Web Extra!

As of today, a children's museum, bowling alley, hotel and big-box retailer are still possibilities for Downtown Oak Park.

The village board made its second cut yesterday in a development competition for the Colt superblock--a village owned property between Lake Street and North Boulevard just west of Harlem. The field started with seven respondents to the "request for qualifications," which the village released in September. Staff eliminated two teams, and last night, the board narrowed the field to three.

The board was mostly on the same page in eliminating Westgate Partners LLC and F3 Development LLC.

Westgate Partners--which included an Oak Park doctor and architect--proposed a medical office on Westgate along with retailers complementing its health services. However, the board felt the team didn't have a strong plan for the Colt building on Lake Street. Some trustees also felt that while the medical office was an interesting idea, it was not the right fit for downtown.

Trustees liked elements of F3 Development's proposal. It had strong sustainability elements and a focus on historic preservation. However, the team had over a dozen partners, and some trustees worried they might duplicate efforts and slow the process. The team also mentioned using subsidies, which the board strongly opposes. F3 Development also suggested incorporating a pedestrian street into their plan, which trustees thought was a bad move after the village just spent over $5 million to deconstruct the pedestrian mall on Marion Street.

The three finalists--Centrum Properties, AvalonBay Communities Inc., and Mid America Development Partners LLC--were each awarded a $10,000 stipend and a chance to move to the next level in the competition. All three teams, in some fashion, met the board's top three requirements in the competition of quality architecture, sustainability and solid finances.

The three finalists have until March 2008 to create a detailed proposal for the parcel. If one team drops out or is unable to continue, F3 Development will be able to step in as its replacement. The board also suggested that Westgate Partners have the chance to contact one of the three finalists and work together on the Westgate building.

Read more in the Dec. 12 Wednesday Journal