Restoration Hardware now appears to have sufficient Village Board support for the setback variation the company said it needs to build a new store in an Oakbrook Center outlot, after its initial request was narrowly voted down Dec. 10.
Oakbrook Center, which owns the property, was seeking approval for a 40-foot setback from 22nd Street, a variance from the designated 300-foot requirement.
Steve Rouman, senior vice president of real estate for Restoration Hardware, said the setback could be increased to 45 feet, but no more than that for the structure the company wants to build. The store is planning a three-level, 41,500 square foot building of two interior floors of retail and restaurant space.
Board member Asif Yusuf first made an amendment at the Dec. 10 board meeting that the setback be increased by 10 feet to 50 feet, which was voted down by the board. He then made another amendment to increase the setback 8 feet to 48 feet, which passed by a 5-1 vote.
Yusuf and board member Moin Saiyed, both of whom didn’t previously support a setback of less than 48 feet, now are saying they will go along with the 45-foot setback.
“It was very bad of us as a board, what happened at that last board meeting,” Saiyed said Dec. 20. “We reached out to them and apologized. Three feet is no big deal.”
Yusuf said that after thinking more about the situation, he is able to support granting a 45-foot setback.
“As I see it, it’s a difference of 3 feet, and while my preference is for 48 feet, you have to look at if we want this in town,” he said. “I think that overall this is something that would be good for Oak Brook, so I’m certainly willing to reconsider.”
Board member John Baar, who supported the initial setback request of 40 feet, was pleased it now looks as if Oakbrook Center will get the new building.
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“I’m thrilled that others have reconsidered and weighed the pluses this building brings,” he said.
Board member Michael Manzo, who said he would like at least a 100-foot setback, hasn’t had the same change of heart as have Yusuf and Saiyed.
“I can’t support it because of the setback — I think it’s too close to 22nd Street for a 3-story building —and of concerns I have about enough parking,” he said. “That said, it looks very much like this is going to happen now, and I wish Restoration Hardware nothing but the best of success.”
Restoration Hardware is a longtime tenant of Oakbrook Center and currently operates in a 12,000-square-foot storefront without a restaurant.