In addition to the $4.5 million and the other costs listed above, this deal will include an $11 million bond issue. There's a lot of the taxpayers money at stake here, plus a much taller building than any of the others in the area. People need to be asking "Who will own the retail and possible office space?", "Where will the possible office tenants park?". And, there's a 6ft overhang of the sidewalk involved. What, exactly are we being told to pay for and why should we pay for it, to benefit a private company?

If they were to give permission for the downtown area to have six stories, they could up the story limit for Elmhurst College. That way they could have more classrooms AND attempt to solve their every increasing housing situation.

Did I hear that the developer also now wants the 5th level, which was to be all parking, to now have the 'potential' to also be converted into additional office space? Something like removing 45 parking spaces - more office rental space, (revenue generating space.) Maybe only a floor and a half for parking? A city funded project to build a parking structure? Looks like now more of an opportunity for a developer, (make that a commercial entity who wants to make a profit,) getting the luxury of a municipality doing the funding and assuming the risk while the entity eventually gets the reward. Well true, the local residents also get maybe 100 parking spots, up on the roof. This issue, as all issues in the public arena, should be an open process allowing review. and there is still room for maneuvering between the developer and the city. Makes me want too, like Ms. Pezza, look more carefully into the entire process. Hearing that some of our elected officials, are feeling left out of the process - what does that say about you and me, the lonely constituents, can we make high of hair out of this matter. For me, 4 stories is enough - 3 for parking, and may the bottom floor for mixed use - a shared of community center and mixed use retail. Who wouldn't like a place for kids to go after school, or a new and bright senior center open for our residents. Heck there are many possibilities if we open up the process and let the people care for their city. Say no more!

and you can bet the store that dicianni clone candidate morley will not say a word about this in public, when in reality he is the driving force behind the pro-business (subsidize the developers) movement at city hall ... stay tuned mayberry

The name Hiffman has come up in many conversations I've had with people around town. Why isn't this opportunity being opened up to others to bid? Hiffman bought one of the buildings borrowing money from us and only paid the interest on it. Hmmm

Peggy,

Although we have disagreed on occasion I could not help but wonder who you think the best candidate for Mayor would be and why. I do not know much about Mr. Morley and have met both of the other candidates. I have my preference but I would be interested in your thoughts.

It's very good to see a community being able to share their thinking - kinda like meeting at the town square in yester' year - Thanks Time-Warner/AOL/Patch

Follow the money Elmhurst residents. In my time here I have seen some stuff that makes me cringe. Sweet deals to the big shots in exchange for favors and the big campaign bucks to get elected to higher office. Morley is following right in the path of DiCianni. Promise the developer. In exchange get big donation. Use big donations to get higher office.

some old, same old, what's in it for ME with 97% of ALL politicians !!
Maybe someday we will have someone on office who really " represents" the people!

I believe this meeting has been rescheduled.

This meeting has, indeed, been rescheduled: http://elmhurst.patch.com/articles/public-hearing-thursday-how-high-do-you-want-your-downtown-buildings

What about the 2 buildings downtown that are already 6 stories or taller (corner of Schiller and Palmer and 2nd street, just north of Jewel)? There is nothing wrong with 6 story buildings downtown. NIMBY.

@ jc, i'm undecided. as i said in another post, the new Mayor needs to be a coalition builder; not someone who is divisive. our last elected Mayor (not Levin) used his power to punish others. he punished city council members who opposed him on appointments. And then for reasons that escape me, he tried to introduce partisan religion into the council chambers; the list goes on and on. during his tenure, we lost four car dealerships (sales tax revenue we will never recover based just on grocery receipts), yet now all his handlers brag about is Marianos coming to town. yes, I'm looking forward to Mariano's, but hopefully it will not excel solely at the expense of jewel and dominicks. and hopefully the city will recover it's 1.3 million dollar investment sooner rather than later. my fear with Morley is that he just builds his little frat brothers coalition. maybe i'm wrong. but I can tell you one thing Jim: pigs will fly before Morley takes a definitive stand on this contentious issue.

NIMBY is generally a term used to represent necessary eyesores in neighborhoods, such as a power plant or sewage treatment plant. I don't think it applies in this case. For over a decade, the residents of Elmhurst have spoken out loudly against buildings taller than 4 floors (remember the Market Square request to build 7 stories?), against allowing developers to ignore the setback requirements (remember Crescent Court) and against developers not having to leave space between the eaves of residences (witness 3 separate meadow Woods town home developments on the 100-200 n. block of Larch Ave). These residents knew that 4 stories were allowed when they bought their homes. They did not know that elected officials from outside of Ward 1 would be so intent on packing this part of town with even taller, denser buildings. Why do you want to give a private company so much of our money for wrecking our downtown?

@ Susan The reason to give a developer so much is this. Morley promises the developer incentives paid for by the city. That costs Morley no money. It costs Morley nothing personally. And it hurts voters and neighbors in an area Morley does not care about for his future political ambitions. In exchange for the incentives the city arranges for the developer to reap, Morley gets a big donation from the developer. Morley then uses the big donations to get a higher more lucrative elected office.

I see the Mulliner and Gutenkauf minions are all over the Patch this morning...Morley is his own man. I understand you need to try to paint Morley with the Dicianni brush with the thought it will hurt him politically, but really, all it is doing is reinforcing what the majority of people in Elmhurst already think about your candidates. Obstructionist, negative and small minded. Remember "Shut Up!"? Remember the picture of the twig with no record of actually having ever done ANYTHING about the ComEd problems prevalent in the 7th ward for the 12 years he's been on the council? So while Morley was pushing for, and succeeding, in getting lower taxes for Elmhurst, fighting the Dicianni backed increase in 2009, getting a hiring freeze imposed (the "Morley amendment") that Dicianni fought against, etc. and helping fight ComEd for more infrastructure improvements...in other words showing real LEADERSHIP, you all go ahead and continue the negativity. After all, that works so well here in Elmhurst.
And, for the record, Morley is the Chairman of the DPZ Committee on the City Council, where this is all heading, so I EXPECT him to be silent on the issue until it is actually before his committee. After all, that is what real fair and impartial is really about, not something to be ducked like Mulliner has recently when it suits him. Mulliner and Gutenkauf? Neither are in leadership positions on the council. Surprise!

if you watch the recent meetings there is five on a private agenda

morley, healy, wagner, york, hipskind

morley is a dicianni clone

just watch how much like dicianni morley is

glad pension pete is out

ghost

i live in ward 5
i never met mulliner but i do think from what i read he his good ideas

as for cook county i lives here for over 15 years and my name is rush so what do you want me to sign in as

at least i use my name and not some goofoff thing like you