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The Glenview Watch
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NEW SHOPPING GOING UP AT WILLOW & WAUKEGAN
Glenview will soon have a new place to shop -- a center called Willow Festival. Hamilton Partners, an Itasca developer, has broken ground at Willow and Waukegan roads for 417,000 square feet of retail space including a Lowe’s home and hardware store, a gourmet grocery store, Walgreen’s or CVS, several clothing stores and restaurants.
Hamilton Partners’ Todd Berlinghof said Willow Festival would be something like The Glen Town Center -- “pedestrian-friendly but more traditional in design, with parking in front rather than in a garage behind the shops and restaurants. I think people will be shocked by the strength of the architecture and landscaping,” he continued. “We’ll have very wide sidewalks and fountains, and the shops will be clustered into several groups.”
He believes the new center will have an advantage over The Glen because of its location – at the corner of two major streets. “Our location is just as good from a demographic standpoint, but we’ll be further east, so we may draw more people from Winnetka and Glencoe. We’re also more visible and have a higher traffic count. The Glen doesn’t have that day-to-day reminder that it’s there. We won’t have that problem,” Berlinghof said.
On the other hand, Willow Festival will not have a built-in base of shoppers. No residential development is planned for the area.
With a Home Depot just up the road, some might question the choice of Lowe’s to anchor the center, but Berlinghof insists there’s room for another hardware outlet in the area. He contends Lowe’s appeals to different customers than Home Depot, attracting more women than the competition and selling high-end appliances and cabinets. The new store will also be twice the size of Glenview’s Home Depot.
This news comes on the heels of another announcement -- that a Boulder, Colorado-based company called “Pinstripes” will build a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant and an upscale bowling and boccie ball center on 12-acres west of the Willow Festival site. Boccie is a lawn-bowling game that dates back to ancient Rome. Developers have pioneered boccie centers in Southern California and Michigan with great success.
A 161-room hotel is also planned for the site. It could host visitors to the neighboring Crate & Barrel and Kraft headquarters and might also welcome boccie players coming in for tournaments.
Northbrook Star reporter Irv Leavitt tied the proposed development to one community leader – Ron Bernardi, an executive with Sunset Foods.
“Bernardi has run a boccie tournament for 10 straight years at Northbrook Days, the Civic Foundation carnival. He's also led tournaments at the Northbrook Historical Society's annual Shermerfest, and his tournaments at the annual Northbrook Park District golf outings have been hits,” Leavitt wrote.
GLENVIEW FIREMEN BOUNCE BACK AFTER MYSTERY ILLNESS
Glenview’s Deputy Fire Chief Wayne Globerger and firefighter/paramedic Chris Drakeley were among about a dozen emergency personnel from the North Shore who returned from hurricane clean up duty with an unwanted souvenir – a mysterious illness that caused extreme fatigue, breathing trouble, fever and headaches.
The men had been assigned to work in St. Bernard Parish, a suburb of New Orleans that suffered especially bad flooding and mold growth. A spokesman for the group said some of the ailing firefighters had been to see doctors, but most recovered on their own.
VILLAGE TO REVISE APPEARANCE BOARD QUALIFICATIONS, CODE
The appearance commission, a volunteer panel that oversees the architecture, landscape and signs on new commercial buildings in Glenview, has been short several members for years – in part because the law required participation by two architects, two landscape architects, a local business owner, and a couple of people with architecture, graphics, design or commercial art background. The board has now said it can live with just one architect and one landscape architect on the panel if a second cannot be found. A business owner is still wanted – preferably someone who belongs to the chamber of commerce and lives in Glenview. Someone with background in government regulation would also be welcome on the commission.
And on a related note, the board has agreed to review Glenview’s ethics ordinance, which now precludes a residential architect from sitting on the panel and overseeing commercial development if his or her company might come before any other village board to discuss a residential project. Critics say that law is unnecessarily restrictive.
The trustees also accepted a recommendation from staff that Glenview’s appearance code be subject to public hearings and revisions in 2006. The appearance commission would oversee that process, paying special attention to regulation of signs. Development Director Mary Bak cited guidelines used by Oliver McMillan, developer of The Glen Town Center, as a model of modern sign regulation.
Bak said the village would begin meeting immediately with sign companies, the chamber of commerce, local businesses and residents, “to find out what is on people’s minds, grievances, complaints about the code, about the process of getting a permit, getting approval through the commission and the building department, and then beginning the first of the year we’d begin going through the [code],” and proposing revisions.
Bak said a new code would be proposed in mid 2006. Appearance Commission Chairman John Hedrick said it could be a lot more specific than the current code, possibly including illustrated design guidelines to show builders what is preferred .
NO DECISION YET ON WHERE TO PUT PORN
Two residents appeared before the village board last week, asking the trustees not to allow an adult bookstore to open here. One called the prospect “skuzzy and nasty,” while another urged the village to defend a ban in court if necessary. He had brought his young children to Village Hall, and their cooing and squealing provided an unusual background for his plea. “Even though people have the right to sell, purchase and be entertained by these types of businesses, it doesn’t have to be in the village of Glenview,” he said.
Village President Kerry Cummings disagreed, pointing out that the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects porn as a form of speech. She said officials would try to keep adult-oriented businesses away from busy retail areas, such as Milwaukee Avenue, where one prospective business has applied to locate. Instead, she said, porn shops could be allowed in industrial areas.
Trustee Paul Detlefs added that the board would consider “important restrictions on these businesses, not only in terms of their location but in terms of the activities they can conduct.”
A vote could come at the board’s next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 18.
EMPLOYEES CLAIM SEXUAL HARRASSMENT BY GLENVIEW CAR WASH
A federal agency is suing the Glenview Car Wash at 1820 Waukegan Road on behalf of three men who say they were sexually harassed by the operator of that business – kissed, grabbed, followed into the restroom and repeatedly propositioned.
"But it didn't stop there," an official with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commssion told the Glenview Announcements. "He propositioned them for sex and offered them money" to sexually grab co-workers and force them into his office.
The EEOC investigated and found three other workers who allege harassment. A lawyer for the car wash strongly denied the charge.
BUDGET HEARINGS TO BEGIN
The village board will hold several workshops to go over its 2006 budget. The public is invited to sit in on discussions of how tax dollars will be spent at 7 p.m. in the board room of Village Hall on the following dates:
Wednesday, October 19
Thursday, October 20
Wednesday, October 26
Thursday, October 27
A fifth session will be held, if needed, at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 29.
VILLAGE TO BUY EPCO SITE
Glenview trustees voted, in 2003 to condemn the Epco Paint Store site at the corner of Glenview and Lehigh so they could use it for library parking. The owner of that property felt the village offer of $600,000 was far too low, prompting a lawsuit. On Thursday the case was settled when Glenview agreed to pay $1.175 million. The store will continue to do business through May.
LIBRARY LORE
-- The next joint meeting of the library and the village boards to discuss the Library Evaluation Study prepared by consultant Sente Rubel will be at 7 p.m. Monday, October 10 at Village Hall. The public is invited to comment. The report is now available to the public on the library's website (http://www.glenviewpl.org/evaluationstudy.htm), and the complete version is available for check out.
-- Lindy Rubin will take residents on a tour of the new Hindu Temple in Bartlett and the Morton Arboretum in Lisle with lunch at the arboretum’s Gingko Room Saturday, October 22. The bus leaves at 9:30 a.m. and returns at 4 p.m. To reserve your spot, write a check for $55 to Lindy Rubin and sign up at the public library’s information desk.
-- You can also register for Internet classes, special workshops on genealogy, business and investing, travel and blogs. Call the information desk at 847-729-7500, extension 112 to register.
STATE SENATOR WANTS REVERSE COMMUTE FIX
State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) says local communities and transit agencies have done too little to help drivers heading to the suburbs each morning, then heading home to the city of Chicago at night.
“This is a topic that continues to generate hours of frustration for both businesses and drivers. Unfortunately, the question remains; why aren’t we doing more to reduce the gridlock? It’s remarkable, but true, that our commuter train schedules have barely changed over the last one hundred years,” Garrett said.
Garrett wants changes to Metra schedules and flexibility by local employers who could modify their work hours. She’s been working with various communities, RTA, PACE, Metra, IDOT, the tollway and the governor’s office to set up a pilot program that will offer immediate travel options. The second in a series of meetings on this subject is scheduled for Lake Forest City Hall at 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 18.
FOLLOW THE MONEY: A TUTORIAL ON SCHOOL FUNDING
If you’ve ever wondered where public school money comes from and where it goes, mark your calendar for 7 p.m. Thursday, October 20. Superintendents from Districts 34 and 225 will share details with members of the public at Attea Middle School, 2500 Chestnut Avenue. The event is hosted by the League of Women Voters and the District 34 PTA.
ON THE BEAT
Proving that they do, in fact, have a sense of humor, Glenview police released the following report, dubbing it “Traffic Accident: Vehicle vs. House. Nicholas A. Stocks M/W 02/18/82 1530 Meadow Lane drove his motor vehicle off the roadway on 10/03/05 at 2127 hours and struck the garage of a residence in the 1500 block of Sunset Ridge Road. An engine fire occurred to the vehicle driven by Stocks which damaged the vehicle and garage of the residence. The Glenview Fire Department extinguished the fire. No occupants of the residential home were injured. Two Glenview officers were treated and released from Glenbrook Hospital for smoke inhalation. Stocks was transported to Lutheran General Hospital and later released. Stocks was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of drugs, possession of methamphetamines, drug paraphernalia and hypodermic syringes.”
SAVE THE DATE
-- Take a walk and help feed the hungry at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, October 16. For more information on the Glenbrook CROP Hunger WALK, call Dick Johnson at 847-724-0799.
-- Andy Head performs his kid-pleasing show Theatricks at 10 a.m. Friday, October 14 in the Lakeview Room of Park Center. The program is for pre-school children to grade six. Admission is $3 per person. For more information, call 847-724-5670.
-- The Grove celebrates Halloween with hayrides along a wooded trail, visits to the Grove cemetery, games, activities and snacks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16. Pick up a pumpkin while you’re there. For details, call 847-299-6096.
-- Bring children 3-5 years of age to a holiday celebration from 10-11:30 Wednesday, October 19 at Park Center. The kids should wear costumes, be ready to decorate pumpkins, hear a story, color a picture and enjoy a snack with help from members of the Glenview Senior Center. Register at the Senior Desk. The cost -- $3. For more information, call 847-724-4793.
-- Wagner Farm invites families to stop by from 3-8 p.m. October 22 to build scarecrows. Bring old clothes and the park district will supply the straw – along with popcorn and cold apple cider. For details, call 847-657-1506.
SERVICE EXCHANGE
Looking for a top-notch lady to clean your home weekly or every other week? Call Sandy at 847-291-7434.
READERS WRITE
SH feels like the village has fallen through a rabbit hole: “Sometimes I believe that Glenview has become an incarnation of the Mad Hatter’s tea party from Alice in Wonderland. I believe in the ability of the marketplace to settle the battle of what should be built in downtown Glenview. The marketplace does not provide $1 million payments or tax credits to developers. That is what communist governments used to do. All one has to do is visit some cities in China or the former Soviet Union to see how effective it is to subsidize non-market based structures. Actually, all you need to do is visit The Glen, where our generous village fathers gave away our tax dollars to build where capitalists wouldn't have built otherwise. See the thriving housing and the empty retail. Housing is what the market desires, and for that we paid our taxes to subsidize their profits. See the struggling stores and restaurants, all subsidized through the TIF. How many of the retail establishments would have been built if the developer had to foot the bill? Where would the market have put the shopping center? Where would Anixter and Beltone have built their offices if they had to foot the bill for sewers, roads, etc.? Glenview should get out of the developer business. It should rely on zoning laws and strict development guidelines as a means to direct the free marketplace. If the market thinks that six story buildings are profitable and that fits within Glenview's zoning and building guidelines, then that's what should be built. Parking should be enabled by the village, but no parking garages should be built without developer assistance. Turning the fire department building into a commercial site would make a great deal of sense. However, not if the fire department then requires a new $3-4 million building and site. That's just dumb. Like the new palatial police station. And what about the old Glenview State Bank building? Shouldn't that be preserved and redeveloped into something useful?”
On the subject of Metra parking he adds: “I am amazed that Mary Beth Denefe, the former village trustee, still can't comprehend how her fellow commuters could ever park anywhere but downtown, adjacent to the tracks. Each day I find empty spaces south of Glenview Road. Similarly, The Glen Metra station has plenty of unused spaces. Still the village is talking about spending millions of tax dollars on a parking garage---all because the poor Metra commuters can't find their way to the existing parking spaces. Before one more taxpayer dollar is wasted supporting subsidized parking for commuters, the village should post signs directing them to available parking at The Glen station.”
GLB is puzzled about Metra parking: “In the last issue of the Watch a consultant mentioned that there is a two-year wait for parking stickers at both train stations. I did not think parking stickers were available at the new train station. I thought that it was day-of-parking only. In addition, when I drive by the new train station there seems to be plenty of spots available. Please clear this up.”
The Watch replies: There are a total of 800 parking spaces at The Glen of North Glenview station. Metra will only allow the village to reserve 20 percent of them for residents who pay monthly, put a placard in their window and park in any spot. All 160 of those placards are spoken for, so anyone else who parks in a north lot pays $2 a day.
Chuck Loebbaka has this reaction to Regency Realty's plan for downtown: “I can't believe the intensive push to over-build downtown. It makes little or no sense to me. I am on Lake, Waukegan and Glenview roads a lot at rush hour. Waukegan southbound often backs up from Lake to Chestnut. Westbound Lake often backs up from Waukegan to Sunset Ridge. Westbound Glenview backs up from Waukegan to Country Club. And we are going to pour more traffic into this mess?”
And WM feels the village staff is biased in favor of high-density buildings on Waukegan Road: “Do they work for the taxpayers, or do the developers pay them? Why pay developers anything to put tall buildings downtown. If they want to build, let them build three stories with the lower level retail and adequate parking
WM urges Glenview to be patient: “The developers and particularly their attorneys continue to remind the village that unless Glenview caves on downtown density no development of any consequence will happen. My recommendation, take them up on the challenge. Hold to three stories including first floor retail with adequate parking provisions. That admittedly will slow down development, but in the long run the developers will be back. Neighboring villages will run out of acceptable locations for development, and then Glenview will get it's shot at redevelopment the way we think it should be done. With interest rates rising, who knows how long the condo development craze will last? Some experts seem to see cracks in the real estate bubble at present.”
“I was also surprised by Mary Beth Denefe’s strong opposition to a parking garage. She contends commuters are unwilling to make their way through a multi-level garage. Maybe she should head to the Loop to see what suburban commuters go through to park there.”
RS agrees with another reader who objected to Amtrak stops downtown:: “You would think with the increased traffic in the Glenview area that CMC's idea about shifting the superliner’s stop would really help traffic flow downtown. These trains just sit there for what seems forever.”
And LA joins JAS in a protest of new traffic restrictions: “Here! Here! I'm glad I'm not the only one who has had it with the ever increasing ‘turn only’ arrows and ‘no right on reds.’ Chestnut and Lehigh will be the death of me! I sit in disbelief, almost daily, 6, 8, maybe 10 cars back, waiting to turn right, while there is little or no traffic heading east on Chestnut! Totally frustrating and even more so, totally inefficient! Don't our traffic engineers drive the same streets we do? Ugh!”
HH thinks it’s time for the village to correct its mistake: “The village acted almost immediately to erect a ‘No Turn on Red’ sign after receiving the ill-advised complaint that turning across the railroad tracks could be dangerous, although it's no less dangerous when the light is green and a train is approaching. Why is it taking the village so long to admit that it made a mistake and that the sign serves no useful purpose?”
Joe Agnew offers this perspective on plans for a mosque in Glenview: “I often pass by a mosque just south of Devon Avenue on Broadway and see members quietly going in and out. I have never heard of or noticed a problem caused by its location or 24/7 operation. I do know that for years before the mosque was built a cheesy disco sat in the same spot this house of worship now occupies. It was known for its loud and obnoxious patrons and drug dealing. I’m really glad the mosque is there today. I’m sure a lot of the neighbors feel the same way.”
Village Attorney Randall says we are legally bound to allow porn sales somewhere in town. After all, the first amendment guarantees free speech, even for adult book stores. LRS does not agree: “I say let the prospective owners try to sue. Why are we afraid of being sued over trying to preserve standards in our community? How do Winnetka, Kenilworth and Wilmette keep sleaze merchants out of their communities? I don’t want such a business anywhere near Glenview. Given our zoning, putting them in an industrial park could still mean being close to many neighborhoods.”
YOUR TURN: Write to glenviewwatch@aol.com or 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60026. 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.