|
 Douglas opened by saying that he had talked to a member of the
council last week, who asked him his opinion of the Pekin Street
Parking Lot project. He had responded to that person that he thought
the city should “just do it” and be done with it.
That alderman had also commented, according to Douglas, that the
closing of the alley could deplete the value of the adjacent
properties.
Douglas said he knew there had been objections raised by the
business owners on Broadway Street downtown. Because the parking lot
and alley in question are at the back of their businesses, those
merchants are concerned about how the plans will impact their
business as well as the value of their property. Douglas also noted
that recently, Leslie Hoefle addressed the council with a number of
issues regarding the parking lot.
Douglas said that Hoefle, as well as the merchants, have indicated
that doing away with the alley behind their buildings would deflate
the value of their property. Douglas said he didn’t understand that
claim, but decided he would do some investigating on his own.
 Douglas chose to contact realtors out of town and gave them a call.
He posed the question to each how would the closing of an alley
would impact the property value of a building adjacent to the alley.
He said he had called Bloomington and Springfield, as well as a
realtor in Chicago.
Douglas noted that there were comments and chuckles from some of the
realtors, who commented, “you must be from Lincoln.”
Douglas went on to say that in all cases, those he questioned had
said that the changes to the Pekin Street parking lot would not
impact the value of the buildings.
He said the persons talked to had said that a city-owned property is
under the control of the city, and no one considers that to be a
part of the value of a privately owned building.
Moving on, Douglas said another concern that has been voiced in
council chambers by aldermen and others, was that closing the alley
would jeopardize a business’s ability to receive freight. He said
the implication was that if a delivery vehicle could not get to the
back door of business, they would not deliver.
Again Douglas made some calls to different trucking and delivery
companies. He asked them if they ever refused to deliver because
they could not get close to a business’s back door. Again he had
been told no.
Douglas also had an opportunity to speak with the UPS delivery
person that works in the downtown area. He had given that man a
scenario, if delivery was to go to Flossie and Delzina’s at the
corner of Broadway and Kickapoo, and the closest place to park was
in front of the Art Institute on McLean Street, would the driver
refuse to make the delivery? The UPS driver had said no, he would
not refuse to deliver. Douglas said that by UPS rules, a driver
might refuse to make a delivery if there is a threatening animal on
the property, or if there is a hazard such as ice or snow that would
endanger the driver in the attempt. Otherwise, the driver will make
every effort to make the delivery.
Douglas said there had also been discussions about making deliveries
on the main street, in this case Broadway Street. The opinion had
been voiced that having delivery trucks on the main road would
paralyze traffic.
Douglas said he had the opportunity to observe a Pepsi delivery
truck making a delivery to Sorrento’s. The truck had delivered to
the front door, parking on Broadway, and it caused no issues for
other drivers, the city was not paralyzed.
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Douglas moved on commenting on a suggestion made by Alderman Steve Parrott and
supported by Leslie Hoefle. The suggestion had been that the city needed to be
concerned about the electric lines running in the parking lot and that maybe
something could be done to get those out of sight. Douglas said he had contacted
a friend who has firsthand knowledge of this type of project and was told that
it would cost upward of $350,000 to make that kind of change. He had also
contacted another party who said the cost could be more than $400,000, just to
move the electric lines and poles.
Douglas also commented strongly on a comment made by Leslie Hoefle regarding two
downtown business owners who served on the Downtown Revitalization Steering
Committee and the presentation she handed out last week.
Douglas thought that the city council is allowing themselves to be influenced,
which compromises Rick Hoefle's position as an alderman.
Finally, Douglas commented on the inference that the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency might be called in to address the sewer odor issues in the
downtown businesses. Again, he had called on a friend he worked with in Chicago,
who had experience in this area. He asked what could happen. Douglas was told
that if the EPA does get involved in this, and do find an issue, they will close
every impacted business indefinitely until the problem is resolved and that they
can sue or at least levy fines on the city (if the city is at fault).
When Douglas was finished, Tracy Welch said that he felt Douglas had made some
valid points. He went on to say that he would talk with Douglas at some other
time to share what is known about the situation. Welch went on to say the city
has spent a lot of time on this issue, and they are still working on it, with
hopes of coming up with a good solution for everyone.
Mayor Marty Neitzel then said she would add some comments during public
participation. She said that some of the local business owners had come to her
and City Administrator Clay Johnson, Waste Treatment Manager Tim Ferguson, a
member of Farnsworth Group and two city aldermen.
Neitzel said the business owners had talked about their concerns, and heard the
concerns of the city. She said the lines of communication are now open between
the businesses and the city, and she is still hopeful that the city will move
forward with a plan for the Pekin Street Parking lot.
[Nila Smith]
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