Note:  the views expressed on this page do not necessarily represent positions of the Downers Grove Watch Association.  We provide this platform for interested citizens to express their views on Village issues.

Current Topics: 

                             (latest: 5/12/04)    Village Budget and Taxes
                             (latest: 4/30/04)    Teardowns
                             (latest: 4/28/04)    District 99
                             (latest: 4/4/04)      Bus Service
                             (latest: 2/2/04)      Liquor Ordinance
 

We also have a collection of archived letters we received
from April thru December of 2001 available. (Click here)

From Dave Brown, 4/30/04

The thing about teardowns

Gilbert Street is a little different from most of the community.  Not that that 
makes it unique, much of Downers Grove is a little different from the rest. 
Most likely this is one of the reasons many of us choose to live here.  But there 
is a revolution going on here, and elsewhere, which threatens to substantially 
change the way our village looks and the way we feel about living here.  No, it’s 
not the obsession with downtown I’m talking about; we can all avoid that if we 
choose.  This is right in your neighborhood, perhaps next door.  It’s the suburban
version of urban renewal: Teardowns.  And the problem is not so much with what’s 
going down, as with what’s going up.  They’re big, obtrusive, and enigmatic.

Within the past year, two adjacent houses on our street – Gilbert Street – were 
sold to developers. The houses,  cottages literally, were leveled and in
their place now stand two of the “Oh, it’s one of them” styled houses and they 
stick out like proverbial sore thumbs. Most of the houses on our street sit on
3/4 acres or more and are modestly sized.  There is a lot of breathing space here, 
woods and lawns that provide an environment shared by all.  In contrast, the two 
new houses not only fill the width of their lots to the maximum, but in doing so, 
eliminated nearly a dozen 100-foot oak trees which were enjoyed by all of us.  
The streetscape shock of these intruders is not unlike issuing a loud belch at your
future in-laws dinner table, and yet, there is an overall necessity and healthiness 
to them as well.

The market forces driving the demand and scale of the teardown market are both 
economic and social.  The economics are straightforward and somewhat backward. 
Both the builder and the buyer seek value, the former in profit, the latter in 
investment.  Both are enslaved by the limited and backward manner in which
real estate is appraised and financed.  As long as size and amenities are the 
determinants of value used by lenders and buyers, (yes, I know, location,
location, location; that’s the baseline, the balance is the aforementioned)large 
“to the maximum allowed by code”houses will be the norm in the teardown market.  

From the money side of the equation, value “quality”is defined by square feet and 
bathrooms; not architecture, not materials, not workmanship, not details (God may 
be found in the details, but not value), not landscape, just bulk and toilets.  For
some strange reason we can see the difference between a Hyundai and a Mercedes of 
the same size, and are willing, if possible, to pay the difference, but when
it comes to our homes we see and care not a whit for what we dream of in a car. 
Go figure. 

Some insight into the social forces that demand large houses can be found, 
logically, in ourselves.  First, I believe, it is our ever-demanding neurotic 
yearning for privacy: a tendency to want to live within the confines of our home, 
inward, not outward that is at the heart of the demand.  We seem to think that
comfort comes from insulation and control, and what better way to fulfill both 
than to put all we have within walls?  The bigger the space within the walls,
the more we can control of our environment.  Secondly, it is a fledgling interest 
in the pursuit of quality, stymied and stunted by the very nature of our success
as a culture, that is fueling this demand.  Supported by the economic definition, 
our own naivete traps us into believing that quality is somehow a function of
large.  Most often the resulting disappointment found therein is confusing and the 
unrequited search for quality turns to look elsewhere. For those of us on the 
outside however, all we see is a shrinking world, a change from the horizontal 
world of seasonally changing landscapes to the vertical world of unchanging walls.  
If we found a kind of quality from our setting within the larger environment, it 
has been lost forever.

What can be done? We must first accept the fact that teardowns are a healthy form 
of renewal and to put an end to them is to invite decay.  Typically, communities 
have relied on long-standing codes and ordinances, as well as market forces, to 
limit the scale and footprint, and to control the outcome, of new development.  
We now live in an era of vastly altered market economics and expectations from those
that existed at the time most of these codes and ordinances were written. This 
unforeseen new market reality invites, if not demands, the maximization of every 
codified limitation with predictably unpleasant consequences.  As contradictory as 
it may sound, it may well be that if the overall look of the community is to be 
maintained, it most likely cannot done by using existing guidelines. This was perhaps 
understood by our village government when a number of years ago it raised the 
minimum new lot width to 75 feet. Further revisions are needed which take into account
these new market forces if any continuity is to be maintained.  This is merely a 
matter of identifying and addressing priorities within the community with an
intent to support them through codification.  And recognition of achievement on the 
part of developers – those who do successfully blend the new with the old – would 
give guidance and understanding to the intent of the community as well reward 
accomplishment.

What’s needed most though, is what seems most difficult to achieve, and that is 
a fundamental overhaul in the way real estate and construction are evaluated.  
Until builders are offered a market where a small “Mercedes Benz” of a house can 
be sold for the same price as a large “Ford Econoline van” of a house, the tendency 
will always lean toward Econoline vans, parked in tiny driveways!

Dave Brown

From Dave Schulz - 4/26/04 - (to the Mayor and Council, with copy to us)

To the Downers Grove Watch
From John & Norma Plummer
Downers Grove, IL 
 
Thank you for a most informative meeting last Saturday. I was unable to
ask a question, so therefore I would like to make some comments, and lay
out some points of interest to me.

Our 'lot' has two 'teardowns'/reconstruction sites at this time, which
affect our 'lot line', both on Prairie Avenue, and another about to happen
directly across the street - on Elm.

1.  There have been issues with noise, (there is a new baby in one home-
and constructions noise is a problem - example, there was a bobcat 
moving >earth, and a backhoe digging a drainage trench on Friday last, both at 
the same time),  weekend work (has begun sharply at 7 a.m.), and we have
collected litter (siding plastic type material, and insulation regularly
on our lot - this caused by wind blowing this scrap from the construction
sites.

2.  Both 'New Homes' dwarf the homes flanking them, blocking light.

3.  Sidewalk's have been impassable for children going to school as 
well as people with strollers, walking dogs or just getting exercise.

4.  Parking of workers’ personal vehicles have also been an 
obstruction. This further magnifies the problem with impassable sidewalks, as
children/others have to then to cross the street or risk going around 
the parked vehicles, and Prairie Avenue is a busy street.

5.  One of the new homes takes up most of the lot, leaving only 
approx. 25-30 feet from the back of the building to the lot line and most or 
all of the east side and a portion of the back yard will be concrete or
asphalt  driveway.  How much 'green space' is mandated for each newly
constructed home?

6.  There is debris on both lots, one has a partially torn down chain 
link fence along our lot line.  Will this be taken down completely, 
replaced or ??   Presently this is an eyesore.  It would have been good if the
neighbors it affected had been informed as to what was going to happen
before construction began.

7.   Across the street on Elm there is another home/lot - now  vacant
waiting to be torn apart. This will again cause problems because of 
the above issues.

We were glad to note that the Village is now aware of the need to have
'rules and regulations' on the books regarding the "Downer House' .
Also the removal of large established trees in an old neighborhood 
should be considered.   Thanks to Commissioner Urban - our favorite Ice-cream
guy, who we will continue to support when he moves to his new 
location.

The character/architecture of the neighborhood needs to be preserved.

Thank you for your continued interest in our town.

Kind regards,

John & Norma Plummer

From Commissioner Ron Sandack - 4/11/04

Many thanks to all in your organization that had to do
with presentation on "Teardowns and Taxes." The
speakers were terrific and had many interesting things
to say. Most significantly for me was the almost
universal agreement among the speakers that this topic
requires sober dialog and consensus building. The
issues discussed merely scratched the surface of many
multi-faceted sub-issues which will undoubtedly
challenge neighbors to diligently approach the process
without preconceived notions and highly charged
rhetoric. Only with consensus building in mind can
thoughtful and measured incremental steps be initiated
to help our community maintain its character and
further enhance such character for generations to
come.

Thanks for helping start the process in a positive
manner. Best regards.

                 Ron Sandack  

From Dan & Janine Johnson  - 4/11/04

Dear Event Organizers,

We applaud your efforts in putting together the forum today. We were 
very pleased with the information made available and the manner in which you 
lead the forum. We almost decided not to attend, expecting the meeting to me
little more than a platform for a number of residents to vent their
frustration with the changes in our community. Instead, we were 
afforded the opportunity to hear from speakers who have put considerable thought 
into this issue and as a result have developed some great guidelines for 
seeing a way to a solution. Great job in getting speakers who really hit the 
mark!

Downers Grove Watch has in the past brought attention to issues of 
concern to many residents, including Park District activities, Council actions 
(or inactions), etc. I can't think of a more important issue for your group 
to focus on. The attendance today illustrates that the changes in our 
community have an effect on a very broad cross section of residents. I hope you 
are able to build some momentum from today's event and look forward to 
hearing of future plans to bring this issue to the fore.

Thanks again,

Dan and Janine Johnson
Downers Grove, IL 

District 99

From Bill Vollrath and Gary Tagtmeier -- 4/28/04

     
Dear Council Members,
 
Thank you for your recent vote to maintain commuter bus service to Sept
2005.  I was unable to be present to show my support for continued bus
service at your recent budget discussions, but appreciate the debate and
points raised from both sides of the issue.
 
I would like to throw in my two cents worth on a couple of items.  Below
are my random thoughts on various points in the discussion of commuter
service.
 
1.  Should the bus service be subsidized?  In my opinion, yes.
Governments subsidize many items and services that private enterprises
cannot or will not offer.  Roads and highways are generally subsidized
for auto traffic, police and fire services are subsidized, and in
particular the parking near the train stations is somewhat subsidized.
The new parking deck currently under construction is being subsidized.
We should not be asking whether the bus service should be subsidized.
Rather, the question is how much of a subsidy should the commuter bus
service receive, and how can this subsidy be funded.
 
2.  Deadbeat parkers.  Commuters who park in downtown Downers Grove are
occupying parking spaces that displace potential shoppers for downtown
businesses.  These spaces are occupied for periods as long as 9 to 12
hours per day.  I would venture a guess that very few of the commuter
parkers spend much money in the downtown business district on a daily
basis.  In fact, if I personally were a commuter parker, I would be one
of the deadbeats taking up parking space that the local businesses would
prefer having occupied by live customers looking to spend money.
 
3.  Traffic congestion.  I have recently heard (but not verified) that
the busses currently serve anywhere between 150 to 250 commuters a day.
I would strongly dislike being part of the traffic jam during rush hour
if that extra traffic were part of the downtown rush hour traffic.
Again, from a quality of life aspect, I think it is in Downers Grove's
best interest to try to keep this additional traffic out of the downtown
rush hour.
 
4.  I am spoiled!  I have been using the bus service for about 10 years,
and have enjoyed outstanding service during this time.  Prior to this, I
have had jobs with driving commutes of 35, 45, and 60 minutes.  The
reduced stress of not having to drive myself to work is GREAT!  The bus
service is one of the things that make Downers Grove a great community,
and eliminating it would be a detriment to the local quality of life.
 
5.  The parking deck currently under construction will not be an
acceptable solution to my commuting parking needs.  As a resident on the
north side of Downers Grove, the parking deck under construction will
not work well to serve my commuting needs.  It is inconveniently located
and crossing the tracks 3 times during my commute will be a hassle and
possible safety hazard with multiple crossings.  With the current bus
service, I only cross the tracks once each day.
 
6  Elimination of charter service.  I applaud the elimination of the
charter service.  The village should not be charging below market rates
or increasing the miles driven by the buses.  It is my perception that
the costs and wear of charter service have been a drain on the revenue
and detrimental to the quality of the commuter service.
 
7.  Use parking fees to help with commuter bus expenses.  This is a
controversial point, but I believe that commuter parking fees should
help support commuter bus service.  Both items serve to bring people to
the Metra train service and can be linked as a common service.  Please
refer to points 2 and 3 above.  In order to discourage deadbeat parkers
and to reduce downtown traffic congestion at rush hour, I think it is
prudent to make bus service economically attractive by pricing it LOWER
than parking fees.  If parking passes were $60 a month, and bus passes
$30 per month, I would guess there would be twice a many bus riders and
half as many parkers.  This would open up more parking for downtown
businesses, and reduce traffic congestion at rush hour.  In my opinion,
this would be a benefit to the village.
 
I can appreciate that these are difficult times with reduced income for
the village to work with.  I do not envy your position in struggling to
make the overall budget come together and balance out.  As a taxpayer, I
also appreciate your efforts to hold the line on taxes and encourage you
to continue to hold down taxes.  However, I also ask that you continue
to investigate ways to subsidize and maintain bus service which makes a
positive contribution to the quality of life in our town.
 
Thanks for your patience in reading my ramblings.  Please give
consideration to my points as you discuss this issue.
 
Ried Jacobsen
A 10 year North route bus rider.

Liquor Ordinance

From Pat Mochel  - 2/02/04

I just received your update of January 30, 2004. and note that you raise

the  question of changing the liquor ordinances in Downers Grove. Presently

there  is a 60/40 split on food to liquor, which supposedly has caused some

  problems with restaurants.  That is currently being discussed at the

liquor  commission and the trend appears to be to do away with any percentage and

  replace it with a requirement other than to have food available up to a

half  hour or one hour before closing.  There is also some discussion of just

how  much food is to be available.  Limited menu or full menu.

  In addition the mayor stated that since there are between 400 and 500

  applicants there is some turnover on some of the commissions.  Interesting

  that he engineered the replacement of two of the members by forced

  resignation, after just having reappointed one of them 60 days prior, and

  chose not to reappoint me for missing 2 meetings last winter while I was

out  of town.  I have no problem not being reappointed, but I am disappointed

  that he couldn't have at least told me why.  It is also interesting to

note  that Mr. Durkin has missed 2 meetings since his appointment in August of

  2003.  Ah well, such is politics.

  It is also interesting to note that the 3 people who were replaced, were

the  same 3 people who were relatively in favor of keeping the 60/40 split of

  food to liquor sales, or at least some defined requirement in the

ordinance.  If they remove any requirement, other than to have food available and

limit  the bar seating to 20% of the total seating, you just might find someone

who  will figure a way of setting up a sports bar, which will have food

  available, but be promoting mainly the sale of liquor.

  The theme appears to be to pattern our ordinance after Naperville so

Downers  Grove can be a follower rather that a leader.

  It would be interesting to hear what type of response you might receive

from  the mayor of the council.  There often is a great difference between the

  "party line" and reality

May 12, 2004

Re: Runaway Downers Grove Taxes

     You might want to look at your real estate bill for the last few 
years because that portion of ours going to the Village of Downers Grove 
nearly doubled (increased 96%) in the last 2 years.  The 3 line items 
for the village, (a)VLG DWNRS GR-EX FIRE, (b)PENSION FUND, and (c)VLG 
DWNRS GR FIRE, should be totaled and compared for years 2001-2003.  In 
those 2 years inflation increased about 4%, Social Security increased 
3.6%, and my pension increased 0%.  I am  all too well aware assessments 
have increased but tax increases this extreme are ridiculous.

     The point I want to make is that in consideration of other 
financial factors in our lives nothing can justify the disproportionate 
increase in the tax levy requested by the Village of Downers Grove for year 
2003.  It would be interesting to discover the machinations employed by 
the Village Council and Village Hall Administration in creating this 
greedy levy.  It is obvious the extravagant, incompetent and fiscally 
irresponsible actions of the present council and village management has 
brought this upon taxpaying residents.

     What else could one expect when the council gives a $30,000+ 
luxury Lincoln automobile to the village manager to drive the less than one 
mile between his residence and village hall. Other municipalities let 
the manager use a compact car or reimburse for mileage when managers use 
their own car on municipal business.  Why does a fire engine have to 
follow an ambulance on a call?  If additional manpower is needed by 
paramedics a police car could be radioed to the scene which would divert the 
police for only a few minutes.  Why do several fire fighters have to 
take a fire engine to a supermarket when purchasing provisions for their 
meals?  Most of us who brown bagged our lunch bought our provisions 
using our own time and vehicle.  Downers has a Department of Code 
Enforcement which doesn’t.  When you’re lucky enough to find a building permit 
posted at a building site you hardly ever see an inspector’s signature 
on the permit indicating phases of construction have been approved.  
Why did the village council recently change the street side plantings’ 
height ordinance, originated for safety, to the detriment of pedestrians 
and vehicles after a citizen pointed out the ordinance wasn’t being 
enforced?   Why are police and fire personnel being taken off the streets 
where they are needed and  promoted to desk jobs?  Public Works does a 
great job of clearing streets and repairing broken water mains in 
winter but employees are seen leaning on shovels because of over staffed 
street repair crews.  What about the commuter bus employee who stood up 
before the council and stated one of the reasons the system was in 
financial difficulty was because the village administration was helping 
itself to bus funds?  This employee was fired for whistle blowing.  We’ve 
all heard stories of misinformation or intransigence when dealing with 
the village but for the most part I must say there are a lot of good 
people employed by the village and I do not intend to dishonor them.  

     My concern is with the present leadership which is guiding our 
village to unhappy people and financial ruin.   This leadership must be 
changed and the only way that can be accomplished is at the April 2005 
election when 3 council seats will be voted upon.  If you know of anyone 
interested in running for a village council seat please encourage them 
and offer your assistance in the form of (a)money, (b)posting yard 
signs, (c)distributing literature, (d)making phone calls, (e)coffees at 
your home, (f)tending to the campaign office, (g)speaking in behalf of the 
candidate, (h)running errands and tending to other sundry activities 
such as working at a fund raiser.  There are many things to be done in 
running for office and much help is needed.  It also takes time.  In a 
few months candidates will have to have their nominating petitions before 
the public getting voter signatures needed to have their names placed 
on the ballot.  The task is at hand, the time is now.  Are you up to the 
challenge to help a candidate and in so doing hopefully help yourself?  
Remember: The Price of Your Freedom Is Vigilance and Participation!
	
	Sincerely,

                                                                                             
	Andrew J. Clark

Andrew J. Clark, December, 2002

Why Change Village Hall - By  Andrew J. Clark

If you attended the November 12th village council workshop, or read the November 15th Downers Grove Reporter, you know the Village of Downers Grove is in financial trouble and the cost of living in Downers Grove is going up. The village is looking at about a $2.3 million shortfall this year and a $3.5 to $4.0 million shortfall next year. Why? At the workshop meeting the mayor and council voiced they were not inclined to raise the property tax. Could it be this would be unwise in the face of an upcoming election? Besides, they have an arsenal of other taxes and fees residents can be hit with; i.e., natural gas tax, electricity tax, gasoline tax, sales tax, real estate transfer tax, food and beverage tax, vehicle sticker tax, storm water utility fee, another boost in the communications tax, etc. If they’re talking these revenue sources there’s a good chance they may enact them now that they’re in trouble.

Could it be that the mayor, village council and village administration are not being fiscally responsible in this era of economically trying hard times? Is it because they are pushing development in the village which is beyond the normal sphere of government? Why did they charge a developer $86,000 for block 117 when it was valued at around $1 million? Are they really telling ALL about the TIF program?

Why did they asked the Illinois General Assembly for the power of "Quick Take" so they could throw people out of their homes to obtain land for a mammoth, expensive parking deck? Where was the village’s "Come Home" motto when this was instituted?

Why were a village manager, police chief, public works director, fire chief and 2 deputy fire chiefs forced to resign? Was it to make room for a bloated patronage staff which would do what it was told? Salaries of this bloated staff are a continuous drain of taxpayer dollars.

Why does the village manager drive a $30,000+ luxury Lincoln automobile when other municipalities pay their manager a mileage allowance for use of their personal automobile or at least make a low cost village motor pool vehicle available for his use? Was this fiscally responsible? Why does the present village manager need 2 deputy village managers and assorted assistant village managers to help him do his job?

Why does the village have need for a revolving door of high paid consultants? Why can’t the village’s bloated staff handle most of the effort presently contracted out? The council continually asks for resident input yet chooses to ignore it when qualified residents come forward. I’ve heard people say they no longer try to offer the village help because their efforts are ignored.

The mayor and council are talking about selling the village hall to make way for more development (condominiums?). Who beside these people want to increase congestion in the downtown area? Why should there be a change in the location of the village hall? Wouldn’t it be better to just change the occupants of village hall?

If you are not satisfied with the kind of governance and administration the village is presently receiving and think you could do a better job, why not run for mayor or council where you can really make a difference? If you are unsure about how to go about running for office contact the Downers Grove Watch at downersgrovewatch@sbcglobal.netand arrange for a meeting to meet the people and see if some of them can help you with a camspaign.

Sincerely,
Andrew J. Clark

Time For A Change (Posted 5/8/02)

We received our real estate tax bill last week. Have you looked at the Village of Downers Grove portion of your tax bill? The "VILLAGE DG - EX FIRE" part increased +53.33%, the "PENSION FUND" part increased +35.27%, and the "VILLAGE DG FIRE" part increased +60.98%. The total of village taxes for all purposes increased 49.91%. Has your income increased that much in this trying economy?

The Mayor, Village Council and Village Manager claim these exorbitant increases are because the pension funds were underestimated. Is that all there is to the increases or just a smoke screen to cover up their ineptness and outright squandering of your tax dollars? One example of the latter is providing the village manager with a $30,000 luxury Lincoln automobile when he lives less than a mile from the village hall. The Village of Oak Brook doesn’t provide its village manager with an automobile but does reimburse him for miles traveled when he uses his personal automobile on village business. Why doesn’t Downers Grove do the same thing, after all how much time does the manager spend away from village hall? In the past the Village didn’t even have a village manager and councilmen each took responsibility for a department. Eventually the Village did hire a village manager who did a very good job by himself. Our current village manager now has a cadre of deputy and assistant managers to help him do the job probably because of his inexperience as a village manager. All these people are only going to create more increases in the pension fund with an attendant increase in taxes. Another thing, how do you explain the recent firings of many top level administrators including the village manager, police chief, public works director, fire chief and 2 deputy fire chiefs who were all very capable people and had no trouble going out and immediately finding employment with other municipalities?

Why was the parking lot at the northeast corner of Maple and Main Streets not bid out as a separate project instead of letting the village manager start the project on a no bid basis and then finish it with change orders charged against the CBD street contract? Why did the village practically give away Block 117 (Station Crossing) for only around $86,000? Village Hall has not only increased our real estate taxes, it is in the process of increasing the communications and motel and hotel taxes. What other taxes are they going to hit us with? These are the same village hall residents who started legal proceedings to forcibly take people’s property to further their plans to spend taxpayer dollars; the subject properties were 4 businesses on Warren Avenue and 2 homes on Washington Street.

If you think it’s time to change the residents of Downers Grove’s Village Hall the time to start acting is right now! Elections will be held early next year when we will be voting for a mayor and several councilmen. Campaigns for these political positions take time and money. Start looking for people who are willing to accept these responsibilities, find out what their values are and plans for the village would be, offer those you agree with encouragement and your help, and donate your dollars to fund their campaign. Our present mayor’s campaign reportedly collected about $90,000 to help get him elected. Yard signs, newspaper ads, printing of flyers, mailings, postage, rent for a headquarters location and telephoning all take money. All of this is necessary to inform voters who eventually have the last word and can make changes in the village, hopefully, changes residents want and can be proud of. Changes that can only be started at the ballot box.

Remember, the price of your freedom is vigilance and participation.

Sincerely,
Andrew J. Clark