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Subdivision skips usual capital path Developer is financing Lakewood project through crowdfunding By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com
Matthew Apgar – mapgar@shawmedia.com
The sun sets against the barricaded weed-covered bridge on Noe Road above Rush Creek on Thursday in Marengo.
Report: Illinois ranks ninth on most deficient list By KEVIN P. CRAVER
By the numbers
kcraver@shawmedia.com Yet another study of federal data concludes that the U.S., and Illinois in particular, is lagging when it comes to repairing or replacing structurally-deficient bridges. And while the group that released this most recent analysis has a definite vested interest – it represents builders of roads and bridges – its findings are no different from a slew of past studies that have come to the same conclusion. More than 61,000 bridges nationwide, which carry a total of 215 million vehicles daily, are structurally deficient as of the end of 2014, according to new Federal Highway Administration data reviewed by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. Illinois has the ninth-highest total number, or 2,216 of its 26,558 bridges. The association’s April 1 report was released to bring attention to the impending May 31 expiration of federal highway and transit funding, unless Congress votes to extend it. While the number of deficient bridges nationwide has decreased
n More than 61,000 bridges nationwide are deemed structurally deficient. n These bridges carry 215 million vehicles daily. n Illinois accounts for 2,216 of them. n Illinois ranks ninth highest, at 8.3 percent of its 26,558 bridges.
Sources: Federal Highway Administration, American Road and Transportation Builders Association slightly – they numbered more than 63,000 in 2013 – much remains to be done, association Chief Economist Alison Black said in a statement. “Many of the most heavily traveled bridges are nearly 50 years old. Elected officials can’t just sprinkle fairy dust on America’s bridge problem and wish it away. It will take committed investment by legislators at all levels of government,” she said. Bridges are classified as “structurally deficient” and in need of
repair if any of their three main components – decks, superstructure and substructure – rate four or lower on a 10-point scale. A classification of “functionally obsolete” means that a bridge’s design is unsuitable for its current use – for example, if a bridge meant to accommodate a certain traffic volume now carries much more because of growth or new traffic patterns. In Illinois, the builder’s association identified 1,971 bridges, or about 7 percent, as obsolete. About 60 percent of the county’s bridges are under McHenry County Division of Transportation jurisdiction, or shared jurisdiction with townships. The remainder are the responsibility of either municipalities or the Illinois Department of Transportation. Just under 75 percent of Illinois’ total bridges, and about 70 percent of its structurally deficient ones, are in rural areas, according to the transportation builders association analysis. The number of problem bridges in McHenry County has been steadily whittled down in the past
See BRIDGES, page A9
LAKEWOOD – The homes being built in the Cambria subdivision are designed with empty nesters in mind – maintenance-free landscaping, architecture meant to evoke European cottages and designs specializing in the ranch layout. But the plan Worthington Enterprises owner George Caravelli has for building up his stock of spec, fully finished and drywall finished homes, which he likes to have for customers who want to move in immediately or are ready to put the final touches on the custom homes, is new. He’s crowdfunding. His site Worthington Wealth went live last week, and 30 people have signed up so far, Caravelli said. The minimum investment is $20,000. Caravelli is promising an 8 percent return on the investments plus 1 percent of the sales price of the home, which range in price from $375,000 to $595,000, according to the website. He figures that’s a rate of
return most private investors would be interested in while solving a credit problem for him: The recession and financial regulations passed in its wake made lines of credit more difficult to get. “It feels like we’re moving,” he said. “Right now I’m optimistic. We’re only a week old, and the response is good. Success will breed success. Once a home goes up, there will be more interest.” Housing in Lakewood is moving, Village Manager Catherine Peterson said. The greatest area for potential growth is west of Haligus Road, she said. The Autumn Ridge subdivision is located north of Ballard Road, Woodland Hills is south and Cambria is south of that at Woodbine Road. Cambria originally was conceived as a subdivision of townhomes back before the recession, but only five units were built before the bottom fell out of the market and the other contracts began to cancel, Caravelli said.
See CROWDFUNDING, page A9
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
George Caravelli, president of Worthington Enterprises, points out some high-end finishes Friday in the bathroom at the Innisbrook model home at Cambria in Lakewood. Cambria is a planned 70-home subdivision designed for empty nesters. Caravelli is crowdfunding for the capital to build the starter stock of completely finished and drywall-finished homes. Investments start at $20,000.
Governor trying to broker mega-deal in Illinois Legislature By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press
“Crisis creates opportunity for change, and we have a crisis.” – Gov. Bruce Rauner
SPRINGFIELD – Seizing on Illinois’ budget crisis as a political opportunity, Republican businessman-turned-governor Bruce Rauner is trying to broker a master deal to advance his pro-business priorities through the Legislature in exchange for new revenue to save programs near and dear to the Democrats. Democratic leaders who control the General Assembly say
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they’re willing to negotiate, and talks with Republicans could begin in the next week. But they caution that some of Rauner’s proposals are non-starters. Rauner has been heavily promoting structural changes that he says will help Illinois be more competitive and move beyond a lengthy history of financial mismanagement. They include overhauling workers’ compensation and unemployment, freezing property taxes, replacing Illinois’ pension system and creat-
ing “right to work zones” where union membership would be voluntary. He says the roughly $6 billion deficit in next year’s budget – which Democrats want to close at least partially through a tax increase – creates the “leverage” he needs to get some of those changes. “Crisis creates opportunity for change, and we have a crisis. ... We’ve got to take advantage of that,” Rauner told attendees at an Illinois Chamber of Com-
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Crystal Lake 2015-16 budget heavy on capital improvements; up for vote Tuesday / A3 LOCAL NEWS
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merce event. “A lot people are saying ‘Bruce, just balance the budget and worry about other stuff later. We’ll talk to you later about reform.’ No, no, no. ... If we do only that, they’ll never talk about reform. It’ll never happen.” Rauner campaigned on his record as a successful businessman who could turn Illinois around just as he did hundreds of companies. But his efforts to mimic GOP governors in states like Indi-
Change to gambling revenue Woodstock City Council dedicates video gaming money to community programs / A3
ana and Wisconsin have run up against a Legislature where Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers. Democrats insist any budget deal must include both cuts in spending and new revenue, saying slashing spending alone will hurt working people, the disabled and others who rely on the state for services such as cancer screening and mental health care.
See LEGISLATURE, page A9
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