GROWING COMMUNITY WEDNESDAY JOURNAL, INC.
ForestParkReview.com
Vol. 103, No. 7
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F O R E S T PA R K
REVIEW FEBRUARY 12, 2020
John Rice focusess on local author PAGE 3
Design studio looks to the future PAGE 10
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Cultural Park Committee wants to resume Altenheim talks Mayor, village waiting to demolish buildings By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter
The Cultural Park Committee, an ad hoc committee formed in December 2016 and headed by resident Ralph DiFebo, is itching to start up discussions once more about what will be done with the village owned property surrounding the Altenheim Retirement Home. Mayor Rory Hoskins, however, wants to secure state funding for the demolition of five derelict structures – including the chapel – on the Altenheim property before making future plans for the site. In 2001, the village purchased the property for $3.6 million to avert purchase of the land by a private developer who wanted to build townhomes. The loan to finance the property purchase, which is approximately 11 acres, will be paid off in 2023, according to Village Administrator Tim Gillian. The property is just south of Madison Street along Van Buren Street. In 2007, a potential $4.3 million sale to the Oak Park YMCA fell through as the Y could not obtain financing, and in 2012 Fenwick High School offered to purchase the south section of the Altenheim property for athletic facilities but the village declined. See ALTENHEIM on page 11
SNOWED IN
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
Michael Wilhelm bowls in the hallway of Garfield Elementary School during the annual preschool Winter Family Night and open house on Feb. 6. Parents learned about the Forest Park preschool program, and activities were set up for the kids.
Sewer tax OK’d to fund aging infrastructure $1.37 million expected in additional revenue By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter
Water rates are rising slightly, and a new sewer tax is being added for all
IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 THIS Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Letters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
types of customers in Forest Park, including residential, multi-family residences of three or more units, senior citizens, industrial and commercial, and institutional. The increase is expected to bring in an additional $1,370,000 in annual revenue and will be used to fix and replace the town’s aging water and sewer infrastructure, according to Village Administrator Tim Gillian.
Pot not a free-for-all PAGE 4
At the Feb. 10 village council meeting, Mayor Rory Hoskins and Commissioners Joe Byrnes, Ryan Nero, Dan Novak and Jessica Voogd voted unanimously to increase water rates and, for the first time ever, add in a fee for sewer usage. Until now, Forest Park and Elmwood Park were two of the only towns in the vicinity See SEWER on page 14
Local cookie shop expands to Chicago location PAGE 8
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