The redevelopment of Harlem Avenue advanced Tuesday with a proposal presented to the Palos Heights City Council by a local developer to expand a single-story building into a mixed-use development.
Mike Coogan, president of Bridgid Capital and a 16-year Palos Heights resident, proposed the redevelopment of 12349-57 S. Harlem Ave. by expanding the 4,400-square-foot building structure into a 10,800-square-foot building that would include commercial units on the first floor and three rental properties on the second.
During the preliminary review, Coogan, who also developed the Shoppes of Palos Place at 12306 S. Harlem Ave., is asking that the property be rezoned to allow a planned unit development, which would allow such residential and commercial uses.
Upon completion, the building will have three or four commercial tenants, with between 1,200 and 1,800 square feet of space each on the first floor, and three residential units on the second floor ranging from 1,400 to 1,700 square feet.
To expand the building and allow for parking, Coogan is proposing closing the 124th Street access point to allow for additional parking spaces and parking lot flow. The previous owner, prior to the bank taking over the property, charged Lumes Restaurant, which is located across 124th Street, a monthly parking fee, Coogan said. Instead, Coogan would develop a cross-use agreement with Lumes at no charge.
“We believe this adaptive reuse approach of an existing building, coupled with the vast physical improvements including our request to rezone this building within the (planned unit development) district, falls directly in line with the planning and intentions the City of Palos Heights,” Coogan said.
There were no comments from the council. The proposal will now go to the Planning Commission for a formal review.
In other news, the council approved a tower lease agreement with Verizon Wireless for the cell tower at 7607 W. College Drive. The city will receive a $5,000 one-time payment, in addition to $2,000 a month in rent with a 3 percent annual escalator. The agreement is for 10 years, with one five-year renewal for a 15-year maximum lease term.
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Patricia Trebe is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.