Comments on: Neumann goes bankrupt http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:19:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Julie Schmitt http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-34521 Julie Schmitt Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:35:20 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-34521 Unfortunately King Shock, his minions and the mysterious and anonymous partners of "Channing Square LLC" are pushing ahead with the development. The City is giving them such a large chunk of change upfront ($700,000), PLUS the land (value $750,000), they are pushing ahead in the WORST real estate market in years with no marketing plan and no exit strategy! For everyone who said this was a "done deal" (including Asst. City Manager Sean Stegal 10 months ago) - I still think it was worth the fight! At least it will show the citizens of Elgin how WRONG Shock is! FYI - The property was transferred to Channing Square LLC on October 1, 2007. The change in zoning and the development plan was approved by City Council 10/24/07. Unfortunately this property would have made a much-needed and BEAUTIFUL open space, complete with community gardens if the City had bothered to consult with the neighborhood! Unfortunately King Shock, his minions and the mysterious and anonymous partners of “Channing Square LLC” are pushing ahead with the development. The City is giving them such a large chunk of change upfront ($700,000), PLUS the land (value $750,000), they are pushing ahead in the WORST real estate market in years with no marketing plan and no exit strategy!

For everyone who said this was a “done deal” (including Asst. City Manager Sean Stegal 10 months ago) - I still think it was worth the fight! At least it will show the citizens of Elgin how WRONG Shock is!

FYI - The property was transferred to Channing Square LLC on October 1, 2007. The change in zoning and the development plan was approved by City Council 10/24/07.

Unfortunately this property would have made a much-needed and BEAUTIFUL open space, complete with community gardens if the City had bothered to consult with the neighborhood!

]]> By: RS http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-33022 RS Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:54:07 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-33022 Hi everyone, Thanks for the comments. And sorry about the lack of updates recently. I think I agree with Todd about the Unilever site. In my view, this sort of thing is better than a community garden: http://elginite.org/blog/2006/11/22/what-next-for-the-unilever-site/ But good candidates for community gardens in the downtown area include: - the Low Line south of National St. - the parcel north of the library - the old Gail Borden site The Low Line has the best chance of being more or less permanent. But I think it's a great site that's currently blighted and unused. A community garden would be a a great focal point for that neighborhood, which is probably among the more distressed neighborhoods in the city. The site is also a high-visibility site, and anything we could do there to improve its appearance will enhance the image of the downtown and the city as a whole. Hi everyone,
Thanks for the comments. And sorry about the lack of updates recently.

I think I agree with Todd about the Unilever site. In my view, this sort of thing is better than a community garden:
http://elginite.org/blog/2006/11/22/what-next-for-the-unilever-site/

But good candidates for community gardens in the downtown area include:
- the Low Line south of National St.
- the parcel north of the library
- the old Gail Borden site

The Low Line has the best chance of being more or less permanent. But I think it’s a great site that’s currently blighted and unused. A community garden would be a a great focal point for that neighborhood, which is probably among the more distressed neighborhoods in the city.

The site is also a high-visibility site, and anything we could do there to improve its appearance will enhance the image of the downtown and the city as a whole.

]]> By: Marc http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-32798 Marc Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:48:23 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-32798 where are the updates? its been quiet here for almost 2 weeks! where are the updates? its been quiet here for almost 2 weeks!

]]> By: TDM http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-32207 TDM Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:29:39 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-32207 For those that don't know, Tom is referring to the long grassy spot between State Street and the railroad tracks following the Fox River, by Highland Avenue. There was recently a large and ugly Unilever (Lipton) factory there. This spot would be fairly difficult to redevelop because of parking limitations and the fact that you have to cross major roads to get to it. I agree that the site needs something, but I'm not convinced yet what that should be. I'm all for a community garden, but I would want it accessible to children and the elderly. Gardens should be tranquil, and that site would be loud and have a lot of gawkers. I'd rather see a community garden placed in a residential neighborhood. For those that don’t know, Tom is referring to the long grassy spot between State Street and the railroad tracks following the Fox River, by Highland Avenue. There was recently a large and ugly Unilever (Lipton) factory there.

This spot would be fairly difficult to redevelop because of parking limitations and the fact that you have to cross major roads to get to it.

I agree that the site needs something, but I’m not convinced yet what that should be.

I’m all for a community garden, but I would want it accessible to children and the elderly. Gardens should be tranquil, and that site would be loud and have a lot of gawkers. I’d rather see a community garden placed in a residential neighborhood.

]]> By: Tom Printy http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-31039 Tom Printy Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:01:21 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-31039 Speaking of community garden I was thinking that the old Lipton plant site would be perfect for a community garden. That huge big grass area could be turned into productive land again. Residents could rent a plot of land to grow veggies or flowers on and the Parks department can manage the funds and till the soil every year. Might be a neat little project and could turn that boring swatch of grass into something interesting. Speaking of community garden I was thinking that the old Lipton plant site would be perfect for a community garden. That huge big grass area could be turned into productive land again. Residents could rent a plot of land to grow veggies or flowers on and the Parks department can manage the funds and till the soil every year. Might be a neat little project and could turn that boring swatch of grass into something interesting.

]]> By: rm http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-30874 rm Fri, 26 Oct 2007 23:34:49 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2007/10/25/neumann-goes-bankrupt/#comment-30874 These observations certainly seem accurate. I really was wondering what the market could possibly be for this development, especially with East Elgin being such a subprime environment. The most effective way, though, of truly assuring the project's demise would have been for the City to have required from the developers a "no serf" labor clause whereby developers would represent and warrant that all work would be conducted by legal residents. These observations certainly seem accurate. I really was wondering what the market could possibly be for this development, especially with East Elgin being such a subprime environment. The most effective way, though, of truly assuring the project’s demise would have been for the City to have required from the developers a “no serf” labor clause whereby developers would represent and warrant that all work would be conducted by legal residents.

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