Hinsdale Developer Slams Clarendon Hills

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – The representative of a developer last year expressed frustration with the village's approach to development, suggesting businesses fail there.

In June, a divided Village Board rejected Hinsdale-based KrohVan's proposal for a drive-thru for a Dunkin' Donuts at the southwest corner of 55th Street and Western Avenue.

The developer later abandoned the project. It would have been on the site of the old Tracy's Tavern, which closed a few years ago.

Last week, a resident gave Patch the results of a public records request for correspondence between KrohVan and the village after the decision.

In late June, Mike Kaspar, then KrohVan's director of development, said his company was working on a "med centric center" for the site. He said he believed the businesses would meet zoning criteria.

Kaspar and Jonathan Mendel, then the village's community development director, exchanged emails about access to the businesses. Traffic was a big issue when neighbors protested the drive-thru.

Kaspar asked whether the site would lose its full access to Western Avenue as a result of the building permit process.

Mendel said it depended on the actual development plan and proposed use.

"A complete removal of access to Western Ave is unlikely, but full access can't be certain in this theoretical discussion," Mendel said.

That answer apparently did not satisfy Kaspar.

"If that's the case, then there's no point moving forward," Kaspar wrote. "A business with no access makes no sense. Businesses already go to die in Clarendon Hills."

Asked about the exchange Monday, Christopher Krohe, owner of KrohVan, said Kaspar no longer works for the company.

"We do not have any comments related to his personal comments regarding Clarendon Hills or any potential plans he may have for the Tracy’s Tavern site," Krohe said in an email.

While Krohe characterized Kaspar's comments as personal, Kaspar made them using his company email and title as director of development.

Patch followed up and asked Krohe whether his company had development plans for the site. He did not reply.