By Dawn Rhodes, Chicago Tribune reporter
Mega-chain Starbucks is building another coffee shop in Downers Grove, following the village council’s unanimous approval. The Sept. 9 vote clears the path for what would be the third Starbucks to locate in town.
The 1,800-square-foot store with a drive-through window is to be located on a vacant parcel at 1149 Ogden Avenue, two blocks west of Main Street. The other Starbucks stores are at 5002 Main Street and 72 Ogden Avenue.
The plan commission sent the proposal to the village council last month with a positive recommendation.
“We’re taking a vacant, challenged site and making it productive with a nationally known product,” Community Development Director Tom Dabareiner previously said.
“I really think that this corner is going to blend in nicely with the Jewel across the street as a newer building, and hopefully spur more development in this small corridor in the (tax-increment financing) district,” Commissioner Geoff Neustadt said.
The village council approved the building itself, but also agreed to an exemption from the village requirement that buildings with this zoning designation must be at least 25 feet from their front property lines. Starbucks officials plan to build 12.5 feet from the line to allow for enough cars to queue in the drive-through without blocking any entrances or parking spaces.
Commissioner David S. Olsen said that he has received numerous messages from residents, happy that another Starbucks is coming to town.
“This is something that has gotten attention in our community,” Olsen said. “I think the improvement from what it is now to what it is going to be, I think this is a great benefit.
