W E D N E S D A Y
April 12, 2017 Vol. 35, No. 34 ONE DOLLAR
@oakpark @wednesdayjournalinc
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Spring Home 2017
Spring Homes
Special section pullout
Developer focuses on Oak Park Arts District District House developer signs on to rebrand Kleronomos’ properties By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
The $57.5 million capital referendum, issued in order to fund various building maintenance and expansion projects, passed by nearly 20 points, 60 percent to 40 percent. District officials have estimated that the first referendum will cost taxpayers $74 for every $1,000 of an average home-
The luxury condo building District House – the 28-unit mixed-use development taking the place of Tasty Dog at Lake and Euclid – is on schedule to be open early next year, but its developer, Ranquist Development Group, already is setting its sights on the Oak Park Arts District for its next Oak Park project. Ranquist has formed a partnership with Harrison Street Ventures to not only build a four-unit residential development along Harrison but to help steer a new strategy for marketing and leasing the troubled commercial properties long held by Chris Kleronomos. Kleronomos lost six buildings – many of them long vacant -- to foreclosure in the arts district during the recession. In 2015, the newly formed Harrison Street Ventures gained control of the properties but has had limited success in marketing them since. Kleronomos maintains a minority position in the properties – the size of which has not been disclosed – and does not have decision-making authority in their redevelopment, Harrison Street principal Mona Navitsky said in late 2015.
See D97 REFERENDUM on page 13
See ARTS DISTRICT on page 16
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
FIRST JOY, THEN RELIEF: Cate Readling celebrates inside of Robinson’s Ribs in Oak Park on April 4 after learning that the two District 97 referenda would likely be successful. The news was a relief for incumbent and incoming board members alike.
District 97 gets referendum relief By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
Unlike last November — when the outcome of Oak Park and River Forest High School’s facilities referendum, which failed by less than 40 votes, took weeks to finalize — the outcomes of the two District 97 referenda were clear even before the votes from all 37 precincts were
counted on the Cook County Clerk’s website on April 4. And the margins of victory for both measures were relatively overwhelming. The operating funds referendum, which called for a 1 percent limiting rate tax extension in order to generate a projected $13.3 million in additional revenue passed by a nearly 10-point margin, 54 percent to 46 percent.
NEW SPRING MENU Stop in for a taste!
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