What's Next for Proposed 'Monolithic' Apartment Complex at Seventh and State

Photo credit: City of Geneva website

A Geneva Plan Commission meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 10 at a location that is yet to be determined. The plan commission has already held public hearings on the proposal in December and again last week.

During Thursday’s meeting, over 200 residents attended with several sounding off in opposition to the proposed apartment building in the city’s downtown, the Kane County Chronicle reports.

Meanwhile, the city continues to work with development company, Marquette Companies, to try and find a middle ground.

Plan Commission Chair Dave Rogers said during Thursday’s meeting the city needs high-density housing but Marquette’s plan “far exceeds what we had in mind,” according to the Elgin Courier News. Other commissioners said the proposed complex looked like a “monolithic” building, which simply did not belong in downtown Geneva.

Darren Sloniger, president of Marquette Companies, said his company had been upfront with the city about need to have at least 200 units in the apartment complex to appease their investors, according to the Courier News.

The current proposal for the property at Seventh and State calls for a 219-unit apartment building, a 353-space parking structure, 106 surface parking spaces, a 5,940-square-foot retail building and the extension of Seventh Street from West State Street to Peyton Street, according to information posted on the city of Geneva’s website.

The project area includes property bounded by Peyton Street to the north, State Street to the south, Richards Street to the west and Seventh Street (extended north to Peyton) to the east. The area also includes a land parcel located at the southeast corner of Seventh (extended) and Peyton streets.

How You Can Share Your Opinion With the City on Proposal

For those wishing to express your opinion on this project at the coming plan commission hearing, comments can be made in person at the public hearing or by submitting comments via fax, e-mail or through written letter:

• If you are unable to attend the public hearing, comments may also be submitted in writing. Written comments should be addressed to the Plan Commission chairman and members.
• Emails may be sent to City Planner Paul Evans. Comments may be typed in the body of an email or attached as a Word or PDF document.
• Handwritten letters and signed hard copy letters may be faxed to 630-232-1494 or sent to the following address: Plan Commission c/o City Planner, City of Geneva, 22 S. First St. Geneva, IL 60134

Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. on the day of the Plan Commission meeting.

Project Plans and Documents

The project plans and documents are available online by visiting the city of Geneva’s Quick Links section on the right hand side of this page. Plan Commission packets for upcoming meetings are also available for review in the Agenda Center on the City’s website.

All plans and documents are also on file and available for public inspection during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) in the Community Development Department at City Hall, 22 S. First St.

A three-dimensional model and renderings of the proposed project are available for review in Council Chambers during normal business hours. Please note, the model is intended to portray scale and does not represent all of the building or site details.