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The
Glenview Watch July 15, 2001 |
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Glenview residents who are nervous about village finances may get some reassurance this month when an analyst from Moody's Investors Service comes to town. The company is being asked to affirm Glenview's triple-A rating before the village issues $41.8 million in general obligation bonds. The money will be used to pay for road construction, water system expansion and other infrastructure at The Glen, freeing the village to use money from land sales to invest in the mixed use retail center (MURC) – a shopping mall surrounded by town homes and apartments at the heart of the new neighborhood. A Moody's representative will visit and tour Glenview for the first time since 1998.
PUT ON THE COFFEE
In addition to approving the bond sale, Glenview's trustees will consider a wide range of issues at this week's meeting:
– Final site plan approval for the MURC, the Glen's downtown area described in our lead story
– A vote on the Gateway Shoppes: stores and restaurants to be built at the new METRA station
– Discussion of revisions to the Bulk and Scale ordinance that controls the size of new and replacement homes in existing neighborhoods
– Review of Loyola Academy's request to begin building sports fields on Chestnut
– A public hearing on annexation of land at 701 Milwaukee Avenue
The meeting will be cablecast on channel 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, rerun the following day at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and shown once more at 8 a.m. Thursday.
A PROGRESS REPORT FOR GALLERY PARK
While it won't open this summer, Glen officials say parts of the new Gallery Park will be available to the public this fall – chief among them the children's garden at Patriot and Chestnut and some of the bike and walking paths. By the end of the year, Glen Redevelopment Director Don Owen says the bridges, pavilions and parking lots should also be ready for public use, but sports fields won't be available for play until spring 2003.
New wetlands and prairies are evolving slowly at The Glen. Some plants that went in last year died after three weeks of high water along Lake Glenview. Others, in upland areas, may have gotten too little water – particularly those rare plants that were rescued from the path of bulldozers in the office park. What's more, about half of the paper birch trees planted on the south shore of the lake behind Park Center are dead or dying, and in areas where grasses and wild flowers have been planted, weeds like sweet clover and Canada thistle are thriving.
Thousands of beetles turned loose to devour an invasive weed called purple loosestrife are having some impact on the Air Station prairie nearby. "They're eating, they're breeding, they're just not doing it as fast as we hoped," says John Chitty, a naturalist with Harza Engineering.
State scientists are especially interested in this biological approach to weed control and have donated another 5,000 beetles after charging the village $1 apiece for the first 10,000. The Illinois Natural History Survey has also established several special research areas at The Glen to monitor the bugs' progress.
SLUDGE CLEAN UP COMPLETE
The village has completed what could be a $1 million clean-up along the northeastern edge of the prairie – removing sludge dumped by sewage treatment plants in the late 70's and early 80's. Heavy metals, like cadmium and lead, PCP's, pesticides and petrochemicals, were removed, leaving clean soil ideally suited to wetland plants. The village spread a variety of seeds, and "Now we pray for rain," says naturalist Chitty.
Many colorful sounding plants are expected to sprout – among them: Spotted Joe Pye Weed, Monkey Flower, Sneezeweed, Boneset, Duck Potato and Lizard Tail. Chitty says it could take decades for the new wetland to fully evolve, but he expects the area – about 2,000 by 90 feet – to provide important wildlife habitat in a few short years. Frogs, salamanders, turtles and crayfish may all take up residence, along with migratory ducks and geese. Small rodents will also make their home on the property during the relatively dry summer and winter seasons, providing food for hawks and owls.
In the prairie area nearby, bird watchers spotted two pairs of rare blue-winged teals nesting this spring, and a couple of egrets are often seen wading in the lake.
FOURTH OF JULY MAY NOT MOVE TO THE GLEN
While the Glenview Park District staff has expressed interest in moving annual fireworks to The Glen, the holiday parade will not be going that way, and a top village official says the evening pyrotechnics might also stay at their current spot – exploding over the Glenview Golf Course.
"We designed Gallery Park so it has the capacity for fireworks. It would be a great location for them, but the community has not made that decision," says Glen Redevelopment Director Don Owen. "The Park District will have to poll the community," he said, adding that in any event Gallery Park would not be ready in time for next year's fireworks.
Park District Director Tom Richardson sees several possible advantages to moving. There would be a lot more parking at The Glen with spaces available on West Lake, Patriot and Chestnut, at the Park Center, the new middle school, the Catellus office building, Gallery Park and the new METRA station.
The design of the area might also be safer. Gallery Park planners created an 11,000 square-foot peninsula jutting into Lake Glenview – a perfect launching spot for fireworks.
Even so, the golf course has its fans, and Richardson concedes several commissioners might favor keeping the fireworks there.
LOYOLA LIKELY TO GET FINAL OKAY ON SPORTS FIELDS
The Illinois EPA has given Loyola Academy permission to start importing and storing 147,000 cubic yards of soil for construction of sports fields atop the old Lutter Dump. The state is expected to sign off on the actual construction plan July 23, and the project is expected to come up for discussion at Tuesday's meeting of the Glenview Village Board.
MOSQUITO HIT SQUADS HAVE TROUBLE IN GLENVIEW
Construction sites are notorious breeding grounds for mosquitoes that lay eggs in standing water, and with all the work underway in Glenview, the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District has seen an increase in the number of bugs that could carry the deadly West Nile virus. Unfortunately, crews are having trouble getting to the source of the problem because the village has an ordinance requiring fences around construction sites. That means mosquito abatement crews that normally start work early in the morning can only visit during the work day when the gates are unlocked.
West Nile has been detected in several states along the east coast from New England to Florida but has not yet appeared in the Midwest. The district's supervisor of field operations, Marlon Henry, says his staff of about 30 people is prepared should the virus break out here, and state officials are watching for West Nile – checking dead mosquitoes and birds. In humans, the disease causes fever, rash, muscle weakness and difficulty breathing. So far, nine deaths have been linked to the disease nationwide.
ANOTHER NURSERY DOWN – MORE TOWN HOMES GOING UP
The Glenview/Northbrook area has been known for its tree and plant nurseries for more than a century, but most have now closed, and this week another sold out to developers. Horvat's Flowers and Nursery in Northbrook (west of Sanders Road on Dundee) sold its land to Red Seal – a company that plans 57 town homes in the area.
In business for nearly 40 years, Christine Horvat blamed economics, telling the Northbrook Star that her family has been paying $44,000 a year in taxes while netting $60,000 - $70,000 on plant sales. The Horvats have moved most of their equipment and buildings to Lake Villa and Lake Bluff where they continue to do business.
DEERFIELD GEARS UP FOR DEERBROOK RENOVATION
Deerfield's Plan Commission has given unanimous approval to the remodeling of Deerbrook Mall with construction of a new home improvements store, The Great Indoors, and an underground parking garage for 272 cars. Plan Commission Chief Bob Benton says the process could take three or four years. During that time, he hopes the mall can attract a new movie theater to replace the one closed by General Cinema. Meanwhile, a long-time area business is uncertain about its future at Deerbrook. Kuhn's International Deli says the mall's management is only offering 1,000 square feet – far less than the 5,000 square feet Kuhn's now occupies. Andrew Wagner, who hopes to inherit the business from his parents, said he's distraught. After 30 years in business at the site, he would like to stay.
NORTHBROOK SAYS NO TO SALES TAX REBATE
Northbrook Court is building a new ring road to accommodate the Crate and Barrel superstore planned for that location, and had asked the Village of Northbrook to rebate $1.6 million in sales tax over a period of years to help pay for the construction. Northbrook's trustees didn't want to set a precedent by returning money to retailers, but they may still help the mall – their largest source of tax dollars. Northbrook could take possession of the ring road and use public money to pay for the work. Trustee Sandy Frum proposed the compromise, telling the Pioneer Press that a sales tax rebate would be "political dynamite." She and other members of the board justified this new proposal on the grounds that some residents who live in a housing development adjacent to the mall use the road.
PLAN COMMISSION SLOWS PRESTIGE AUTO PLANS
Prestige Auto Leasing, a local company that hopes to expand at its present site across from Village Hall, hit several road blocks during this week's meeting of the Plan Commission. Members of the panel thought the plan had too little parking and too little green space. Commissioner Jack Bevington complained repeatedly that he couldn't understand what various members of the Prestige team were saying and doubted the claim that no mechanical work would be done on cars at the site. Noting that one team member used the term "mechanic," he asked, "If all you're doing is changing tires and detailing cars, why do you need mechanics?"
"Mechanics, porters ..." said a Prestige spokesman.
"I'm using your term. You called them mechanics," Bevington said.
"What do you call them?" said the petitioner.
"I don't call people who wash cars and change tires mechanics," Bevington replied.
Moving to another sore point he asked, "Do you really need that big a building?"
"Actually, it's a pretty small building," said a Prestige spokesman.
"That isn't what I asked," said Bevington. "Can the building be reduced?"
Prestige replied in the negative, saying the 7,000-square-foot building had been designed to meet the firm's business needs.
Then Chairman Howard Silver took a turn at bat, suggesting the modern design of glass and metal was not appropriate in Glenview. The architect was speechless for a moment. "Ben Franklin's been dead a couple of hundred years," he said, implying that colonial architecture should not be Glenview's only choice. "There's a perfect example of a modernist building one block south," he added, referring to Kraft's Technical Center on the east side of Waukegan Road.
Commissioner Gary Wendt suggested the company increase its green space with a 20-foot rear buffer for homeowners living behind the property. He asked that there be no outdoor trash storage, that parking in front be limited to a few cars, and that tree islands be created in parking lots behind the building.
Prestige agreed to come back with revised plans.
PAY HIKE FOR ADMINISTRATORS, NO PRESENTS FOR TEACHERS
Glenbrook South's principal and other administrators will get pay hikes averaging just under 5 percent next year, but District 225's school board voted not to give gifts to teachers who had served at least five years. Rings and other tokens of appreciation would have cost the district $28,000 in the first year, and an estimated $6,000 in succeeding years. Board member Andy Olson liked the idea, noting that the length of time someone stays with a job is an important measure of dedication and loyalty. Board member Neal Schact opposed the measure, saying teachers' pay in this area is reward enough.
PARENTS WARNED OF TEACHER'S SEX CHANGE OPERATION
Glenbrook North High School has notified parents of a change in the faculty this fall. Mr. Dayne Travis, a tenured science teacher, will return to the classroom with a new name and a new look. Ms. Dane Fox has had a sex change operation. In a letter to parents, the administration says, "It is the expectation of the school, as always, that everyone will behave with civility and respect for others."
A psychiatrist at Children's Memorial Hospital told the Pioneer Press that the change might make some students anxious, but she said "the school should use the situation as a way to teach tolerance."
PRAYERS OF TECHNY PRIEST ANSWERED
The Reverend Harris Vanderstappen used to teach Chinese art and architecture at the University of Chicago. When he retired from academia, he decided to take up painting in a small room in the Techny Towers. Unfortunately, he had to climb 50 stairs to reach his studio, and there was no running water. At 80, the prospect of climbing up and down with clean water and brushes was daunting, and the Divine Word order was unwilling to spend the money it would take to install pipes. Then, Vanderstappen got a visit from one of his former students who loved his work, loved his space, and offered to pay the bill – $8,000. After saying prayers of thanks, Father Vanderstappen is moving on to work on a portrait of Jesus and a landscape of the Dutch village where he was born. He says it's been kind of hot in the studio lately, but he's not looking for anyone to donate air conditioning.
READERS WRITE:
HG wonders about this year's Fourth of July pyrotechnics. Instead of fireworks, he calls them ash works: "We usually park ourselves in the same spot each year at the Glenview Fire Display on the 4th. While always spectacular, this year we were singed with debris from the fireworks. When it was time to leave, we turned on our flash light to find our blanket covered with ashes. What was different this year than in previous years?"
The Watch replies: Park District administrators say winds at higher levels were moving faster than lower level testing indicated, subjecting some spectators to cinders, but officials stress the public was never in danger. Glenview imposes a larger safety margin than required by law between the launch point and places where spectators can sit.
And looking ahead, AR asks: "Am I mistaken in thinking that most of the residents of Glenview would have to drive to The Glen to watch the fireworks? Is there a plan in place to shuttle people from the library, or are they prepared to handle the thousands of cars needed to move 35,000 or so people?"
The Watch replies: As we indicated in a story this week, no decision has been made about a location for fireworks in future years, but planners feel there would be plenty of parking at The Glen, and they could arrange for shuttle buses if needed.
AL wonders how Glenview can protect coveted basketball courts: "I am concerned about the crowding of Johns Park this summer. It used to be that residents of the surrounding neighborhoods could use this park (including the playgrounds and basketball courts) during the day and in the evening. Lately I've been seeing large groups of people there having parties and cookouts. The noise level is loud, the basketball courts are always crowded with large groups of guys, and my sons never get the opportunity to play over there. It seems to me that many of the people using the park do not even live in Glenview. Shouldn't some of the facilities be available to Glenview residents? People have to reserve times to use the tennis courts, so why not the basketball courts? It's a shame that residents of the surrounding neighborhood can't even enjoy their own park."
JM also has a gripe about John's Park: "My wife and I enjoy taking our small children to the playground, but the last few evenings and weekends we have encountered large groups of people there, some of whom are loud. The teenagers sit on their cars and yell at each other, and my wife said some of the guys were yelling at her from across the park. We were also able to hear the car stereos from our backyard.
"We enjoy living near the park but have never experienced problems such as this. Is there any noise ordinance for the park? Or is the park patrolled in the evenings? It seems these large groups of people that are at the park are not playing volleyball or basketball but just hanging out."
The Watch replies: Park District Director Tom Richardson says basketball courts work on the same informal system as tennis courts. If you're there and want to play, make your wishes known to the team that's on the court. They're obliged to let you have a turn once they've finished their game. "If you want to get involved, you have to work things out," Richardson says. "That's part of life."
With regard to noise, there are laws on the books, and you can call police, but there too, Richardson suggests the personal approach – asking people to turn their music down. Seven years ago, the parks' chief says he approached a large group and took the liberty of turning their boom box off so he could make his views known. "I told them their music was too loud and the neighbors can't get in to play," he recalls. "I told them we were going to have to keep the music down and give everyone a chance to play or we were not going to have basketball courts."
Richardson said he had not heard any complaints since then, but he took letters from our readers into a staff meeting late last week. Programs Director Bob Quill was also concerned about the situation and told us the district is "reviewing trends in the parks and will be discussing different ways of doing things to better manage our sites."
The Watch will keep you posted.
JAS defends Glen Redevelopment Chairman Howard "Hi Ho" Silver: "I find it most interesting that someone speaks out about the MURC (and rightfully so) and because he does not kowtow to the powers that be, the trustees would demand Silver's resignation. What happened to freedom of speech? Sounds to me like someone is afraid Silver might be right and get a following they would not want."
Mrs. S. asks us to tell readers about a website that lists convicted pedophiles – including some who live in Glenview. The address is http://samnet.isp.state.il.us/ispso2/sex_offenders /index.asp.
A long-time Glenview resident sends this original quote and an original question: "The Glen should be a part of Glenview. Glenview should not be a part of The Glen. With regard to a new library, the post office has said there is no money to move, so why is everyone in Glenview still trying to find them a new location? Why not move the library to Rugen!"
The Watch replies: The Park District has other plans for Rugen and is not making any deals for the land. It will be part of a new park and playground with places to picnic, skate, play baseball, basketball and soccer.
And finally, we get this news regarding C.O.W.S tee-shirts seen at this year's Fourth of July parade: Biff Thiele writes, "The cow on our shirts in the parade is named Brownie, not Milkshake, according to Jeff Wienski the farmer at Wagner. Poor Brownie gets no respect or recognition."
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. We look forward to hearing form you and consider readers' remarks an essential part of our newsletter. Thanks for reading! – Sandy Hausman and Dean Schott