The number of retail thefts in Glenview jumped 26 percent in the first nine months of this year compared with the rate recorded in 2001, and police say burglaries are up 5.6 percent. Commander Scott Stewart says the rise could be linked to a sagging economy but is more likely a function of Glenview’s growing retail sector. "With the addition of many stores comes additional shop lifting," he explains. "It’s also been my experience that an extremely high percentage of thefts and burglaries are committed for reasons involving illegal drug use."

The village has also stepped up patrols at commuter parking lots in response to recent auto thefts.

Editor’s note: These are examples of the hidden costs associated with development. While business and community leaders are fond of projecting greater tax revenues from new commercial ventures in town, they rarely publicize the higher costs of police and fire protection, road maintenance, increased litter, air pollution and other problems associated with commercial growth.

Residents are complaining about traffic problems along Lake Avenue and Willow Road now that construction has begun on Lake. The $18 million reconstruction project began with the laying of water pipes under the Union Pacific railroad tracks in Wilmette. Next, pipes will be installed under Waukegan Road. The situation is expected to get worse when the westbound lanes are closed in less than two weeks, reducing Lake to one lane in each direction. The entire project – running from the Edens to Patriot Boulevard – should be complete by the end of next year. Progress will be charted on a special website: www.eastlakeconstruction.com.

The project has, of course, had a ripple effect as drivers head north to Willow Road or south to Golf on Waukegan Road. An alternative north/south route, Lehigh Road, is also under construction.

Heatherfield’s new neighbor – a subdivision called Haverford – is one step closer to reality after the developer made additional changes to its plan. Active Living of Illinois has scaled back to one four-story condo building, down from two three-story structures. They have also walked away from a layout that clustered houses in a tight, geometric pattern while setting aside larger blocks of open space. Now, the homes of Haverford sprawl along small lanes off the main streets.

A spokesman for the residents of Heatherfield, Connie Conway, praised the new plan, saying the homeowners association and the developer had made many compromises. She added that officers of the association were satisfied with the new plan’s density. In March, Active Living planned 132 units on the 19-acre site at the corner of Willow and Waukegan roads. That number has now dropped to 98.

Commission Chairman Howard Silver said Haverford was more harmonious with Heatherfield but urged the developer to add sidewalks on the lanes. Commissioner Jim Patterson thanked Active Living for its efforts, applauded the company for "coming back as many times as you have," and asked what it planned to charge for the single-family homes. Developer Ken Barnes dodged that question saying only that the homes would be offered with two different floor plans and eight different facades. In March, he told the commission that 2,000-square-foot condos in the development would start at $400,000 while the homes would sell for more than $600,000.

Commissioner Steve Bucklin was more reserved with his praise. "If a developer and neighborhood would get together early on in the process, we probably would have avoided some of the long meetings here," he said. Commissioner and architect Peter Brinkerhoff thought the design of Haverford had only gotten better and was pleased that the developer and the neighbors had finally reached agreement. The plan now goes to the village board with unanimous support from the plan commission.

After much fanfare and expense, the village of Glenview has a new website (www.glenview.il.us), but it’s gotten off to a rocky start. Early visitors to the Village Manager’s page were startled to see Trustee Donna Pappo’s picture when they clicked on "Trustee Mary Beth Denefe" and a picture of Denefe when they clicked on Pappo. The mix-up must have given the two women fits. They are poles apart politically and personally. In addition, Ty Laurie – who resigned from the Zoning Board of Appeals more than six months ago – was listed as chairperson of that board, five of those listed as members of the Historic Preservation Committee have resigned, Jack Bevington, Mary Bak and Don Owen are listed as members of The Glen Redevelopment Commission when none are on the panel, the word trustee was misspelled, and in a letter to visitors, Village President Larry Carlson mysteriously refers to "the following pages of this booklet."

COMING SOON TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU

A family-owned video rental chain doing business in several Midwest states was back before the plan commission to discuss its plans for renovation of a shopping strip near the corner of Greenwood and Glenview roads. The company, which is building its headquarters at The Glen, will open a store at the center and has agreed to provide the costly underground storm water detention required by the village.

After reviewing details for landscaping the site and erecting signs, Family Video was asked to redraw plans and come back for at least one more meeting, but before the petitioner could leave, Chairman Silver had a question. He had seen a Family Video store in Springfield and remembered a sign in the window promising videos for one dollar per week. "We have about 5,000 older movies that are two for a dollar for a week," said a company spokesman.

The state is moving ahead on plans to widen Willow Road between I-294 and Landwehr, and as part of that project, crews will install a sound wall along the north edge of Willow from the tollway to Landwehr to protect Northbrook residents from noise pollution. Glenview residents can discuss similar protection with state officials at 7 p.m. Monday, October 28 in Glenview Village Hall.

When Glenview’s plan commission held Shell Oil’s feet to the fire, insisting on an attractive new service station at the corner of Willow and Shermer, the company claimed it had a national image to uphold – bright red and yellow surrounded by lots of bright lights. Commission Chairman Howard Silver thought the original plan more appropriate for the Las Vegas strip. Eventually, Shell decided not to proceed. Some on the commission, such as Chairman Silver, accepted credit for sending them away while others, like Commissioner Jim Patterson, expressed regret. Now, it seems Glenview’s plan commission may not have been the central factor in Shell’s game. The Wall Street Journal reports that Shell is scaling back plans to open any new stations. In fact, they are closing 30 percent or 6,000 by June 2004. The idea is to pump more gas from fewer stations through aggressive advertising – a strategy that has worked well in California. In Los Angeles, for example, Shell closed 27 percent of their stations while maintaining market share and sales volume.

Glenview’s plan commission twisted the arms of the International House of Pancakes and Steak ‘N Shake to save Willow Road from IHOP’s signature blue roof and the diner chain’s white tile. Now comes news that McDonald’s Corp. wants to remodel 13,000 U.S. outlets, adding a red roof. Marketers say red is a magnet for customers – a color that has proven effective at Pizza Hut and Red Roof Inns. The Watch wonders if the commissioners are ready to tackle Ronald McDonald on Waukegan Road?

A three-story, 31-unit condo and retail development to be built near The Glen, just east of Lake Glenview and west of the new Glenview State Bank building on Chestnut Avenue, goes to the village board on November 5 without the full blessing of village planners. Three commissioners – Brinkerhoff, Bucklin and Patterson – liked the plan presented by John Heimbaugh, but Chairman Silver withheld his approval saying he preferred a two-story building along the lake. The commission’s vote is advisory. Members of Glenview’s village board will decide whether developer John Heimbaugh can proceed.

A similar vote was cast for a three-story building that will house six condos and 2,100 square feet of first-floor office space at 755 Milwaukee Avenue. The original plan called for a four-story building, eight condos and 2,700 square feet of office space. Brinkerhoff, Bucklin and Patterson were satisfied with those changes. Silver still felt the building was too large for the site. This project will also be considered by the trustees on November 5.

Editor’s note: Glencoe has imposed a six-month moratorium on construction of multi-family housing so its trustees will have time to change zoning laws that allow condo and town home construction which some residents feel will have a negative impact on that North Shore community.

Residents concerned about Glenview’s remaining green space are invited to a meeting at 7 p.m. Sunday, October 20 at 3537 Maple Leaf Drive. Topics on the agenda include possible formation of a citizens’ advisory task force on the environment, opening the Air Station prairie to schools and the public, and control of a serious litter problem along the banks of the Chicago River near Target and Kohl’s. If you have other ideas or want more information, call 847-291-7434.

– Glenview’s public library offers an Internet demonstration at 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 15. If you’d like to learn more about research on the net, call 729-7500, extension 112 to sign up.

– A professional career counselor is available for free half-hour consultations on your resume and job search. To sign up for an appointment on the first and third Fridays of each month, call 729-7500.

– Reviewer Suzanne Hales tackles Tish Baldridge’s book about her life as Jackie Kennedy’s social secretary at 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 22.

– Bill Hinchliff will show slides of Chicago’s historic cemeteries – Graceland, Rosehill and Oak Woods, at 7 p.m. October 29 – just in time for Halloween.

– President Larry Carlson will speak on the state of the village at the League of Women Voters’ annual dinner November 10. For details, call 729-7493.

– A 31-year-old woman said she was stopped by three young men while walking around the Techny basin. The trio reportedly held her by her arms, then fled toward the Sunset Trailer Park.

– There was an armed robbery of the Shell station at Shermer and Willow roads. A suspect escaped with $194 and a pack of cigarettes.

– Glenview police charged an 18-year-old boy with possession of cannabis and driving under the influence. Last year, he was expelled from GBS under the school’s zero tolerance policy.

– A car was stolen from the North Glen commuter parking lot.

– A woman was arrested for taking $2 worth of jewelry from Kohl’s

– A man was charged with battery after spitting on a Wheeling resident during a parking lot dispute.

– The spray paint squad has again been at work on Glenview’s new skate park. Damage was estimated at $100.

– Several New Trier Township school districts that rely on enrollment estimates from Glenview’s consultant John Kasarda are worried about their future. Kasarda failed to forecast a significant increase in elementary school enrollments, yet District 39 in Wilmette had 100 new students this fall. If the uptick turns into a trend, Superintendent Max McGee says they will run out of space in the near future.

– Finally acknowledging serious problems in the district, Glenbrook has established a task force to study sources of stress that may contribute to drug and alcohol abuse by students along with a substantial number of suicides.

– Five New Trier High School students were kicked out of this year’s homecoming dance for possession of drugs or alcohol. Parents had been warned that they would get a call if their kids were intoxicated, and if they could not be reached that police would be called.

– District 34 continues the search for caucus members to help review prospective candidates for the board of education. Twenty of the 34 precincts had no volunteer at the group’s first meeting. If you’re interested in serving on the caucus or in running for one of five seats on the board in the April 2003 election, call 724-4102.

– District 225 is also hoping to attract volunteers for its caucus at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, October 15 in the Lyceum. For more information, call 205-9293.

– Pleasant Ridge School has won a $5,000 grant from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago. The money will be used to expand a Japanese garden at the school. More than 1,000 students, parents, grandparents and friends have worked on the garden since 1993. This year, officials hope to add prairie plants.

– Water is being drained from Lake Glenview so crews can install erosion control devices along the banks. Paths on the eastern shore have been closed to the public.

– Glenview park district officials say there is no truth to the rumor that Roosevelt Pool will close next year. In fact, crews just finished applying a fresh coat of paint.

The agenda for Tuesday’s village board meeting includes a new round of discussions on how Glenview will pay for sewers in areas that don’t have them and what fee to charge people building new homes to help pay for flood control. The trustees will also discuss a new restaurant – The Diamond Café -- at 1773 Glenview Road.

The Glenview Park Board meets Thursday at 7 p.m. in Park Center.

If you haven’t already read it, we encourage readers to consider the lead article in Sunday’s Perspective section of the Chicago Tribune: "Have we sold our souls?"  and Anna Quindlen’s excellent essay in Newsweek, October 7, page 80 entitled "Baghdad and Battling Pols."

AB comments on claims that Glenview police have set up a speed trap on Johns Drive: "I live on Maple Leaf which is also a 20-mile-per-hour zone and kids routinely speed down the street. I have called the police countless times and in the nine years I’ve lived here, they have never posted a policeman here. Maple Leaf has many children, and the street curves make it especially dangerous when speeders careen down the street. I believe the police patrol the streets at the Glen because that's where the rich new residents live, and our finest must make them feel secure in their new $600,000-$1,000,000 homes. I know that if the police would position an officer on either of the first two cul de sacs east of Pfingsten just one day every other week, people would get the message and slow down. It's called compliance and it works."

Tom Rogers is ready to roll: "I'm trying to find the address to Glenview's new park district skateboard park. Could you please tell me how to get there from 94?"

The Watch replies: "It isn’t easy to get to any place in Glenview from I-94 now that Lake Avenue construction has begun, but if you’re traveling outside the rush hour, take Lake Avenue west to Milwaukee and turn left. Go right at the next traffic light until you see the field house. Park and continue walking west to the skate park. Alternatively, you can get to Milwaukee via Glenview Road, turn right and then left at the next light. Have fun!"

Marcia C. struggles to reach the library from northwest Glenview: "Any chance of Shermer opening into The Glen? It would surely save tons of time to have that accomplished. Would also like to know when Lehigh will open south from Willow.

The Watch replies: You can, of course, take Shermer south to The Glen. It ends at West Lake where you must turn left to reach Patriot Boulevard. The problem, of course, is that Shermer doesn’t go through to Glenview Road – a conscious decision by village planners who feared another north/south traffic pipeline that might bring greater congestion downtown. As for Lehigh, we’ll say it once more with feeling: The work on Lehigh is being done in three parts. The northern most section from the Metra station to Willow and the southern leg from Chestnut to Lake will be done by the end of this year. The central section from the Metra station to Chestnut will be complete in June, 2003.

Debby Rubenstein replies to SC who dismissed her support for animal rights at Wagner Farm: "I agree that there are many pressing problems in the world, and each of us is obligated to make a difference where we can. If we cannot attend to the simple needs of animals, we do not have much hope of attending to the complex needs of human beings. And, by teaching children to have compassion and respect for living creatures who have no voice, we can hope that this compassion and respect will extend to their treatment of fellow human beings."

RBC is watching developments in northwest Glenview: "What's the current story on Home Depot opening near Costco, and what's with that big rectangular green space off Pfingsten in front of GBS. Shouldn't that be another parking lot?"

The Watch replies: Home Depot is expected to break ground some time in November, and planners say no new parking lots are on the drawing boards for GBS.

JAS returns with remarks about Glenview’s new fire chief and other local news: "I too have heard many good things about our new fire chief, Dan Bonkowski. I guess the village finally did something right. Now I'm wondering if Chief Bonkowski will right the wrong that was done to the village of Glenview by dropping us from Red Center. I know the village doesn't want to admit to making a BIG mistake but they can save face by blaming it on our retired chief. (Come to think of it, that would be where most of the blame lies). Chief Bonkowski get us back in Red Center and make us a safer town again.

"In answer to LJ's comments, I would have to question the fact that two fire stations have been approved but not a new police station. We are building housing and bringing more people into this town by leaps and bounds. The more people you bring in, the more the crime rate goes up. I'm all for fire protection, but I would like to know I am also protected by police. Why can't they build one fire station and one police station, then build the second fire station after that? I know they have updated the fire dispatch, but did they update police dispatch also?

"And last but not least: Has anyone noticed the townhomes they are building just south of Harlem and Dewes? They are so close together looks to me like a person wanting to back out of their garage would have to call the neighbor a spit across the way and ask them to open their garage door allowing for room to make a turn. Out of curiosity, could an ambulance or fire truck fit back there? What was the village thinking?"

The Watch replies: With regard to the new town homes on Harlem, they were the subject of a protracted debate at the plan commission and village board. The developer had originally hoped to construct four units on that site but was finally allowed to build three. The fire department did review plans to assure that emergency access would be possible. As for the police department, a new station is planned and will presumably be built along with additional fire stations. Improvements to police dispatch are expected to come when the new building opens at Shermer and Lake.

Farm Boy writes: "What's happening to historic Wagner Farm? The new chicken coop resembles a lean-to. The fences look like a stockyard. Yesterday, we saw the framing for another lean-to type building going up next to the chicken coop. Are all these considered historic? Do they blend in? No. They look like slum housing – completely out of character. We voted to pay extra taxes to preserve Wagner Farm – a piece of Glenview’s history, but there weren't any chickens at Wagner Farm when we voted to keep it. What will live in the new lean-to? Pigs, sheep, horses? None of those were at the farm when we voted -- only cows, but the park district doesn't get it. How many more junky looking buildings will they put up, turning this naturally rustic and charming property into a sterile, manufactured and commercial-looking place. If this keeps up, they should change the sweatshirts they sell from "Historic Wagner Farm" to "Makeover Wagner Farm." P.S. – I'd like a tax refund."

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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