Highland Park Gets Bid To Build 171 Units At Karger Center

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Developers have offered above the City of Highland Park's asking price to buy the downtown Karger Center and build a 171-unit "luxury apartment units." An investment firm called Albion Jacobs Highland Park, LLC told city officials it would pay $3.76 million for the property, more than $250,000 more than the listing price the former Park District of Highland Park recreation center, according to a memo from city staff to the Highland Park Council.

The city-owned building at 1850 Green Bay Road was put on the market last May for $3.5 million. Currently, it houses a the Highland Park Community Nursery School and Day Care Center, Rhythmix Gymnastics and the student-run Unit 14 Theater company. The park district hasn't used it as a recreation center for about 10 years and the city said increasing operational costs are a major factor in the decision to sell.

The developers could demolish the building as soon as July 2019, according to the memo, which said the city wanted to honor its existing leases with current Karger Center tenants.

According to city documents, officials want to keep the center's Sheahen Court location a dead-end street and protect neighbors from encroachment from the possible new development on the site.

The planned multi-family residential development could be no taller than 65 feet under the terms of a draft purchase agreement. It would feature "high-end finishes and high-end common amenities," according to the memo.

The development group includes home builders The Jacobs Company, Pioneer Press reported.

Albion Residential's vice president confirmed it was partnering on the development.

The development group will present their proposal at the Monday meeting of the Highland Park City Council with a vote possible as the Council's Jan. 22 meeting.

» More: Highland Park Lists Karger Center For $3.5M

_{Top photo: Karger Center, 1850 Green Bay Road | Google Street View}