Regular check-ins set as developer makes more promises to skeptical Highland Park officials

A local developer is putting his money where his mouth is in his pursuit to fill one of Highland Park’s most stubborn and prominent vacancies.

Highland Park’s City Council during its Monday, Nov. 10 meeting approved an ordinance amending a previous agreement for the development of the former Highland Park movie theater property at 445 Central Ave.

The approved measure now allows property owner Scott Canel to fill one of three currently dormant tenant spaces at the long-vacant downtown property with a medical office.

As previously reported by The Record, Canel is proposing what he described as a “high-end” dermatology practice to fill suite 100 on the site, a space that city documents show is 3,245 square feet.

As part of the approved ordinance, which passed via a 6-1 vote with councilmember Anthony Blumberg in dissent, Canel will also donate $250,000 to the city to be used for “economic development initiatives,” city officials said.

Additionally, Canel also committed to leasing the other two ground-floor spaces, with either a restaurant or retail use, by Dec. 31 of 2027.

The case that appeared in front of the council on Nov. 10 was an amendment application from Canel and his development group, Alabama Associates. Canel pitched in mid-August of this year a proposal to lease two of the three ground floor units for the dermatologist practice.

Highland Park councilmembers during that August meeting unanimously rejected the amendment to the agreement that town officials first struck with Canel in 2018.

That deal granted a special use-permit to Canel and his firm to develop the two-story, roughly 21,500-square-foot commercial building, which was once owned by the city, with a restaurant and retail spaces on the ground floor.

After a brief presentation from city staff Nov. 10, Canel told the council that he is actively working out scenarios to fill the remaining two spaces.

Canel communicated a vision of one space being a “world-class restaurant” with a “top-flight” chef. He added that two “high-end” cake businesses are expressing interest in the other space.

“We’re already working on it now,” Canel told the board. “I think we’re going to make a lot of progress by summer of next year. This is something that is on the top of our radar screen, so you have my promise that it’s something that I’m going to do and obviously you have my financial commitment on the other side as well.”

But despite the several assurances that were made by Canel during the meeting, multiple members of the board still expressed their concerns with aspects of his plan.

Councilmember Jon Center said the project’s “timing concerns me a lot,” adding that the time to lease these types of spaces should be far shorter than two years.

Board member Barisa Bruckman said “this request still troubles me deeply.”

“The city and our residents have lived up to our end of the deal and you have not as of yet,” she added.

Councilmember Andrés Tapia described the process in developing this space as a “very difficult journey.”

He went on to say that he would support the amendment for the “good of the community,” adding that it’s the city’s “best bet right now.”

“While I feel that this is still a high-risk situation given the history,” he said, “I’m going to bet on taking the risk on your good faith and believing in it and putting my vote on that.”

Board member Anthony Blumberg, who was on the council when the agreement was approved in 2018, expressed his frustrations at length during an October Committee of the Whole sessions where the council also discussed the project.

Blumberg’s remarks were limited Nov. 10, saying he was “not comfortable with this” plan, but he ended on a note of optimism.

“I hope that we are able to get what we are hoping to get in the remaining spaces,” he said.

About halfway through comments from the board, Canel responded telling the council “you have my word that I’m going to move forward.”

“I’m going to invest very substantial financial resources,” he said. “I’m making this my center base, my home. I’ve made a massive investment in the building and I’m going to make it work and I’m going to make it work for the entire community in a way that no third party would do because no third party would take the risk and make the investment that I’m going to make.”

As a way to quell some of their concerns, councilmembers added as a condition of approval that Canel must return within six months to provide a progress update. After that initial appearance, Canel committed to quarterly check-ins with the board. Village staff also pledged to offer a “comprehensive” update a year from now.

Canel, a longtime Highland Park resident, ended his remarks with another promise.

“This is my hometown — I don’t want to have (this space) besmirch my reputation, so I’m going to get it done.”

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.