The future of the old Clarendon Hills police station at 201 Burlington Ave. is once again unknown.

The Clarendon Hills Village Board approved a redevelopment agreement with Waypoint Properties LLC in July calling for the demolition of the existing structure and the construction of a two-story commercial building. But with that agreement came a 60-day due diligence period for the developer to evaluate the property and determine whether the developer would move forward with the project.

John Bell, principal of Waypoint Properties, notified the village Sept. 2 that they were withdrawing from the agreement. Village Manager Rob Bahan said the primary reason given for the withdrawal was the downturn in the economy. He added that Bell had a good working relationship with the village and they appreciate him being straightforward and honest.

Nothing had to come in front of the Village Board for this process, but Bahan said officials thought it was important to take some kind of public action. Trustees approved a resolution on Monday publicly reconciling Village Board actions regarding this redevelopment effort.

Waypoint’s proposed building was all masonry with a restaurant and retail space on the first floor and offices on the second. Bahan said they will still be looking to develop it into a mixed-use development, which includes retail on the first floor and possibly offices on the second as called for in The Downtown Master Plan, approved in 2006, but for now it will be put on hiatus until the economy turns around.

“We’re going to be monitoring the economy very closely and assessing when would be a good time to go back out and seek proposals,” Bahan said.

Phone calls to Bell were not returned.

Development continues in other parts of town
Trustees approved final plans for The Pointe at Clarendon Hills Monday, which will replace the old Market Town Shopping Center at 5-23 Walker Avenue.

A project by IRED Clarendon Hills LLC — a partnership of Inland Real Estate Development, LLC and HPD Cambridge Inc. — The Pointe at Clarendon Hills calls for a restaurant and retail shops on the ground floor and 31 senior housing units on the second and third floors. The only major changes from the preliminary plan is the relocation of the bank ATM and a commitment made by the developer to place wired utilities under the Walker alley with three large transformers and switchgear eliminating the four proposed parking spaces along the alley.

Village Manager Rob Bahan said they expect the project will break ground in the spring or summer months.