Glenview elected officials this month approved the purchase of another downtown commercial building as part of ongoing efforts they say will revitalize the area.
The Village Board on July 21 voted unanimously to purchase the 4,400 square-foot property at 1810-1812 Glenview Road, west of Church Street, at a cost of $1.4 million. The property was appraised at $1.425 million, said Glenview Village Spokesman David Just.
The mid-block site contains a two-story brick building housing Glenbrook Remodeling and Glenview School of Arts on the first floor.
A downtown concept plan developed by the village envisions a public plaza for the property, with seating areas and opportunities for outdoor events, like markets, said Glenview Director of Community Development Jeff Brady.
“This is a continuation of activating this downtown area with a new public plaza and an opportunity for new, additional public parking,” he said.
The cost of designing and constructing the plaza has not yet been determined.
Demolition of the building will not occur until the current tenants’ leases expire, Brady said. At least one lease is set to end in 2027, Just said.
Discussions regarding the purchase of the property have been taking place for some time, he added.
“This property was identified as a redevelopment ‘spark site’ opportunity when the village adopted its Economic Development and Downtown Strategic plans in 2021,” Just said.
“Spark sites” refer to properties believed to be catalysts for potential reinvestment or redevelopment.
But Adam Garlewicz, an attorney representing the owners of Glenbrook Remodeling, said the village’s decision to purchase the building “would harm this family’s ability to grow and thrive here.” Relocating the showroom, Garlewicz told the board on July 21, “involves substantial costs, disruption and lost business during any transition.”
More Top Picks Best Sanders
He called upon officials to “engage” with the business owners, which prompted Village President Michael Jenny to note that the village has offered relocation assistance to other businesses.
“We’ll figure out whatever relocation assistance we can,” he said. “I suppose within reason. It hasn’t been unreasonable in the recent past.”
“Anything we can do, I’d be for it,” agreed Trustee Tim Doron.
Funding to purchase 1810-1812 Glenview Road will come from the village’s Permanent Fund, which has been supporting revitalization efforts in downtown for several years.
In 2023, the village of Glenview purchased the Patio Shops property at 1755 River Drive in downtown for $1.9 million for development into a public parking lot and also purchased a parcel behind the Oil Lamp Theater on Glenview Road for $175,000.
One year earlier, the village purchased the vacant Scot Cleaners at Waukegan and Glenview Roads for $295,000 in order to expand parking opportunities.
Elected officials have also approved economic incentives totaling around $14 million to help prospective downtown restaurants with building improvements.
The village has also acquired property outside downtown Glenview.
Last year, the village used funds from its municipal budget to purchase the 56-acre former Signode property near Glenbrook South High School for $23.4 million. Plans call for creating future recreational opportunities and open park space on the site.