News
THE BUGLE/SENTINEL JULY 10, 2013
5
Bar concern delays tax rebate for convention center By Stewart Warren For the Bugle
The members of the Joliet City Council back a tax rebate for the proposed Holiday Inn and convention center. But they don’t want one component of the project to cause a problem for another nearby business. If a sports bar is built inside the hotel, it could put a damper on the business at Heroes West Sports Grill, the popular bar and restaurant at 1530 Commerce Lane, Joliet. If that is the case, the council members want to find a way to minimize any competition. The big hotel is planned for the Rock Run Business Park off Houbolt Road and just north
CALENDAR Continued from page 4 9:15, 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Thursday, 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. Saturdays, Joliet Public Library, Black Road Branch, 3395 Black Road. Caregivers and babies will enjoy playing games, singing songs, reading stories and chasing bubbles. This is a great first playgroup for children and a great opportunity to meet other caregivers 815-846-6500 Curious Little Monkeys Play Group (Birth to 36 months). 10:15 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. This parent-child play experience combines elements of traditional lapsit with an additional half hour of theme-related free play
of Interstate 80. If it is built, it would be practically next door to Heroes. When the Council members came to the workshop meeting on Monday, they seemed to expect a vote on the tax rebate package for the hotel project – despite the fact that it was not listed on the agenda. Some council members seemed surprised by the absence. “I thought we were ready to move forward,” Councilman Jan Quillman said. City Manager Tom Thanas explained that there had been some opposition to the rebate, adding that voting later on the rebates would provide time to solve any issues. Councilman Jim McFarland noted that the debate over the
project revolved around the possibility of a sports bar. There didn’t seem to be any complaints about the tax rebate. “That is the issue,” Mayor Tom Giarrante agreed. Everyone seemed to think that some solution could be found. If the developers decided to include a sports bar in the hotel project, perhaps it could be a very small operation, something that wouldn’t be anything like Heroes. “I think a compromise would be in order,” Quillman said. If the council members approve the tax rebate, Joliet residents would not be footing the bill. The $2.4 million incentive plan would be a rebate of taxes that would be paid by the hotel’s guests. The city of
experiences. 815-740-2660
more info., visit HYPERLINK “http://www.lockportpark.org” www.lockportpark.org or call 815-838-3621, ext. 0.
Toddler Time (Ages 18 months to 3 years). 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Mondays and 9:45, 10:45 and 11:45 a.m.Wednesdays, Joliet Public Library, Black Road Branch, 3395 Black Road.; 9:45 a.m. Thursdays, Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St.Toddler time is a story program for children who are “too big” for lapsit and are not yet ready for the structure of storytime. Your child will enjoy stories, games, songs, movement activities and a simple craft. 815846-6500/815-740-2660 Monday Fun Day. 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Mondays, Dellwood Park, 1911 Lawrence Ave., Lockport. Children enjoy playing, learning and socializing with music, games and crafts. Fee: $91 Lockport Township Park District resident/$101 non-resident. For
Preschool Storytime (ages 3 to 5). 1 p.m. Mondays, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Joliet Public Library, Black Road Branch, 3395 Black Road; 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.Wednesdays, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.Thursdays, and 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays (Spanish language storytime), Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. Storytime is a chance for children to explore the world of books through stories, songs and crafts. Each week begins with a special visit by our puppet mascot “Jamberry” Bear, and finishes with each child marching and playing an instrument in the library’s very own storytime parade. 815-8466500/815-740-2660
Joliet has several hotel-related taxes: a 7 percent tax on hotel rooms, a 1 percent tax on food and beverages and a home rule tax of 1 ¾ percent. For the first three years of the hotel’s operations, 100 percent of those taxes would be given to the developers of the project. During years four through 10, the amount of the yearly rebate would gradually be reduced. In the 11th year of operation, 100 percent of the hotel-related taxes generated by the project would go to the city. This proposed tax rebate would not affect the local schools, parks or Will County. Although the tax rebate program was not listed on Monday’s agenda, something else was: the plans to divide an
existing piece of property into two parcels to accommodate the hotel. The members of the council voted to approve them. In the end, there might not be a restaurant war on Houbolt Road. After the meeting, Sejal Patel, one of the owners of the proposed Holiday Inn Candlewood Suites and Conference Center, said a decision had not been made about the restaurant that would be included in the project. It might not be a sports bar. It could be a sushi joint, a French bistro or a seafood buffet -something completely different from Heroes. But there will be a restaurant. “It is a Holiday Inn … A Holiday Inn has to have a restaurant,” Patel said.
Monday Fun Day. 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Mondays, Dellwood Park, 1911 Lawrence Ave., Lockport. Children enjoy playing, learning and socializing with music, games and crafts. Fee: $91 Lockport Township Park District resident/$101 non-resident. For more info., visit HYPERLINK “http://www.lockportpark.org” www.lockportpark.org or call 815-838-3621, ext. 0.
Eating the Alphabet. 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.Tuesdays, Dellwood Park, 1911 Lawrence Ave., Lockport. Participants learn letters, phonetics and some math as they help prepare and eat related foods. Fee: $41 Lockport Township Park District resident/$51 non-resident. For more info., visit HYPERLINK “http://www.lockportpark.org” www.lockportpark.org or call 815-838-3621, ext. 0.
Fun with Friends. 9:15 to 11:15 a.m.Tuesdays, Dellwood Park, 1911 Lawrence Ave., Lockport. Classes help your child develop social skills while learning numbers, colors, shapes and more. Fee: $61 Lockport Township Park District resident/$71 non-resident. For more info., visit HYPERLINK “http://www.lockportpark.org” www.lockportpark.org or call 815-838-3621, ext. 0.
All by Myself. 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. to noon, Dellwood Park, 1911 Lawrence Ave., Lockport. Kids will meet new friends and play in a learning based environment. Fee: $47 Lockport Township Park District resident/$57 non-resident. For more info., visit HYPERLINK “http://www.lockportpark.org” www.lockportpark.org or call 815-838-3621, ext. 0.