For Clark Street Real Estate and Ryan Companies, a lot has happened in the 16 months since they proposed a revised plan for a senior housing complex in Portage Park’s Six Corner Shopping District.
In June 2018, the duo’s plan included a 265-unit market rate senior housing complex, along with 237 parking spaces over 50,000 square feet of retail space. John Arena was the alderman representing that 45th Ward, and he supported the plan.
But Arena was defeated in a February election, and the project, now at 248 units, stalled in April.
The new alderman, James Gardiner, now says he will not support the project, according to Block Club. Aldermanic prerogative allows him to do so.
Gardiner said he made his decision “based upon community feedback received through a multitude of forums over the course of several months,” according to the Block Club report.
The plan is supported by two community groups — Six Corners Association and the Old Irving Neighborhood Association.
Development plans date to 2014 when Clark Street bought the space for $10 million. In 2016, a building was torn down to prepare for the project, leaving a hole in its place. [Block Club] — Kelsey Neubauer