Longtime Skokie vet hospital gets Plan Commission nod for renovation – Chicago Tribune

For more than 50 years and since the 1950's, Riser Animal Hospital has occupied an L-shaped piece of property in the 5300 block of Touhy Avenue, according to Riser officials who are looking to build an expansion.

The Skokie Plan Commission Thursday, March 16, unanimously recommended a special use permit for the project, which would allow Ridiculous Hat LLC, the owner of Riser, to move forward with the building addition.

The Skokie Village Board will have final say on the special use permit request at an upcoming meeting.

According to Riser's special use application, the building currently occupies 3,830 square feet of space and would add another 1,796 square feet with the addition. The inside of the existing hospital would also be "substantially renovated" including adding accessible restrooms, according to the application.

"The existing building is somewhat residential in character, and the doctors, staff, and pet owners wish to maintain this welcoming appearance," the application states. "The proposed building addition adds more visual variety and interest with a combination of face brick and other materials."

Developer Joe McCarthy with the firm of JF McCarthy said only two small additions have been built since the original building opened, which he said is believed to have been 1956.

He said two doctors now own the hospital.

"It's been maintained and in continuous operation," he said. "The (owners) want to bring it to the next level of service" to handle increased patient demand and range of services.

The addition would be located on the north side of the property near Touhy Avenue, McCarthy said.

An apartment on the second floor would remain unchanged, he said.

Village planners agreed the second-floor apartment is not an issue, but they said it would not be allowed above a veterinary hospital under today's code.

In essence, they said, the apartment is grand-fathered in.

McCarthy said the owners have worked with village staff to come up with a plan for the addition that includes storm water management, landscaping and improving the general appearance.

The nature of the existing operations will remain unchanged, he said, so there will be no increase in police demand.

Niles resident Ruth Cohen, a customer of Riser, told the commission she supports the expansion and values Riser's service.

"I've come to Riser Animal for 40 years," she said. "There's got to be a reason. It's good for the village of Skokie as well because when I go to Riser, I go (shop) at the Jewel in Skokie. So I think it would also bring more business into Skokie."

misaacs@pioneerlocal.com

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Longtime Skokie vet hospital gets Plan Commission nod for renovation - Chicago Tribune