I am opposed to any change of zoning that would allow Albion Residential or another development to exceed the current eight-story height limit at the northwest corner of Lake and Forest. Here’s why:
Several years ago, I grudgingly supported the height variance for the 21-story Vantage Oak Park building at the northeast corner of Lake and Forest. It was, and is, too tall and too corporately bland to be part of Oak Park’s downtown. However, the initial proposal included a hotel that I thought was much needed.
The zoning variance was approved and surprise — bait and switch — we have a condo tower and no hotel. Just how out of character is the Vantage building? A college friend and I took a Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio Tour last spring. As we walked past the magnificent homes on Forest, she looked up and saw that building towering above the trees.
“Is that Chicago?” she asked, puzzled. She didn’t think it looked like part of our “utterly charming community.” Now Albion Residential is proposing another tower that, while shorter than its neighbor, will jut just as jarringly above our skyline.
Furthermore, the shade thrown by this building will harm the trees, plants and grass in Austin Gardens. We have so few parks here. We cannot allow Austin Gardens to turn into a dust bowl.
In fact, I think we should make Austin Gardens bigger. Take down the old buildings along Lake Street and double the size of Austin Gardens. Add more trees, native flowers, a monarch butterfly waystation, another performance space. Another park will attract even more people to downtown, ensuring that our existing businesses continue to thrive and that our village benefits from the tax dollars spent there.
I know it’s important for Oak Park to increase its tax base by attracting new businesses and residents. I think there are plenty of opportunities to accomplish that without increasing the residential density downtown and irreparably damaging one of our precious few parks.
Let’s make sure we preserve what makes Oak Park special while making it better.
Kris Gallagher
Oak Park