Happy Holidays
I just wanted to take this time to wish everyone in the 3rd ward Happy Holidays from my family to yours. It was nice to see so many people out at the tree lighting ceremony in Metropolitan square earlier this month. I look forward to other events that the city will hold later this year.
The ice rink in West Park is up for winter skating. As the weather gets colder I look forward to the Park District filling it with water and going out to skate under the lights.
Thank you to everyone that came out to the ward meeting on 11/30 to talk about the school bus plan at the old Meyer Cement Plant. Lots of ideas and concerns were raised about that issue and what should happen with that property in the future. As I receive more information about this property I will pass it along.
Cannabis Dispensary at 1504 Miner St.
On 12/6/21 the city council voted 6-2 in favor of allowing a Cannabis Dispensary to open in the old Leonas restaurant. This property has been vacant since 2017. During that time a brick oven pizza place was going to open but their plan fell through.
The dispensary project aligns with the city's comprehensive plan for the downtown area because it fills a vacant property and brings in a business that falls under the mixed use development. The comprehensive plan also calls for a restaurant cluster to be built around the theater to support operations there. Currently the property at 1504 Miner isn't built out with a kitchen. The kitchen was removed by the pizza place during construction a few years prior.
At the time the comprehensive plan was written in 2019 the city code did not allow for a dispensary to be in the downtown area. That was recently changed this past fall by the city council.
The question that comes up is should the city fill an empty store front with a business that wants to invest in the community or should the city hold out and wait to see if something else comes along? I would like to hear what people think about this. Please email your option to soskerka@desplaines.org before the vote happens for final approval on Monday 12/20/21.
If you are for or against the dispensary I would encourage you to come speak your option at the city council meeting on 12/20 at 7pm at City Hall.
Blue Sky Development Update
In Oct 2018 the City Council gave approval for a development called Blue Sky to be built on 3.5 acres on North ave in the corner of the 3rd ward. This project was meant to be a retirement home for people over the age of 65. As of 12/3/2021 that project is no longer viable and will not be built. As many of you who live near that project know it has been 4 long years of a temporary fence, tall grass, and construction equipment along the property line. The city has been in contact with the property owner about taking down the fence and cleaning up the property. This will be no easy task and it might take some time for this to happen. I have talked with the city manager and he has outlined a plan to make this happen. It will take time but changes to that space will come.
Please email me your option about the Cannabis Dispensary before Monday 12/20/21
|
