July 28, 2026
Date: July 8, 2026
Location of meeting: Via Zoom
Time meeting was called to order: 7:02pm
Attendees: Kristin Berg, Nan Parson, Kathy Rolsing, Jeanne Wells, Melani Kaplan, Lori Snelson, Marilyn Novak, Tim Kirkby
We welcomed Tim Kirkby to the meeting. He expressed a concern about how there could be truly affordable housing in Park Ridge due to the high costs of land and construction and current zoning policies, particularly parking. We talked about how it has to be a public/private partnership that will most likely involve Low Income Housing Tax Credits, the city, and other government and business entities.
1) Housing Plan
a) Housing Plan Implementation
i. We briefly discussed the vacant properties identified in the maps provided by the city’s comp plan consultant. Almost all are small lots between 2 single family homes. The property at 819 Busse Highway (where the senior housing project was going to be), the former Mr. K’s Garden at 1440 Higgins, and the former gas station at NW Highway and Oakton would be the only 3 large enough for an economically feasible AH development. All are privately owned. Director Drew Awsumb has not yet identified which vacant lots and parking lots are city owned. Kristin keeps asking.
ii. Mayor Maloney was invited by Northbrook Trustee Heather Ross to attend the HODC Grand Opening of Poupard Place, a 48 unit AH project in Northbrook, but he did not attend. Kristin will send an email with pictures/video from the opening and request a meeting to discuss how to make such a development a reality in Park Ridge.
iii. Needs follow-up: Talk to the owners of troubled/problem properties directly and see if there might be any intertest in AH under the right circumstances. Renaissance Place and a property at 1580 NW Highway, formerly the location of the Center of Concern offices and needing work, were 2 properties mentioned.
b) Monitor City Council/COW agendas for any Housing Plan discussions/actions/proposed multifamily and senior housing development,
i. Implementation of the AH Plan discussion has been pushed to August on the P&R Calendar during a COW meeting
c) Monitor PZC Agendas for any Housing Plan discussions/actions/ proposed multifamily and senior housing development
i. The next meeting, July 14th, was cancelled.
2) Comprehensive Plan
a) Comp Plan dedicated website: https://park-ridge-il-comprehensive-plan-hlplanning.hub.arcgis.com/
i. Workshop held on 6/17 was focused on parcel-by-parcel level detail on plans for the main commercial districts in town. Feedback was very focused on South Park and the Dee Road/Park Ridge Metra stations areas.
ii. Plan drafting to begin July/August with presentation to the public in September/October
3) Other Updates
a) HODC Grand Opening of Poupard Place, attended by several Action Ridge members, was a great success with almost 150 in attendance, including Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
b) Possible video of those needing AH in Park Ridge.
4) Time meeting adjourned: 8:15pm
5) The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 8/25 at7:00pm on Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2644814263?pwd=clJCSWJmRnpnSjlyYmY0clJBRkJGZz09
Meeting ID: 264 481 4263
Passcode: 588190