Five years ago, developer Mike Van Zandt never thought he’d still be talking in 2018 about completing the high-end condominium project he’s building at the southeast corner of Prospect and Park avenues.
“The original plan was to start in 2013, but we couldn’t get started until 2016,” Van Zandt said of the eight-unit building of two- and three-bedroom dwellings.
The delay was caused by a lawsuit filed by two Clarendon Hills residents, Sue Hanlon and Phil Altvater, who contended that the development should have retail space, as originally was required in downtown zoning.
The project received needed approval for an amendment to the village’s comprehensive plan and a special use permit for a planned unit development.
The courts ruled in favor of Van Zandt and the village, and the developer said Wednesday that the end of September is the target time for the first move-in.
“It’s taken six months longer than I thought it would, even after the lawsuit was over,” Van Zandt said, citing “unscheduled delays” during construction.
Pete Whiteside and his wife, Jeri, former longtime Burr Ridge residents in their 80s, signed a contract four years ago to purchase one of the condominium units and are looking forward to moving in.
“There’s nothing in the area for people like us,” Jeri Whiteside said. “We don’t need a big house anymore. We want to be able to look out the window and see young people; it helps keep us young. We also like the idea of being able to walk outside and be right there in town.”
“There have been delays, but there’s not much you can do about it,” Whiteside added. “We’re pretty happy about moving in pretty soon. We like the building and the location.”
Van Zandt wasn’t certain how many units would be two units and how many would be three.
“It’s mostly two bedrooms, but each unit is being built out by the unit owner, and they have the choice,” he said.
The good news for Van Zandt is that seven of the eight units already have been sold.
“It’s all by people in the area,” he said.
One owner is moving from Oak Brook, and the others live in Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale or Burr Ridge, he said.
Amenities for the handicapped-accessible building include a workout room, two reserved garage parking spaces for each unit, a private outside terrace for each unit, 10-foot ceilings and an elevator.
Units range from 1,770 to 2,630 square feet.
Village President Len Austin said he believes the new condominiums are good for Clarendon Hills.
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“Our town has been lacking for housing when it comes to empty nesters,” Austin said. “With these new condominium and the new apartments we now have downtown at least there are some good alternatives.”
Austin also said he likes the way the new condominiums, and the new 42-unit apartment development at 229 Park Ave., look.
“It’s made the whole town look high end,” he said.