Kenilworth's tiny commercial corridor on Park Drive still has no redevelopment plan. The village's Zoning Board of Appeals meets Monday, Aug. 10, for the first time since developer Michael Frieburger walked away from the Park Place luxury condo proposal that dominated village politics for more than a year.
The agenda packet was posted Aug. 6 on the village website. The specific variance cases on the docket were not available for review before publication; residents can access the full packet at vok.org/AgendaCenter or contact Village Hall at 847-251-1666 for details.
What Park Place's collapse means for the pipeline
Frieburger, who runs Wilmette-based NEWLOOK Development (formerly RED3 Development, LLC), withdrew his zoning application for a planned unit development and certificate of appropriateness at 515-519 Park Drive in late July. The building, most recently home to Federalist Antiques and Helen's Cleaners, now sits with an active demolition permit but no approved redevelopment plan.
The proposal went through roughly a year of revisions, starting at 50 feet over four stories in summer 2025, then shrinking to 40 feet without retail, then to 35 feet with the fourth floor removed. Both the Architectural Review Commission and Plan Commission recommended denial. The Village Board remanded it back to advisory boards in January before conditioning any approval on ground-floor retail at its June 15 meeting.
"In this particular project and design, as presented, as a luxury, for-sale product, there cannot be any commercial space," Frieburger said at that June 15 hearing. He withdrew the application weeks later.
Village Manager Kathy Thake has confirmed Kenilworth is no longer considering Park Place. Staff is awaiting information from NEWLOOK Development before scheduling the demolition permit for a Building Review Commission agenda, according to The Record North Shore.
As we reported July 24, the withdrawal leaves 515-519 Park Drive in limbo and raises questions about what Kenilworth's small commercial corridor can attract next.
Monday's ZBA meeting begins at 7 p.m. at 419 Richmond Road.
North Shore Ahead
Monday, Aug. 10: Kenilworth Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m., Village Hall, 419 Richmond Road. First hearing since the Park Place withdrawal; agenda at vok.org.
Wednesday, Aug. 19: Wilmette Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m., Council Chambers, 1200 Wilmette Avenue. Agenda not yet posted.
Tuesday, Aug. 25: Northfield Village Board meeting and TIF public hearing, 7 p.m., 361 Happ Road. The board will take public comment on the proposed tax increment financing district.
Winnetka: The Village Council directed staff on July 21 to begin a comprehensive zoning ordinance rewrite, an 18-to-24-month project, according to Our Town Winnetka. A Plan Commission public hearing is targeted for September. No zoning hearings are scheduled for the week of Aug. 10.
