The owner of a four-building medical office complex in Elgin is asking for city permission to convert three-quarters of it into 34 apartment units.
Sundeep Oberoi has owned the building at 860 Summit St. for 15 years, and it’s currently zoned for office space, he told the Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission at this week’s meeting.
There four separate buildings connected by an interior walkway, with each designed to have a reception area, office space, and two to five exam rooms, Oberoi said. He is proposing that three of the four buildings be renovated for apartments to be leased at market rate, but needs city approval for code variances to move forward — a request that will go to the Elgin City Council with the commission’s recommendation.
“Over the years, the demand for medical space has shrunk,” Oberoi said.
There are fewer doctors starting their own medical practices or moving out to Randall Road, he said. Most of the medical offices in his complex are housed in a single 6,000-square-foot building, he said, and the overall vacancy rate for the complex is 80%.
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His plan calls for the creation of 10 apartments in building two and 12 each in buildings three and four, Senior Planner Damir Latinovic told commissioners. There would be a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units.
The property will have sufficient parking, Latinovic said. The city requires two spaces per residential unit, and there’s a total of 147 available.
However, the project does require two exceptions to the city code, he said. Elgin doesn’t allow developers to create first-floor apartments but in this case, the first floor is slightly elevated so allowing an exception to the rule should be fine, he said.
“It’s a one-story building, but it’s a high one-story building,” Latinovic said.
Additionally, the owner wants to have an outdoor seating area with two covered canopies, but it must be located on a side yard, Latinovic said. The code doesn’t allow side yard amenities, but city staff is recommending the exception be granted, he said.
“There are minor site changes proposed; most are on the interior,” Latinovic said.
One objection was voiced by local resident Fil Martinez. “Nothing personal, but the property is already in bad shape. It has been for many, many years,” Martinez said.
Additionally, the complex is in a horseshoe shape, Martinez said. “It’s just a bad setup. We are asking for trouble here. I just wish it would stay commercial.”
The property is surrounded by businesses, he said. There’s an automotive parts store in front of the building, and it’s down the block from a Jewel Osco and an Elgin Fresh Market.
“I think this is the last thing we need here. I don’t know why we can’t look for something more appropriate,” he said.
Oberoi said he disagreed with Martinez. “I can tell you this: if that building stays vacant, there is a greater risk of bad activity taking place over having a building that has residents,” he said.
An adaptive reuse works for this property because it will have a positive economic impact on Elgin, Commissioner Erik Bosque said.
“I’m excited to see the project come to fruition,” he said.
Commissioner Samuel Olson agreed, saying, “I’m excited to see this redevelopment and see it in that neighborhood.”
Bosque and Olson joined Chairman Jordan Wildermuth and Karin Jones in voting to recommend the proposal for council approval. Commissioners Nancy Abuali and Debra Vruble did not attend the meeting.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.