Downers Grove Council Approves $9.5 Million Plaza Redevelopment

A proposed seven-story, 65-unit apartment building at 2560 N. Stowell Ave. near Milwaukee's Downer Avenue business district has received unanimous support from the city's Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee, with a full council vote expected soon. Newly-elected Alderman Alex Brower endorsed the zoning change, highlighting the need for increased housing density on the East Side and expressing hope for more affordable and wheelchair-accessible units. The project, developed by Bayside Mgmt LLC and led by Thomas Schafer, would include 81 parking spaces and a second-story deck, with construction anticipated to begin this year. The development site has remained vacant for several years, and the proposal has seen diminishing public opposition compared to prior hearings. Some concerns persist regarding traffic and congestion, with residents urging the developer to further address these issues. The project replaces an earlier, unrealized plan for an 11-story building at the same site.