Public Benefit of McGovern Flats Praised by Council

The Highland Park City Council helped pave the way for a 74-unit residential development to take shape at the southwest corner of Central Avenue and McGovern Street with a final vote of approval earlier this week.

McGovern Flats, LLC will combine five lots (at 760-776 Central Ave. and 710-724 McGovern St.) into one to build the structure, which will include one level of parking. The site is currently occupied by a number of residential structures and a Clark gas station - all of which will be demolished in favor of the new development.

Five modification from code requests by the developer have been approved, as has the firm’s plan for “public benefit.”

Among part of the public benefit of the plan, the developer will replace approximately 120 lineal feet of storm sewer lines in the alley along the western property boundry with new concrete pipe, develop and maintain a 420-square-foot area near the intersection as a public recreational area with trees, ground cover and benches and install a covered bicycle parking structure or transit structure at a specific location to be determined by the city’s director of public works.

Council member Alyssa Knobel applauded the development, but suggested all the city’s business districts come up with a list of projects on the horizon, so possible development plans like this “best match” what is already occurring - noting that a covered bike structure is already in the plans for the nearby Central Business District.

Council member Anthony Blumberg also spoke favorably of the public benefit planned by McGovern Flats.

“I’m impressed withe the scope and number of public benefits being offered here,” he said. “I really like the idea of a bike shelter there.”