Parking woes are holding back the proposed redevelopment of a Palatine pub and music venue into luxury apartments.
The owners of Durty Nellie’s revealed its plan last year to replace the structure with a six-story, 85-unit apartment building with retail, a bank and pub on the ground floor, while maintaining a live music element but on a much smaller scale.
The Tennessee-based developer behind the project, Jonathan Payne, has struggled to meet parking requirements in the northwest suburb, adding an air of uncertainty around the pub’s future, the Daily Herald reported.
“I think it’s looking very unlikely that that project will go forward,” said Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen. “We have tried a couple times to reach out and see where it stands. We’re not really getting anything.”
The Palatine village board granted preliminary approval of the project, at 180 North Smith Street, in April. But that greenlight, valid for a year, hinges on resolving the parking deadlock. Payne, known for his work on projects like The Arboretum in South Barrington and Deer Park Town Center, confirmed that parking remains the primary obstacle.
The proposed redevelopment offered 30 surface parking spaces and access to 68 spaces at the nearby Gateway Center parking deck. However, getting final approval necessitates a comprehensive parking plan detailing location, design and space allocation.
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Meanwhile, discussions between Ottesen and Durty Nellie’s co-owner James Dolezal have been productive. Dolezal, while acknowledging the stagnation, remains hopeful for a resolution.
“It may not be exactly what we envisioned initially,” Dolezal told the outlet. “We’re eager to move forward and continue to work with the village and see where we can go from here.”
—Quinn Donoghue