Your Verdict: Raze Meadow Plaza, Start From Scratch

Earlier this week, , the shopping center at Cherry Lane and Meadow Road that is among several areas of downtown Northbrook being studied for redevelopment. 

Given the choice of simply sprucing up the shopping center, leaving it to developers and property owners to manage, or razing it and building new residential buildings above parking garages, our readers overwhelmingly favored the complete rehaul. 

The village is studying Meadow Plaza, among other areas, to create a comprehensive, transit-oriented plan for the downtown. Last week, a consultant hired by the village presented more than a dozen different visions for downtown Northbrook, including several different plans for Meadow Plaza.

Of the more 165 votes cast in our poll by 5 p.m. on Thursday, 51 percent, or 85 votes, went for the consultant’s plan for a complete rehaul of Meadow Plaza—including the demolition of every building but Marcello’s, the construction of parking garages with residential units and restaurants with patios facing the river.

The next most popular option, by a hair, was leaving Meadow Plaza alone, with 44 votes (26 percent) cast for that choice. Meanwhile, 37 votes (22 percent) were cast for a minor rejuvenation involving spruced up storefronts and more trees in the parking lot.

Residents say Meadow Plaza’s biggest problem is the former Blockbuster and Walgreens stores, which remain vacant more than a year after the tenants left. Occupancy of the Walgreens property, at least, is complicated by the fact that Walgreens has paid its lease through 2024—giving owner Jay Heitman of Heitman Properties little incentive to try to fill the space.

Former Northbrook village trustee Kati Spaniak commented on the matter on Northbrook Patch’s Facebook page. 

“Jay Heitman needs to have a a little pressure put on him by the community and the village of Northbrook to give back to the community that has given him so much,” she wrote. “No amount of 'downtown planning' will help Northbrook if we don't have Heitman's buy in and financial contribution to making his property more inviting and attractive.”

Owner Jay Heitman told Patch last week that he has been approached by multiple tenants, including a dollar store, but hasn’t yet decided how or if he will fill the former Walgreens space. 

“We’d like to see what has the best play economically or what makes sense,” he said.

Other readers said they would like to see a major tenant like Trader Joe’s or an arts center move into the space to draw people downtown.

“I think a would be a perfect fit for our downtown,” commented Coldwell Banker’s Northbrook branch manager, Ian Robinson. “The one in Glenview and the one in downtown Glencoe have great traffic and would give us a quick fresh and healthy option in our downtown. 

Northbrook Patch freelancer Elizabeth Manaster suggested an arts center called “Space North.”

“How about a music venue with a small plate type restaurant like Space in Evanston?” she wrote. “The walls could even be used as an art gallery.” 

Several readers said they’d love to see Northbrook look like downtown Deerfield or Highland Park, but one commenter wondered how much money that would take.

“What we need to do is take a hard look in the mirror and ask what we want downtown Northbrook to look like and do we want to spend the money to get there?” the anonymous commenter asked. “Downtown Highland Park is the model to emulate, but that would require major construction and development on Shermer.”

It's not too late to cast your vote. Simply click on one of the options at the top of this article to participate in the poll.