Roselle approves $80 million Metro 19 Apartment project
The Roselle Village Board has approved the Metro 19 Apartment complex, becoming the biggest development in village history.
The $80 million, 5-acre complex was approved unanimously Monday. It will be adjacent to the Roselle Metra Station and include a five-story, 293-unit apartment building with a parking garage that would be used by residents and Metra commuters.
The luxury apartments are aimed at young professionals and intended to increase demand for nearby restaurants, shops and other retailers in the village. Developers hope to start building the project this spring and complete it by 2022.
"This is the biggest development in Roselle's history," Trustee Wayne Domke said. "If the residents were to hear all the thoughts and concerns given to this project, they would have faith that the Metro 19 project is great for our town."
The project materialized in 2016 as part of the village's comprehensive plan, and questions arose from residents about whether the shift to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic will permanently reduce demand for housing centered around commuting.
Village officials believe the project remains viable.
"I believe we will continue to see strong demand for Metra once the vaccine is widely distributed and the project is completed in 2022," Trustee David Pileski said.
Even if Metra ridership remains low, walkability is a key feature of the project, he added.
Domke and Pileski are running in the April 6 election to become Roselle's next mayor, after Mayor Andy Maglio announced he was not seeking reelection.
Developers Avgeris & Associates and 400 Roselle LLC purchased land occupied by BMO Harris Bank at 400 E. Irving Park Road and a former Ray Graham Foundation location at 439 Lawrence Ave for the project. The bank and its drive-through will remain in the same location and will stay open during construction.
Between these two locations is a Metra daily fee parking lot, which will be replaced by a five-story, 536-space parking garage, with 153 spaces reserved for Metra riders and the others for residents.
Avgeris proposed the complex include 56 studio apartments, 157 one-bedroom, and 80 two-bedroom units. Each unit will have a clothes washer and dryer and the building will have an outdoor pool, indoor and outdoor lounges, workspaces, indoor bike storage, dog run and spa, and outdoor grilling area.
Avgeris vice president Tim Knudson said the project is similar to the company's Metro 59 complex in Aurora, where rental prices are $1,250 a month for studios, up to $1,835 for one-bedroom and up to $2,130 for two-bedroom units.
"We think this is going to be a great development for the village of Roselle," Knudson said.
• Trey Arline is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.