Compasspoint green lit for Des Plaines apartments

Compasspoint Development has been cleared to build an apartment in downtown Des Plaines, despite pushback from residents and some aldermen.

The city council gave final approval for the Mylo Des Plaines project on Monday, paving the way for a 131-unit building at the northwest corner of Graceland and Webford avenues, the Daily Herald reported. 

Compasspoint aims to start construction in April 2024, with a target completion date of January 2026. The 1-acre property, currently home to Journal & Topics Media Group’s headquarters and a city-owned parking lot, will be demolished. The site will also contain a restaurant and lounge, as well as a parking garage, the outlet said.

The development has stirred controversy in the Chicago suburb due to traffic concerns, safety issues stemming from its close proximity to railroad tracks and its appearance potentially ruining the aesthetic of downtown. Residents also mentioned rats, asbestos pollution and the prospect of temporarily torn-up streets at the recent city council meeting.

Compasspoint, led by Joe Taylor, has promised to purchase and raze the neighboring property at 1330 Webford Avenue to build a 9,000-square-foot park for public use, as part of an agreement with Des Plaines officials. The city dropped the price of the parking lot from $30,000 to $10,000 because the Barringer-based firm agreed to the park.  

The development will be Compasspoint’s second apartment building in Des Plaines. It delivered The Welkin, a 212-unit luxury complex, in 2022. 

The firm has also begun planning projects in other Chicago suburbs, including a 154-unit building in Arlington Heights and a 125-unit building in Barrington.

—Quinn Donoghue