HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 6.2.26 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL

Appearance

  • The owner of The Cuisine American Bistro (331 Waukegan Ave.) applied for approval of new business signage. The City Council voted to authorize the proposed signage.

Appointments

  • The Highwood Library & Community Center is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees that serve three-year terms. Mayor Pecaro appointed Shelby Drury and Ty Grigg to the Board, and the City Council voted to approve the appointments.

Development

  • The city purchased 412, 416, 420, 424, and 430 Sheridan Rd. to revitalize the area through redevelopment (map of the project area here). Within the project area, the blighted buildings were environmentally remediated and demolished; the area is currently used for public parking. In 2024, the city issued a request for redevelopment proposals and received submissions from Continuum Capital and Zeller & Harlem Irving Companies. Last year, the City Council voted (4-1) to authorize city staff to negotiate redevelopment and purchase agreements with Zeller & Harlem Irving Companies. Key terms of the negotiated agreements include:

    • Developer to purchase the properties from the city for $2.75M “as-is, where-is, with all faults,” with $500k due at closing and a $2.25M deferred payment obligation.

    • Developer to construct a six-story mixed-use building with 93 rental apartment units, approximately 3,161 sq. ft. of ground-floor commercial space (subject to certain use restrictions), and 101 parking spaces.

    • City to provide the developer with up to $6.9M in financial assistance, funded solely from future property tax revenue generated by the project within the Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District; the city is not required to use general operating funds if those revenues are insufficient.

    • Developer must obtain all required zoning and project approvals from the city before the property sale can close and construction can begin.

    • Developer must apply for zoning approvals within 90 days, commence construction within 120 days after receiving approvals and permits, and complete the project within 28 months after construction begins, subject to limited extensions.

    • If the developer does not obtain the required approvals, the property sale does not close; if the sale closes but construction does not begin or the developer defaults under certain circumstances before construction begins, the city may reacquire the properties.

A representative of the developer presented an overview of the development team's experience and the proposed project. The City Council voted (4-2) to authorize execution of the agreements. A brief summary of my related opinion is here.

Finance

  • The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $121k.

Parks & Public Spaces

  • The City Council had a preliminary discussion on holiday decoration plans for the upcoming season. The Council directed city staff to plan for the continued installation of lit wreaths on streetlights along Waukegan Ave./Sheridan Ave. and Highwood Ave. and to add garland to the streetlight posts. The Council also directed staff to investigate the feasibility and estimated cost of wrapping tree branches with uniform warm-white lights along Waukegan Ave./Sheridan Ave. and Green Bay Rd., including trees located in parks.

Public Comment

  • A resident asked about pruning shrubs near City Hall that are obstructing sidewalk access, the possibility of public art installations at Everts Park, whether Recreation Center renters should bear a greater share of facility repair and maintenance costs, and whether there are plans to increase resident access to the facility. The resident also asked about the width and lighting of the proposed pedestrian pathway along the northern side of the proposed redevelopment at 412, 416, 420, 424, and 430 Sheridan Rd.

  • A resident asked about the appointment process for the recently appointed City Council member, potential alternative revenue sources to property taxes such as vehicle stickers and special event entrance fees, and plans for event layouts while the Metra station parking lot is being used for construction staging.

  • A resident volunteered to provide Spanish and Italian translation services to support city communications. The resident also asked about the size of the proposed rental apartment units and the types of tenants expected to occupy them within the proposed redevelopment at 412, 416, 420, 424, and 430 Sheridan Rd.

  • An individual asked about the impact on public parking from the proposed redevelopment of 412, 416, 420, 424, and 430 Sheridan Rd.

Other

  • The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from May 19, 2026.

  • The Library & Community Center’s June newsletter is here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s June newsletter is here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Evening Gourmet Market will be held on Wednesdays from June 3rd through August 26th from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Everts Park (111 North Ave.); additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Highwood Historical Cocktail Tour will be held on Wednesdays from June 3rd through July 15th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at various locations (departure point is the Celebrate Highwood booth at Everts Park/111 North Ave.); additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Kick-Off to Summer Carnival will be held on June 5th to June 7th at the Metra station parking lot (317 Green Bay Rd.); additional information here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s Breakfast Before Business (Leading Under Pressure) will be held on June 9th from 7:30 am to 9:00 am at City Hall (17 Highwood Ave.); additional information here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s Public Sculpture Dedication will be held on June 10th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the park alongside Bent Fork Bakery (341 Waukegan Ave.); additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Pride in the Park will be held on June 17th from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Everts Park (111 North Ave.); additional information here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s Spill Sessions (Behind the Murals) will be held on June 18th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Station 440 Rooftop (440 Green Bay Rd.); additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Inferno Fest will be held on June 24th from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Everts Park (111 North Ave.); additional information here.

Meeting Records

  • A video recording of the Regular Meeting is here.

  • Once approved, minutes from the Committee of the Whole Meeting and Regular Meeting will be linked here.

    These write-ups are purposefully brief. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you would like additional details or have questions.

*unless otherwise noted, City Council directives and votes were unanimous.

Next

May 19, 2026