After a lengthy approval process, the construction of the Foxford Station condominium and retail building complex has begun with the demolition of the vacant Tichler’s grocery and Breen’s cleaners at Burlington Avenue and Wolf Road in Western Springs. The actual construction of the building is expected to begin this spring.

“As scheduled, we want them to start as soon as possible,” Western Springs Community Development Director Martin Scott said. “It really is contingent upon when they get the actual electrical underground and overhead work done, so it remains to be seen when they start.”

The construction of the 28-condo development was originally set for June 2016, but delays involving the Commonwealth Edison electrical substation on the property delayed the demolition until Nov. 22.

The construction of the four-story, mixed-use building comes after a lengthy approval and funding process. The project was met with mixed citizen opinions, and a citizen-circulated survey before approval in February of 2015 found that 68-percent of the 838 residents interviewed opposed to the MXD (Mixed Use Development) zoning plan that enabled the development.

To involve community members with the project, Western Springs created the Plan Commission, an appointed group of volunteer residents. Through meetings, presentations, and a public forum, the Plan Commission presented a formal recommendation to the Village Board before the plan of the approval.

“We most definitely received input and there was an exhaustive review by both the Village Board and Plan Commission,” Village Board Trustee Edward Tymick said in a February 2015 interview with Pioneer Press. LION’s full coverage from the project approval is available on lionnewspaper.com.

The building is the first to use the village’s new MXD zoning district rather than the past C-1 district used for the downtown area. Changes include a higher maximum building height.

No other areas are likely to be rezoned in the foreseeable future, Scott said. The Village Board removed the southwest corner of Burlington and Wolf from MXD zoning eligibility after a recommendation from the Plan Commission.

Developer Foxford Communities, Listing Broker Joan Smothers and Smothers Realty Group will continue to work with the village throughout construction. The demolition has been completed, but the electrical substation and its overhead and underground wires blocking further construction have yet to be relocated.

“Foxford is working with ComEd and their engineer right now to get it relocated,” Scott said. “That will be the first thing to happen on the property.”