Plan sparks controversy Apartment complex will be built in place of abandoned Tischler Finer Foods by Abby King @abigailann_01
The 10-year vacant grocery store on the corner of Wolf Road and Burlington Avenue in Western Springs is scheduled for a long overdue facelift. Briefly famous as one of the sets for the major motion picture “Contagion,” Tischler Finer Foods and Breen’s Cleaners are back into the limelight as the Foxford Station plan, coupled with Tax Increment-Financing (TIF), begins to unfold. The Foxford Station plan proposes to demolish the abandoned grocery store and dry cleaners and develop a four-story, mixed-use building in its place. Mixed-use is classified as commercial and residential use. On the first floor, there will be 3,600 square feet of commercial space along with 66 indoor ground-level parking spots to cater to the three-story, 52-unit luxury apartment complex above. “Personally, I think a restaurant would be fantastic [in the commercial space],” Director of Community Development Martin Scott said. “In our community, people come out to support restaurants, so it would be great for our economy as well.” Out of consideration of blending into the Western Springs downtown landscape, the fourth floor will be pushed back six feet, creating the illusion of a three-story building. In order to be able to pay for Foxford Station and other downtown improvements, the village has proposed using TIFs. This plan would freeze the existing property tax for each individual property in the tax district at a base rate. Then, over 23 years, the village will gradually increase the tax on top of the base rate, and that money goes directly into the TIF fund. “The fund helps go back and reimburse a developer, building owner or a business owner to help them succeed,” Scott said. “It will help their building look better. This will help fill it rather than have it be vacant. And some of that money can also be used by the village to fix sewers or to fix roads.” However, there has been strong opposition to this plan. The purpose of a TIF is for distressed industrial urban downtown and industry blighted areas, not for high-density housing. By definition, Western Springs is not poverty-stricken. Since the Tischlers and Breen’s property have been vacant for 10 years, they have a relatively low property tax. “Fifty-two households will need police and fire protection and send their kids to school, but none of the increasd tax on that property will go to the school system,” Western Springs citizen William Derrah said. “It’s a way of ripping off the school district. It’s a way of getting a tax increase out of the village that nobody will see, because we will all have to pay for the services for these 52 rental households. Meanwhile the village board gets the diverted tax money and can spend it on projects.” Along with Senate Bill 16, which calls for suburban public high schools
A photo illustration depicts a homeless individual sleeping on a bench outside of the LaGrange Public Library, a fairly common occurrence. (Riley Carroll and Izy Scott/ LION)
Plans for homeless facility BEDS Plus requests zoning for three-story, 20-unit apartment, office building to fill vacant lot in La Grange by Brittany Grosser-Basile @BrittanyGrosser
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EDS Plus, whose mission is to help vulnerable individuals stabilize their lives through housing and supportive services, is in the public process of applying to the Village of La Grange to build a three-story building that will have 20 apartment units above the administrative and daytime support offices. “We’re providing longer-term solutions that reintegrate people into a community where they formerly lived,” BEDS Executive Director Tina Rounds said. A hearing was held for the zoning application on Feb. 10 for the building that would be located at 9601 West Ogden Ave., across the street from Brookfield Car Wash. Rounds, her lawyer and the building’s architect presented their requests to the commissioners. They explained what the facility would be used for, the zoning changes they were applying for and a detailed presentation of the architecture. In order to live in one of the single-person apartments, applicants must go through a screening process, and those living within 250 feet of the building are able to help with these screenings. BEDS won’t allow any felons or sex offenders, and will give preference to those with multiple cases of homelessness and people who have lived in the Lyons Township area. “I initially thought it sounded like a good plan, because BEDS is a good thing and the homeless people rely on BEDS,” Joe Dillon ‘15 said. “The only con I could see is how the community will adapt to having people who aren’t from the community coming here, because I feel some local businesses would not be happy.” The hearing was opened up to audience members who spoke both for and against the proposed facility. “I believe that this is a community of diverse housing and that we should be proud of defining our neighbor as not just those who can afford a large house next to us, but all kinds of neighbors,” La Grange resident Meredith Onion, who has raised her family across the street from one of BEDS’ overnight shelters, said. Among the people who spoke against the facility were two concerned small business owners, Brookfield
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Cafeteria, Reber near completion State Champion Despite unforeseen delays, project stays mostly on schedule by Joe Okkema @joe_okkema
Gazing into the NC courtyard, it’s hard not to notice the progress that has been made in constructing the cafeteria since the school year began. As construction continues to progress towards its foreseeable end, though, administrators remain hesitant to pinpoint an exact date the cafeteria and Reber Center will be open to the student body. “The things that we can control seem to be going well,” Associate Principal Kevin Brown said. “We’re always concerned about the things we can’t control though, so that’s why it’s hard to pin down a single date when construction will be completed.” Despite unforeseeable problems encountered during construction, like the discovery of several structural columns underneath the original wing of the building that were not included in blueprints, the project remains on the original schedule contractors and administrators settled on before construction began, Superintendent Dr. Timothy Kilrea said. According to the original contract, the major completion date of the project falls on March 25, but Kilrea and Brown emphasize that problems that might surface towards the end of construction make that date likely to change. “It’s our hope that students could be using these facilities
Technology at LT Check out what LT has planned for Tech Week and read about how technology continues to be more incorporated into the school day.
North Campus
NEWS, 5
after spring break,” Kilrea said. “But even when major substantial completion is done, small issues with things like the electrical system might arise and we need these unforeseen matters rectified before we occupy the space.” The original timeline established by contractors included extra time for unforeseeable setbacks, and administrators have been meeting with the contractors at least once a week to stay up-to-date on the project’s progress and any issues that have arisen, Brown said. “What I’m most satisfied with is the way our students and staff have handled the construction project,” Kilrea said. “I feel that as a whole, everyone has been outstanding. My appreciation goes to the students and staff because everyone has just been phenomenal.” The major components that have yet to be completed in the cafeteria include the pouring, leveling, polishing and sealing of the terrazzo floor, the completion of the roofing of the windowed area of the cafeteria protruding into the courtyard and the delivery and installation of the freezer and the cooler. The roofing could be installed, but some of the siding for that part of the building remains on backorder, Brown said. Overall, administrators are pleased with the progress of construction and they look forward to students being able to take advantage of the improvements each facility has gained. “If I were to compare this cafeteria to a car, it’d be a Cadillac,” Brown said. “I fully expect that it’s going to be a place that students want to be.”
Getting too soft? Mike Rasmussen ‘15 reflects on how society has lost its ability to take a joke and why it is so important that we get that tolerance back.
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OPINIONS, 7
100 S. Brainard Ave. LaGrange, Ill. 60525 South Campus
Kelsy Kurfirst ‘15 placed first on uneven parallel bars at the girls gymnastics state meet. The team placed fifth overall. Turn to page 10 for the story. (Brittany Grosser-Basile/LION)
New lacrosse coach
Spring fitness
LT boys lacrosse hires a new, highly accredited coach with plans to lead the team to state with new practice tactics and film sessions.
Have the urge to get fit? Check out our interactive flow chart to determine which wacky health tip is perfect for your personality.
SPORTS, 10
PULSE, 18
4900 Willow Springs Rd. Western Springs, Ill. 60558