Seven-Story Apartment Building Approved at Dunton Ave And Eastman St, Arlington Heights Downtown North

The Arlington Heights village board on Monday approved a new, seven-story apartment building at an empty lot at the corner of Dunton Avenue and Eastman Street. The building would be located just east of the 7-story Towne Place condominium building at 201 North Vail Avenue built in 1998.

Construction for the Parkview Apartments building on the current empty lot — formerly occupied by a hobby store and a dry cleaners — could start as early as Spring 2015, and is estimated to take about one year to complete.

Parkview Apartments, approved at 212 N. Dunton Ave., will include 45 apartments in a layout with a combination of one-, two- and three-bedroom units — at least 15 percent of those units (7 units) will be reserved for those who qualify under affordable housing guidelines.

The building will feature 1,254 square feet of retail space on the first floor, and two levels of indoor parking, according to attorney Rolando Acosta.

The project received approval from all seven trustees, while Trustees Jim Tinaglia and Carol Blackwood recused themselves because of business-related conflicts with the finances and architects on the project.

At least seven units — and as many as 19 depending on financing — are to be maintained as affordable housing. The village defines “affordable” as housing for a person or household earning 60 percent of the median income for the area. While the village’s housing commission has guidelines that developers include affordable units in all new projects, many pay a penalty to avoid including them at all.

Two Arlington Heights residents spoke in opposition to the Parkview Apartments with perceived problems with parking and the lack of a loading bay.

The implications of adding affordable housing to the downtown was also scrutinized, but Chairman of the Arlington Heights Housing Commission Mark Hellner said the affordable housing is not public housing. “A lot of people call it ‘working class housing,'” said Mark Hellner. “Teachers, public employees and many people already living in the village would qualify for the affordable units,” Hellner added.

There are 54 parking spots planned for residents at the building, along with six guest parking spots. The parking plan is above the number required by village code. If those spots are all full, the village will also make up to 15 overnight parking passes available in the Vail Avenue parking garage, which is two blocks away on the other side of the Union Pacific railroad tracks.

There is concern whether enough spaces are available in the nearby parking garage for overflow parking.

The new building offers a stimulus for the downtown’s north side of the tracks, and will feature proximity to the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, the Metra train station, Famers’ Market, quick access to Route 53 along Northwest Highway (north of tracks), and a view of North School Park.

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