A plan to end the stalemate in Gordon Park has been met with some interest by Atlantic Realty Partners and would preserve a contentious 2.82 acres of Gordon Park.
However, Park District of La Grange officials said they have not been party to any plan and as a result, cannot agree to something they have not had time to study.
Attorneys for the Park District asked Cook County Circuit Court Judge Susan Gillis Oct. 19 to issue a hearing date on the district’s plan to sell the land to ARP. Attorney John Shapiro said the request to select a trial date was conditional on a settlement being reached. However, he would neither confirm or deny if the district was seriously considering the proposed plan, saying only it was considering its options.
Attorney Mark Wohlberg, who represents Friends of Gordon Park, said under the plan proposed, ARP would pay the Park District to get an easement on the park land at a value agreeable by the district. ARP would then dedicate the land as open space but it would be added to the total density of the YMCA property on which ARP plans a mixed retail/residential development.
“It would allow ARP to build the relatively high-density development they want to build, and the village in turn would give them a credit for that high-density based on the open space that would be the Park District’s,” said Attorney Tom Beyer, who also represents the Friends of Gordon Park.
Beyer added he discussed the plan with Village Trustee Jim Palermo, who expressed interest in the plan and said he thought he could get support for it from other Village Board members.
Park District President Tim Kelpsas said the district is still waiting to see a copy of the proposal.
“It’s never been sent to the Park District, so outside of court, the objectors have not reached out to the Park District,” Kelpsas said. “The only information we have heard from the objectors is in court. We have no idea what the proposal is, and we very much wish they would send it to us before the Thursday (Oct. 22 Park) Board meeting. We’ll consider anything. We’re not closed minded. Thus far, any settlement talks have been between the opponents and ARP, but the district has not been a part of those talks.”
Wohlberg said he and his clients are trying to independently work out a resolution because the Park District, he said, has not shown a lot of interest in resolving the matter outside of court.
“They’ve never shown any interest in resolving this — they still think they can win,” Wohlberg said.
“We will happily get them involved at the appropriate time. We were at a brick wall with them.”
The plan would need approval from the Village Board.
“This idea wasn’t my personal brainchild, it was suggested a long time ago by Jim Palermo,” Beyer said.
ARP President Richard Aaronson said Oct. 14 the plan was being considered and ARP attorneys intended to provide some feedback to the Friends of Gordon Park members.
“We’re definitely looking at it,” he said, adding that any other public discussions on the proposal would be inappropriate at this time.
The parties will meet again in court Nov. 19.
