CALL TO ACTION

The Westminster neighborhood learned, through a Chicago Tribune article, that the City Council  will hear the second appeal of the McKinley condominium project’s Building 3 on September 7.  

·      The Plan Commission turned down this petition twice, in January and March of 2020. The City Council overturned their ruling in April 2020.

·      The Historic Preservation Commission voted against this petition three times: January 2020, June 2021, and July 2021. 

·      On September 7th, the City Council will decide whether to uphold the Historic Preservation Commission vote, remand it back to HPC , or overturn it, thereby allowing the condo to be built as currently drawn.

Condo 3, which fronts East Westminster, is in the historic district and the proposal is for building a ~24,000 sq. ft. brick, flat roof building (with active roof top use by residents!) on little more than half an acre in an historic residential district.  It will be a mere 15 feet from a single-family home’s yard to the East. (The first two condominiums on McKinley are not in the historic district, therefore they did not have the same strict standards applied.)  

THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE

Rooftop party spaces with open fire pits would now be allowed in a residential community of single-family homes.  If it can happen in an area with the trifecta of protections (zoning, Historic Preservation, and Overlay District protections)….it can happen anywhere.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Do you agree with the 2 Commissions that this design is not compatible with an historic residential neighborhood, and that its size, scale, flat roof and style fail to meet the design standards of Lake Forest’s historic neighborhoods? If so, then please email the Mayor and the City Council.  Tell them how you feel.   The work and findings of the Historic Preservation Commission must be upheld.

Mayor George Pandaleon:  pandaleong@cityoflakeforest.com      

Alderman Jennifer Karras, 1st Ward:  karrasj@cityoflakeforest.com 

Alderman Jed Morris, 1st Ward:  morrisj@cityoflakeforest.com 

Alderman Melanie Rummel, 2nd Ward:  rummelm@cityoflakeforest.com 

Alderman Ted Notz, 2nd Ward:  notze@cityoflakeforest.com 

Alderman Jim Preschlack, 3rd Ward:  preschlackj@cityoflakeforest.com  

Alderman Ara Goshgarian, 3rd Ward:  goshgariana@cityoflakeforest.com 

Alderman Ray Buschmann, 4th Ward:  buschmannr@cityoflakeforest.com 

Alderman Eileen Looby Weber, 4th Ward:  webere@cityoflakeforest.com  

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