Despite questions from residents on social media, Joe Donut still has its eyes on Morton Grove and is expected to begin construction on Dempster Avenue next year, officials said.
In fact, village officials met with the developer on Nov. 7 and he confirmed his interest in a site at Dempster and Birch Avenue, Village Administrator Ralph Czerwinski said.
“We met with Joe Donut and he was not changing his mind,” Czerwinski said, adding he expects the project to go through procedural control in the first quarter of 2024.
“We’re working with the engineers about detention. There is no indication from my perspective that he has stalled or is hesitating in any way,” Czerwinski added.
Meanwhile, a nearby vacant CVS Pharmacy, which was also targeted on social media, will not likely be filled anytime soon, because CVS signed a lease through 2027 with the owner of the property at 5945 W. Dempster, said Zoe Heidorn, community and economic development administrator for Morton Grove.
“There has been a lot of rumbling by the community: ‘Why isn’t it being occupied?'” Heidorn said. “As far as I’m aware, CVS is still required to pay rent until 2027. There is no incentive to the property owner (to find another tenant).”
Members of a Morton Grove Facebook group questioned the status of both projects, with one expressing concern that Joe Donut might change its mind as a previous developer did with a restaurant.
Czerwinski said such is not the case with Joe Donut, explaining officials had a very positive conversation with them recently.
The developer is almost finished addressing stormwater detention on the site, Czerwinski said.
“He’s that far along that they’re finalizing stormwater detention,” he said. “It was one of the final engineering steps in the process.”
Heidorn said the developer is expected to submit an application for the project sometime this month.
“It’s public record that the operator of Joe Donut in the area purchased the property at Dempster and Birch,” she said. “As far as staff is aware, they plan to come in with an application for a mixed use development.”
The developer plans to begin construction next year, Heidorn said.
“Nothing is set in stone,” she said. “It depends on a lot of factors. They have to get entitlement. It takes about 90 days from the time of application. Then they have to get permits.”
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The developer will probably have to go to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for approval and determine whether he also needs approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Heidorn said.
“We’re talking about months,” she said. “It’s absolutely feasible they would be under construction next year. Exactly when, I don’t know.” In the Facebook thread, Trustee Janine Witko confirmed Joe Donut is “still in the works.”
“We should start seeing the project work through the village’s approval process soon,” Witko wrote.
When another user said that process “could be years,” Witko replied: “Not true at all … but I’m as excited for it to open as you are!”
“We’re very excited,” Heidorn said. “We are supportive. He’s done well in other communities. We’re excited to see that opportunity come to Morton Grove.”