Niles trustees greenlight White Eagle redevelopment, with its 354 units

by BRIAN NADIG

The White Eagle banquet hall, known for hosting generations of family and cultural gatherings, appears headed for demolition following approval of 354-unit residential development for the site, 6759-6839 N. Milwaukee Ave.

The Niles Village Board of Trustees on Sept. 23 unanimously approved a special use for a planned unit development authorizing the project.

Mayor George Alpogianis said that changes to the proposal were made based on feedback from area residents, who he described as initially “scared” about the scope and scale of the development. He added that similar concerns were expressed about earlier residential developments along Milwaukee Avenue, where multiple condominium projects have been built since the 1990s. The White Eagle redevelopment will feature rental units.

“I’m very, very happy with the community that came forth and spoke to us,” the mayor said.

The approval comes with a list of 16 conditions that the developer is being asked to adhere to in an effort to better address concerns from the village and area residents. “Never before in the history” of the village has a list been that long, Alpogianis said.

The conditions address issues such as fencing along north property line and require the developer, Noah Properties, to work with the village and state to help mitigate traffic concerns, which many residents described as a “traffic jam” on southbound Milwaukee during the evening rush.

In addition, Noah is being asked to work with the village on video recording the demolition of the White Eagle and to possibly figure a way to incorporate some of the facade into the development.

Alpogianis said that the project is not yet “a done deal” but appears to be moving forward. Noah reportedly plans to buy the property and would have to go through other processes, including a building permit review.

The proposal includes 330 apartments (studio and 1- and 2-bedroom) and 24, 4-bedroom townhouses, and the development would consist 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.

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

Noah approached the village about the project in January, according to a village official.

Trustee Craig Niedermaier said that Noah Properties was asked to “craft” a new neighborhood for the village and that the company “met the challenge.”

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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