Politics & Government

Downtown Developer Gets 75 Days to Prove Himself

Lake Zurich village board gives John Breugelmans exclusivity period to show proof of financing, do preliminary studies.

 

In an effort to get downtown development on a faster track, the Lake Zurich village board gave developer Monday, during which the village will not pursue other developers for Block A, across from the Promenade. 

Four votes were needed to allow Breugelmans to proceed and it came down to Village President Suzanne Branding, who agreed to Breugelmans’ proposal, if he would agree to allow Lee Brown of Teska, the village downtown consultant, to review Breugelmans' finances. 

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Trustees Tom Poynton, Jeff Halen and Jonathon Sprawka voted in favor of going ahead with Breugelmans. Trustees Rich Sustich and Terry Mastandrea wanted to wait for the RFQ/RFP process.  

Breugelmans was one of  the four developers who were rejected last summer.  

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His proposal is for a five-story, mixed-use building, with apartments that would convert to condominiums, and a raised plaza overlooking the lake and a restaurant. 

Breugelmans said his building would be a breath of fresh air for Lake Zurich residents.

“People can sit outside on the beautiful terrace and have a drink and a meal and another drink ,” Breugelmans said. 

Breugelmans aimed to convince the board that he could get a construction going faster than if the village followed the RFQ/RFP process. He said the RFQ/RFP process would take at least 18 months.

“We have a plan for a real shortcut for Block A,”  Breugelmans said. He said he could have a building plan in place in four and one-half months.

During arguments for and against proceeding with Breugelmans, Mastandrea said he was never in favor of the RFQ process and wanted to proceed with a developer last year. However, he felt the village was close to sending out RFQs (Request for Qualifications).

“You make it difficult for the staff to do their job when you keep changing your mind constantly,” Mastandrea said. Sustich agreed that the RFQ was close to being ready and the village should go with the process. 

Village staff was asked their opinions.

Building Director Dan Peterson said the RFQ/RFP process would be a clean, transparent process in which the finances of developers would be reviewed, checked and verified.

“We would do our due diligence to ensure success happens,” Peterson said. 

Poynton said “At this point we have to take some chances. We have 12 years of failed opportunities, why not take another chance?”

 Sprawka and Halen expressed concerns about the timeframe for the RFQ/RFP process. 

“In the worst case scenario, we lose 75 days. In the best case, we have a developer with a project to move forward with,” Halen said. 

Brown explained to the board that RFQs could not be sent to other potential developers during the 75-day exclusivity period. However, staff and the board will continue to work on the RFQ/RFP process and it may be used for other downtown development.


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