Church could help revitalize
I have seen much response to the article regarding the possible new church at Eight Corners in Brookfield, everything from positive responses to negative responses.
I am glad to see that some see the significance of a possible new addition to Eight Corners as being a positive thing, and that $1 million, which when completed will be about $6 million, shows Brookfield is a vibrant and growing community, which will encourage people to buy homes that are now for sale.
I also can appreciate the concerns regarding sales tax and real estate taxes. This area wasn’t always a service area. The insurance building on the corner was originally a funeral parlor. Insurance companies do not being in sales taxes, but funeral parlors do. The union hall was originally an auto parts store. Union halls do not bring in sales taxes, but auto parts stores do.
Obviously, when the buildings were sold the village did not concern itself with the sales tax siutation.
One of the other concerns was real estate taxes. The amount that would be lost to the village of Brookfield is $2,515.67 a year. If this lost amount would prevent building a church that would bring in over 100 people to Eight Corners, then I will donate the $2,515.67 a year to make up for the lost real estate taxes.
This 100-plus people may possibly stop at Tischler’s to buya gallon of milk and realize what great values Tischler’s has, or they might possibly need a bottle of aspirins and realize that CVS is nearby.
We can no longer help the Eight Corners restaurants that have gone out of business, but we can help the ones that are struggling here. The 100-plus people can help Eight Corners and the rest of the struggling businesses in Brookfield. If they receive a good product and good servce, they will come back.
One person was concerned about traffic congestion on Grand Boulevard. I go to church one block awat every Sunday. Not only is there no traffic congestion, but there is no traffic, period. Minutes go by when you do not even see a car on Sunday. Maybe this is why Eight Corners needs an influx of more people.
One person fears that more people will devastate Eight Corners. Again, I appreciate that aeveryone has an opinion, but I cannot understand how putting people to work on new construction in an area that is struggling, on property that has been for sale for years, can possibly devastate an area. However, I will be more than willing to listen to anyone in case there is something I may not have thought about.
Linda Sokol Francis
God’s Will LLC
Brookfield
Bartoberfest a hit, thanks to you
Thank you to all who attended our second annual Bartoberfest for making it another tremendous success. Once again, Brookfield was alive with fest-goers from all over who had a great time and a fun and safe evening.
Your enthusiasm and support are greatly appreciated. Thanks also to our sponsor, Burke Beverage, and to our in-kind sponsors, the Landmark and Suburban Life.
Be sure to circle the date for our Mardi Gras Celebration, Feb. 13th. Twelve bars. Twelve bands. Free trolleys. And beads, beads, beads.
See you there!
Linda Kampschroeder
The Brookfield Bar Owners Association
Peraica, board need to step back
On Oct. 7, I went to meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. I was one of nearly 90 people who turned out to show support for protecting the Cook County Forest Preserves by voting no to a proposal by the village of Hinsdale to use forest preserve land for recreational sports activities for its constituency.
Unfortunately, in violation of its own land policy, a majority of the commissioners present voted to “continue talks” with Hinsdale on an intergovernmental agreement that would allow the village to lease long term (30-40 years) for nearly 30 acres for ball fields.
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County is against giving up this land. The stated mission of the district is “to establish the Forest Preserve District of Cook County as the most sustainable forest preserve system in the nation.”
The district’s first principles state that remnant natural lands within the forest preserve district are irreplaceable and that a beautiful and healthy forest preserve is fundamental to the economic health of Cook County and the region.
It is obvious that the commissioners who voted for this “discussion” have little understanding of their responsibility. Anthony Peraica was one of those who voted against the statutory duty to protect the forest preserves.
I find this particularly confusing, given his appearance at the Daniel Burnham Sustainability Conference earlier this month. Apparently, what is important to him is appearance rather than substance.
The three-day conference, which I attended in full, emphasized the importance of ongoing examination of what changes might permit a transition to ecologically sustainable practices fostered by input from both the natural sciences and the social sciences and to explore how our own values relate to environmental sustainability.
Participants emphasized that these strategies must be science-based and quantifiable. Long-term resource commitment is necessary to avoid the loss of conservation gains already achieved.
I urge you to contact the county commissioners and ask them to step back on this proposal while it is still in the “discussion” stage. If Cook County commissioners do not understand sustainability principles, then perhaps it is time to separate the two boards and allow the forest preserve district to make decisions.
Mary Cray
Riverside
