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SUNDAY BREAKFAST ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
Popular dentist set to relocate office to Wilmette. P30
SPORTS
Submarine-style pitchers, such as Jack Falk, are in vogue with the New Trier baseball program. P25
SOCIAL SCENE
JCYS Annual Gala celebrates the Solomon family. P18 FOLLOW US:
NO. 199 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION
NEWS
Prognosis Good for NorthwesternLake Forest Hospital BY STEVE SADIN DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM
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hen all the work is done at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital late next year, patients in need of an examination from a specialist in Chicago can get it immediately and virtually in Lake Forest. The new hospital project is on schedule for a fall 2017 completion, turning a one-time local facility into an academic community hospital, according to hospital President Tom McAfee. Becoming a virtual extension of Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which houses the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in its extensive campus on Chicago’s Near North Side, Lake Forest Hospital will give patient’s the same level of excellence, McAfee said. “We are part of Northwestern Continued on PG 12
New Scaled-down Plan for One Winnetka BY EMILY SPECTRE DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM
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new plan for One Winnetka that includes the Conney’s Pharmacy property and eliminates any contribution of village funds was presented to the Village Council at a lengthy special session held on July 27. The plan presented by Stonestreet Partners LLC was a significantly scaled down plan from that proposed over a year ago by the developer, and a departure from what was presented in April, the last time this issue was before the Village Council. Since that time, Stonestreet negotiated with Conney’s Pharmacy and reached a deal that would move the pharmacy across the street to 727 Elm Street, where Mirani’s Restaurant previously was located. The revised plan reduces the number of residential units from 71 to 61, which will include 15 condos, six townhouses and 40 luxury rental units. The total square footage of commercial space has also been reduced from 41,380 to 33,895 square feet. Most significantly, additional public parking spaces have been reduced from 149 to 100 by eliminating the public plaza on Lincoln Avenue and shrinking the west garage. David Trandel, CEO of Stonestreet, said the developer no longer seeks any financial contribution from the village to build a commuter garage, which was originally spun as a "public-private partnership" for more than $6 million. The new plan also includes $1.7 million in streetscape improvements — costs borne solely
The One Winnetka plan will include 61 residential units, comprising of 15 condos, 6 townhouses and 40 luxury rental units.
by the developer — which would include both sides of Elm Street and Lincoln Avenue. It also includes some encroachment onto Lincoln Avenue. While the new plan is significantly scaled down, the developer still seeks to construct a building that is higher than the permitted four stories, 45 feet — a height that some residents say is too high. The proposed west building on Lincoln Avenue is five stories, 59 feet, the east Elm Street building is five stories, 58 feet, and the center Elm Street building is four stories, 48 feet and 10 inches. Stonestreet also seeks zoning exceptions to an upper story setback requirement for the west and east buildings, as well as an exception to a rear yard setback requirement for the
east property line. Trandel emphasized the public benefits of the project, which must be established in a planned development in exchange for flexibility under the zoning code. He pointed to a $6.7 million contribution from the developer, representing $5 million for the east parking lot/ west garage, and $1.7 million in streetscape improvements. He noted that the village would benefit from an increase in tax revenue and fees and a downtown revitalization, as well as meeting a housing need for empty nesters. “I think we have a far more attractive plan,” Trandel said, adding that the height of the building makes it financially viable. “As a resident of Winnetka, I would be proud to see
what is there replaced with something beautiful.” Michael Pullman and Martin Stern, real estate advisors hired by the village, told the council that the project would be positive for Winnetka. “We believe this project as it was set forth tonight provides the village with substantial benefits,” Pullman said. The consultants pointed to a revised retail plan that allows for subdividing the retail spaces — something that could be more attractive to retailers in Winnetka. They also noted the plan included a refurbished downtown, with both sides of Lincoln Avenue and Elm Street receiving streetscape improvements, without any financial contribution by the village. While Stern and Pullman
acknowledged that this type of luxury housing does not exist outside of Chicago — the condo units are likely to be priced at much higher levels than what is currently on the market — they said there would be demand for it. “We think there is demand and we think the project is viable,” Stern said. The consultants estimated that while the Lincoln Avenue property technically has no value — the developer’s proposal includes encroaching on a small portion of it — they noted that the village trustees were tasked with weighing whether granting Stonestreet that village property and zoning exceptions was worth the public benefits the proposed project promises to Continued on PG 12
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