As Berkshire Hathaway leaves prize Winnetka space, another real-estate firm wants it. But more than a dozen residents already oppose the idea.
Winnetka Plan Commission will consider a special-use permit April 28
Winnetka officials started envisioning “interesting possibilities” when longtime village tenant Berkshire Hathaway announced its plans in early January to vacate a keystone corner in the downtown district.
Several months later, the first proposal to occupy the highly visible property at Elm and Chestnut space does not fit the bill as a riveting occupant, according to a number of residents.
Winnetka’s Plan Commission on Wednesday, April 28, will consider an application from Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate to take over the space and would relocate its office at 568 Lincoln Ave. if approved.
As of publication time, at least 15 residents have submitted comments in opposition to the proposal.
“We believe that Winnetka’s downtown will be most vibrant when storefronts are occupied by restaurants and retail, not service businesses,” Winnetka residents Julie and Chris Nilan say in a submitted comment.
Margot Wallace, a resident of Winnetka who lives Green Bay Road, shared similar comments.
“I object to any approval that allows for more service businesses at ground level in the beautiful, hospitable, Elm/Chestnut area,” she said. “Identify and assist retail businesses that want to come to Winnetka. Don’t let the realtors do business with each other. We live in our real estate; we don’t merchandise it.”
According to its application submitted to the Village of Winnetka, the real estate company is hoping to downsize its office space for a smaller location while simultaneously remaining downtown.
“As the business environment has evolved, the need for such a large physical space has diminished,” the proposal from Coldwell Banker reads. “Coldwell intends to remain in downtown Winnetka to continue serving the community, but could do so more efficiently in a significantly smaller space.”
Similarly, representatives from Berkshire Hathaway cited changing consumer needs and preferences and the desire to downsize as the reasons for the move to 839-841 Elm St.
Village records show the space at 538 Chestnut is approximately 5,560 square feet — including both the first floor and lower level — and has roughly 90 feet of street frontage. Coldwell Banker’s current space on Lincoln is just over 9,300 square feet.
The property at Chestnut is currently owned by the Stephens Family Limited Partnership, village records show.
Coldwell Banker’s proposed plan for the space would keep the entrance at the corner of Chestnut and Elm Streets, village documents show. Twenty-eight work stations, two private offices, five team rooms and four conference areas are proposed.
Hours of operation would typically be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, the proposal says.
The applicant proposes a “number of collateral” benefits for the move, saying it “will avoid an inevitable vacancy in an important business district” and “no significant change to the traffic patterns, parking needs or streetscape.”
“In addition, the relocation will also free up an existing space to create an opportunity for a more traditional retail business or dining experience,” the proposal reads in part. “The 538 Chestnut location is less suitable for such a use, particularly for a restaurant use, because of the nature of the rest of the structure.”
The Plan Commission’s meeting will start at 7 p.m. on April 28. All who wish to attend or participate can do so virtually with the following options:
• Telephone (audio only). Call: 312-626-6799; when prompted enter the Webinar ID: 935 5610 9544
• Livestream (both audio and video feed). Download or open the Zoom meetings and then join Webinar ID: 935 5610 9544; Webinar Passcode: PC042821
Additional information to participate in the public-comment portion of the meeting can be found here.
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Martin Carlino
Martin Carlino is a co-founder and the senior editor who assigns and edits The Record stories, while also bylining articles every week. Martin is an experienced and award-winning education reporter who was the editor of The Northbrook Tower.
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