HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 05, 1991 COW COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE JOINT MEETING WITH
CENTER CITY REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
JUNE 5, 1991
A special Committee of the Whole joint meeting with the Center
City Redevelopment Committee (CCRC) was called to order by
Mayor VanDeVoorde at 4 p.m. at the Center City Office.
Councilmembers present: Dan Fox, Robert Gilliam, Susan
Moylan, Cheryl Popple, John Walters, Marie Yearman and Mayor
George VanDeVoorde. Absent: None.
Center City Redevelopment Committee members present: Robert
Carlile, Harvey Eisner, Denise Hopkins, Marianne Nelson,
Sue Ann Reed, Jerry Turnquist, George VanDeVoorde, E. C.
Wilson and David Ziegler. Absent: None.
Copies of the written preliminary draft Master Plan for
Elgin' s Center City had been previously distributed to the
Council and CCRC.
Project manager, Robert Ballou of Sasaki Associates, Inc. ,
gave a slide presentation of the proposals in the plan.
One of the plan's recommendations is removal of certain
buildings on State Street between Highland and Chicago Avenues
for creation of a gateway park. Robert Eaton, owner of the
Redwood Inn located at 118 West Chicago Street, presented a
petition on behalf of the owners of the properties involved,
protesting the recommendation for destruction of their
buildings . Mr. Ballou stated that the plan has not yet been
adopted by the City Council .
Councilwoman Popple stated that she thought the proposed
master plan was excellent. She further stated that the City
needs to decide whether to cling to the past or look to the
future.
A member of the audience objected to the creation of more
parks in that it meant the removal of property from the tax
rolls .
CCRC member Ziegler said that Elgin used to be an
industrial city but is now moving toward being a recreational
area. He thinks the proposal for parks is very positive and
doesn't believe we would lose that much tax money. The value
of the older buildings keeps going down, so that the taxes
generated by these properties also decreases .
Councilwoman Moylan stated that she likes the flexibility of
the plan. It looks like a lot of beauty is proposed, which
she believes will encourage people to come downtown.
Committee of the Whole/CCRC Meeting
June 5, 1991
Page 2
Councilman Walters said that he is not absolutely convinced
that the State Street block has to come down, in that
removing these buildings only gives us a view of the bus
garage and train tracks .
CCRC member Nelson said that the CCRC felt there were many
historic buildings they would like to save. However, she
thinks this would have to be done with money from the private
sector.
City Manager Larry Rice recommends the creation of an
Appearance Review Commission as suggested in the plan.
Mayor VanDeVoorde pointed out that the plan emphasizes that
the river is the front door. Every decision will be made with
that in mind.
A video regarding the city's past, present and future is being
prepared for presentation at various community group meetings .
Councilmembers asked that a work session be scheduled for them
to discuss the plan. It was decided to meet prior to the
Committee of the Whole meeting on July 10, 1991 at 5 : 00 or
5: 30 p.m. , depending on the length of the Committee of the
Whole agenda.
The meeting adjourned at 5 :55 p.m.
Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk