Redwood pulls back plan to build apartments in Joliet

Redwood Apartment Neighborhoods has called off its plan to build 152 apartments on the far West Side of Joliet.

The Ohio-based company has developed 13,000 apartments communities in seven states. But its plan for Joliet fell flat even after getting an apparent letter of approval from the homeowners association where the apartments would be located.

Assistant City Attorney Chris Regis told the City Council on Monday that Redwood has pulled its application seeking city approval for the Joliet plan.

“The developer has agreed to withdraw its request for that development,” Regis said at the Monday workshop meeting of the council.

Redwood planned to build in the Lakeview Prairie subdivision located at Ridge Road and Theodore Street.

The homeowners association for the subdivision sent a letter expressing no objection to the Redwood plan to the city Plan Commission before it met to consider the project in May. But Lakeview Prairie residents did object, and the commission voted 6-0 to recommend that the City Council deny the plan.

The Redwood plan did not get to the City Council until November, when residents again came to the meeting to voice opposition. Mayor Bob O’Dekirk and some council members also attended a neighborhood meeting in November when residents voiced opposition to the project. The council voted to table the matter and was to reconsider it on Tuesday.

“I think they (Redwood) saw there was not support, and they withdrew their application,” city Planning Director Jim Torri said after the Monday meeting.

Councilwoman Jan Quillman at the meeting clarified with Regis that Redwood would have to begin the city approval process all over again if the company ever was interested in attempting the project again.

Residents who objected to the plan said apartments would not fit the subdivision.

The 22-acre site where Redwood planned to build, however, already was zoned for multi-famiy residences. And, a city staff analysis noted that the Redwood plan had lower housing density than the original plan for town homes on the site when Lakeview was approved in 2003.

Redwood needed city approval of a planned unit development before construction could occur.

Redwood planned 33 ranch-style apartment buildings with attached garages for residents. All apartments would have been two-bedroom units with monthly rents starting at between $2,100 and $2,300.

The project received a recommendation for approval from city staff despite the Plan Commission vote.