Ohio St. developer hopes third time is the charm

By Ivette Sandoval
 
Developer Demetri Nikolopoulos wants to build condominiums at the properties he owns at 1404 and 1414 W. Ohio St. in West Town, but current zoning does not permit what he envisions.

Nikolopoulos began a zoning amendment process by scheduling meetings with the community and submitting proposals to local residents for their approval. After two proposals, however, the community and developer have not reached an agreement.

According to Nikolopoulos’s lawyer, Sylvia Michas of Samuel VP Banks, neighbors requested the original plans for four-story structures be amended to three stories, and the developer agreed. “We are going to be going back to the community and show them our updated plans and just continue to work with them in order to bring in a project that everyone is going to be happy with,” said Michas.  She added that the new design will present a different architectural façade.

After community meetings, the next step in obtaining a zoning change is submitting an application to the City's Department of Zoning, which reviews it. If accepted, the zoning change is submitted to the City Council's Committee of Zoning, which schedules a hearing on the amendment in which community members can express their opinions. The last step is submitting the amendment to the City Council for a vote.

Keerthi Ravoori of the Department of Zoning explained that, for condominium developers, a critical aspect of getting a zoning change is providing parking for each unit. The City also requires that parking to be on the same lot as the condominium.

Walter Burnett Jr., 27th Ward Alderman, said Nikolopoulos will submit a third proposal at a meeting this month.

“The proposal has not been approved by the community yet," Burnett explained, noting the developer "changed some things, but we sent him back to the drawing board so now he has to come back for the third time. If the community accepts that proposal, then it’s OK. I’m rationally going along with the community to see if the developer would adhere to the changes that they want. Some people are concerned." Burnett said he would base his approval decision "on the building and the lot and what the concerns of the community are.” 

Burnett added that a zoning change is a privilege, not a right. If the developer wants to come to a community and needs a zoning change, then he has to deal with the community. The community, meanwhile, has to be rational and deal in good faith as well, Burnett explained.

“A lot of times what the developer does is take an area that didn’t have any developments and make a new building that may help bring the property value up,” said Burnett. He added that one of the challenges for all developers is adding more parking to a community while not reducing the number of street parking spots. For more information, contact Burnett's office at (312) 432-1995.