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player ready...Conceding that construction has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the developer behind a proposal for the new complex proposed for the former Purple Hotel site in Lincolnwood is now saying a groundbreaking may take place in October.
Richard Tucker, the CEO of Tucker Development, updated the Lincolnwood Village Board June 15 on the status of the proposed multi-use development at the northwest corner of Touhy and Lincoln Avenues.
While the village granted separate zoning approvals starting in November 2019, construction never started due to the pandemic, according to Tucker.
“We have been through the wringer with COVID, as we all have,” he said. “We’ve been able to withstand a lot of pressures but, in doing that, we have put ourselves in a position to hopefully break ground this fall.”
Now branded as District 1860, the mixed-use project originally called for three buildings with 80,000-85,000 square feet of commercial space including restaurants, a grocery store and other retail uses, an approximate 300-unit apartment building and a 220-room dual-branded hotel.
Tucker told the board he has signed leases with two restaurant chains for which agreements were announced last year.
One restaurant is Fat Rosie’s Taco and Tequila Bar, which has four Chicago area locations, according to its website. The other is Fat Pour Tap Works, which has another location in Chicago.
“They are two wonderful restaurants that will be tremendous additions in the community,” Tucker said.
Tucker said he hoped to name the grocer for the supermarket site very soon. He added that plans remain in place for the construction of the apartments.
Whether a hotel will be part of the development is now in doubt, however, given the challenges for the hospitality industry tied to the pandemic, according to Tucker.
“With COVID, the hotel industry went through some real turmoil. At this point, the hotel part will not be part of our first phase,” Tucker said. “We are still working to make that happen in the near term, but no guarantees.”
Mayor Jesal Patel acknowledged the delay against the COVID backdrop.
“These are things that come as no surprise. Unfortunately, these are circumstances that we have all had to deal with over the past couple of years,” Patel said.
Lincolnwood Community Development Director Scott Mangum said after the meeting Tucker has submitted the building plans to the village and they are currently undergoing a review, which is expected to be completed this month.
If ground is broken in the fall, Tucker foresees a two-year construction timeline leading to a 2023 opening.
Still, Tucker noted the project has been in the works for more than three years, but he now sees a conclusion in the near future.
“We are just about there,” Tucker said.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter.
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