Highland Park Theater Redevelopment Gets Final Council Approval

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The Highland Park City Council gave the go-ahead to final plans to build a two-story mixed use commercial building on the site of the Highland Park Theater and the neighboring Ori parking lot. Council members Monday voted unanimously to approve a development agreement, a special use permit and a resubdivision for the property at 441 and 447 Central Ave.

The city bought the theater in 2009 for $2.1 million but was unsuccessful in its efforts to keep it operational for arts or entertainment. The property was shuttered after failing a fire inspection in 2012 and sold in 2016 for $1.1 million to developer Scott Canel.

Canel intends to move his real estate development business, The Canel Companies, from its current location at the Highland Park Bank and Trust building into the second floor of the building.

There will also be two ground floor retail spaces in the building, which Canel said he wants to lease to restaurants. Plans include a courtyard area with potential outdoor seating, and he told the council he intended for the property to house his family business for decades to come.

The "key purpose" of Canel's plan is the breakfast and lunch restaurant "Lindsay's Place," which will provide job training for developmentally disabled young adults, he said at a council meeting last September.

"It's all going to be part of the community dynamic and it's going to make Highland Park a better place," Canel said. He said the project would be several times more expensive than opening a standalone restaurant, but it was worth it for the benefit it will bring. "We think this is exceptional."

Community Development Director Joel Fontane addressed changes in available parking spots due to the redevelopment.

The overall number of public parking spots will be reduced from 82 to 78, as an eight-car private lot and outdoor refuse enclosure will take up some of the land formerly used for the public lot, he told the council.

Developer Canel has agreed to pay more than $500,000 for the lot redevelopment, which will include permeable pavement.

Plans for demolition and construction are divided into five phases.

About 6 weeks after knocking the building down, there will be temporary street and sidewalk closures in the area of Central Avenue for a limited period. Access to the parking lot will be restricted during that third phase. Work on the parking lot is projected to be complete by Nov. 15, with all spaces reopened in August 2019.

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• Auction For Contents Of Highland Park Theater
  
• Highland Park Theater Sold
• City Seeking Broker for Highland Park Theater Sale