Lee Mandel plans multi-family Naperville condo

Lee Mandel & Associates want to convert a one-story office building into a four-story condominium called Riverwalk Place as part of Naperville’s secondary downtown district.

The locally-based accounting firm is seeking permission from the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone the property at 415 Jackson Ave., the Chicago Tribune reported. The firm, which owns the existing office building, will present its intentions to a committee on Wednesday, March 15.  

The development would cover 11,000 square feet with six multi-family units, including a front-yard setback to consolidate and two parking lots. 

City planner Gabrielle Mattingly said commissioners approve the project because it aligns with Naperville’s Downtown 2030 plan. The Chicago suburb seeks to have a secondary downtown district, serving as a transitional area between the main retail strip and residential areas, the outlet said. Thus, Mandel’s plan would be well suited for this “transitional area,” which would include a mix of offices, multi-family units and retail.

The proposed condominium’s height and floor-area ratio also meet zoning requirements. The structure would have a 10-foot setback from Jackson Avenue, which is double the 5-foot requirement. 

The project does appear poised for some pushback. A resident in the neighborhood sent a letter to the commission and voiced her disapproval by requesting that it reject the proposal.

-Quinn Donoghue