We do not believe the process for this development was right. At each hearing the village gave the developer more money. The project was presented as conforming to the Downtown Plan. Here are the facts. When the Downtown Revitalization Plan was  created , with significant community input, Village Residents were clear that they did not want taxpayer monies used for development, they were very concerned about traffic/safety issues and they did not want a canyon of tall buildings on Glenview Road. 

The Village Board approved this devlopment without ever doing a traffic/safety study. Considering that traffic is pretty high on citizens lists of conderns, this seemed crazy to us. Here are the facts. If Glenview becomes a place where traffic is jammed up every day, then the value of all of our homes will be put at risk. Common sense says that adding 72 apartments and retail to the small lot, that abuts the Metra tracks, will have an impact on traffic and safety. The Village Board approved this development without ever considering this. 

 In the run up to the contested Village Trustee election earlier this year an incumbent trustee said, "no taxpayer's money will be lost". Here are the facts: The Village bought the property from Bess Hardware for $2.225M and is selling for less- that is a loss. 

During the process, the Village sweetened the deal for the developer by  giving away land & more.

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The total estimated loss  on this development is $2,421,632  

Developing downtown Glenview is going to happen. The former Bess site is a vital element in that plan. The citizens of Glenview were loud and clear about what they did not want in any development plans. This development fails the taxpayers and citizens of Glenview. If the Village Board wants to make the argument that the Downtown Plan is no longer viable, then they should do so with the same amount of input from the community as the original plan.