|
|
The
Glenview Watch April 29, 2001 |
|
Glenview Police have handled about two dozen reports of bank fraud in the last three months, most involving a scam perpetrated against people who leave bills they're paying in their mail box for pick-up by the postman. Thieves raid the mailbox and remove the checks – erasing the name of the payee and the amount of money to be paid but leaving the signature in tact. They then fill in their own names and numbers before cashing the checks. The practice, known as "check washing," is especially common in neighborhoods like Indian Ridge or The Willows west of Pfingsten, where homeowners have free-standing mail boxes on the street.
Another approach involves using the victim's name, address and account number to create new, computer-generated checks complete with a copy of the victim's signature. The bank usually returns money stolen from accounts in this way and investigates, but the burden of reporting the matter to police, closing the old account and opening a new one falls on the victim.
To protect yourself, put the bills you're paying into a neighborhood mailbox or take them to the post office. Review the statement on your checking account as soon as it arrives and immediately report any checks you don't recognize to the bank.
KEEPING AN EYE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD
A new website allows folks interested in property values to track the prices paid for neighboring homes. It's www.domania.com, and it's already causing talk in Heatherfield – a James Company development that is now home to former Village President Jim Smirles. The site shows Smirles paid $196,500 for his place at 1814 Camden Drive in August 1999, when others who bought around the same time paid $363,000-$466,500.
Watch word: We had asked Smirles about that figure when it first appeared in the Chicago Tribune about a year ago. "I think that's a pretty good price, don't you?" he said. Pressed to explain the difference between what he and his neighbors had apparently paid, Smirles said he was observing his church's holy days – the Greek Orthodox Easter – and did not want to discuss the matter. He promised to get back to us. The Watch is still waiting.
DISTRICT 34 PLANS SCHOOL CUTS
The rumors are flying: Glenview schools might get rid of all extra-curricular activities, including football and other sports at Springman Middle School. Art and music programs may be cut. Busing service for Wesley Day Care could be eliminated. No decisions have been made about how the school board will make up a $1.2 million shortfall next year, but Superintendent Dot Weber will outline options at the board's 7 p.m. Monday, May 7 meeting in Lyon School. Members of the public will be invited to speak at the end of that meeting. They can also talk with Weber at one of three PTA meetings: Pleasant Ridge School at 9:15 a.m. Monday, May 7; Westbrook School at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, and Springman Middle School at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 22.
DISTRICT 31 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TAKES ADDITIONAL JOB
Glenview resident Ira Rogal, who sits on the District 31 School Board, has been appointed to the Illinois Gaming Board – the body that regulates casinos. A lobbyist, attorney and accountant, Rogal saw no conflict between the two jobs, telling the Glenview Announcements, "There's a lot of boards you can be on, and there's many interesting facets to the school board. The Gaming Board is totally different and interesting in its own right." Rogal said he has rarely gambled and would not be doing so in Illinois because state law prohibits board members from visiting casinos except on official business.
IT'S BAD ALL OVER
– Members of the Glenview Good Government Party are still shaking their heads over the latest village election. They say their opponents, Unite Glenview, may have outspent G3 by a margin of three-to-one. Now comes word from Wheeling Township, where Republicans are also singing the blues. They lost all but one office in the last election and accuse the Democrats of spending as much as $70,000 to sweep the other races.
– During the campaign, G3 complained about UG literature that blamed Donna Pappo for scuttling a deal to redevelop the old Jeep site near Waukegan and Glenview Roads. In fact, Pappo had nothing to do with the decision by developer Peter Cummins to abandon the project. Now comes word that another Cummins development – this one in Glencoe – ran into serious financial trouble. It was auctioned off earlier this month. Meanwhile, a new tenant will open on May 4 at the Jeep site. Gabriel's Trumpet will sell fine furniture and antiques.
MOOVING ON UP
Members of Citizens Organized for Wagner's or COWS have elected two new officers. Mark Steger, an environmental lawyer whose home is adjacent to Wagner Farm, is the group's new president, replacing Henry Hill who decided to step down but will remain on the COWS Board. Richard Feit will serve as secretary. Norma Morrison and Alexis Reynolds will continue as vice president and treasurer, respectively.
LIBRARY NEWS AND NOTES
Still no word on whether the Glenview Public Library will suggest putting its new building at The Glen, but sources tell the Watch that talks are underway between the village and the U.S. Postal Service. Will Village Hall give the post office land at The Glen in exchange for a promise to leave their downtown digs so the library can expand? Stay tuned.
In addition to checking out books, tapes and CD's at the library, you may want to check out its website: www.glenview.lib.il.us . It could be the best electronic resource in town. Until recently, the home page was jammed with links, making it hard to navigate. Now, the site has been redone with a separate area for links – 473 of them. You'll also find a listing of library activities: a poetry reading and a play about the life of Anne Frank, a lecture about travel to Mexico City, a class for those who'd like to make spring door decorations, a visit by the petting zoo and a puppet show featuring stinky vegetables.
SPRING CLEANING
Glenview Friends of Nature has scheduled two workdays to collect trash from the
Chicago River and its banks near Target and Kohl's off Willow Road. Volunteers will gather in Kohl's parking lot on Saturday, May 12 and work from 1-3 p.m. They'll return on Saturday, May 19, from 9-11 a.m. Wear boots, gloves and sun screen. Bring a hat and water. For more information, call Henrietta Saunders at 729-2329.
A NEW PLAN FOR WAUKEGAN AND WILLOW
The company that proposed a dense residential development for the former Missionary Sisters' site on Waukegan and Willow Roads is coming back with a new idea for the property – a plan that cuts 70 residential units from the 19-acre site, preserves more open space and trees.
Active Living of Illinois has eliminated senior housing and rental units from its original mix and would create 210 loft condominiums in the old convent building. Fifteen town homes, 17 row houses and 32 coach houses would be built nearby. The new units would sell for $175,000 - $375,000 and range from 1,600-2,200 square feet.
PLAN COMMISSION DISSES DEVELOPERS
It appeared to be open season on developers last Tuesday night as Glenview's Plan Commission raised a series of objections to Concord's 22-home project planned for a site off Milwaukee Avenue north of Central. The builder wants access to the property off Milwaukee. Concord's traffic consultant and the Illinois Department of Transportation approved plans for a new intersection there, but some commissioners thought the location of the intersection was unsafe. They didn't like the water detention plan that Concord offered, and Commission Chairman Howard Silver went ballistic when the developer offered its economic impact analysis.
Concord claimed that when you tally up the taxes new residents of the subdivision would pay and the anticipated costs of providing public services to them, the development would break even. Planners had used standard formulas to reach their conclusion, and real estate accountant Silver admitted the methodology was technically correct, but he argued "the realities make it incorrect. A man standing with one foot in a bucket of boiling water and the other foot on a cake of dry ice statistically feels fine," Silver told Concord's representatives.
Silver accused the developer of using old and inaccurate numbers. He demanded that Concord meet with the financial officers from School Districts 34 and 225 and use actual costs for educating kids in Glenview rather than relying on regional averages. District 34's financial director had told the Plan Commission that Concord's new development could cost the schools
$100,000. If that is the case, Silver warned, "then this thing has to go down in flames."
The developer protested that single-family homes routinely cost communities more than they provide in tax revenues, unless the purchase price per home approaches $900,000. He pointed out that few residential developments break even when it comes to public education, but that school revenues from commercial and industrial properties make up the difference.
"That is why you created a beautiful mixed use development at Waukegan and Willow and why you have other commercial, industrial and office development in your community," he said.
Concord asked Silver about other single-family developments that had won approval, saying he'd like to see fiscal impact studies the Commission had approved in the past.
Silver told them they could review public records. Asked if Village staff could help Concord to locate those records, Silver replied, "Staff has enough to do in this town without doing the work of any developer. . .They will supply you with anything you request, but they're not doing your homework for you."
ROUND TWO
Next up was a local architect and developer, James Metropolis. He hopes to build four town homes on the west side of Harlem just south of Dewes Street. Unhappy with the drawings Metropolis submitted at the last meeting, Commissioner Peter Brinkerhoff – himself an architect – had drawn his own idea for the development. That put the unfortunate petitioner in the difficult position of telling a regulator, on whom he depends for project approval, why his concept was not ideal.
"I appreciate it immensely, and I don't mean to criticize you in any way," said Metropolis, "but I have some concerns." He pointed out that the entrances for two of the units were completely hidden from the street – facing the back yard. Owners would have to make 180-degree turns in order to park their cars in two of the garages, which – "with all due respect," he said, "look like cages." To make matters worse, the whole project involved more impervious surface – less green space – than the plan Metropolis originally proposed.
Brinkerhoff attempted to justify his design, and when Metropolis tried to argue, the Commissioner warned, "You had your chance to speak."
"Yeah, but I'm the one who has to build it," Metropolis shot back.
Later, Commissioner Jack Bevington said the whole plan would work better if Metropolis built just three units. "Property's not cheap," said the developer. "We want to create town homes that are affordable for some average people – $350,000-$400,000. If we were to build three, they'd have to go for $450,000."
The commission asked Metropolis to come back with complete drawings of another site plan he had produced.
VILLAGE BOARD PREVIEW
– At this Tuesday night's meeting, Optima West – an apartment building with retail space at 1800 Dewes Street downtown – will ask to be exempted from zoning rules that limit the use of street level space to retail operations. The developers say they can't find any stores willing to buy and are hoping professional offices will be allowed. The Plan Commission recommended against approval with Chairman Silver arguing Optima West created its own hardship. If Optima were to lease rather than sell the first floor space, Silver thinks they'd have better luck.
– Also on the agenda, Virginia Lane resident Lyle Cazel. In a letter to the newly-elected village president, Cazel writes: "Congratulations! The Cazels voted for you." He then outlines subjects he'd like to discuss with the board, beginning with utility service. (Cazel is a long-time critic of Commonwealth Edison.) Then, he wants a word on The Glen, the post office and its parking problems and Governor Ryan's Illinois First program. "P.S.," writes Cazel. "Do you know that [Kemper's] 18-hole greens fee [at The Glen] will be the highest in the metro area?"
– And speaking of money, the board will be asked to approve a series of noteworthy bills:
1) Nearly $37,000 for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill to keep an eye on construction of the new Metra station, Gallery Park and its pathways.
2) A payment of $367,000 for new radio consoles and infrastructure to equip Glenview's new emergency dispatch center.
3) Checks totaling $7,150 to reward village employees for good attendance. They received gift certificates for the Glenview restaurants of their choice including Johnny's Kitchen and Tap which got $1,600, Dominick's, The Noodle and TGI Friday's (each collecting $900), and The Prime Minister ($550).
HOTEL MAY LOCATE AT THE GLEN
The developer in charge of a corporate park at The Glen is talking with a national hotel chain – possibly Staybridge Suites – about building near the corner of Willow and Patriot. Staybridge caters to corporate America with residential-style accommodations similar to Marriott's Residence Inn and is owned by Bass Hotels and Resorts – the same company that owns Holiday Inns. On its website, Bass touts its charitable giving program with a focus on children, diversity, education and the environment. May we be the first to say "Welcome to Glenview." We trust the property will feature native landscaping and help to support the Ev Tyner Nature Center.
READERS WRITE:
PG can't comprehend why parents are worried about Bart the Bull cavorting with the cows at Wagner Farm: "How is it that the people of Glenview could vote on retaining Wagner Farms with the cows saying that they want their kids to see how life was when farms were present here but not want a bull? Hogwash! Why don't these parents use their energy to fight things that are FAR more real and harmful to their kids, such as speeding cars, the incredible overuse of fertilizers and insecticides, cigarettes, guns, etc.?"
Fred Bjorling has a special perspective on Bart: "As an old farm boy, I advise never turning your back on Bart -- or any bull -- however gentle and composed he may seem. Ringless nose and age are irrelevant. Of course we need Bart if we want calves and continued milk production – unless we go to artificial insemination. Now there'd be a sight for the kids! The solution is safe containment for Bart and adequate security measures for his caretakers."
Bimmelp sums it up: "You go, Bart! You've won my heart!"
George Nassos also favors keeping Bart in Glenview: "I think it is ridiculous to vote Bart off the farm. If the committee thinks that Bart may get a little unruly, what about all the cows when they learn he is no longer around. All businesses must think about sustainability, and operating this farm is no different. How does the committee plan on doing it --artificially? Children should learn God's way of producing calves.
"As for the Park Center's decision to raise rates by 5 percent, I wonder how they know an increase is needed. It usually takes new businesses one full year to smooth out an operation and really understand its costs, particularly a seasonal business. I would think that many members will revert to outdoor exercising and use the Park Center less during the summer -- but to what extent? This should lower the operating expenses. Do they already know how much?"
The Watch replies: Management has pledged not to use tax dollars to maintain Park Center, and with unexpectedly high energy costs this winter, they're not taking any chances. A small rate hike seemed prudent to avoid any possible shortfall in revenue.
YOUR TURN: Share your views on local issues and news. E-mail to glenviewwatch@aol.com or snail mail to 3537 Maple Leaf Dr., Glenview, IL 60025. Your comments are an important part of the Watch, and we look forward to hearing from you. We are Sandy Hausman and Dean Schott, co-editors of Glenview Watch.