The village of River Forest selected a developer for the long-vacant parcels on and behind the 7600 block of Madison Street, on the village’s border with Forest Park.
After looking at multiple potential developers, the village tentatively settled on Five Thirty One Partners, officials announced Jan. 14. The Chicago-based developer proposed to build a five-story building that would have 72 apartments and turn the two rear lots into a parking lot. Because of the complex nature of the project, it would need to go through the Planned Unit Development process to get the design approved.
But, before that happens, officials are seeking public feedback. River Forest will hold two open houses – one from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 at Roosevelt Middle School, 7660 Oak Ave., and one from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 at River Forest Civic Center, 8020 Madison St. Residents can also submit comments online and review project information on the project page at vfp.us/Madison.
The property is made up of three lots. One at 7612-7620 Madison used to be home to Lutheran Child and Family Services. The two lots behind it, at 10 Lathrop Ave. and 11 Ashland Ave., were private homes. By the time River Forest bought the properties in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, the buildings had been sitting empty for years.
The village demolished them in 2023. Two years later, it hired Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. to market the properties. According to the village announcement, the staff looked at seven potential developments, then narrowed them down to two finalists. Five Thirty-One Partners won out because their proposal could appeal to both young professionals who might be interested in moving to River Forest, and empty nesters who are looking to downsize but don’t want to leave the village, officials said. The fact that the developer continues to own and manage its properties after construction is done also worked in its favor, they said.
Five Thirty One Partners has developed several sites in the area. They redeveloped the former U.S. Bank site at 6700 W. North Ave. in the Galewood section of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, gutting and expanding the old bank building. In fact, the renderings of their proposal for the Madison Street site share many design elements and color choices as that project.
The U.S. Bank project also showed some willingness by developers to adapt to community feedback by reducing building heights, shifting balconies to address concerns about residents looking at their neighbors’ yards, and even building a first-floor space for a new Galewood branch library – a major priority for the neighborhood. The library deal ultimately broke down after the developer and the city couldn’t agree on the price and other contract details. One Thirty-Five Partners went as far as designing the space specifically to fit Chicago Public Library system standards.
According to the renderings, the Madison Street building would include 3,380 sq. ft. of retail space on the first floor, in the southwest corner of the building. The entrance and the lobby would be located on the southeast side, and would include a bike storage room. The first floor would also have an indoor parking garage. Between that and the outdoor parking, the development would have 87 parking spaces.
When soliciting developments, River Forest cited the site’s proximity to Forest Park Blue Line station, which is only a few blocks south. Pace bus route 318 stops even closer, at the intersection of Madison Street and Des Plaines Avenue.
The rendering also shows a rooftop patio. Each floor would have a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and even four-bedroom units.
A developer has proposed erecting an apartment building with retail space on the first floor for the long-vacant parcels on and behind the 7600 block of Madison Street in River Forest. (Igor Studenkov/Pioneer Press)
The village expects the Planned Unit Development proposal to take around five months.
In a message to the residents, the village emphasized that the One Thirty-Five’s proposal is not final, and there is always a possibility that River Forest will look for another developer if the proposal doesn’t work out. In addition to taking public input into account, the River Forest Development Review Board, village staff and legal counsel will evaluate the developer’s finances and review the proposal for “feasibility, and its potential for long-term success.”
“Our shared goal is to confirm that the project aligns with River Forest’s standards and represents a sound, sustainable investment that is consistent with our community’s quality of life,” village officials stated in the update.
Igor Studenkov is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.