Planning board recommends rezoning and PUD for conversion of Hotel Gurnee into mixed hotel-residence '10' at 6161 Grand Avenue

The Village of Gurnee Planning and Zoning Board on March 6 forwarded favorable recommendations to the Village Board for a zoning-map amendment and both preliminary and final planned-unit-development (PUD) approvals for a redevelopment of the former Holiday Inn at 6161 Grand Avenue.

Applicant Kiat Enterprises proposes converting the south wing of the existing hotel into 80 multifamily units (48 studio efficiencies and 32 one-bedroom units) and renovating 105 hotel rooms in the west wing. The mixed-use plan — branded during the hearing as “10 Hotel & Residences” — would combine long-term residential units targeted primarily to residents 21 and older with a boutique hotel, a rebranded restaurant (Maple), a grab-and-go market, event/banquet facilities and amenities such as a pool, gym/yoga studio and valet parking backed by off-site parking agreements.

Why it mattered: the proposal would reuse an existing, prominently sited commercial building and seeks departures from the zoning code (allowing ground-floor multifamily in the C-2 district, an electronic message board and minor sign-height relief) while promising new tax and activity-generating uses for a property owners and staff said has been underutilized.

Project details and amenities The petitioner’s presentation detailed interior…