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Lincoln, IL 62656
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To the editor:Collectively representing over 200 years serving
the community of Lincoln, we, a group of Lincoln downtown business
owners, are currently concerned with the continued vitality of the
downtown businesses the selves, as well as the health and safety of
our clients and customers. "Downtown Revitalization" has become a
common phrase in Lincoln, Illinois. The project to which it refers
is a planned regeneration of the downtown Lincoln area. Many
projects have been initiated, already costing taxpayers excessive
tax dollars far beyond any grants that were received. We are writing
today in concern of a project that is part of this revitalization
and known as the "Library/ Pekin Street Parking/ Alley Improvement"
project. This undertaking was initially voted down by Lincoln's City
Council in June of this year but as recently been re-introduced for
approval. Concerns with the project include the proposed closing of
an alley, doing away with motor traffic. This move would limit the
possibility for several businesses in this area to conveniently
receive freight deliveries. The closing of this alley and the
resulting rerouting of traffic would also cause safety and health
concerns, the most important of which is the safety of the children
and others who frequently use this alley to enter the library.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Jul/15/images/ads/current/Symphony_lda_091814.png)
The alley in question lies behind several businesses located along
the 600 block of Broadway Street. Currently the alley is used for
delivery of supplies, as a location for trash receptacles for the
businesses, and as a way for traffic to exit the parking lot. In
addition, many people also use the back door to the businesses
located along this alley. These include many elderly and handicapped
customers. These entrances, in effect, render these businesses
handicapped-accessible and are a necessity due to the fact that on
the Broadway Street side, the steps into the storefronts from the
street are very steep and it is difficult, if not impossible for
them to enter there. Likewise, the walking path for children and
others to use that leads to the children's library also lies within
this parking lot area.
The proposed project will close the current alley and create a
different parking layout, changing the pattern of traffic into and
out of the parking lot, while creating only three new parking
spaces. The only traffic entrance, as proposed, will be on Pekin
Street, as it is currently, with the exit being on Mclean Street.
All vehicular and truck traffic will be required to enter the Pekin
Street entrance and exit via Mclean Street. The only exception is
that delivery trucks will be required to back up from Mclean St,
directly backward to a designated drop-off point located somewhere
near the rear delivery entrance of MKS Jewelers. This backup point
will cross the crosswalk used by children every day to access the
library. Currently, a small percentage of vehicular traffic does use
this area but it is important to remember that these vehicles have a
visible stop sign and there is a crosswalk for pedestrians. The
proposed reverse moving direction of trucks, including semis,
increases the danger for children and others in the crosswalk, due
to lack of good visibility on the part of the driver.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Jul/15/images/ads/current/castlemanor_lda_SPRINGFLING_2016.png)
[to top of second column in this letter] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Jul/15/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_051513.png)
In addition to concerns with the traffic pattern flow, there are
also health concerns that are related to the reworking of this
parking lot. For many years, several businesses located in this area
have experienced an odor that they describe as a "sewer odor". This
has been an ongoing problem, the effects of which have been noticed
for many years. The problem has been brought to the attention of the
city administration numerous times by various business owners. The
original plan proposed for this parking lot included an attempt to
correct this problem; however, the new plan does not. Business
owners feel that now is the time to identify the reason for this
odor (with the assistance of the EPA) and correct it while the
parking lot/ alley is undergoing reconstruction. This could help
avoid the necessity to spend future funds for yet another demolition
to correct the problem. In addition to the sewer problem, this area
is currently dangerous due to problems with roof drainage. This is a
hazard for pedestrians as well as vehicle traffic, especially in the
wintertime when ice accumulates and causes hazardous walking and
driving conditions. This problem could be corrected by including a
storm sewer in the renovation plans.
As business owners, we are in agreement that renovations are needed
in the parking lot area. However, we feel that the efforts to close
the alley, change the traffic flow, as well as the elimination of
the sewer repairs from the project, fail to address the safety
concerns of Lincoln's youngest citizens and the elderly, as well as
the business owners themselves. In addition, we feel that the
expense of the project, with projected costs at approximately
$500,000.00, is something that should not become a burden for the
citizens of Lincoln. We respectfully request that this project be
tabled pending further communication and transparency between the
city council and the downtown business community.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Jul/15/images/ads/current/llmi_sda_042414.png)
This project needs to benefit and address issues for the betterment
of all and should include open dialogue in order to reach an
agreeable conclusion.
Respectably submitted by Lincoln business owners,
Melody Shew
MKS Jewelers (35 years)
Jim and Lisa Drew
Sorrento's Pizzeria (47 years)
Heather Cosby
Flossie and Delzena's (1Yz years)
Greg and Julie Tarter
Mary Todd’s Hallmark (11years)
Merle Norman Cosmetics (20 years)
Tarter Brothers' Mechanical (30 years)
Jan Schact
YMCA (15 years)
Linda Aper
Thri-Vent Financial
Rainforth Family
Abe's (34 years)
Eileen Mullins
Sir Renna Tea
Dana Ellebracht
Treasures in Lincoln [Posted
September 15, 2016]
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