Issue At Old Bank Concerned Burr Ridge: Records

BURR RIDGE, IL – In the spring, a top Burr Ridge official expressed concern that the owner of the TCF Bank property had not mowed the property in a number of weeks.

In an email in late May, Village Administrator Evan Walter said the property was looking more like a meadow than an office building.

"I'd be happy to mow it and send an invoice if it were easier, but I did want to give you ... and TCF the chance to mow it themselves if that were preferred," Walter said.

He sent the email to Matt Ishikawa, senior vice president of CBRE, a real estate company.

Ishikawa responded, "The bank said they will address ASAP."

Walter said Thursday said the bank followed through.

Patch obtained the emails through a public records request for all correspondence with TCF representatives since May 1.

Village officials have expressed an interest in what happens to the TCF property, which has been vacant for the last few years. It is at 800 Burr Ridge Parkway, near the Village Center and County Line Square.

Last year, Mayor Gary Grasso said he wanted the village to declare a "moratorium" on the TCF site. Such an action, he said, would serve as a red flag for the owner of the five-story building, which he said was sold to Detroit-based Chemical Bank in 2019.

A month ago, Patch reported the owner of the old TCF Bank property was considering proposals for 400 to 500 apartments on the site. The story was based on statements by officials at a meeting of the village's Economic Development Committee in June.

At the time, Trustee Tony Schiappa said the village was open to housing on part of the property, but not all of it, according to meeting minutes.

But Grasso told the Village Board last week that it would be inappropriate for the old bank property to be used for residential purposes, particularly apartments.

The mayor told trustees that they should advise him if he did not have their consensus.

No one objected.

"Good, that's what I thought," Grasso said.