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ShoDeen’s prior work questioned Progress of downtown DeKalb’s ‘square’ is part of Irongate debate By DAVID THOMAS dthomas@shawmedia.com DeKALB – As ShoDeen and the DeKalb City Council grapple over the future of the planned Irongate development, some aldermen aren’t keen to move until they get answers about another proposed ShoDeen development. That would be the National Bank & Trust Square the Geneva-based developer touted years ago. So far, the only building to go up there has been the NB&T building at 130 W. Lincoln Highway. Sixth Ward Alderman Dave Baker described the current upkeep of the rest of the area as “disgraceful,” and said ShoDeen should not expect help from the city. ShoDeen
President Dave Patzelt said he needs tax increment financing assistance before he can move forward with the project. “Until a tax increment financing project is brought to the council, they shouldn’t have been expecting any money,” Baker said. I n 2 0 0 8 , S h o D e e n a nnounced its plan to create the “NB&T Square” – a sevenacre, mixed use development along West Lincoln Highway, between Walgreens and Pearl Street. Plans called for 90,000 square feet of retail space and 300,000 square feet of residential space, mostly in the form of condominiums. The plans generated excitement when they were announced, but the onset of the Great Recession changed ev-
erything. City Council members didn’t like ShoDeen’s subsequent proposal to convert the condos into apartments, DeKalb City Manager Mark Biernacki said. They also voiced disfavor with a strip mall at that spot. In public comments and in an interview, Patzelt said he doesn’t know what else to build on the property. “I don’t know what’s left. I need somebody to tell me what you want,” Patzelt said. “I really need them to tell us what they want.” Patzelt said TIF funds will be an absolute necessity. Because of the location, there are increased challenges and costs related to demolition, construction access, utilities and
stormwater. “It’s cheaper to do development in the green field than it is in the redevelopment zones,” Patzelt said. “Why didn’t the Hampton Inn go in downtown DeKalb? Why didn’t Olive Garden?” Not helping matters is the current economy, said Roger Hopkins, the city’s economic development consultant. Hopkins said banks will not make loans for a retail construction project that has an uncertain future. Until the council, developer and a lender can agree, the area likely will stay as it is. However, Biernacki said it was fortunate that the project stalled so early in the process. “In some regards, both the developer and the council are
Kyle Bursaw – kbursaw@shawmedia.com
A sign Thursday touts a project by ShoDeen at the southeastern corner of the intersection of West Lincoln Highway and Pearl Street in DeKalb. fortunate that the project never did take off,” said Biernacki, referring to how a completed
building would have been affected by a collapsed economy. “We’d have an empty shell.”
Federal budget scenario irritates
BOWLING FOR A CAUSE
Ill. officials show their frustration The ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Friday he’s as frustrated as most Americans with the repeated “doomsday scenario” involving the federal budget. Appearing with hospital researchers in Chicago on the day that $85 billion in automatic spending cuts were to take effect, the Senate’s No. 2 Democratic leader joined an effort by both political parties to blame each other for the problem when he pointed at House Republicans he said are not willing to negotiate. “You fix it with an election,” Durbin said. “Unfortunately, at this point, there is control in the House of Representatives by a group that invites this. They like this approach. I think it’s a mistake.” Illinois Republicans also were pointing fingers. U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam said in a video on his website that he heard from taxpayers who were worried about President Barack Obama raising taxes and questioned why Obama hadn’t met with leaders until Friday. Roskam said Republicans wanted “more thoughtful” cuts. “We don’t have to go back to the taxpayers yet again when there’s absurd examples of waste and fraud,” Roskam said.
Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Lori Phelps (right), a kindergarten teacher at Lincoln School in DeKalb, receives a high-five from fellow teacher Jamie Hartwig during Friday night’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake event at Mardi Gras Lanes in DeKalb.
Fundraiser benefits county’s Big Brothers Big Sisters By STEPHANIE HICKMAN shickman@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Thirteen-year-old Brandon West spent his Friday night volunteering his time and skills for the community. West, a student at Sycamore Middle School, came to Mardi Gras Lanes at 1730 Sycamore Road in DeKalb to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of DeKalb County during its 32nd annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser. A member of TBC Net’s bowling team, West said the event was the most fun he’s had while doing community service. Cohen Barnes, president and CEO of TBC Net in DeKalb, said contributing to events such as Bowl for Kids’ Sake and organizations such as Big Brothers
“Without a successful event, we really can’t keep a program like this around.” Courtney Dennison Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of DeKalb County
Big Sisters is important to his company and the community. “If the community is strong, it indirectly benefits us [as community members],” he said. Courtney Dennison, director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of DeKalb County, said all the money raised from the event stays in the community. The event continues today and Sunday at Mardi Gras
Lanes and March 10 at Idle Hour Lanes in Sandwhich. Dennison hopes to raise about $55,000 this year. The event brings in 60 percent to 70 percent of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ annual income, so it plays a major role in the future of the organization. “Without a successful event, we really can’t keep a program like this around,” she said. Before the Bowl for Kids’ Sake event, the organization encouraged each bowler to raise at least $75. Jill Tritt, a bowler for the Foster and Buick Law Group team from Sycamore, went above and beyond her goal, raising $205 for the organization.
If you go n Bowl times: Today and Sunday: noon, 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. n Where: Mardi Gras Lanes, 1730 Sycamore Road, DeKalb n Cost: Minimum $75 donation preferred n Info: Additional event March 10 at Idle Hour Lanes in Sandwich
Get involved
See ILLINOIS, page A6
To become a “Big,” fill out an online application at realsolutionstoday.org or contact Laura Nolan at 815-758-8616.
Inside President Barack Obama formally enacts reductions, triggering $85 billion in cuts to domestic and military spending. PAGE A5
See BOWLING, page A6
Inside today’s Daily Chronicle Lottery Local news Obituaries
A2 A2-5 A4
National and world news Opinions Sports
Weather A2, A5-6 A7 B1-4
Advice Comics Classified
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