An award-winning developer has announced plans to develop a $35-million medical building in Westmont, and the company is hoping to fill it with a major name in Chicago medicine.
“We’re talking to the largest players in the Chicago medical market,” said Andy Polivka, principal for the Polivka Group, the leasing agent for the project. “We’ve been having meetings almost every other day. I would hope in the next three months we’ll have something nailed down, if not sooner.”
Ryan Companies US Inc. is developing the project, which will be on six acres at 725 Pasquinelli Drive on the west side of Route 83, just north of Ogden Avenue. The site formerly was used as an overflow facility for McGrath Lexus.
Ryan Companies US Inc. awards
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Company officials say the 115,000-square-foot building will be the first new Class A medical office center built in the area in more than three decades. They plan to break ground and begin construction in spring 2009, with occupancy beginning as early as summer 2010, according to a company news release.
The building could potentially be occupied by one large hospital group or by multiple tenants, such as several larger medical doctors’ groups, Polivka said.
Polivka said the developers have been looking throughout the western suburbs for a land site for more than a year and settled on the Westmont location because of the exposure and proximity to highways and a good market. He said the building will be visible to 120,000 passing cars per day.
The developers are excited to work in Westmont, Polivka said, adding that the project will have several benefits to the community.
“From Westmont’s prospective, it’ll be bringing a lot of people who are doctors, nurses and patients to Westmont who will be spending money there,” he said. “And (it will provide) a tremendous amount of jobs.”
Brad Wilson, vice president of development for Ryan Companies, said in a news release that Ryan is placing great emphasis on the quality of the architecture and building materials.
Architectural features are expected to integrate traditional and contemporary design and a preference toward native materials rather than prescribing a particular style, he said.
Westmont village planner Shannon Malik said she won’t know what type of variances the project will need until the site plans are submitted.
“It could be exciting to work with a well-established and decorated firm,” she said. “It would beneficial from the perspective of adding jobs for professional-level employees to the community.”
