Ryan - consider yourself smacked.

Hey, Daniel, don't be so negative! I'm sure the "Seattle Model" is an exceptional coffee house-perhaps an Evanston outlet of Stumptown Roasters!--and maybe a recreation of the Pikes Place Market?!?!

Come to think of it, the old CVS property would be a great place for a Space Needle. There are endless possibilities with the Seattle Model.

Here was my response earlier today re a teen/youth drop in center at asbury and oakton. I am completely opposed to this use at that location.

reply:

This is a shame - the property is not for sale - it is a retail location - a drop in center will be a special use and I oppose it completely.
 
I have heard nothing from residents wanting a community youth drop in center. Where does the money come from to renovate, and do you plan to have this applicant remove it from the tax rolls? Will teens be asked to pay to drop in? Will it only be open nights and week ends.
 
My opinion? This is being handled badly from the git go. The flurry of emails is ridiculous. Who is entity applicant and why have we handed it like this? This is a location for economic development. I cannot think of a worse idea.

A B2 District is as follows:

A)The B2 business district is designed to accommodate and encourage the continued viable use of older, pedestrian oriented shopping areas found throughout the city primarily at arterial roadway intersections and, in some cases, near mass transit facilities. This zoning district encompasses the city's oldest shopping areas whose pedestrian orientation and character it wishes to preserve.
(B)These shopping and business areas are primarily neighborhood oriented, however, they can also accommodate specialty stores and service facilities that service a larger market area. The established physical pattern of the district is typically buildings built to the front lot line and continuous bands of storefronts. The provisions of this district are intended to maintain pedestrian character.
(C)Uses in the B2 district may include businesses catering to the daily shopping needs of neighborhood residents, specialty stores that provide retail opportunities that have broader market appeal, retail service uses and professional service uses, offices and financial institutions without drive-up facilities. No individual use in this district should exceed twenty thousand (20,000) square feet in size. (Ord. 43-0-93)

"...a community center with attached businesses following the Seattle model." Exactly what does that mean? Is this a joke? We need a market in this spot. If we have to wait until the economy improves, we should do that.

AFSCME is having a campaign to organize Resurrection Hospital System. They have gone after other hospitals in the group and now St. Francis is the target. They have tried to organize the system for the last six years and in their multiple attempts they have failed to even get the 30% of cards signed to have an election.

They are running a series of misleading ads which I think are disgusting and a disservice to a good neighbor.

They want the system organized because there are 11,000 employees and they want the dues. As with other unions, they have sunk a ton of money into political campaigns and they need the money.

Their failed attempts would indicate that the employees are happy with their situation and don't see the need to reduce their pay by having union dues deducted.

I wonder why they have not gone after North Shore/Evanston?

St. Francis has been a good neighbor, free parking, use of facilities for community meetings, etc., and for a while they were the only Level 1 Trauma center.

Any thoughts on how we can help St. Francis?

Braha, we've had the same problem with District 65 drivers - there is a regulation about this (and their drivers are AWFUL about following it) It is helpful to have a bus number or license plate when you call. District 202 is 847-424-7000; ask what company handles their disabled students' transportation.

In case others of you have this issue with an elementary or middle school driver: From the D65 website: If you experience a problem with bus service or have a question, please call Alltown Transportation Services at 847 674-0090. If you do not receive a satisfactory response, please call 847-859-8019 for the District 65 Transportation Manager.

Quick question re: the long-time owner's exemption. If someone, say, my mom, is already getting the senior citizen property tax break (I forget what it's really called but those who know me know what color my hair is), are they additionally eligible for the long-time ownership exemption, or does one cancel out the other?

Hi Ann,

I'm wondering when the next 8th ward neighborhood meeting is. Perhaps you've seen my emails back and forth with Morris Robinson -- I'm interested in proposing an alternate use for the unoccupied CVS building at Oakton/Asbury -- a community center with attached businesses following the Seattle model.

Thanks!

Julia

Ann, what would you or any of the other readers, regarding a car or van driven by a district 202 (Evanston high school) employee who comes to pick up a special needs child in the mornings and beeps their horn...every single morning until the kid (who is usually late) comes downstairs? Isn't there a noise ordinance or something? The grandmother yells out the window, "he's coming down in a few minutes", that's another annoyance. There has been a couple of arguments between neighbors who are fed up with the beeping and the driver of the van or car. I know it seems minor, but if we're lucky enough to get a day off when there's school, I like to sleep past 7:15 in the morning. Please advise.

/m17507 Mike I suggested a review of the 2nd installments right hand column - that is the formula for arriving at the amount you must pay.

Jeri - I too found the people at the Skokie office very helpful. If a person is eligible for either the freeze or the longtime occupant exemption, the assessors office calculates both and you are awarded the exemption with the greater savings.

Has anyone heard from our local assessor lately? Speaking of your taxes, she is still spending your tax dollars.

I just got back from the Skokie assessor's office. I waited less than 1 hour to apply for long term homeowners and senior exemption which my husband is entitled to. They were not going to give it to us until I mentioned we had received it on the previous bill and unfortunately, he is not getting any younger! BTW-you cannot receive both the senior freeze and the long term. For the senior freeze, income must be no more than $55,000

I finally started to put papers together for the Long Term Owners Exemption and found that I had received in the mail and filed a form in May of this year. I also noted, in very small type, the words "Long-Time Homowner" in the right margin of the space where the name and address appears on the part of the tax form you keep. I assume this means that this exemption was figured in my taxes. You should look on your bills for this message.

I actually had a good experience with the county treasurers office in downtown Chicago yesterday. To make a long story short, the post office failed to deliver a property tax bill and I got no satisfaction from the carrier or the people at the post office. So I went to get a new copy of the bill, and at the same time, try to change the mailing address. I arrived a few minutes before 9 and found the office already open and business being done. When I asked they said they opened about 8:30 (30 minutes before the posted time). There were plenty of helpful people there; one to explain what I needed to do and two others at the work areas where I took my paperwork. Total elapsed time inside - about 15 minutes. Say what you will about the county government, the treasurers office has it together and was very helpful.

I've seen negative ads on the back of buses for some time now blasting NBC news. It is sponsored by a union. It shows this jacked-up looking peacock and that is what grabs our attention. The wording says that NBC news is unfair to it's workers.

Little Wok is the best. Go for the chicken almond ding.. You won't regret it..........

Sorry for blabbing on and on - If you have not been to the Little Wok on Main Street in the Sam's, Food 4 Less Shopping Center, you mus go. It is where 9 fish was and in the row with Starbucks and the chicken place.

It is great.

Tad - sorry for the earlier brief reply. The reason you must apply every year is because the exemption is pegged to your occupancy and income. You must provide the affidavit every year to swear to those 2 facts.

I feel that we all have a moral obligation to let everyone who is eligible for this know that it is a "must apply for" exemption.