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Developer pitches apartments for Dundee, Skokie
770 Skokie Blvd.
Court date scheduled in previous developer’s fraud case
A previous attempt to develop the Dundee/Skokie corner with commercial and residential buildings resulted in federal criminal charges.
In 2010, Glenview resident Ed Renko was charged in a federal indictment with bank fraud, making a false statement to influence the financial action of a bank and two counts of wire fraud.
Renko was the chief operating officer of the defunct EAG Capitial Holdings that tried to develop Center of the Northshore.
A Dec. 4 status hearing in federal court has been scheduled for Renko’s case.
Also indicted in the financial charges were Gary Fishkin, of Glencoe, and former EAG Capital Holdings CEO and Northbrook resident Alexander Field, a former EAG president.
Chicagoan Kalliope Shaykin, former president of Absolute Title Services Inc., of Schaumburg, was charged with lying to a bank and seven counts of wire fraud.
Tatyana Furman, of Northbrook, formerly a loan officer and mortgage broker at American United Mortgage Co. – in the same Northbrook building as EAG that owned 50 percent of the firm – was charged with seven counts of wire fraud.
The project’s problems arose in spring 2008 when the Northbrook Star reported Renko was $66,000 behind in property taxes on the Skokie Boulevard property, which he paid upon exposure.
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Updated: December 23, 2012 6:23AM
NORTHBROOK — Trustees are making another run at bringing in a 10-story apartment complex with mixed-use to the northwest corner of Dundee Road and Skokie Boulevard.
Under the plan, the 14-acre plot 11 would be retail stores, anchored by a Mariano’s Fresh Market grocery store.
The apartment building’s top eight floors would hold 416 units, with the first two floors and basement for parking.
Morningside Crossroads Partners, which built the new Walgreens at Shermer and Waukegan roads, has applied to develop the area, and presented trustees on Nov. 13 with a preliminary proposal.
Though trustees welcomed the pitch, they told representatives of Morningside Crossroads they should submit the proposal to the village Plan Commission to consider rezoning or re-amending the district to allow more residential land use.
“My first impression of this is that I’m excited. I like Mariano’s and my second impression is that I’m intrigued, but there’s a lot here,” Trustee Mark Heller said.
“First, it will be very dense because 416 units means a lot of people and Mariano’s will bring a lot of traffic,” he said, adding the Plan Commission must consider the project’s impact on local schools, as well as how Mariano’s will affect existing grocery stores in Northbrook, such as Sunset Foods and Whole Foods Market.
Heller also was concerned with the plan’s large area of impervious surfaces that could create drainage problems, lack of green space and smaller parking lot spaces for vehicles at Mariano’s.
Trustee A.C. Buehler said, “We need to think about what’s appropriate, here. There’s a lot of rezoning changes that need to be looked at.”
Bob Mariano, owner of Marian’s Fresh Market, said his stores were known for “complete one-stop shopping.”
“The real secret of our stores is that we have wonderful people working there. Our customers come from five to 10 miles away and each store is uniquely designed,” he said. “This is my life. Some people golf. My passion is building grocery stores.”
In a report to village officials, Morningside Crossroads said Mariano’s in Northbrook could create about 425 jobs and the store would open in early 2015.
David Strosberg, a principal for Morningside Crossroad, said the high-rise apartments had close access to Interstate 94 and Lake-Cook Road.
“Market studies have said luxury apartments in the north suburbs are in high demand. This development will address the demand,” he said.
Susan Jacobs, a nearby homeowner, thanked Morningside Crossroads for meeting with residents concerned with increased traffic and green space.
