Wish lists shared on Dec. 13 at Northbrook Village Hall included an unwrapped gift left under the lobby’s decorated tree.

Northbrook neighbors opposed to the proposed Shermer Road development at the former Grainger property left a protest sign as a surprise holiday card tucked under the municipal tree.

The sign, like those dotting Northbrook parkways, reads, “Too Dense, Too High, Oppose Grainger Plan.”

The group claims the former Grainger property (1657 Shermer Road) was a $8.3 million purchase and bungled 2018 attempt by the village to unsuccessfully relocate Northbrook’s Metra station south to the site.

Several Woodlawn Road residents claim the 10.3-acre Grainger land was snagged using village cash reserves without public input. Research was poorly done with fast tracked assumptions about rail lines and if schools could become overcrowded with a tsunami of new students, complainants charge.

“They made a mistake by buying this property and they’re trying to fix their mistake,” said Gail Rago of Woodlawn Road.

View their petition with more than 800 signatures at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/support-northbrook-plan-commissioners-unanimous-denial-of-grainger-site-petition?source=direct_link&.

The Northbrook Chamber of Commerce & Industry promotes at https://northbrookchamber.org/village-selects-purchaser-for-grainger-site/ that

Northbrook trustees approved last May a $10.5 million agreement to sell the Grainger land to a developer for apartments and retail space. Email correspondence to the village exists supporting the plan.

Last autumn, the Northbrook Plan Commission unanimously denied the project. The Grainger controversy comes to the Jan. 24 Board of Trustees meeting.

“It’s an absolute disaster,” said Cindy Valleau, Woodlawn Road resident. “They (the village) want to just get rid of it (Grainger property).”

“They’re willing to do anything and not listen to the residents.”

Woodlawn Road resident Jennifer Wyton worries about, “the conflict of interest,’ by a village board, “motivated to sell it to the highest bidder.”

Vida Wu, also of Woodlawn, said, “This property is not being treated like other properties.”

Northbrook Court News For 2023

Meanwhile, Northbrook Village President Kathryn L. Ciesla shared good tidings for 2023…