Niles trustees could approve 354-unit White Eagle proposal on Sept. 23

by BRIAN NADIG

The Niles Village Board of Trustees could approve the 354-unit redevelopment of the White Eagle banquets site, 6759-6839 N. Milwaukee Ave., as early this month.

The proposal is tentatively set to be on the agenda of the board’s Tuesday, Sept. 23, meeting. It
is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and be held at the Village Hall, 1000 Civic Center Drive.

On Sept. 8 the Niles Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the project.
The proposal includes 330 apartments (studio and 1- and 2-bedroom) and 24, 4-bedroom townhouses, and the development would consists of a series of 10 buildings measuring from three to six stories tall. A restaurant, a pool, a playground and public art also would be part of the development.

The trustees held a concept review of the proposal at a special board meeting on May 27, and, according to a village staff report, “the board did not have any major concerns with the proposed development at that time.”

However, at the May 27 meeting many residents voiced objections to the project’s density and said that it would worsen traffic congestion on Milwaukee Avenue, where the southbound lanes can experience long backups during the evening rush.

Mayor George Alpogianis and trustee Morgan Dubiel said that they were well aware of the traffic issues on Milwaukee, with Dubiel calling it “just a parking lot.”

The project team’s traffic study concluded that the development’s impact on traffic would be minimal. Based on the study, the project would generate about 102 more trips on Milwaukee during the weekday morning peak hour and about 59 more during the evening peak hour, the staff report said.

The village and project developer Noah Properties plan to meet with the Illinois Department of Transportation to discuss possible traffic flow improvements along Milwaukee between Touhy Avenue on the north and Devon Avenue on the south.

“Even though the first reaction for most people is to push for signalization, it is not the only option for traffic calming, and it is not always the best solution.

“Alternative ideas discussed have been speed cameras, no left turns from Harts onto Touhy between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., working with CDOT to change signal timing at the Devon-Milwaukee intersection and providing median refuge areas on Milwaukee Avenue,” the staff report said.

Earlier in the year 398 residential units were planned for the White Eagle site but later reduced.

The development would include the demolition of the White Eagle and an office complex to the south. The banquet hall remains open for business.

Also in the area, a new 215 apartment complex is planned for the Touhy-Harlem intersection and 180 units are being built at 6633 N. Milwaukee Ave. Noah Properties also is developing the 6633 N. Milwaukee project.

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