As I have been on an extended tour of the Colonies of the Far East, I have been unable to chime in, but now that I have the chance, I will. The Fiend talks of having “credibility” but, alas, he has none. Ask him how many different screen names he has used on here, I know of at LEAST three. His intention, plain and simple, is to bait people into argueing, then he goes to the founders of this site to complain and get the thread shut down, which he has successfully done time and time again. Why HE hasn’t been blocked from here is beyond me.
As for the Onion awars, what a perfect reciepent, the Village of Lombard. The way they destroy history is appaling. The Histroical Society is now hurrying to have the Peck Homestead, a stop along the Underground Railroad, declared historic so the Village cannot destroy it either. What buildings in town have been successfully saved RECENTLY? None. While the Friends point the finger at the Village, they need to remember that when they do so they have three fingers pointing back at themselves. When have they EVER admitted the blame? When have they admitted they alienated their general membership and voted without getting their members feelings? When have they honestly admitted that talking to those against the project from the beginning only gave them more ammonution to use against the Friends? The Friends President and Vice President could write BOOKS about how to mismanage a restoration project, they did such a good job. In fact, the few remaining members should DEMAND THAT THEY ISSUE A PUBLIC APPOLOGY AND RESIGN IMMEDIATELY for their mismanagment and deceipt.
What of the Theatre, the very crux of the matter, you ask? For all the energy, misinformation and bullying those against the project did, the lot sits empty and weed-chocked. A testament to the lack of forethought and caring for the taxpaying citizens of a town and their comfort. It’s no wonder a national magazine ranked the towns of Lisle and Woodridge in the top 100 towns in the COUNTRY. I’m surprised Downers Grove, with their vibrant and bustling downtown didn’t rank on that list. From Ballydoyle Irish restaurant to the Busy Bee Bakery, to the Tivoli Theatre and in between, there’s always something going on. Even their Saturday night car show brings in 2-3 times as many cars and spectators as Lombard!
“Gordon Mulroney”? That’s a good one! Which one of the four of you is it reallY? This website is dedicated to preservation, NOT a campaign site. Take your crap elsewhere.
Please make no mistake about these few anti-culture individuals agenda. They claim theatre supporters call people in the middle of the night and harass them, and that the paper is full of stories iof such “…I have a small child and I do not need them calling my house in the middle of the night as they have been known to do. That is how this group is, they resort to name-calling and threats…read the Daily Herald any time” Where are the articles. I CHALLENGE CHALLENGER, oops excuse me DuPage Fiends to produce ONE article that specifically says that. There are none. But what about the article about all the theatre support signs STOLEN and DUMPED that were recovered?
Make no mistake about it, these people want there to be ZERO remnants of the DuPage Theatre. They want to see the property cleared. They DO NOT care about a library on the property. These people talk about a library/cultural center/theatre there, but the same two people who started LOMBARD LIMP.com had a website that showed bulldozers and had a “countdown to the bulldozer parade at Main and Parkside” on it. Pretty catchy, huh? Now they claim to want to work for a theatre/cultural center on the site, and claim the Friends won’t work with them. Why would they? lokk at their track record towards the project.
Challenger oops, he changed his screen name (AGAIN!) calls someone an “idiot” yet he’s afraid to be attacked. He better be careful, living in that glass house of his. He also claims to be soooo worried about taxpayer dollars being used, yet where is his attack on other projects that use taxpayer dollars that directly affect him and his small child (God help the poor thing!)? Where’s his disdain towards Gov Blago’s Gross Receipts Tax Plan that would rob small businesses of valuable dollars? Where’s his disdain at tax dollars being used to build a splash park directly between a busy east-west road and a dangerous railroad track (one of the busiest in the State)?
I strongly suggest that anyone ignore ANY AND ALL of their venomous posts, they are full of hate and lies and just an attempt to flame this board to get it shut down. You see, if they get any pro-theatre pages shut down, the only outlet lefdt for people is the anti-theatre website that tries to pass itself of as neutral, but regularly censores and deletes pro-theatre messages.
Brian, pleae make no mistake about these few anti-culture individuals agenda. They claim theatre supporters call people in the middle of the night and harass them, and that the paper is full of stories of such “…I have a small child and I do not need them calling my house in the middle of the night as they have been known to do. That is how this group is, they resort to name-calling and threats…read the Daily Herald any time” Where are the articles. I CHALLENGE CHALLENGER, oops excuse me DuPage Fiends to produce ONE article that specifically says that. There are none. But what about the article about all the theatre support signs STOLEN and DUMPED that were recovered?
Make no mistake about it, these people want there to be ZERO remnants of the DuPage Theatre. They want to see the property cleared. They DO NOT care about a library on the property. These people talk about a library/cultural center/theatre there, but the same two people who started LOMBARD LIMP.com had a website that showed bulldozers and had a “countdown to the bulldozer parade at Main and parkside” on it. Pretty catchy, huh? Now they claim to want to work for a theatre/cultural center on the site, and claim the Friends won’t work with them. Why would they? lokk at their track record towards the project.
Challenger oops, he changed his screen name (AGAIN!) calls someone an “idiot” yet he’s afraid to be attacked. He better be careful, living in that glass house of his. He also claims to be soooo worried about taxpayer dollars being used, yet where is his attack on other projects that use taxpayer dollars that directly affect him and his small child (God help the poor thing!)? Where’s his disdain towards Gov Blago’s Gross Receipts Tax Plan that would rob small businesses of valuable dollars? Where’s his disdain at tax dollars being used to build a splash park directly between a busy east-west road and a dangerous railroad track (one of the busiest in the State)?
Brian, I strongly suggest that you ignore ANY AND ALL of their venomous posts, they are full of hate and lies and just an attempt to flame this board to get it shut down. You see, if they get any pro-theatre pages shut down, the only outlet lefdt for people is the anti-theatre website that tries to pass itself of as neutral, but regularly censores and deletes pro-theatre messages.
Brian, pleae make no mistake about these few anti-culture individuals agenda. They claim theatre supporters call people in the middle of the night and harass them, and that the paper is full of stories iof such “…I have a small child and I do not need them calling my house in the middle of the night as they have been known to do. That is how this group is, they resort to name-calling and threats…read the Daily Herald any time” Where are the articles. I CHALLENGE CHALLENGER, oops excuse me DuPage Fiends to produce ONE article that specifically says that. There are none. But what about the article about all the theatre support signs STOLEN and DUMPED that were recovered?
Make no mistake about it, these people want there to be ZERO remnants of the DuPage Theatre. They want to see the property cleared. They DO NOT care about a library on the property. These people talk about a library/cultural center/theatre there, but the same two people who started LOMBARD LIMP.com had a website that showed bulldozers and had a “countdown to the bulldozer parade at Main and parkside” on it. Pretty catchy, huh? Now they claim to want to work for a theatre/cultural center on the site, and claim the Friends won’t work with them. Why would they? lokk at their track record towards the project.
Challenger oops, he changed his screen name (AGAIN!) calls someone an “idiot” yet he’s afraid to be attacked. He better be careful, living in that glass house of his. He also claims to be soooo worried about taxpayer dollars being used, yet where is his attack on other projects that use taxpayer dollars that directly affect him and his small child (God help the poor thing!)? Where’s his disdain towards Gov Blago’s Gross Receipts Tax Plan that would rob small businesses of valuable dollars? Where’s his disdain at tax dollars being used to build a splash park directly between a busy east-west road and a dangerous railroad track (one of the busiest in the State)?
Brian, I strongly suggest that you ignore ANY AND ALL of their venomous posts, they are full of hate and lies and just an attempt to flame this board to get it shut down. You see, if they get any pro-theatre pages shut down, the only outlet lefdt for people is the anti-theatre website that tries to pass itself of as neutral, but regularly censores and deletes pro-theatre messages.
A variance is a variance is a variance, no matter WHERE it is. It’s is still a CHANGE to the legal code. What about all the variances required for the Elmhurst Hospital project, that’s in the CHarlotte Street area, yet they didn’t complain about that? What about all the other variances all the other condo developments have gotten (setback, landscaping, etc) do those not count? Developments at Yorktown have so many variances they could fill books, do those count?
How about two lies? The first said that the RSC development would be “eight feet from their homes”. Really? That isn’t even POSSIBLE! I have visited the area on many, many occasions and the lots are VERY deep, and the homes are in the middle, probably 40-50 feet from their property lines. In addition, the lots aren’t very wide, so the garages are set BEHIND the homes, shielding them from the development. Almost all of them have very large trees as well.
On a similar note, those homes are behind a DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, that was there before they bought those homes. In fatc, before the flywall was “deconstructed” by the Friends, when the theatre was operational, there were ZERO COMPLAINTS about the height of it. Why did it suddenly become an issue? Once the property is sold and condos go from Parkside to Maple, what will they say then?
The other lie is one they try to drag out designed to scare residents. They tell them that the RSC plan will raise their property taxes, but they fail to explain how that would happen. They talk of “what ifs” and “coulds” but don’t mention all of the positives that would have come out of the project.
The Charlotte Street residents didn’t have to call people names, their persistant bending of the truth, and in some cases outright LIES were enough.
Here’s a god one…Why won’t “New LOmbard” dispute any of the facts and/or statements that I have put forth recently? If they don’t try to deny the,. then they must be true, right? So when are we going to start hearing the apologies, Friends?
Theatre Neighbor stated “Please don’t make anymore statements alluding to our neighborhood. Kurt Lentsch has never been to any of our meetings nor has he "attached” himself to us. The reason why people (like Giagnorio) want to distance themselves from your group is because you have ZERO credibility. "
But then today this is on Kensch’s website…NOW who has ZERO CREDIBILITY?
“Some of you know that I started the website www.xxxxxxx.com in 2002. I created this website after I got involved for the first time in the Village when I worked with a group of residents to solicit a Petition for a Citizens Referendum regarding the DuPage Theatre. ”
The letters, phone calls, etc. are all there, believe me. The FOIA’s to various government agencies are there. What amazing things can be found when one asks…
All talk and no action? Au contraire, mon ami…For some of the best parts of a production do not necessarily happen onstage! (Remember, remember, the fifth of November…)
Things will continue to come forward after the building is down and the Friends TRY to use spin and damage control. Their now aggressive attacks against Lynch and others were recommended YEARS AGO, but they chose not to listen, for they knew it all back then! Now it’s “Alas, poor Yorick, I knew ye well” while holding up a star lamp they stole from the theatre. When will they be returning all things they have in their posession from the theatre, or will they be allowed to keep them as “parting gifts” in a grtand contest of egos?
Remember, the queen of the Friends os now stating they will become a “political action group” to kick up other dust to draw people away from the truth about how bad they screwed up and let the theatre slip away.
I believe Lombard will be tarnished forever. As long as there are people around who rememeber the theatre and what happened here, it will not go away. Of course, Kurt and his boys can always round everybody up and ship them off, placing the scarlett letters “DT” on their shirts to let everyone know they remember the DuPage Theatre so then they could have their Utopian Lombard with it’s state-of-the-art library, parking garage and skyrocketing property taxes to pay for it all.
BTW, I left because very few were realizing at first what is now clear to all. The leaders of the Friends are only in it to get the media attention and to make a name for themselves. The prince will be running for mayor in 2 years I’m sure. By then, the theatre will long be a memory and the general public will not be happy with what’s there, and he’ll be the knight in shining armor who tells the public “see, I tried to save you, I tried to build a theatre there” I grew tired of trying to get people to listen. They were taken in by the BS. I was able to see past it. Call it my God-given gift, I guess. I’ve had the chance to throw so many “I told you so’s” it’s not even funny, but I really have resisted the urge, except in a few important places.
I would rather see a small business owner who has a stake in his community on the Village Board rather than a senior citizen who somehow is able to live without any means of support, changes his position at the drop of a hat, and hangs out in a local tavern.
Let the chips fall where they may, but remember, there are those out there who will not forget. They have friends long past who’s memory will not let them forget.
So once again, those against the theatre have been flushed out…Too bad they couldn’t just be FLUSHED for good…You see folks, despite their anger over the Village’s direction on the DuPage Theatre project, they could NEVER fond a developer willing to build there. Their cries of “sell the property' or "build a library” were just that, cries, without any sustinance. Why did no developer, even on their own, step in knowing there was resistance to the theatre, with a plan to build there? Unless they knew, from the outside looking in, that the fix was in and something else was going on “behind the scenes” and they wanted NO PART of it. Think about it, with the condo market in Lombard being so hot and land at a premium, why wouldn’t a developer offer TWICE what the land’s worth to get it and build there?
The library idea was just a ploy (like I’ve said in the past many, many times) get the property cleared under the guise of building a new library there, then when it comes time to get a referendum passed to build it, the tax-strapped citizens of Lombard vote it down. They then say “Oh well, we tried, let’s just sell the property and ‘begin the healing”.
Wanna know what disgusts ME, New Lombard? The way the Friends did things. Only know that the very thing they were charged with saving is on death’s door did they say they were “duped” (how ironic a word" by members of the Village Board. “Duped” by a Board who members of the Friend’s themselvesthemselves WARNED them not to trust. Members of the Friend’s who were lied to and about, and alienated, just like many, many of their members. Look at their turnout at events, very small. It’s not because people don’t love the idea, they do, they just can’t stand being LIED TO by the people who are charged with representing them (the Friend’s Board).
Challenged, I mean Crazy Ray, as far as my “agenda”, it’s not anything that you claim. Yes, I DID love the DuPage Theatre, I met some truly amazing people because of it. I learned so much from people with completely different personalities who were taken from us way too soon. Things like determination from Doug, quiet perserverance from Mark and peru courage from Joan. All people that, had they been around today, would be going nuts about the way the Friends have conducted themselves over the last few years. Now, I am just as committed to making sure that those responsible for this atrocity are not allowed to crawl away in the night like the vermin they are. I am also going to make sure that those who were supposed to be protecting the Grand Dame and not allowed to be without blame as well. I love Lombard; always have, and I have stated that many times before. I have some great memories of the town, and they include the DuPage Theatre. It’s a shame that future generations will not be able to have those same memories.
That was brought before the first ad-hoc group, I’m talking in the last few years, since some of you people really went off the deep end regarding the RSC plan. To quote JFK, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem”. Believe me, you are a BIG part of the problem!
And Challenger, oops, I mean Crazy Ray, explain this quote from your last post “Oh, and by the way they want it to be paid for by the taxpayers.” Which taxpayers? Please explain to us all.
Throughout this entire ordeal, those opposed to the RSC plan have NEVER brought forth a developer with interest in the property. Even if the Village was working with RSC (which we all know now they really weren’t, they were just jerking them around), any smart developer knows if they were to come forward with a feasable plan the Village would do backflips to build it.
Again, that hasn’t hapened. Why is that? Is there a development already in place there that we don’t know about?
I like the above comments. They talk about how they are in favor of building a (new) theatre, but yet they then come up with a myriad of reasons that could be said for ANY development. Just look what our neighbors to the east are doing…Notice how they say they want to be like ELMHURST, rather than saying they want to be like LOMBARD? Gee, I wonder wht that is? Pay close attention to the last paragraph of the story and really, really think about it as it pertains to Lombard…In fact, I’ll post it here so you don’t have to read the entire article. “Elmhurst’s downtown came back with a rehabilitated York Theater in the 1990s and followed by bringing in national restaurants and specialty stores.” HOW IRONIC! We just destroyed the very thing that towns are trying to build!!!
Villa Park plans downtown hub
By Burney Simpson
Special to the Tribune
Published March 8, 2007
Villa Park officials are moving closer to creating a commercial district around the village’s Metra train station, hoping it can be as successful as the commercial district in Elmhurst, Villa Park’s larger, wealthier neighbor to the east.
Villa Park trustees last week voted to approve two contracts geared to the ambitious plan, which would include more than 100 new residences, a landscaped square with decorative lights and a fountain where people could socialize while shopping or waiting to board a train.
The initial plan, formulated last June, uses the concept of transit-oriented development, making the station the heart of a walk-able minicommunity that officials hope will generate tax revenue, jobs and a friendly and sophisticated image that fits Villa Park’s nickname—Garden Village.
Villa Park trustees voted last week to spend $40,058 on an economic feasibility study by S.B. Friedman & Co. and the Lakota Group, and another $6,800 on design guidelines for the area by Chicago-based HNTB Corp. The two reports are due by May.
Villa Park’s plan faces several challenges: most important is getting developers to pay for a project where the cost is uncertain and the payoff may be a decade away.
There are social costs as well, with the plan calling for the demolition of moderately-priced multiunit rental housing. And there is no guarantee that transit-oriented development will work or that residents will welcome the changes.
The station at Ardmore Avenue and Terrace Street is in the middle of a problematic neighborhood, redevelopment advocates say. Aging strip malls sport convenience and liquor stores, a laundromat, a restaurant, a money transfer outlet and an auto repair business. There have been armed robberies in the area, said Eric Mainz, chairman of the village’s Economic Development Commission. “It’s pretty bad for suburban DuPage County,” said Mainz, who lives in the neighborhood.
The plan calls for adding 25,000 square feet of new commercial space, replacing the apartments with 100 to 120 condos and six to eight town homes and providing more than 1,000 parking spaces.
John DiJohn, research professor at the Urban Transportation Center of the University of Illinois at Chicago, said transit-oriented development has been a boon to such communities as Arlington Heights, Elmhurst and Evanston, with downtowns coming alive with new housing, retail outlets and cultural amenities.
Elmhurst’s downtown came back with a rehabilitated York Theater in the 1990s and followed by bringing in national restaurants and specialty stores.
Well Challanged oops I mean Crazy Ray, oops I mean…The list goes on…You better make than 29 people for the theatre. Or is it 129? Or maybe 1029? 10,029? Who knows, but I but it’s a LOT higher than the 28 you claim. Where do you come up with that number anyways?
Any bets on the queen and her prince’s comments in the Lombardian this week? I bet they will again talk about “deconstruction” being a good thing, and we should all be proud as the rest of the vuilding comes down.
What they should be doing is APOLOGIZING FOR THEIR STUPID DECISIONS!!! Apologize for alienating their membership, for LYING to them, for not listening to them. For dropping the lawsuit, as well as the referendum. If they had only doen one of those two things, the building would STILL be standing, theatre and all.
Instead they will probably blather on, blaming everyone else but themselves for the demise of the DuPage. True, others can be blamed for this, but they could have been easily defeated if the Friends Board had the balls to stand up to them. Instead, they cozied up to the wrong people and like a codependant junkie, they looked for affection in their dealer, the Village Board…
From today’s Daily Herald…“The demolition vote, which effectively ended that partnership, was “beyond logic or comprehension,†said Deborah Dynako, president of the Friends of the DuPage Theatre.
Dynako said she believed the group had been duped by the village board into begrudgingly supporting the partial demolition of the building that took place last year. That plan had involved saving the theater’s facade and marquee and creating a 300-seat theater as part of a condo and retail complex Curto’s company was to build.
Dynako said her group’s belief in that partnership with the village “now seems misguided.†She would not comment on whether the group would again seek a legal stay to delay demolition."
Should I say it or shouldn’t I? Oh well, I will. I FRIGGIN'TOLD YOU SO, DYNACKO! I told them their trust in the Lombard Village Board was the WRONG thing to do. I BEGGED them not to drop the lawsuit. It would have bought the Theatre more time. I PLEADED with them not to drop the referendum. If it had gone on, all it would have done was proven RSC was correct in RESTORING the theatre. But they knew better, they had all the answers, they had all the right people (the Village Board) “helping” them. They had brought in Charlotte Street “neighbors” to “work” with them. They proceeded to alienate a majority of the members of the Friends of the DuPage Theatre, resulting in very low turnout for their events. THE SUPPORT IS THERE FOR THE THEATRE, JUST NOT FOR THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE FRIENDS. Kevin and Deb, you should be ASHAMED at the way you have acted and the decisions you have made.
You claim that the Village Board’s actions were “beyond logic or comprehension” but the same could be said for the two of you. Where was all the money Kevin claimed to be working on getting all along? None of that appeared. The goverment money some one else got for you. The same money the Village Board REFUSED. That should have been a dead give-away right there, but no, you WENT ALONG WITH THEM, CLAIMING THEY WANT TO WORK WITH THE FRIEND’S!! That’s like me taking away a child’s bat but telling him I’m going to teach him how to hit a ball!
THE TWO OF THEM SHOULD ISSUE A PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR ALL THEIR “MISGUIDED” BELIEF AND BEING “DUPED” AS DEB PUT IT (HOW IRONIC) AND RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. IT’S OVBIOUS WITH THE DEMOLITION oops, sorry Deb, “DECONSTRUCTION” OF THE THEATRE THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET THE JOB DONE. RESIGN BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. LET NEW IDEAS AND STRATEGIES TAKE OVER. GET THE EGOS AND ATTITUDES OFF THE FRIEND’S BOARD!
Well, just like I had said several WEEKS ago, the Board voted to demolish what remains of the property. Those against the project very neatly tidied up their website to leave no trace of their preknowledge of the motion or the subsequent vote. Now they post things such as this…
“Although the DuPage Theatre is gone, the arts in Lombard will still receive a facility in which they can thrive at Main and Parkside.
The Village will search for a developer who can redevelop the property at Main and Parkside to include an 8,000 to 10,000 square foot Community Center which will be used to support the arts in Lombard. A Community Center that could be funded by the proceeds of the sale of the 2.5 acres property valued at more than $2 million.
Although the DuPage Theatre is gone, the arts in Lombard will still receive a facility in which they can thrive at Main and Parkside.
The Village will search for a developer who can redevelop the property at Main and Parkside to include an 8,000 to 10,000 square foot Community Center which will be used to support the arts in Lombard. A Community Center that could be funded by the proceeds of the sale of the 2.5 acres property valued at more than $2 million.”
This coming from the same people who publically stated to “sell the property to the highest bidder”. Now, all of a sudden, they care about the arts? Hardly. Another comment made by the biggest mouth of the anti-culture group was this…“I think you are right on about both sides doing things differently if we had to do it over. If the neighbors of the Dupe had been involved earlier with RSC when they came on board, the gloves may never have dropped to the ice. Unfortunately, RSC never invited us in to their planning sessions. I think some lessons were learned from this experience and I’m confident we can do something great on that parcel working as a team, as a community.”
“Been involved earlier”? Do you think we all just came upon this issue? The neighbors, and particulary YOU, had long been involved. You forced your way into the situation, then played both ends against the middle just to amuse yourself.
As far as the neighbors who, according to one article “residents upset that the proposed condominium and retail complex would overshadow their homes.” that part is laughable. The RSC development is only a few feet taller than currently allowed, and less than other buildings in the same area had been allowed. In addition, the RSC development in a BUSINESS DISTRICT. It has been a BUSINESS DISTRICT for DECADES. The theatre had been there longer than ALL of theose residents. The flywall has been there. No one complained then. What makes it a problem now. Lombard had over 44,000 residents in it. Why should 44 residents have the final say in what goes on in downwntown Lombard. Remember Spock’s saying “Sometimes the needs of the many outwiegh the needs of the few.” That certianly holds true here. They also forget that with new, broader eminent domain rules, the Village can solve the “parking issue” by forcibly condemning their homes (and in 1 case, they should have done it a LONG TIME AGO) and build a parking garage there, out of sight, behind the new businesses that will front Main Street. Wouldn’t THAT be something? Be careful what you wish for, Brucey…
Well, just to keep everybody informed, the anti-theatre website has completely DELETED all it’s threads. My guess is that they didn’t want to have blood on their hands when the Board votes to demolish the rest of the building in a few weeks. They didn’t want to be implicated or maybe worse. There were posts on there basically “letting the cat out of the bag” about the Board vote to demolish, along with what will be going there. How would they know that? Isn’t that confidential information? The posts on there were WEEKS before anything became public. Yet those against the project continue to claim “there is nothing going on behind the scenes”. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that when someone says something like that, watch out. The CEO of my company told us that last fall, then a week later we bought out another company.
It’s too bad that the last act of two Village Trustees that swore to represent those who elected them will be to tear down the rest of a historic building and replace it with a generic one. At the same time, it’s just as sad that the Friends of the DuPage, who were created to save the theatre, let it slip away just to get their names in a few local paper.
All of this is for nothing though…Despite the fact that the Lombard Planning Commission APPROVED the RSC plan for the property, there is a rumor that two anti-theatre trustees, Seby and Tross, are going to make a motion at the March Board meeting that the rest os the theatre building be immediately torn down. BOTH of these trustees are going to loose the April election, so they are doing one last “up yours” to Lombard.
How could a developer, who has had a business plan and all the necessary I’s dotted and T’s crossed to the planning commission’s approval, STILL be faced with demolition of the building he would like to use, that would be the cornerstone of downtown redevelopment? Tell me this doesn’t smack of some sort of back-room dealings to get the property cleared?
Bob Biddle also had this to say…“Re: Letters to the editor…
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2007, 08:14:29 AM » Reply with quote
Who are you kidding? The RSC plan fails the residents on endless counts (especially to the tune of the $9.2 million TIF handout). A library can bring culture…include an "arts center” in the design since starting from scratch will allow for it. A library plan can bring additional parking to support the businesses already in the downtown area. A library plan designed right can do many things for the village. Why is it that Elmhurst, Wheaton, Naperville, Glen Ellyn and a host of other nearby suburbs all have state of the art libraries in their downtown areas yet Lombard has had an ideal location at Main & Parkside and instead it has been tied up by failed dreams, “big ideas”, and theatre shenanigans for nearly ten years?
Progress in the downtown? Sure there has been progress (without massive TIF handouts) and more is forthcoming. One need only look at the upcoming construction of mixed use developments on St Charles Road….that bring more housing choices (senior living and condos) to see that the market needs are being met. Does Lombard need 120 more condos at Main & Parkside? NO.
And yes things like the Westin and the splash park have progressed….all the while “theatre supporters” have cried for taxpayer support just as these other projects received. And the loudest critics of the sales tax, PFC funding, and the other components of these plans have been none other than the “theatre supporters” themselves.
Sorry, no support for this RSC plan. The only support is for the resolution to demolish and to walk away from this deal. And that should be coming soon…..then Lombard can move forward on the right development plan for Main & Parkside whether it be the library, a parking garage, or even the start of whole block redevelopment that incorporates the Brust and Noble properties. A clean slate will open many new opportunities without the burden of what is left of the DuPage Theatre.
Notice how he again talks about a new library, which was voted down in a previous referendum, as well as an “arts center”…“include an "arts center” in the design since starting from scratch will allow for it.“ Hey, isn’t the RSC plan from "scratch” after the Friends “deconstructed” the original historic building?
Next look at how he touts the “upcoming construction of mixed use developments on St Charles Road….that bring more housing choices (senior living and condos) to see that the market needs are being met.” But in the same breath blasts the RSC condos?
Then, the scariest, notice how he almost demands a resolution to demolish immediately? Can he sense that the theatre crowd is on the verge of winning? He also goes on to mention “whole block redevelopment” why? Is it because the remaining properties value, which had skyrocketed the minute the Village took ownership from Big Idea, would again skyrocket if the property was razed? That thought alone should help to bring some understanding to this situation.
All one has to do is ask themselves “Who would really benefit if the theatre property was leveled”? The properties to the south, of course. If the Village does want to do “whole block redevelopment” they would have to pay TOP DOLLAR for the adjacent land (or subsidize a developer to do so, as they have in the past) as well as pay those businesses to move (as they also have done in the past). All this with the use of TAX DOLLARS. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
And even if Lombard did have the theatre, people would still go to other towns to see stage productions, concerts, comedy, and the like. One new venue would simply add another choice to the vast array of choices available all through the Chicagoland area.
Or would you simply take the “support Lombard’s arts effort” regardless of what the offering may be? Want to see “Doubt” downtown? “Nope, can’t because it’s not at the Dupe.” Want to see the latest comics at Zanies? “Nope, we can’t because it’s not at the Dupe.
Are you saying that the quest for culture would solely be determined by what is playing at the Dupe?
All of us will continue to travel to other surrounding communities just as we do today…the Dupe and its dining/entertainment options would have simply been one more venue from which to choose. And you know something…with the right plan the venue could still bring options as there is nothing to say that an auditorium could not be incorporated into a library plan that the voters would have the optoin to VOTE ON via referendum.
So you can see that even the leading anti-theatre complainer ADMITS that the DuPage would be an asset to Lombard, and that EVEN BIDDLE goes to such things…in other towns. I’m sure he spends money there too…Money that Lombard looses out on.
His post also shows that he doesn’t understand the enjoyment people get out of going to live theatre..“Are you saying that the quest for culture would solely be determined by what is playing at the Dupe?” He really doesn’t get it, does he folks?
Don’t be dissuaded by his comments about a new library/auditorium. That is just a ploy to bring down the building, trust me. They have said “Only when the property is cleared can progress be made on the new library at that site” WHY? The last referendum a few years ago to build a new library FAILED, as it would again. Again, their comments about needing the site cleared first are false. They know that if they can get the site cleared, the library referendum (which would cost each household THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in property tax increases to do) will fail, then they can say “Oh well, we tried, who wants to buy the property”. Trust me, I don’t think I’m wrong on this one folks. I’ve been pretty right so far, and unfortunately, my streak will continue.
Here’s a post from Bob Biddle, the lead muckraker anti-theatre poster in Lombard. For some reason, id you even try to post his name in a post on the site, it comes up “Mr…” now it’s been changed after heavy pressure from theatre supporters. Just look at what they guy posted recently…
“R BIDDLE
Newbie
*And even if Lombard did have the theatre, people would still go to other towns to see stage productions, concerts, comedy, and the like. One new venue would simply add another choice to the vast array of choices available all through the Chicagoland area.
Or would you simply take the “support Lombard’s arts effort” regardless of what the offering may be? Want to see “Doubt” downtown? “Nope, can’t because it’s not at the Dupe.” Want to see the latest comics at Zanies? “Nope, we can’t because it’s not at the Dupe.
Are you saying that the quest for culture would solely be determined by what is playing at the Dupe?
All of us will continue to travel to other surrounding communities just as we do today…the Dupe and its dining/entertainment options would have simply been one more venue from which to choose. And you know something…with the right plan the venue could still bring options as there is nothing to say that an auditorium could not be incorporated into a library plan that the voters would have the optoin to VOTE ON via referendum.
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Re: Letters to the editor…
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2007, 07:18:09 PM » Reply with quote
Why is democracy failing in Lombard? It’s because of special interest groups and the ongoing nonsense and misinformation they continually put forth on local issues ranging from the theatre (say no more) to the Westin project to water bills to water parks. Until this theatre issue is resolved no progress will be made on anything in this town. Who in their right mind would jump into this ugly political fray where every time a solution seems near that the village ends up taking another step backwards?
The only solution for the community to move forward is for a resolution demanding the immediate demolition of the theatre property. Whether it is to be a library or simply an empty lot for years to come, the climate in this village will not change until it is gone. It has been nearly ten years of theatre games and lost opportunities for progress at Main & Parkside.
Yes there has been tremendous progress in the Yorktown and downtown areas…but all with the weight of the theatre property lurking in the shadows of the progress that has been made. Fountain Square and the Shops at Butterfield are fast to become Lombard’s crown jewel commercial developments and village staff is to be commended for making it happen. Roosevelt Road moratorium with a “time out†to ensure that future (re)development is best for all parties is the right thing to do. Even a moratorium on downtown projects may be the right thing until the theatre burden is finally lifted.
And for progress to truly move forward the village, the library, the parks, and even the schools all need to work together with a common goal….making Lombard one of the best places to live and for all to prosper (whether with our outstanding schools, outstanding village services, needed state of the art library, cultural programs, shopping and dining choices, vast array of housing choices, and more). Our current village board can proudly take credit for much of the growth and change this village has seen these past several years….but they are also to blame for huge mis-steps in regards to the theatre that have dragged the entire community down. Will the community ever truly heal from this? Sadly, I doubt it but one can only hope that time will heal the wounds and as we see the future (likely without a theatre project) evolve that things really do move forward.
Melders, read “her” posts and you will realize that “she” isn’t a “70 year old woman”. “She” is just trying to stir people, mainly me up. It didn’t work so you went for it. Ignore “her” and HE’LL go away!
As I have been on an extended tour of the Colonies of the Far East, I have been unable to chime in, but now that I have the chance, I will. The Fiend talks of having “credibility” but, alas, he has none. Ask him how many different screen names he has used on here, I know of at LEAST three. His intention, plain and simple, is to bait people into argueing, then he goes to the founders of this site to complain and get the thread shut down, which he has successfully done time and time again. Why HE hasn’t been blocked from here is beyond me.
As for the Onion awars, what a perfect reciepent, the Village of Lombard. The way they destroy history is appaling. The Histroical Society is now hurrying to have the Peck Homestead, a stop along the Underground Railroad, declared historic so the Village cannot destroy it either. What buildings in town have been successfully saved RECENTLY? None. While the Friends point the finger at the Village, they need to remember that when they do so they have three fingers pointing back at themselves. When have they EVER admitted the blame? When have they admitted they alienated their general membership and voted without getting their members feelings? When have they honestly admitted that talking to those against the project from the beginning only gave them more ammonution to use against the Friends? The Friends President and Vice President could write BOOKS about how to mismanage a restoration project, they did such a good job. In fact, the few remaining members should DEMAND THAT THEY ISSUE A PUBLIC APPOLOGY AND RESIGN IMMEDIATELY for their mismanagment and deceipt.
What of the Theatre, the very crux of the matter, you ask? For all the energy, misinformation and bullying those against the project did, the lot sits empty and weed-chocked. A testament to the lack of forethought and caring for the taxpaying citizens of a town and their comfort. It’s no wonder a national magazine ranked the towns of Lisle and Woodridge in the top 100 towns in the COUNTRY. I’m surprised Downers Grove, with their vibrant and bustling downtown didn’t rank on that list. From Ballydoyle Irish restaurant to the Busy Bee Bakery, to the Tivoli Theatre and in between, there’s always something going on. Even their Saturday night car show brings in 2-3 times as many cars and spectators as Lombard!
“Gordon Mulroney”? That’s a good one! Which one of the four of you is it reallY? This website is dedicated to preservation, NOT a campaign site. Take your crap elsewhere.
Please make no mistake about these few anti-culture individuals agenda. They claim theatre supporters call people in the middle of the night and harass them, and that the paper is full of stories iof such “…I have a small child and I do not need them calling my house in the middle of the night as they have been known to do. That is how this group is, they resort to name-calling and threats…read the Daily Herald any time” Where are the articles. I CHALLENGE CHALLENGER, oops excuse me DuPage Fiends to produce ONE article that specifically says that. There are none. But what about the article about all the theatre support signs STOLEN and DUMPED that were recovered?
Make no mistake about it, these people want there to be ZERO remnants of the DuPage Theatre. They want to see the property cleared. They DO NOT care about a library on the property. These people talk about a library/cultural center/theatre there, but the same two people who started LOMBARD LIMP.com had a website that showed bulldozers and had a “countdown to the bulldozer parade at Main and Parkside” on it. Pretty catchy, huh? Now they claim to want to work for a theatre/cultural center on the site, and claim the Friends won’t work with them. Why would they? lokk at their track record towards the project.
Challenger oops, he changed his screen name (AGAIN!) calls someone an “idiot” yet he’s afraid to be attacked. He better be careful, living in that glass house of his. He also claims to be soooo worried about taxpayer dollars being used, yet where is his attack on other projects that use taxpayer dollars that directly affect him and his small child (God help the poor thing!)? Where’s his disdain towards Gov Blago’s Gross Receipts Tax Plan that would rob small businesses of valuable dollars? Where’s his disdain at tax dollars being used to build a splash park directly between a busy east-west road and a dangerous railroad track (one of the busiest in the State)?
I strongly suggest that anyone ignore ANY AND ALL of their venomous posts, they are full of hate and lies and just an attempt to flame this board to get it shut down. You see, if they get any pro-theatre pages shut down, the only outlet lefdt for people is the anti-theatre website that tries to pass itself of as neutral, but regularly censores and deletes pro-theatre messages.
Brian, pleae make no mistake about these few anti-culture individuals agenda. They claim theatre supporters call people in the middle of the night and harass them, and that the paper is full of stories of such “…I have a small child and I do not need them calling my house in the middle of the night as they have been known to do. That is how this group is, they resort to name-calling and threats…read the Daily Herald any time” Where are the articles. I CHALLENGE CHALLENGER, oops excuse me DuPage Fiends to produce ONE article that specifically says that. There are none. But what about the article about all the theatre support signs STOLEN and DUMPED that were recovered?
Make no mistake about it, these people want there to be ZERO remnants of the DuPage Theatre. They want to see the property cleared. They DO NOT care about a library on the property. These people talk about a library/cultural center/theatre there, but the same two people who started LOMBARD LIMP.com had a website that showed bulldozers and had a “countdown to the bulldozer parade at Main and parkside” on it. Pretty catchy, huh? Now they claim to want to work for a theatre/cultural center on the site, and claim the Friends won’t work with them. Why would they? lokk at their track record towards the project.
Challenger oops, he changed his screen name (AGAIN!) calls someone an “idiot” yet he’s afraid to be attacked. He better be careful, living in that glass house of his. He also claims to be soooo worried about taxpayer dollars being used, yet where is his attack on other projects that use taxpayer dollars that directly affect him and his small child (God help the poor thing!)? Where’s his disdain towards Gov Blago’s Gross Receipts Tax Plan that would rob small businesses of valuable dollars? Where’s his disdain at tax dollars being used to build a splash park directly between a busy east-west road and a dangerous railroad track (one of the busiest in the State)?
Brian, I strongly suggest that you ignore ANY AND ALL of their venomous posts, they are full of hate and lies and just an attempt to flame this board to get it shut down. You see, if they get any pro-theatre pages shut down, the only outlet lefdt for people is the anti-theatre website that tries to pass itself of as neutral, but regularly censores and deletes pro-theatre messages.
Brian, pleae make no mistake about these few anti-culture individuals agenda. They claim theatre supporters call people in the middle of the night and harass them, and that the paper is full of stories iof such “…I have a small child and I do not need them calling my house in the middle of the night as they have been known to do. That is how this group is, they resort to name-calling and threats…read the Daily Herald any time” Where are the articles. I CHALLENGE CHALLENGER, oops excuse me DuPage Fiends to produce ONE article that specifically says that. There are none. But what about the article about all the theatre support signs STOLEN and DUMPED that were recovered?
Make no mistake about it, these people want there to be ZERO remnants of the DuPage Theatre. They want to see the property cleared. They DO NOT care about a library on the property. These people talk about a library/cultural center/theatre there, but the same two people who started LOMBARD LIMP.com had a website that showed bulldozers and had a “countdown to the bulldozer parade at Main and parkside” on it. Pretty catchy, huh? Now they claim to want to work for a theatre/cultural center on the site, and claim the Friends won’t work with them. Why would they? lokk at their track record towards the project.
Challenger oops, he changed his screen name (AGAIN!) calls someone an “idiot” yet he’s afraid to be attacked. He better be careful, living in that glass house of his. He also claims to be soooo worried about taxpayer dollars being used, yet where is his attack on other projects that use taxpayer dollars that directly affect him and his small child (God help the poor thing!)? Where’s his disdain towards Gov Blago’s Gross Receipts Tax Plan that would rob small businesses of valuable dollars? Where’s his disdain at tax dollars being used to build a splash park directly between a busy east-west road and a dangerous railroad track (one of the busiest in the State)?
Brian, I strongly suggest that you ignore ANY AND ALL of their venomous posts, they are full of hate and lies and just an attempt to flame this board to get it shut down. You see, if they get any pro-theatre pages shut down, the only outlet lefdt for people is the anti-theatre website that tries to pass itself of as neutral, but regularly censores and deletes pro-theatre messages.
A variance is a variance is a variance, no matter WHERE it is. It’s is still a CHANGE to the legal code. What about all the variances required for the Elmhurst Hospital project, that’s in the CHarlotte Street area, yet they didn’t complain about that? What about all the other variances all the other condo developments have gotten (setback, landscaping, etc) do those not count? Developments at Yorktown have so many variances they could fill books, do those count?
How about two lies? The first said that the RSC development would be “eight feet from their homes”. Really? That isn’t even POSSIBLE! I have visited the area on many, many occasions and the lots are VERY deep, and the homes are in the middle, probably 40-50 feet from their property lines. In addition, the lots aren’t very wide, so the garages are set BEHIND the homes, shielding them from the development. Almost all of them have very large trees as well.
On a similar note, those homes are behind a DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, that was there before they bought those homes. In fatc, before the flywall was “deconstructed” by the Friends, when the theatre was operational, there were ZERO COMPLAINTS about the height of it. Why did it suddenly become an issue? Once the property is sold and condos go from Parkside to Maple, what will they say then?
The other lie is one they try to drag out designed to scare residents. They tell them that the RSC plan will raise their property taxes, but they fail to explain how that would happen. They talk of “what ifs” and “coulds” but don’t mention all of the positives that would have come out of the project.
STILL WAITING to hear from “New Lombard”…
The Charlotte Street residents didn’t have to call people names, their persistant bending of the truth, and in some cases outright LIES were enough.
Here’s a god one…Why won’t “New LOmbard” dispute any of the facts and/or statements that I have put forth recently? If they don’t try to deny the,. then they must be true, right? So when are we going to start hearing the apologies, Friends?
Theatre Neighbor stated “Please don’t make anymore statements alluding to our neighborhood. Kurt Lentsch has never been to any of our meetings nor has he "attached” himself to us. The reason why people (like Giagnorio) want to distance themselves from your group is because you have ZERO credibility. "
But then today this is on Kensch’s website…NOW who has ZERO CREDIBILITY?
“Some of you know that I started the website www.xxxxxxx.com in 2002. I created this website after I got involved for the first time in the Village when I worked with a group of residents to solicit a Petition for a Citizens Referendum regarding the DuPage Theatre. ”
The letters, phone calls, etc. are all there, believe me. The FOIA’s to various government agencies are there. What amazing things can be found when one asks…
All talk and no action? Au contraire, mon ami…For some of the best parts of a production do not necessarily happen onstage! (Remember, remember, the fifth of November…)
Things will continue to come forward after the building is down and the Friends TRY to use spin and damage control. Their now aggressive attacks against Lynch and others were recommended YEARS AGO, but they chose not to listen, for they knew it all back then! Now it’s “Alas, poor Yorick, I knew ye well” while holding up a star lamp they stole from the theatre. When will they be returning all things they have in their posession from the theatre, or will they be allowed to keep them as “parting gifts” in a grtand contest of egos?
Remember, the queen of the Friends os now stating they will become a “political action group” to kick up other dust to draw people away from the truth about how bad they screwed up and let the theatre slip away.
I believe Lombard will be tarnished forever. As long as there are people around who rememeber the theatre and what happened here, it will not go away. Of course, Kurt and his boys can always round everybody up and ship them off, placing the scarlett letters “DT” on their shirts to let everyone know they remember the DuPage Theatre so then they could have their Utopian Lombard with it’s state-of-the-art library, parking garage and skyrocketing property taxes to pay for it all.
BTW, I left because very few were realizing at first what is now clear to all. The leaders of the Friends are only in it to get the media attention and to make a name for themselves. The prince will be running for mayor in 2 years I’m sure. By then, the theatre will long be a memory and the general public will not be happy with what’s there, and he’ll be the knight in shining armor who tells the public “see, I tried to save you, I tried to build a theatre there” I grew tired of trying to get people to listen. They were taken in by the BS. I was able to see past it. Call it my God-given gift, I guess. I’ve had the chance to throw so many “I told you so’s” it’s not even funny, but I really have resisted the urge, except in a few important places.
I would rather see a small business owner who has a stake in his community on the Village Board rather than a senior citizen who somehow is able to live without any means of support, changes his position at the drop of a hat, and hangs out in a local tavern.
Let the chips fall where they may, but remember, there are those out there who will not forget. They have friends long past who’s memory will not let them forget.
So once again, those against the theatre have been flushed out…Too bad they couldn’t just be FLUSHED for good…You see folks, despite their anger over the Village’s direction on the DuPage Theatre project, they could NEVER fond a developer willing to build there. Their cries of “sell the property' or "build a library” were just that, cries, without any sustinance. Why did no developer, even on their own, step in knowing there was resistance to the theatre, with a plan to build there? Unless they knew, from the outside looking in, that the fix was in and something else was going on “behind the scenes” and they wanted NO PART of it. Think about it, with the condo market in Lombard being so hot and land at a premium, why wouldn’t a developer offer TWICE what the land’s worth to get it and build there?
The library idea was just a ploy (like I’ve said in the past many, many times) get the property cleared under the guise of building a new library there, then when it comes time to get a referendum passed to build it, the tax-strapped citizens of Lombard vote it down. They then say “Oh well, we tried, let’s just sell the property and ‘begin the healing”.
Wanna know what disgusts ME, New Lombard? The way the Friends did things. Only know that the very thing they were charged with saving is on death’s door did they say they were “duped” (how ironic a word" by members of the Village Board. “Duped” by a Board who members of the Friend’s themselvesthemselves WARNED them not to trust. Members of the Friend’s who were lied to and about, and alienated, just like many, many of their members. Look at their turnout at events, very small. It’s not because people don’t love the idea, they do, they just can’t stand being LIED TO by the people who are charged with representing them (the Friend’s Board).
Challenged, I mean Crazy Ray, as far as my “agenda”, it’s not anything that you claim. Yes, I DID love the DuPage Theatre, I met some truly amazing people because of it. I learned so much from people with completely different personalities who were taken from us way too soon. Things like determination from Doug, quiet perserverance from Mark and peru courage from Joan. All people that, had they been around today, would be going nuts about the way the Friends have conducted themselves over the last few years. Now, I am just as committed to making sure that those responsible for this atrocity are not allowed to crawl away in the night like the vermin they are. I am also going to make sure that those who were supposed to be protecting the Grand Dame and not allowed to be without blame as well. I love Lombard; always have, and I have stated that many times before. I have some great memories of the town, and they include the DuPage Theatre. It’s a shame that future generations will not be able to have those same memories.
That was brought before the first ad-hoc group, I’m talking in the last few years, since some of you people really went off the deep end regarding the RSC plan. To quote JFK, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem”. Believe me, you are a BIG part of the problem!
And Challenger, oops, I mean Crazy Ray, explain this quote from your last post “Oh, and by the way they want it to be paid for by the taxpayers.” Which taxpayers? Please explain to us all.
Throughout this entire ordeal, those opposed to the RSC plan have NEVER brought forth a developer with interest in the property. Even if the Village was working with RSC (which we all know now they really weren’t, they were just jerking them around), any smart developer knows if they were to come forward with a feasable plan the Village would do backflips to build it.
Again, that hasn’t hapened. Why is that? Is there a development already in place there that we don’t know about?
Elmhurst’s downtown came back with a rehabilitated York Theater in the 1990s and followed by bringing in national restaurants and specialty stores.
I like the above comments. They talk about how they are in favor of building a (new) theatre, but yet they then come up with a myriad of reasons that could be said for ANY development. Just look what our neighbors to the east are doing…Notice how they say they want to be like ELMHURST, rather than saying they want to be like LOMBARD? Gee, I wonder wht that is? Pay close attention to the last paragraph of the story and really, really think about it as it pertains to Lombard…In fact, I’ll post it here so you don’t have to read the entire article. “Elmhurst’s downtown came back with a rehabilitated York Theater in the 1990s and followed by bringing in national restaurants and specialty stores.” HOW IRONIC! We just destroyed the very thing that towns are trying to build!!!
Villa Park plans downtown hub
By Burney Simpson
Special to the Tribune
Published March 8, 2007
Villa Park officials are moving closer to creating a commercial district around the village’s Metra train station, hoping it can be as successful as the commercial district in Elmhurst, Villa Park’s larger, wealthier neighbor to the east.
Villa Park trustees last week voted to approve two contracts geared to the ambitious plan, which would include more than 100 new residences, a landscaped square with decorative lights and a fountain where people could socialize while shopping or waiting to board a train.
The initial plan, formulated last June, uses the concept of transit-oriented development, making the station the heart of a walk-able minicommunity that officials hope will generate tax revenue, jobs and a friendly and sophisticated image that fits Villa Park’s nickname—Garden Village.
Villa Park trustees voted last week to spend $40,058 on an economic feasibility study by S.B. Friedman & Co. and the Lakota Group, and another $6,800 on design guidelines for the area by Chicago-based HNTB Corp. The two reports are due by May.
Villa Park’s plan faces several challenges: most important is getting developers to pay for a project where the cost is uncertain and the payoff may be a decade away.
There are social costs as well, with the plan calling for the demolition of moderately-priced multiunit rental housing. And there is no guarantee that transit-oriented development will work or that residents will welcome the changes.
The station at Ardmore Avenue and Terrace Street is in the middle of a problematic neighborhood, redevelopment advocates say. Aging strip malls sport convenience and liquor stores, a laundromat, a restaurant, a money transfer outlet and an auto repair business. There have been armed robberies in the area, said Eric Mainz, chairman of the village’s Economic Development Commission. “It’s pretty bad for suburban DuPage County,” said Mainz, who lives in the neighborhood.
The plan calls for adding 25,000 square feet of new commercial space, replacing the apartments with 100 to 120 condos and six to eight town homes and providing more than 1,000 parking spaces.
John DiJohn, research professor at the Urban Transportation Center of the University of Illinois at Chicago, said transit-oriented development has been a boon to such communities as Arlington Heights, Elmhurst and Evanston, with downtowns coming alive with new housing, retail outlets and cultural amenities.
Elmhurst’s downtown came back with a rehabilitated York Theater in the 1990s and followed by bringing in national restaurants and specialty stores.
Well Challanged oops I mean Crazy Ray, oops I mean…The list goes on…You better make than 29 people for the theatre. Or is it 129? Or maybe 1029? 10,029? Who knows, but I but it’s a LOT higher than the 28 you claim. Where do you come up with that number anyways?
Any bets on the queen and her prince’s comments in the Lombardian this week? I bet they will again talk about “deconstruction” being a good thing, and we should all be proud as the rest of the vuilding comes down.
What they should be doing is APOLOGIZING FOR THEIR STUPID DECISIONS!!! Apologize for alienating their membership, for LYING to them, for not listening to them. For dropping the lawsuit, as well as the referendum. If they had only doen one of those two things, the building would STILL be standing, theatre and all.
Instead they will probably blather on, blaming everyone else but themselves for the demise of the DuPage. True, others can be blamed for this, but they could have been easily defeated if the Friends Board had the balls to stand up to them. Instead, they cozied up to the wrong people and like a codependant junkie, they looked for affection in their dealer, the Village Board…
From today’s Daily Herald…“The demolition vote, which effectively ended that partnership, was “beyond logic or comprehension,†said Deborah Dynako, president of the Friends of the DuPage Theatre.
Dynako said she believed the group had been duped by the village board into begrudgingly supporting the partial demolition of the building that took place last year. That plan had involved saving the theater’s facade and marquee and creating a 300-seat theater as part of a condo and retail complex Curto’s company was to build.
Dynako said her group’s belief in that partnership with the village “now seems misguided.†She would not comment on whether the group would again seek a legal stay to delay demolition."
Should I say it or shouldn’t I? Oh well, I will. I FRIGGIN'TOLD YOU SO, DYNACKO! I told them their trust in the Lombard Village Board was the WRONG thing to do. I BEGGED them not to drop the lawsuit. It would have bought the Theatre more time. I PLEADED with them not to drop the referendum. If it had gone on, all it would have done was proven RSC was correct in RESTORING the theatre. But they knew better, they had all the answers, they had all the right people (the Village Board) “helping” them. They had brought in Charlotte Street “neighbors” to “work” with them. They proceeded to alienate a majority of the members of the Friends of the DuPage Theatre, resulting in very low turnout for their events. THE SUPPORT IS THERE FOR THE THEATRE, JUST NOT FOR THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE FRIENDS. Kevin and Deb, you should be ASHAMED at the way you have acted and the decisions you have made.
You claim that the Village Board’s actions were “beyond logic or comprehension” but the same could be said for the two of you. Where was all the money Kevin claimed to be working on getting all along? None of that appeared. The goverment money some one else got for you. The same money the Village Board REFUSED. That should have been a dead give-away right there, but no, you WENT ALONG WITH THEM, CLAIMING THEY WANT TO WORK WITH THE FRIEND’S!! That’s like me taking away a child’s bat but telling him I’m going to teach him how to hit a ball!
THE TWO OF THEM SHOULD ISSUE A PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR ALL THEIR “MISGUIDED” BELIEF AND BEING “DUPED” AS DEB PUT IT (HOW IRONIC) AND RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. IT’S OVBIOUS WITH THE DEMOLITION oops, sorry Deb, “DECONSTRUCTION” OF THE THEATRE THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET THE JOB DONE. RESIGN BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. LET NEW IDEAS AND STRATEGIES TAKE OVER. GET THE EGOS AND ATTITUDES OFF THE FRIEND’S BOARD!
Well, just like I had said several WEEKS ago, the Board voted to demolish what remains of the property. Those against the project very neatly tidied up their website to leave no trace of their preknowledge of the motion or the subsequent vote. Now they post things such as this…
“Although the DuPage Theatre is gone, the arts in Lombard will still receive a facility in which they can thrive at Main and Parkside.
The Village will search for a developer who can redevelop the property at Main and Parkside to include an 8,000 to 10,000 square foot Community Center which will be used to support the arts in Lombard. A Community Center that could be funded by the proceeds of the sale of the 2.5 acres property valued at more than $2 million.
Although the DuPage Theatre is gone, the arts in Lombard will still receive a facility in which they can thrive at Main and Parkside.
The Village will search for a developer who can redevelop the property at Main and Parkside to include an 8,000 to 10,000 square foot Community Center which will be used to support the arts in Lombard. A Community Center that could be funded by the proceeds of the sale of the 2.5 acres property valued at more than $2 million.”
This coming from the same people who publically stated to “sell the property to the highest bidder”. Now, all of a sudden, they care about the arts? Hardly. Another comment made by the biggest mouth of the anti-culture group was this…“I think you are right on about both sides doing things differently if we had to do it over. If the neighbors of the Dupe had been involved earlier with RSC when they came on board, the gloves may never have dropped to the ice. Unfortunately, RSC never invited us in to their planning sessions. I think some lessons were learned from this experience and I’m confident we can do something great on that parcel working as a team, as a community.”
“Been involved earlier”? Do you think we all just came upon this issue? The neighbors, and particulary YOU, had long been involved. You forced your way into the situation, then played both ends against the middle just to amuse yourself.
As far as the neighbors who, according to one article “residents upset that the proposed condominium and retail complex would overshadow their homes.” that part is laughable. The RSC development is only a few feet taller than currently allowed, and less than other buildings in the same area had been allowed. In addition, the RSC development in a BUSINESS DISTRICT. It has been a BUSINESS DISTRICT for DECADES. The theatre had been there longer than ALL of theose residents. The flywall has been there. No one complained then. What makes it a problem now. Lombard had over 44,000 residents in it. Why should 44 residents have the final say in what goes on in downwntown Lombard. Remember Spock’s saying “Sometimes the needs of the many outwiegh the needs of the few.” That certianly holds true here. They also forget that with new, broader eminent domain rules, the Village can solve the “parking issue” by forcibly condemning their homes (and in 1 case, they should have done it a LONG TIME AGO) and build a parking garage there, out of sight, behind the new businesses that will front Main Street. Wouldn’t THAT be something? Be careful what you wish for, Brucey…
Well, just to keep everybody informed, the anti-theatre website has completely DELETED all it’s threads. My guess is that they didn’t want to have blood on their hands when the Board votes to demolish the rest of the building in a few weeks. They didn’t want to be implicated or maybe worse. There were posts on there basically “letting the cat out of the bag” about the Board vote to demolish, along with what will be going there. How would they know that? Isn’t that confidential information? The posts on there were WEEKS before anything became public. Yet those against the project continue to claim “there is nothing going on behind the scenes”. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that when someone says something like that, watch out. The CEO of my company told us that last fall, then a week later we bought out another company.
It’s too bad that the last act of two Village Trustees that swore to represent those who elected them will be to tear down the rest of a historic building and replace it with a generic one. At the same time, it’s just as sad that the Friends of the DuPage, who were created to save the theatre, let it slip away just to get their names in a few local paper.
All of this is for nothing though…Despite the fact that the Lombard Planning Commission APPROVED the RSC plan for the property, there is a rumor that two anti-theatre trustees, Seby and Tross, are going to make a motion at the March Board meeting that the rest os the theatre building be immediately torn down. BOTH of these trustees are going to loose the April election, so they are doing one last “up yours” to Lombard.
How could a developer, who has had a business plan and all the necessary I’s dotted and T’s crossed to the planning commission’s approval, STILL be faced with demolition of the building he would like to use, that would be the cornerstone of downtown redevelopment? Tell me this doesn’t smack of some sort of back-room dealings to get the property cleared?
Bob Biddle also had this to say…“Re: Letters to the editor…
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2007, 08:14:29 AM » Reply with quote
Who are you kidding? The RSC plan fails the residents on endless counts (especially to the tune of the $9.2 million TIF handout). A library can bring culture…include an "arts center” in the design since starting from scratch will allow for it. A library plan can bring additional parking to support the businesses already in the downtown area. A library plan designed right can do many things for the village. Why is it that Elmhurst, Wheaton, Naperville, Glen Ellyn and a host of other nearby suburbs all have state of the art libraries in their downtown areas yet Lombard has had an ideal location at Main & Parkside and instead it has been tied up by failed dreams, “big ideas”, and theatre shenanigans for nearly ten years?
Progress in the downtown? Sure there has been progress (without massive TIF handouts) and more is forthcoming. One need only look at the upcoming construction of mixed use developments on St Charles Road….that bring more housing choices (senior living and condos) to see that the market needs are being met. Does Lombard need 120 more condos at Main & Parkside? NO.
And yes things like the Westin and the splash park have progressed….all the while “theatre supporters” have cried for taxpayer support just as these other projects received. And the loudest critics of the sales tax, PFC funding, and the other components of these plans have been none other than the “theatre supporters” themselves.
Sorry, no support for this RSC plan. The only support is for the resolution to demolish and to walk away from this deal. And that should be coming soon…..then Lombard can move forward on the right development plan for Main & Parkside whether it be the library, a parking garage, or even the start of whole block redevelopment that incorporates the Brust and Noble properties. A clean slate will open many new opportunities without the burden of what is left of the DuPage Theatre.
Notice how he again talks about a new library, which was voted down in a previous referendum, as well as an “arts center”…“include an "arts center” in the design since starting from scratch will allow for it.“ Hey, isn’t the RSC plan from "scratch” after the Friends “deconstructed” the original historic building?
Next look at how he touts the “upcoming construction of mixed use developments on St Charles Road….that bring more housing choices (senior living and condos) to see that the market needs are being met.” But in the same breath blasts the RSC condos?
Then, the scariest, notice how he almost demands a resolution to demolish immediately? Can he sense that the theatre crowd is on the verge of winning? He also goes on to mention “whole block redevelopment” why? Is it because the remaining properties value, which had skyrocketed the minute the Village took ownership from Big Idea, would again skyrocket if the property was razed? That thought alone should help to bring some understanding to this situation.
All one has to do is ask themselves “Who would really benefit if the theatre property was leveled”? The properties to the south, of course. If the Village does want to do “whole block redevelopment” they would have to pay TOP DOLLAR for the adjacent land (or subsidize a developer to do so, as they have in the past) as well as pay those businesses to move (as they also have done in the past). All this with the use of TAX DOLLARS. Funny how that works, isn’t it?
And even if Lombard did have the theatre, people would still go to other towns to see stage productions, concerts, comedy, and the like. One new venue would simply add another choice to the vast array of choices available all through the Chicagoland area.
Or would you simply take the “support Lombard’s arts effort” regardless of what the offering may be? Want to see “Doubt” downtown? “Nope, can’t because it’s not at the Dupe.” Want to see the latest comics at Zanies? “Nope, we can’t because it’s not at the Dupe.
Are you saying that the quest for culture would solely be determined by what is playing at the Dupe?
All of us will continue to travel to other surrounding communities just as we do today…the Dupe and its dining/entertainment options would have simply been one more venue from which to choose. And you know something…with the right plan the venue could still bring options as there is nothing to say that an auditorium could not be incorporated into a library plan that the voters would have the optoin to VOTE ON via referendum.
So you can see that even the leading anti-theatre complainer ADMITS that the DuPage would be an asset to Lombard, and that EVEN BIDDLE goes to such things…in other towns. I’m sure he spends money there too…Money that Lombard looses out on.
His post also shows that he doesn’t understand the enjoyment people get out of going to live theatre..“Are you saying that the quest for culture would solely be determined by what is playing at the Dupe?” He really doesn’t get it, does he folks?
Don’t be dissuaded by his comments about a new library/auditorium. That is just a ploy to bring down the building, trust me. They have said “Only when the property is cleared can progress be made on the new library at that site” WHY? The last referendum a few years ago to build a new library FAILED, as it would again. Again, their comments about needing the site cleared first are false. They know that if they can get the site cleared, the library referendum (which would cost each household THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in property tax increases to do) will fail, then they can say “Oh well, we tried, who wants to buy the property”. Trust me, I don’t think I’m wrong on this one folks. I’ve been pretty right so far, and unfortunately, my streak will continue.
Here’s a post from Bob Biddle, the lead muckraker anti-theatre poster in Lombard. For some reason, id you even try to post his name in a post on the site, it comes up “Mr…” now it’s been changed after heavy pressure from theatre supporters. Just look at what they guy posted recently…
“R BIDDLE
Newbie
*And even if Lombard did have the theatre, people would still go to other towns to see stage productions, concerts, comedy, and the like. One new venue would simply add another choice to the vast array of choices available all through the Chicagoland area.
Or would you simply take the “support Lombard’s arts effort” regardless of what the offering may be? Want to see “Doubt” downtown? “Nope, can’t because it’s not at the Dupe.” Want to see the latest comics at Zanies? “Nope, we can’t because it’s not at the Dupe.
Are you saying that the quest for culture would solely be determined by what is playing at the Dupe?
All of us will continue to travel to other surrounding communities just as we do today…the Dupe and its dining/entertainment options would have simply been one more venue from which to choose. And you know something…with the right plan the venue could still bring options as there is nothing to say that an auditorium could not be incorporated into a library plan that the voters would have the optoin to VOTE ON via referendum.
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Re: Letters to the editor…
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2007, 07:18:09 PM » Reply with quote
Why is democracy failing in Lombard? It’s because of special interest groups and the ongoing nonsense and misinformation they continually put forth on local issues ranging from the theatre (say no more) to the Westin project to water bills to water parks. Until this theatre issue is resolved no progress will be made on anything in this town. Who in their right mind would jump into this ugly political fray where every time a solution seems near that the village ends up taking another step backwards?
The only solution for the community to move forward is for a resolution demanding the immediate demolition of the theatre property. Whether it is to be a library or simply an empty lot for years to come, the climate in this village will not change until it is gone. It has been nearly ten years of theatre games and lost opportunities for progress at Main & Parkside.
Yes there has been tremendous progress in the Yorktown and downtown areas…but all with the weight of the theatre property lurking in the shadows of the progress that has been made. Fountain Square and the Shops at Butterfield are fast to become Lombard’s crown jewel commercial developments and village staff is to be commended for making it happen. Roosevelt Road moratorium with a “time out†to ensure that future (re)development is best for all parties is the right thing to do. Even a moratorium on downtown projects may be the right thing until the theatre burden is finally lifted.
And for progress to truly move forward the village, the library, the parks, and even the schools all need to work together with a common goal….making Lombard one of the best places to live and for all to prosper (whether with our outstanding schools, outstanding village services, needed state of the art library, cultural programs, shopping and dining choices, vast array of housing choices, and more). Our current village board can proudly take credit for much of the growth and change this village has seen these past several years….but they are also to blame for huge mis-steps in regards to the theatre that have dragged the entire community down. Will the community ever truly heal from this? Sadly, I doubt it but one can only hope that time will heal the wounds and as we see the future (likely without a theatre project) evolve that things really do move forward.
Melders, read “her” posts and you will realize that “she” isn’t a “70 year old woman”. “She” is just trying to stir people, mainly me up. It didn’t work so you went for it. Ignore “her” and HE’LL go away!