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An upscale dining and entertainment destination with a year-round concert and skating plaza supported by the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission.
The advisory body recommended this week that Naperville City Council approve parking, signage and light pole height differences in Block 59, a 16.5-acre commercial project proposed by Brixmor Property Group, which owns Heritage Square, between Route 59 and Construction mall site on the northeast corner of Aurora Boulevard.
The company, which also owns the linked Westridge Court shopping center, asked the city to drop plans for the Heritage Square unit development that had been in place for more than 40 years in favor of a development calling for restaurants, entertainment and experiential venues.
Brixmor will demolish all but two existing buildings — the Lazy Dog Restaurant at 436 S. Route 59 and the Burn Boot Camp property at 476 S. Route 59 — and construct 11 new buildings.
Andrew Balzer, Brixmor’s real estate director, told the committee that Block 59 was inspired by Parkway Bank Park in Rosemont, Mellody Farm in Mount Vernon, and Avalon and Halcyon in Alpharetta, Georgia, which offer year-round dining options and open spaces- Total entertainment.
Balzer said the project was an opportunity to create something special in Naperville.
“It’s hard to find the right opportunity at the right time, with as much area in such a good location, and we believe now is the right time,” he said.
Craig Soncrant, managing principal of landscape architecture firm Confluence, said the existing Heritage Square shopping center provided 6 percent of the land for open space, while Block 59 would provide 23 percent.
Parking lots and sidewalks will be rebuilt to make it easier for visitors to park their vehicles and walk throughout the development.
One of the highlights is the event space that surrounds the restaurant.
The activity area can be used in some form in all four seasons, Soncrant said, whether it’s music, ice skating or a place for kids to run around while their parents rest.
Block 59 will also have flexible space near the Hollywood Palms movie theater for parking or pitching a tent for a farmers market, beer festival or arts festival, he said.
A sticking point for commissioners has been a call to eliminate the detour lanes required for restaurants with drive-thru lanes.
Commissioner Mark Wright said entering a business and colliding with other drive-thru vehicles is a challenge.
Commission Chairman Anthony Losurdo said that during his nearly six-year tenure, the commission has never approved a plan that didn’t include bypass lanes.
“We don’t know what’s going on in there. Whether it’s Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts or Stan’s Donuts or whatever, we don’t know,” Losurdo said.
Balzer said the tenant is a convenience-oriented business, and the 22 parking spaces are important to the owner so customers can get in and out quickly.
When asked who the tenant might be, Balzer said it falls under the category of businesses listed by Losurdo.
Instead of removing the bypass lane around the building, councilors said they were willing to compromise by allowing a bypass lane on one side through which vehicles could exit the rear of the property.
Despite the bypass issues, Losurdo said the development would be a good thing for the city.
“I think it’s been a dead zone for a long time,” he said.
To fund the redevelopment of Block 59, Brixmor has asked the city to create a business district that would allow an additional 1% tax on sales by businesses in the district.
While Brixmor wants all associated businesses within Westridge Court to be added to the business district, council members say they only support the area that includes the 59th block and east of Westridge Court.
A council hearing on Brixmor’s latest proposals is scheduled for Tuesday.
Subject to full approval in the coming months, demolition at Brixmor is expected to begin in July, followed by site reconstruction and infrastructure work.
Balzer said common areas, roads, event lawns, lighting and landscaping should be complete by June 2024 so building construction can begin a month later.
If all goes according to plan, the first restaurants will open in the first quarter of 2025 to allow for events in summer 2025, he said.
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