Wednesday, February 6, 2013
As an exclusive agreement between the Highland Park City Council and a potential Highland Park Theatre developer nears its expiration, questions remain about the viability of the plan and the theater itself.
Only a few weeks remain in the exclusive agreement between the Highland Park City Council and prospective developers for the Highland Park Theatre, and councilmembers are still waiting for some important details about the potential plan. Alcyon LLC would seek to replace the city-owned Highland Park Theatre and its adjacent parking lot with a six‐story, terraced designed, mixed‐use, LEED targeted development. The proposal includes 45 residential condominium units, 10,000 square feet of retail/commercial use, and a 500 to 600 seat theater/mixed‐media center. The mixed-media center is yet to be discussed with specificity, creating some skepticism about the proposal, according to City Councilman Tony Blumberg. "The memorandum of understanding…
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The Highland Park 18-year-old who drove into a family, killing a 5-year-old girl, was cited with driving under the influence shortly after the crash on Monday. Why wasn't her name disclosed to the public until Wednesday evening?
The 18-year-old Highland Park resident who drove her car into a mother and three children, killing 5-year-old Jaclyn Santos-Sacramento, was cited with a DUI shortly after the crash on Monday, two days before her name was released, according to the Lake County States' Attorney's office. The driver's identity was not revealed on Monday because charges had not been filed yet, according to a news release sent out Monday afternoon by the Highland Park Police Department. On Wednesday evening, a news release from the Highland Park City Manager's office identified the driver as Carly Rousso and said she'd been cited with "driving under the influence of an intoxicating compound or combination of intoxicating compounds in connection with protocols …
Thursday, August 2, 2012
City Council questions whether or not to spend $90,000 to fix theater's fire code violations.
Highland Park Fire Chief Pat Tanner handed the City Council some bad news about the Highland Park Theatre at its last meeting: it will cost $90,000 in safety upgrades just to reopen one of the theater's four screens. Earlier: City Shuts Down Highland Park Theatre The city shut down the theater as well as the Port Clinton parking garage on May 5 when it was revealed that both structures were not up to fire safety code. Repairs began on the garage almost immediately, and it reopened weeks later. The theater, however, has remained closed for months. "Port Clinton garage went from being an extremely active and integral part of downtown to being closed," City Councilman Tony Blumberg explained to Patch on Tuesday. "That's not what happened with…
Monday, October 17, 2011
Changes to the Business and Economic Development Commission also discussed.
Looking for ways to help Highland Park residents remain in their homes and the community, the City Council took direct action to modify enforcement of the real estate transfer tax last Monday and agreed to discuss additional opportunities to help citizens. Any time a change is made in the title to property in Highland Park, the seller must pay the city a one-time tax of $5 for every $1000 of value, though there are some exceptions, like a homeowner refinancing a mortgage. 'Just for the bank' Gayle Weinberg Kalmin told the Council at its last meeting how she had to pay a transfer tax twice. She was charged once when she added her father to the title and again when he was removed 18 months later. No money was exchanged and she never moved…
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
City Council takes steps to give citizens choices on purchasing electricity.
A first step toward reducing electricity costs for citizens of Highland Park was unanimously taken by the City Council Monday at its regularly scheduled meeting. The Council tentatively set Dec. 12 for a vote to place a referendum on the March 20 primary ballot that will give the City the right to negotiate with independent electric providers to purchase power that it can resell to its citizens. Though the electricity could be purchased from a source other than Commonwealth Edison, the utility will continue to deliver the power through its infrastructure. Bills will still come from ComEd. “We can buy in bulk,” Mayor Nancy Rotering said. “We have the opportunity to work with other municipalities as well.” Lake Forest took a similar step…
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Council devising comprehensive plan to renew city's sales tax rebates.
Members of the Highland Park City Council took a step closer to creating a comprehensive sales tax rebate program to entice new businesses and retain existing ones. The board acted Monday at its Committee of the Whole Meeting before the regular council gathering. Mayor Nancy Rotering asked Councilmen Jim Kirsch and Paul Frank to work with City Manager Dave Limardi and Finance Director Elizabeth Holleb to create a detailed plan to help the business community. It is expected to be discussed at the Sept. 12 Committee of the Whole meeting. Read More: Council Weighs Lifting Sales Tax Moratorium. Before 2008, the city helped new businesses such as Target or auto dealerships by rebating a portion of the sales tax that the company collected to …
Thursday, August 11, 2011
City Council sets Sept. 7 meeting date as it puts final touches on bid guidelines.
A meeting to gather public input on the future of the Highland Park Theatre is scheduled on Sept. 7 before the City Council puts the final touches on a Request for Proposals (RFP) set for five days later. Community Development Director Michael Blue announced the public hearing at Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting and said it aimed to allow maximum attendance after the Labor Day holiday. Neither the time nor location of the Sept. 7 meeting has been determined. Blue indicated the information would be available by Aug. 15. Blue disclosed a timetable for a decision by Nov. 25 along with a 12-page draft RFP for council members to review at Monday’s meeting. During debate over the RFP language, Councilmen Jim Kirsch and Steve Mandel …
Friday, July 1, 2011
Discussion of project ends as three contracts are approved, 4-2.
Councilman David Naftzger asked for a thorough review of the city’s planned $31 million upgrade of its 82-year old water treatment plant at Monday’s City Council meeting. Though the other councilmen discussed Naftzger's request, the Council later voted 4-2 to approve three contracts affiliated with the project and avoid any potential delays to work scheduled to begin in September. A bond issue to pay for the project is planned this summer. The three contracts were among 10 items set for approval on the omnibus agenda by the City Council without debate. Council members have an opportunity to remove these items for discussion. Naftzger, , one of Highland Park’s three newly elected City Councilmen, asked they be given further review. …
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Mayor Nancy Rotering names liaisons to several of the city's affiliated agencies.
At Monday's City Council meeting, Councilman Steve Mandel announced a number of appointments made by Mayor Nancy Rotering. Mandel will chairman of the Intra City Parking Commission with Councilman Paul Frank serving as vice chairman. Mandel and Councilman Jim Kirsch will serve on the Liquor Control Commission. Nancy Himmelfarb will be vice chairman of the Natural Resources Commission. Each city commission and other Highland Park entities have a City Council member designated as liaisons. Mandel also revealed those appointments made by Rotering, who did not attend Monday's meeting. Kirsch and Frank will work with the Business and Economic Development Commission. Mandel and Councilman Tony Blumberg will help the Plan Commission. Blumberg …
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Duties of vacant post will be handed over to finance director.
The City Council reached a consensus to eliminate the city treasurer position but maintain the Finance Committee at its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday. The unpaid city treasurer position has been vacant since the recent resignation of Ron Zweig. A majority of council members said the duties could be handled by Finance Director Elizabeth Holleb. The members directed city staff to prepare an ordinance for the council’s June 27 meeting to make the transfer of duties official. “The position has become obsolete with a professional finance director,” Councilman Steve Mandel said. “Almost all the work is being done by the finance director.” Mandel chaired the meetings as mayor pro tem because Mayor Nancy Rotering was not present. …
Kate
10:44 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
I agree. Restore the theater as other small towns have successfully done.. Look up Wayne and Bryn Mawr PA more ›