A vacant 1950s-era gas station on North Liberty Street in Elgin is set for demolition to make way for a new gas station and convenience store.
“It’s been derelict, for lack of a better word, for pushing 10 years now,” said David Hill, owner of M2Ke Design, whose company is heading the project. “It really presents an eyesore to the neighbors. Our plan is basically to take everything that is there out.”
Hill and developer Ahmed Minhaj provided the details for the project at Monday night’s Elgin Planning and Zoning Commissiong meeting. Minhaj is seeking a conditional use permit from the city for the new business.
Located at the corner of North Liberty Street and Cooper Avenue, the 18,146-square-foot site will include commercial space and a car wash bay. It will replace the 3,000-square-foot building constructed in 1957, Elgin senior planner Damir Latinovic told the commission.
It’s always been used as a service station, most recently as a Citgo gas station, he said. But it’s been vacant since 2016.
The entire footprint will change with a new 2,700-square-foot convenience store located on the northern portion of the property. It has a contemporary, modern look, Latinovic said, and will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Four double-sided fuel islands will be located on the southern part of the parcel. No diesel fuel will be sold.
“We’re doing a relatively small canopy with just four pump islands because it’s a small site,” Hill said. “I think we’ve designed a really good-looking, modern, small convenience store that’s going to add to the aesthetics of the neighborhood.”
Under the proposal, the developer is building full-access driveways along Cooper Avenue and Liberty Street. Underground fuel tanks are being removed and replaced. New 6-foot-high solid fences along the north and east property lines will help screen adjacent homes, Latinovic said.
Sidewalks and curbs are being rebuilt. There won’t be any excessive lighting on the property, the developer and designer said.
“I think it’s a nice-looking project,” Hill said. “It’s a big improvement for the neighborhood in terms of green space, landscape and trees. It’s going to be a nice site for the neighborhood.”
No one spoke at the public hearing. Some residents submitted letters to the commission, including one that asked about potential alcohol sales given that there are two liquor stores near the location.
Minhaj said he doesn’t plan to initially sell alcohol, although he may decide to apply for a liquor license at a later time.
Commissioner Steven Migala asked why the store needs to be open 24 hours a day. Minhaj said it made more sense to stay open rather than close at midnight and then reopen at 4 a.m.
Convenience store hours depend on the location, Latinovic added. Stores located within a neighborhood usually close earlier than those in busy areas like Randall Road, he said.
Due to the property’s size and shape, the developer also needs some exceptions to the city’s building codes dealing with setbacks and the number of parking spaces, Latinovic said.
The project will go to the Elgin City Council for final approval with the unanimous recommendation of the commission.
“It looks like a great project,” Commissioner Karin Jones said. “It’s down in my neck of the woods. It’s nice to see development there.”
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
