City Officials Offer Glimpse into Downtown Development’s New Chapter

Picture the strip of storefronts on 75th Street just west of Lyman Avenue — the one with , , an store and other retail businesses. 

Now envision two of those three buildings situated on Cass Avenue, facing Brookhaven Plaza just north of Plainfield Road. 

The city is using that mall as a model for the type of development it would like to see built on the city-owned property that includes Heritage Plaza and a vacant lot, Municipal Services Director Dan Gombac said Thursday at a meeting with the Brookhaven Plaza Merchants Association.

“It doesn’t mean that’s set in stone,” he said. ”We just want to create a vision.” 

Whether the city will sell the land or develop it in conjunction with a developer or business is yet to be determined, he said. 

The city is in talks, however, with several developers who Gombac said have shown interest in the property. He mentioned Corner Bakery as one potential business for the location. 

Some sort of courtyard or other outdoor public gathering place is also in the works for the land, he said. 

co-owner Pam Gialanas said she looked forward to the development coming to the neighborhood.

“I think it would be really nice to make it a nice, real downtown area,” she said. “When people say, ‘Where’s the heart of Darien?’ we’d be able to say, ‘Well, it’s right here.’”

is scheduled to vote Monday on zoning variations for the proposed development that Mayor Kathy Weaver said will serve as an anchor for the other two properties. 

The council approved a contract with Chase in November. Chase has until June to close the purchase of the property. 

One of the variations includes a temporary road on the southernmost lot for construction purposes. A BP gas station used to be on that property.

Several aldermen previously have questioned whether such a road would impact the value of the BP lot. 

“Just because it’s a road today, don’t think it’s going to be there tomorrow,” said Gombac, addressing those concerns. 

There will also be a drive that passes through the southern two properties, connecting Chase’s parking lot with Plainfield Road.

Plans have that passage dividing into two drives onto Plainfield Road, but Gombac said that could change.

Chase also plans to erect a large sign on Plainfield Road that will eventually include the names of other businesses within the whole development, Gombac said.

Weaver said she is glad to see plans moving forward after the down economy put the project on hold. 

“We’ve gotten lots of criticism: ‘Are you going to do anything?’” she said. “We’re starting to have some glimmer of hope. I know the market’s getting some improvement here. I’m very anxious to get this property going here.”