Plans for a 54,000-square-foot fine arts center on the grounds of Naperville’s North Central College were endorsed this week by the city’s Plan Commission.
But many questions about how the new venue will handle parking in the downtown area were left unanswered.
The recommendation, with a condition for school officials to work with the city on a financial contribution for parking, will be forwarded to the City Council for final review.
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One concept included creating a parking surcharge on ticket sales. Preliminary proposals for building three parking decks in the downtown, including tearing down and rebuilding the parking structure across from the college, are pending.
The fine arts center will include a 604-seat concert hall, 150-seat theater, art gallery, rehearsal studio, and practice and dressing rooms. The building will be on about 1.7 acres at the northwest corner of Chicago Avenue and Ellsworth Street, near the downtown.
The college is asking the city to rezone the land from office, commercial and institutional use to a college/university zoning designation. The college plans to demolish the buildings on the site.
Plan Commission Chairman Grant Wehrli, who was recently appointed to the City Council, said he didn’t have a problem with the land use or location and was pleased the college was willing to work with the city.
“I think we are moving in the right direction,” he said.