroad tracks could lead to a train car crashing into the building.

Only one of the residents in attendance at the council meeting spoke in favor of the development. Others said that aldermen who support the project could be voted out of office.

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“If you make a mistake tonight, some of you will live to regret (it),” NIMBY resident Oswald Nelson said at the meeting.

At the same meeting, council members held a second vote that tentatively approved selling the city-owned lot to Compasspoint for the project. The property’s rezoning won’t be official until the purchase is complete.

Officials had previously said the building would be offered for $300,000. The exact price CompassPoint will pay hasn’t been disclosed.

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— Victoria Pruitt

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Chicago SuburbsDes Plaines