Well, I knew it would happen and it has. Good old District 150 wanted to make a deal with the Park District and build a new school to replace Glen Oak School. They were basically going to put it on a corner of Glen Oak Park that is well, dirty and run down anyway. This, some thought would be an improvement to a park which has been sliding into despair in recent years despite the "new" Zoo money drain going on the other end.
But, no, the neighbors balked and protested and ranted and raved. How dare the big bad school district plant a school in our beloved park. Where will the rats and drug dealers go? No we demand that this district build on the same location the old school is on.
"But there is not enough room there." quipped the District. Nonetheless, the neighbors and protestors won out and the school district caved even after they spent thousands on homes near Glen Oak Park.
Well plans were drawn and sites were set. Now the homes over there at Frye and Wisconsin have increased in value. My goodness, Weaver Ridge residents would blush at the prices on these Victorian aged homes. $750,000 for just one that has been gutted and transformed into apartments.
What a wonderful new age we live in. Couldn't we have seen this coming? I did. These concerned neighbors are so worried about their new school that one home owner who saw the 750 grand price said; "Hell just give me 10% over my mortgage and I'll move across the river!" Well you do-gooders, now we (the taxpayer) will have to pay some mouthpiece (lawyer) to file papers and take your property. Gee, that won't add any cost to this project will it? Should have left the school in the park. All you need to do is add a spoonful of Merle Huff, sprinkle in some greedy home owners, a dash of realtors and add a heavy amount of lawyers and bake until level dirt ground appears and you'll have spent enough to have built 3 new schools.
Ahh only in America.
UPDATE: I have noticed that a few bloggers have been silent on this news report. The very same ones that lambasted the District for buying homes and wanting to build in Glen Oak Park. Wow, I could only imagine their swift condemnation of the school district if they paid $750,000 for a home. FEH
4 comments:
You are right. I have neglected to comment on this. I was kinda busy yesterday, and I missed this article. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
As you recall, my opinion throughout this mess was that D-150 didn't need to replace the building as the quality of the education depended on the teachers and the support given them by the administration. BUILDINGS don't educate kids, people do.
But keeping Glen Oak (and the other schools) was not an option given us by the district. So, I argued for building the new school at the site of the current Glen Oak School.
As to the prices these people want for their properties ... Good Lord. There's no what in HELL that home on Frye is worth three-quarters of a million dollars. And the dilapidated rental property on Kansas? The slumlord who owns it ought to take the $32,450 he's been offered, since it's ten times what was paid for it less than a decade ago.
I'm opposed to using eminent domain to seize property for use by private developers. But THIS is exactly why eminent domain exists, to protect taxpayers from greedy clowns who try to hold the taxpayers hostage.
My point exactly and yes, with eminet domain, the city/district will not be held hostage. But, with every ED case, lawyers and fees will have to be paid and prices may be set by a judge which will certainly cost the taxpayers more than if people sold their homes outright. This is going to get even more interesting as a few needed properties are still in the wings. I'll be interested in reading your take Billy.
As one of the neighbors who favored building in the current location, I am saddened by the efforts of some of the owners in the area. I have jokingly said for years that I pray for eminent domain, but I actually believe the East Bluff is worth saving and that putting the school across Prospect Avenue would do nothing to help the East Bluff. I also hoped that with upgrading the East Bluff and the "New" Peoria Zoo (not happy that the Glen Oak was taken out of the name) that there would be some upgrading to some of the structures in the park. My kids are out of school and I have no intention of selling my home and moving, so that is not my motivation. A school is heart of a community. It makes sense to me to have the school IN the heart of the community. As we return to the past with New Urbanism, perhaps there is a reason the original urbanists placed the school at Frye and Wisconsin. I think there was good logic in that original decision.
The fight over the school was really about who wanted out of the East Bluff the most. The group who won screamed louder and first. Further the group who won called on Bob Manning with their problems most.
It wasn't about the school - it was about getting the hell out of the area. Nobody else was going to buy those houses in that area, the District was a god send for them.
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