Palos Heights aldermen have approved a mixed-use zoning plan for the Harlem Avenue business district that’s designed to encourage a variety of businesses as well as housing to give the area a boost.
The city intends to transform the commercial strip that runs from 127th Street to College Drive into a walkable area with a mix of businesses, professional offices, more public space and some upper-story residences. Housing was not allowed previously within that stretch.
The days of “ma and pop” shops along Harlem Avenue are a memory, and the area needs a jolt to prevent it from deteriorating, Mayor Robert Straz said.
“That area was built in the 1960s, and we are dealing with sixties zoning. We needed to change how it was made up and change some of the buildings,” Straz said, adding that city officials are working “on changing the mentality that the old downtown district would be (mostly) retail.”
Palos Heights’ plan for the business district first surfaced in 2008 in the city’s master zoning plan that was created by Houseal Lavigne Associates, the firm that’s also creating the new plan and first outlined it to aldermen in May. The objective is to improve the appearance of the district to attract new businesses and better balance commercial and residential use.
The City Council on Tuesday night voted to establish a Harlem Avenue Overlay District, which will have revised zoning rules and guidelines to help the city guide contractors, developers, potential property buyers and residents on what could be allowed in the district.
“There are various missions involved (in the new plan), one of which is to potentially open up more area to mixed-use development and to add commerce and apartments together,” Michael Parella, the city’s community development coordinator, said.
He said the plan aims to promote more service businesses, including restaurants, and professional offices in the Harlem Avenue district and to encourage remodeling of buildings to give them more modern designs.
There was some resistance at first to the planned changes in the business district, Straz said, but it gained momentum in recent years as more retailers struggled and vacant storefronts lingered.
“When I first moved here some 40 years ago, we had a choice of clothing stores, two men’s clothing stores and sporting goods shops. Now, people are going to the big boxes (larger stores in other towns),” the mayor said.
He said approval of the new plan will enable the city to build on progress that is being seen in the district.
“In the past few years, there have been seven to 10 restaurants that have opened (in the city),” Straz said. “It used to be that you would come on a Friday night, and no one was out because all the shops were closed. Now, you come downtown and there are people walking around.”
Palos Heights is not alone in its effort to revitalize its central business district, he said.
“Several towns are experiencing the same issues. You have to be willing to change and adjust, otherwise you have a town without a viable downtown,” he said.
Patricia Trebe is a freelance reporter.