Mixed-use proposal for 705 E. Roosevelt draws safety and traffic concerns from West Chicago aldermen

A developer and architect presented a conceptual plan Sept. 8 to build a four-story mixed-use building at 705 East Roosevelt Road in West Chicago, proposing roughly 13,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space with 36 apartments on the three floors above. Committee members praised the concept but raised repeated traffic, safety and zoning concerns and recommended the petitioner consider alternative locations.

The project team, represented by Himanshu Modi of Nova Design Build, said the property is about two acres in the B‑2 General Business District and has been vacant for about 15 years. Modi said the developer shifted from an all-apartment scheme to a mixed-use model because “a lot of retail centers are vacant,” and mixing residential with first-floor retail would help cover property taxes and operating costs while supporting any retail that locates there: “If retail doesn't get filled up right…