PRU Potluck! *Addendum*

For our faithful PRU readers who appreciate a little ADHD --


From the Humpty Dumpty file of municipal management comes the following story -- Arlington Heights development falls into foreclosure. The article opens with "(Crain’s) — A foreclosure suit seeking nearly $20 million has hit Arlington Town Square, a publicly subsidized mixed-use project that sparked a revival of the northwest suburb’s downtown."

And what's another way of saying "publicly subsidized mixed-use project?" If you said "TIF district" you would be right!

The article goes on to point out the investment group for the Arlington Town Square has been accused of fraud. However, it doesn't take accusations of fraud to cause a foreclosure filing -- missing mortgage payments is what it takes.

And as somebody once pointed out, TIF districts are no gurantee of redevelopment success -- TIF districts are as subject to economic forces and their own special problems as the rest of the real estate market.

Watch your pocketbooks and wallets, ladies and gentlemen!



Will the Park Ridge Park District Board agree to the proposed T-Mobile erection of two cell towers?

At the last Park Ridge Park District Board COW meeting, the Executive Director's discussion included a proposal for "T-Mobile Cell Towers at Northeast and South Park."

The PRU Crew has been told T-Mobile may be willing to pay a hefty sum per month to the Park District for the privilege -- perhaps as much as $20,000.00 per month year.

Cell towers aren't pretty, but considering the revenue constraints on the Park District and the fact that cell towers aren't all that different from utility poles, the Crew feels this is a revenue generating idea worth serious consideration.

We also feel cell towers don't suck as much as billboards!

The Park Ridge Park District Board will probably be discussing this issue at their next regular meeting Thursday, March 18th, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Maine Park Leisure Center, 2701 Sibley.

*Addendum* -- Anonymous said...

Cell towers do not have to be unsightly. I was fortunate to be in Colorado a few weeks ago and noticed that the cell towers were disguised as evergreen trees. They blended in quite well, and it was a local who pointed it out to me. Seems like a workable solution in our parks that we require that as well.
March 10, 2010 1:53 PM



Anon@1:53 -- You weren't joking!

We found the photo at left on the website Destination Knowlton.com

Gotta love those crazy Canucks!







In an online article published by the Herald-Advocate, we learn "a majority of the Maine Teachers Association membership voted "no" today (March 9) on a board request that the teachers open their contract, a district news release stated.

The Board and Administration had proposed salary adjustments that would have facilitated the recall of some or all of the 75 teachers laid off in response to a current and projected structural budget deficit, the release stated. "

"Salary adjustments" translated means less of a pay raise than originally contracted.

And again to the MTA rank and file we say, WTF?!?!

For those interested in an editorial analysis of the subject, check out the Pub-dog's post today -- Teachers Union Betting District 207 Blinks First.

House Of Cards!

Just about everywhere one reads the news, the talk of the day is the economy. And foreclosures. And people losing their homes. The PRU Crew doesn't know anyone who hasn't felt the pinch.

In last week's Pioneer Local there was a story about Foreclosures rising fastest in northern suburbs. On the same day as the Pioneer article appeared, we published a piece about vacant homes and the necessity for enforcement of the City's property maintenance code. Also, at last Monday's City Council meeting, City Manager Jim Hock reminded the Council of the City's property maintenance code, and City staff and the Council discussed the problems of neglected properties.

However, failing to make mortgage payments isn't the only way someone can lose their home. Failing to pay property taxes is another way a homeowner can lose their property.

On July 16, 2009 beginning at 8:30 a.m. the 2007 Annual Tax Sale for delinquent property tax liens will take place. The annual tax sale is the County's attempt to move delinquent properties back onto the property tax generating rolls and collect past due payments.

When people fail to pay their taxes, we all suffer and have to pick up the slack.

Of course nobody is immune to the problems in the economy and, according to the Cook County Treasurer's records, there are a number of Maine Township properties set to be sold for delinquent taxes -- properties like the one below --



Property PIN number 09-27-414-018-0000

According to the Cook County Treasurer, former Mayor Howard P. Frimark failed to pay his 2007 2nd installment property tax bill, and it looks like he's failed to pay his 2008 1st installment property tax bill too.

After over-seeing two consecutive years of millions of dollars in deficit spending by the City of Park Ridge we find former Mayor Howard hasn't managed to keep his personal accounts in order either.

Somehow, we aren't surprised.

Coming to a Foreclosure Near You?

Last week a faithful PRU reader submitted the above photo of a home in the 2nd Ward that was foreclosed and boarded up -- a neighborhood eyesore to be sure.

Our reader informed us that he contacted his Alderman and the City about the house and received a reply from the City indicating that the City could not locate the owner -- the PRU Crew thinks whoever responded in this way probably wouldn't have any better luck finding their own ass with both hands and a flashlight.

Our undeterred faithful PRU reader conducted an internet search and found the ownership information. He then provided the ownership information to the City, at which point our faithful reader was informed that the City has given the owner 90 days to remove the boards, in accordance with the Park Ridge Property Maintenance Code (.pdf).

22-8-12 CLOSING WINDOWS AND OTHER OPENINGS

Any building that is not secured and is abandoned or vacant shall have all unsecured wall openings including, but not limited to, windows, doors, and porch openings boarded up or otherwise closed until the building is properly secured. No building opening shall be boarded up or otherwise closed for more than 90 days unless approved by the Housing Inspector or Building Official. (Ord 2006-01, 1/9/06, S24)

Our faithful PRU reader also contacted the owner about this property and received the following response --

From: "Henry Jones" <jonesrealtyreo.com>
To: xxxx@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 10:41:49 AM GMT -06:00
Subject: RE: xxxx Hoffman Park Ridge

This house is owned and being sold by the Federal Government of the United States of America. They tell me what to do, how to do and when to do….If it sells hey, I make a few bucks. If it don’t. I still got a few bucks…. It is what it is….. Thanks for the inquiry….

Jones Realty Co
329 W 18th Suite 413
Chicago, IL 60616
312.602.9830
Fax 312.829.6340
corporate website: www.itsmyagent.com
Henry Jones Managing Broker

Does anyone else get the feeling that the managing broker doesn't give a shit?

This is the exact type of situation for why our City officials should -- because they are what is supposed to stand between carpetbaggers, chaos, and the health and welfare of our community.

Really? City staff couldn't find the ownership information? Really? Did anyone even try?

We've received a few reports like this now and so we're going to tell everybody that it is not only true that the Good Lord helps those who help themselves, but also that City staff does too.

The economy isn't going to get better overnight, and neither are the foreclosures -- according to one source, Realty Trac (click on the "Bank Owned" tab), there are currently 175 bank owned properties in Park Ridge.

It seems worth everyone's time to know the Property Maintenance Code (.pdf).

To our faithful PRU reader -- the Crew thanks you for sharing the information with us, your effort on behalf of your neighborhood and community, and finally for your patience with us -- we realize it took us longer than it should have to catch on to what you were trying to make us understand.

Tip of the Iceberg.

First we read a story in the Journal & Topics about Local House Foreclosures Continue Nasty Climb, which included some stats for Park Ridge. The article reports that "according to this latest information, Park Ridge's foreclosures increased by 147%, going from 32 to 79."

Tell us again how increasing density for new condominium projects is good for Park Ridge?

Then we read two articles in Crain's: one about the Foreclosure wave builds, and another about the Wave of need bleeds charities.

Maybe people can pick up an extra box of Mac-n-Cheese to show some thanks to Kraft foods for their charitable efforts, then deliver that extra box to Emergency Food Pantry - General Assistance - Maine Township.

And just in case anybody thought the Average Joe was going to catch a break, burbcopschicago put up an article to wish everybody a Merry F---ing Xmas From BGPD. They get it because they are out there every day seeing it. The working stiffs get stiffed from every direction.

The PRU Crew still hopes the good and blessed people of Park Ridge can dig a little deeper this Holiday season and give a little bit more to those less blessed, both within and without of our community.