The developer behind a large scale redevelopment project is tweaking his plans after hearing criticisms from village staff, and has hired a new architect to see those changes through.
Alex Troyanovsky’s proposal to rehab the so called Roos property at 7329 Harrison St. is undergoing changes, and Troyanovsky said Oak Park architect John Schiess is no longer working on the project.
“It’s not that I wasn’t happy with him,” Troyanovsky said. “He’s just overwhelmed. He is working on projects for me in Downers Grove, Mount Prospect, and Oak Park.”
The new lead architect on the project is Victor Dziekiewicz of Design Bridge, based in Chicago. Dziekiewicz is charged with increasing the available parking at the site and reducing the number of living units, according to Troyanovsky.
The changes both in the design and the designer come just a few months after Mayor Anthony Calderone and Schiess went public with the project. Troyanovsky confirmed that his decision to pull Schiess from the job coincided with a meeting between himself and Village Administrator Mike Sturino.
The quality of Schiess’s work was not the subject of that discussion, Troyanovsky said, rather the logistics of the proposal. The developer said he wanted an architect who could focus their attention on the Roos building, which was a luxury Schiess did not have.
Troyanovsky said Schiess was deeply involved in the project at the start because of his desire to preserve the building.
The 107,000-square foot building was constructed in the 1920s as the home of the Edward Roos Cedar Chest Company. Troyanovsky’s company, Regency Development Group, bought the site for $2.9 million from Patrick Wangler, according to Cook County property records.
Wangler had proposed to demolish the structure and erect 138 condominium units on the site, but that project fell through last year. The property has sat vacant for several years.
Troyanovsky said his new plans for the building call for 70 loft condominiums in instead of the 74 initially proposed. The number of town homes will be reduced from 30 to 28, Troyanovsky said.
More parking will be provided under the new plan, as well. The new plan calls for 98 parking spaces, up from 86, for the 70 condominiums and 56 parking spaces for the 28 townhouses.
Schiess said Dziekiewicz was already working on the project, but now is taking on full responsibility for the development. Schiess said his involvement with the Roos project ended in late September.
“I was just swamped with work for this client,” Schiess said. “The project is in good hands. Victor is a very capable architect.”
Village staff raised concerns over the density, parking, traffic control and landscaping after reviewing the initial plans for the project this summer, according to Sturino, the village administrator.
Troyanovsky said he hoped to submit the revised plans to village staff by Oct. 19, which would allow the planning commission to review the project at its Nov. 6 meeting.
“We’re still working closely with staff,” Troyanovsky said. “We’re trying to save the building.”
Sturino said he is optimistic that a plan can be developed to save the Roos building, and he is looking forward to working with Dziekiewicz.
