Homeowners Confederation discusses Water St. plan
By Hank Beckman For The Sun December 15, 2012 5:30PM
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Updated: January 17, 2013 6:49AM
The solution to the Water Street dilemma is fairly simple, reads the position paper of the Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation.
No building higher than three stories along the Riverwalk and no more than five south of Water Street.
“We actually offered a solution,” NAHC President Bob Buckman told about 30 homeowners association representatives at a meeting Saturday morning.
The confederation added the height stipulation to its statement and reinforced it with a voice vote among those present that received unanimous approval.
Marquette Properties is looking to build a hotel, parking garage and office and retail space on a 2.4-acre property along Water Street just south of the DuPage River.
“It’s been an interesting time,” Buckman said of the battle over how to develop the property.
Buckman stressed that the confederation was not opposed to developing the property, but wanted something more in character with the downtown Naperville area.
“Why does it have to be so big,” he asked. “Why does it have to be so dense.”
The developer has said the project will bring needed development to that section of town.
It also has revised its proposal to cut down the height of the hotel to about 74 feet, cutting out a whole floor.
City staff has endorsed the project. The City Council voted to send the entire project back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for more discussion.
