As new ground is broken for more town homes around the site of a planned shopping center at The Glen, there are signs that the critical retail component of the redevelopment may be in trouble. Planners are counting on taxes from the mall to help pay off $82 million in debt and to cover the costs of educating hundreds of new students in School Districts 34 and 225.

This week, Redevelopment Director Don Owen will ask the trustees to provide a letter of credit so San Diego-based developer OliverMcMillan can get $8 million in financing needed to begin work on the shopping center. "OliverMcMillan has been very successful in attracting the necessary anchor tenants (Von Maur and Crown Theaters signed; Galyans and Borders Letters of Intent)," Owen writes in a memo to the trustees. Unfortunately, the company has been less successful in attracting smaller tenants for the mixed use retail center (MURC) to be housed in an extensively remodeled Hangar One. Construction "must commence June 1," Owen writes, but lenders are withholding $8 million of the $30 million needed to do the job because 35 percent of the retail space is still not leased.

"This creates a temporary financing gap in the ability to start construction on June 1," Owen explains in asking the village to "bridge the gap." He proposes that Glenview sign the letter of credit, guaranteeing an $8 million loan "secured by a second mortgage on the retail component of the project" for a period of five years. Owen explained that, "By placing a letter of credit to bridge the financing gap, the village assumes very low risk. An independent market analysis by Mesirow Stein Real Estate has concluded that full lease within the target net operating income for the project should easily occur within the allowable five years."

Observers in the retail development community say leasing the MURC is a difficult proposition because of its location. Successful shopping centers, like Old Orchard and Northbrook Court, are situated on major highways, and even second-tier centers like Deerbrook Mall are at busy intersections. The MURC is tucked into a relatively low-traffic area, midway between Lake Avenue and Willow Road on the newly-constructed Patriot Boulevard.

The village has already agreed to provide OliverMcMillan with a $77 million public investment for roads, sewers, parking garages and other elements needed to make the MURC possible.

The proposal to aid OliverMcMillan was given to the trustees on Friday. A somewhat complex document, it is littered with acronyms and legal terms. "Von Maur and OM must waive all conditions precedent to Von Maur’s obligation to build and operate its department store in accordance with the controlling contract documents," reads one section of a memo from Village Attorney Jeff Randall outlining terms of the proposed deal.

Village management has frequently approached the trustees asking for major financial decisions at the last minute – warning of impending deadlines and reminding the trustees of how much could be at stake. "The Village projects that over the next 20 years, the MURC will generate almost $90 million in property taxes and over $280 million in sales tax. A key goal of this project was to generate a strong tax base for School Districts 34 and 225," Owen writes, adding that if the TIF is retired in 2012 plus or minus two years, District 34 will net $44 million and District 225 will get $26 million over a twenty year period.

In an apparent effort to assure that the deal is done quickly, Dene Oliver, a principal of OliverMcMillan, will attend the board meeting and provide an overview on the status of the MURC. Proceedings are open to the public at Village Hall and will be cablecast on channel 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Editor’s note: When Glenview began plans to redevelop the former Glenview Naval Air Station, Village Manager Paul McCarthy said he would "not play poker with a mirror behind my back." In other words, he warned that much of the negotiating and decision-making would be done without informing the public. Unfortunately, McCarthy is gambling with public dollars – money that is essential to the future of Glenview’s largest school districts. By the time his tax increment financing plan ends, McCarthy will be retired and our real estate consultant Mesirow Stein will, no doubt, be on to new money-making ventures. The public, on the other hand, could be left with substantial debt, poorly-funded schools and a struggling shopping center, unable to compete with other retailers in the region.

The trustees should not make this decision without further input from truly impartial experts. Having spent years in negotiation with their fellow developer OliverMcMillan, Mesirow Stein is hardly a credible source on this subject. Glenview’s village board should ask whether the proposed letter of credit might be good money thrown after bad. What alternatives exist for financing The Glen? If this shopping center is such a great idea, why is OliverMcMillan still struggling to find tenants, and why are banks unwilling to lend the money without a guarantee of repayment from Glenview? The market seems to be sending a message. Is Village Hall listening? The public should also be told the terms of our agreement with the anchor tenants. How generous were we in luring the big retailers to the site, what long-term commitments have they made to this community, and what are their long-term business prospects? How long is OliverMcMillan obliged to stick around?

In addition to the new tax dollars we hope to reap from this development, what new costs will we bear in order to provide additional public services? Is there a worst-case scenario for getting us out of this situation now or in the future?

It’s time for the public to call gambler McCarthy on his secretive strategy. These decisions are too important to be made behind closed doors, and our elected representatives must stop rolling over every time Don Owen and the developers show up with carrots and sticks. Glenview’s village board’s is the only force that prevents private, for-profit companies with no vested interest in our community from feeding at the public trough, then moving on, leaving residents to clean-up their garbage. It is never too late to ward off disaster, but courage and creative thinking may be needed to salvage the situation. We hope our trustees are up to the task. We hope they will ask the probing questions, get the important answers, do the job they were elected to do.

The new Crate and Barrel store has opened at Northbrook Court, prompting a rush of shoppers in its first two weeks of business. Meanwhile, Old Orchard has been acquired by an Australian company as part of plans to purchase 22 shopping centers in this country. The Westfield Group will keep the Old Orchard name and has not announced any plans for the Skokie retail center which underwent a makeover in the mid 90's.

Closer to home, the Corner Bakery – an upscale chain of bread, sandwich and salad shop located in six states – is building in the strip mall at Patriot and Lake, and Egg Harbor is planning to open a restaurant near the new Glen of North Glenview train station.

Many people who work in north suburban stores and restaurants, schools and hospitals, police and fire departments probably can’t afford to live here. That’s the word from affordable housing advocates who met in the area last month. They pointed out that the lack of units renting for $1,300 a month or less contributes to local traffic problems and to a shortage of people to fill service jobs.

Pioneer Press reporter Irv Leavitt covered one meeting and wrote: "One of the people attending the meeting asked if Glenview’s redevelopment of the former GNAS would provide any affordable housing, considering that was one of the aims of the federal Base Redevelopment Act. She was told that The Glen is already planned, and will include no affordable housing. Former Glenview Village President Nancy Firfer noted Glenview has donated land to build affordable housing for seniors, but project developers are still scrambling to get funds to build it. Firfer said although Glenview got the air base land for "a very low cost, it’s costing us $300 million to build the infrastructure, and we’re only getting $180 million in land sales."

Editor’s note: Isn’t it funny the way Firfer and her developer friends talk about those land sale dollars. When it suits their purposes, they crow, but when it comes to any possible social obligation, Firfer cries poor. Ironically, Irv Leavitt’s excellent story appears in this week’s issue of the Skokie Review but is missing from the Glenview Announcements. To read it, go to www.pioneerlocal.com, click on the Skokie Review and the news section.

Parents of children at Winkelman School in District 31 are asking their school board not to lease modular classrooms at the northwest Glenview site to the North Suburban Special Education District. That organization hopes to place children with behavior disorders at the school, but parents expressed fears for the safety of kids already at Winkelman. Allison Lasner, a parent who teaches in another district, said she had seen behaviorally disordered children light matches at their desks and recalled one student "stabbing a compass point into a notebook 15 times." She added that such students might throw chairs and bite.

Taking an opposing view, parent Joanne Kennedy decried the effort to "paint fourth graders as monsters," and urged the district to show some understanding toward youngsters like her son who had suffered from a behavioral disorder. Kennedy pointed out that these students would not be part of the main school and added that she had never known behaviorally-disordered youngsters to throw chairs or bite. "They go in, learn to control themselves, and go back to their districts."

The District 31 board voted to put off any decision until January.

One day after the Illinois Attorney General filed suit against Glenview and Concord Homes for failure to prevent water pollution during development at The Glen, the matter was resolved. Cook County Circuit Court issued a consent decree binding Glenview to a plan worked out months ago by the village, Concord and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

The case stems from heavy rains in April 2000. Because the village and Concord had failed to set up hay bales, silt fences or any other erosion control devices, the state claimed mud poured from a 55-acre construction site into the Chicago River creating a situation likely to be harmful to wild animals, birds, fish and other aquatic life.

In response to the legal action, Glenview has agreed to new erosion control measures, weekly monitoring and checks after any rain storm. The village has also pledged to restore the Navy Ditch, a channel that carries water from the Concord site to the river, planting native grasses with long roots that should hold the soil during wet weather. Concord Homes will pay a fine of $20,000. Glenview will pay $8,750.

By the way, citizens who want to do their part for the environment can join a river clean-up on Saturday, May 11. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of Kohl’s on Willow Road. Garbage bags will be provided and kids are welcome.

Skokie lawyer Michael Bender is bankrolling a suit in federal court, asking that results of the March 19 Democratic primary be thrown out. He lost his bid to become the party’s candidate for the Illinois House from the newly-drawn 17^th district by 116 votes. Bender contends voters in 18 precincts were given the wrong ballots and is asking for a new election in those areas or in the entire district. His opponent, attorney Pat Hughes of Wilmette, says he will move forward with his campaign against Republican State Representative Beth Coulson.

– Northbrook’s Fire Chief has been named Chief of the Year by the Illinois Association of Fire Chiefs. Jay Reardon is one of three firefighters on the state’s terrorism task force and has played a key role in planning disaster response statewide. He was chosen to represent the state in meetings with Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge and has developed a plan to protect Northbrook residents in the event of an attack or natural disaster.

– A 19-year-old Glencoe boy could be jailed for 14 years after he was convicted of reckless homicide. While looking for a friend’s house on Locust Road, the kid ran a stop sign and crashed his Jeep SUV into the car carrying a 71-year-old woman who died a short time later. Cook County Judge Timothy Chambers said the defendant, "only cared about himself," but "a person behind the wheel has to be concerned for others." Sentencing is set for May 20.

– Long-time Northbrook resident Alice Landwehr has died at the age of 89. She was chief cook and bottle washer for the Village Pantry, a Lake Forest restaurant that opened during World War II. A daughter recalls that during air raids she and her husband would cover the diningroom windows and keep working. In addition to serving wealthy patrons, the Landwehrs often prepared pots of beans and ham for the poor in Chicago. Mrs. Landwehr’s father-in-law was one of the early settlers of Northbrook.

– Shoppers from three states are expected in Winnetka this week as the Congregational Church launches its annual rummage sale. First held in 1902 when it raised $138 for charity, the event last year generated $224,000 in revenue. Merchandise collected throughout the year will be placed in 14 rooms of the church at 620 Lincoln Avenue. The doors open at 7 a.m., May 9 and will close at 4 p.m.

People who have occupied their homes as their principle residence as of January first of this year, are entitled to a tax exemption which could save several hundred dollars, but you must file for it by May 13. Seniors may also qualify for an additional exemption and perhaps a freeze on their taxes. For more information, call 847-470-7237. You can download a form from www.cookcountyassessor.com.

Confidential to the assessor's office: the word "exemption" is misspelled in the title bar of one of your windows.  We hope you're more careful with our taxes.

JW responds to Fritz who thought it was too late to fight widening of Lake Avenue: "Let me explain why we are fighting the proposed work on Lake Avenue. Because we are neighbors who care for our neighborhood and each other. We have the spirit and back bone to carry on and fight for what is truly right -_ not what the county thinks is right. In other words, we are Americans, not the French! So Fritz next time you encounter something that you oppose, please just step aside because there are people like us who are will do the fighting for people like you."

And a supporter of widening tells why: "I would like a solution that will solve traffic problems. I understand that people who live along Lake are worried about safety. Perhaps the state or village has some statistics on traffic accidents involving damage to homes or businesses along the right-of-way. This may calm residents’ fears. I also liked the letter in last week’s Watch where the writer suggested a protected left turn arrow be installed at Wagner and Sunset roads as an alternative to widening. That would save money, increase safety to the left turn traffic, and improve traffic flow. Unfortunately, Willow Road is not likely to be widened without support of the township, county and state officials. It is ludicrous that North field has maintained its stranglehold on traffic while every other town from Lincolnwood to Deerfield has had to expand its old two-lane roads to four lanes in support of improved traffic flow. I am all for two-lane roads – in Wisconsin. The reality is that we have all benefited from urban sprawl through increased home values and better access to shopping and offices. Now we have to pay the piper with traffic jams, noise and air pollution. Write your elected officials, voice your complaints and offer ideas for ways to improve the situation for everybody."

Mark Levy writes about mice at The Glen: "Regarding the article about the rodent problem at The Glen, I have to say that I'm not in the least bit surprised. Most of the area that comprises the

Glen used to be prairie which provided a habitat and food source for the mice. As construction has progressed, the mice have been displaced, and furthermore, their food source has been destroyed. Until nature reaches a new equilibrium at The Glen, which isn't going to happen for several years

after construction is complete, this is going to continue to be a problem. I'm no expert, but this is common sense stuff and has been seen in other areas where wildlife has been displaced."

C. Massey also writes about "Mickey and Bart: "There is a field for 100 years as seasons pass. That field is suddenly bulldozed and deeply dug. Are all the little creatures suddenly supposed to disappear? As for Bart the Bull, I was a volunteer at Wagner Farm last fall, so I got to see the families who entered and lingered in the barn. They were thrilled to see the Daddy Cow. And guess who seemed most pleased? The Dads! It seems an extraordinary part of the farm is leaving and really before he had a chance to be seen! When I told people that the park district was planning to build a bull pen so Bart could be easily seen, the kids and Dads were like, ‘wow!’ "

Alan Butman thinks Park Commissioner Beck is a stitch. She voted to ban Bart because a bull could be dangerous: "Judy Beck must be terribly afraid to go to Brookfield or Lincoln Park Zoo. I heard there are very dangerous animals there such as bears, elephants, lions, etc. I recommend that Judy be elected to chair a group to rid these zoos of the dangerous animals to bring some safety to our children."

And Nan applauds the outcome of a protracted fight about Bart: "I was hospitalized at Glenbrook with pneumonia and missed the meeting regarding Bart, but I'm glad to see that all's well that ended well for the ol' dude!"

Peter Grant responds to a proposal that the park district lease cows to save money and avoid the issue of selling them for slaughter: "Whoa! Since when do a tiny minority of too-much-time-on-their-hands hamburger haters set park district policy? Run for office if you want to change policy, but lease cattle? What do you think the Wagners did for generations – grow tofu? Leasing cows as a bucolic backdrop to what's turning out to be a movie set rather than an honest to god working farm is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Will they then neuter the chickens because people might eat the eggs?"

The Watch replies: Leasing is an accepted practice in agriculture. For some farmers it makes financial sense to have cows that are producing moderate amounts of milk if not the 80 pounds a day required by large factory farms. They find it cheaper to lease animals than to buy. As for your suggestion that Wagner Farm is being turned into a "backdrop," we agree and think that makes more sense than creating a full-blown working farm. This community doesn’t need an actual farm. What we want is a place where people can come to look at cows and other animals, enjoy the smell of fresh mown hay, learn something about farming and history. It may be a backdrop – not a real agricultural enterprise – but it should serve its purpose.

Bob Sherman wonders: "What has happened to the historic landmark at 611 Milwaukee Avenue? I am referring to the stagecoach stop from the 1840’s. It was the second oldest house in Cook County. I don’t see it anymore. Has it been torn down? If so, how could this have been allowed to happen? Who is the guilty contractor, and what can we do to make sure the contractor loses his license?"

The Watch replies: Local historian Bev Dawson says historic buildings on the old Nelson Printing Company property were demolished. The Nelson homestead was the oldest in Cook County. It served as an inn, post office and stagecoach stop on the route between Chicago and Milwaukee. Dawson says Glenview’s historic properties are disappearing at an alarming rate and describes the latest loss as a tragedy. Unfortunately, laws in Illinois and Cook County provide little protection for such landmarks and put the onus on citizens to apply for historic status in order to prevent teardowns like this one.

Ken Bertolucci is puzzled: "I continue to be perplexed at Glenview's inability to do anything about redeveloping downtown. As a comparison, look at what Deerfield has done at the intersection of Waukegan and Deerfield Road. This area has life again with new restaurants, stores, and an entirely new look. Apparently, the village was not handcuffed by the desire to preserve the existing, outdated buildings on the site and took a bold step to update the area (and enhance their tax base). If Deerfield can do it, why do we continue to have a dying downtown? Maybe it is time to look beyond the existing structures and develop a new vision for the heart of our village. I don't think when we accepted the idea of developing The Glen, we realized that downtown would be forgotten. Maybe there was a way to earmark some funds for the Glenview Road corridor as well. I am afraid that with all our attention and resources going to The Glen, we are just solving one problem and creating a new one." 

Amy Brossard is thrilled about new downtown developments: "The really good news this past week was the purchase of Renneckar's by the Glenview resident/developer. My whole family is ecstatic after reading in the Announcements that this property could be rehabbed to make way for three business tenants including a diner and an architect already working on the project. This is a great pushback to Village President Larry Carlson’s idea of a whole block teardowns or the village purchasing the block and hiring an economic consultant. (What is it with our village presidents and their need to become developers and spend millions?). It even sounded like Ann and Nick could be possible tenants and resurrect the Snack Shop that Glenview adored. Other great restaurant news, the oriental cuisine at historic Carson's is great! My family loves the sushi, I love the Chinese/Mandarin food, and we can easily walk from downtown through beautiful Sleepy Hollow Park to Carson's.

M. salutes Brossard’s earlier letter calling for selection of a fire chief who will respect his men and win their support: "Just read Sunday’s issue and the excellent points Amy Brossard makes regarding unions and their level of satisfaction. She is correct that now more than ever Glenview’s village officials need to pick a competent leader to work with the fire department rather than against its personnel. Don’t be surprised, however, if a coast-to-coast search leads right to our own backyard – Wheeling.

"Why you ask? Well when the heat got too intense in our village for our chief, Joe Robberson, our neighbor to the east (Wilmette) took him in. Now, Wheeling may be unhappy over its chief’s advice to join Glenview and leave the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center. The new system isn’t working any better for the village of Wheeling than it is for the village of Glenview. Missed calls, lengthy delays, wrong instructions have officials in Wheeling quietly discussing alternatives to the present dispatch system including going back to their own police dispatchers.

"So now that Wilmette has bailed out our village manager by hiring our former fire chief over the objections of Wilmette’s firefighters, might Mr. McCarthy feel obliged to bail out our neighbor to the West?

"One more question: Why are resumes for the chief’s job going directly to the village manager’s office rather than to the police/fire commission or a private consultant? The village is never shy about hiring consultants, but when it comes to department heads, we save the money and let the village manager make the decision."

RS inquires about the Glen Oak Acres Homeowners’ Association: "Have you ever heard of the Glen Oak Acres Community Association? I received a $30 dues notice for 2002 in the mail from them today. No real persons are listed on it. The money gets mailed to a P.O. Box. I must question if this is legitimate. I'm curious to know if you've heard of them and if you know any of the people that run it."

The Watch replies: The Glen Oak Acres Homeowners’ Association is a group that claims to represent all 565 families in that community. It was formed to care for 22 entrances to the neighborhood, to organize social activities and to advocate for the interests of residents. The association has been virtually dormant in recent years, but Village Trustee Mike Guinane, who has been involved with the group, says a newsletter should go out soon.

YOUR TURN: Write to glenviewwatch@aol.com or 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. If you haven’t already done so, please consider making a contribution to support The Watch. Non-deductible checks should be payable to Glenview Watch. Thanks for your support and for reading. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors.

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