URGENT HIGHWOOD TOWERS BULLETIN #5 -- January 18, 2007
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HIGHWOOD NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!
FTC Special Edition -- Guest Columnist
An Anonymous Town of Fort Sheridan Resident
Introduction
FTC welcomes comments and contributions from its readers. We first brought you a commentary from former Mayor Sirotti on the outrageous actions of the City Council in levying a 20% tax hike without showing any need or justification. Later, we presented the review of Highwood Towers by Attorney, Mary Sfasciotti. The Highwood Towers proposal is still generating a lot of interest from others who have reviewed the proposal. Today's FTC is entirely devoted to some thoughtful commentary from a Fort Sheridan resident that has taken the time to review MEGA's proposal. In addition to the many hours expended by today's guest columnist, many others are doing similar meticulous research. I can assure you of two things:
None of this would have been possible without the Developer's materials being distributed by FTC. None of this information came from City Hall voluntarily. As a matter of fact, the Mayor actually tried to suppress the distribution of Highwood Towers materials. He actually threatened a resident who obtained the materials before the first hearing. To paraphrase "You better return that book, it doesn't belong to you. Besides you will just give it to Diambri/FTC!". What a shock! The Mayor should be complimenting the resident for their civic interest, and welcoming a review and distribution by the former City Attorney! What is he hiding?
That despite the meager resources available, FTC and its readers/contributors have done far more research and due diligence on the Highwood Towers than the City and it's staff have. WOW!
ONCE AGAIN, The hearing is tonight, January 18, 2007 at 7:00 PM at Highwood City Hall. FTC will bring you more info as the hearing approaches. It is critical that you ATTEND AND EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS! The trained Chimps, flying monkeys and insincere shills certainly will.
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An Opinion from A Town of Fort Sheridan Resident with A Highland Park ZIP Code
Regarding the Development of Highwood Towers on Sheridan Road To Replace the Moraine Hotel
The City of Highwood will soon consider the Proposal of MEGA Properties, LLC to construct the nine story Highwood Tower project. I reside in the Highland Park portion of the Town of Fort Sheridan subdivision. The Town of Fort Sheridan is prominently cited by the Developer as a marketing comparable in their study and presentation. If approved, the Highwood Towers development will have a profound impact on my future residency in the Town of Fort Sheridan. It will also have a significant impact on a number of my Highland Park and Highwood neighbors who currently reside (or will reside) in the Town of Fort Sheridan ”just across the street”. The fate of the Highwood Towers proposal is not known. However, it has already been the subject of a positive recommendation from the Plan Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Their ultimate recommendation will be forwarded to Highwood City Council for subsequent consideration.
All current Fort Sheridan property owners are financially burdened due to the our developer’s refusal to (a) pay a two year assessment obligation of approximately $150,000, (b) perform their obligated major ravine restoration which will cost all owners over $500,000 to save it the ravines, and (c) fully comply with a legal agreement with Lake County. This will possibly delay the complete development of the Forest Preserve acreage which was gifted by the US government to the County by up to ten years. This acreage (valued in the range of $5 million) was conveyed with a restrictive covenant to operate a golf course within the preserve. Needless to say, the Fort Sheridan developer is named as a defendant in the respective unsettled lawsuits. To what degree and when will the homeowners be unburdened? We don't know. Highwood cannot afford to make the same mistake with the Highwood Towers proposal.
What's on the horizon regarding the potential Highwood Tower developer? The wisdom and integrity of the City of Highwood’s governance is, and will be the basis for the outcome of this “win or lose” proposition.
Granted, I don't vote for City of Highwood issues, however, I'm blind to the Highwood/Highland Park boundary line within the Town of Fort Sheridan where I reside. Highwood is my backyard. I bank in Highwood, frequent Walgreens; enjoy the superb restaurants (too often), have both my cars fixed in Highwood; regularly fill my two gas tanks in Highwood; attend St. James parish; use the Highwood Library; love the Highwood Postal service; attend many of the festivities held in Highwood; contribute tax dollars to school districts; and drive the Highwood thoroughfares constantly. I even vote at Highwood Polling places for county and national elections. I have taken the time to study MEGA Properties revised Highwood Towers proposal. That proposal was finally made available to the public last week, but only through the insistence and efforts of private citizens to disseminate the information. I'm personally appalled by how late that the materials were submitted, and the lack of updated data. There are no reasonable assurances that this complex project will be financially successful and completed within the various conflicting time frames contained in the proposal. I've documented many holes in the proposal. Hopefully, these discrepancies will be investigated by Highwood, and explanations provided by the Developer. One glaring omission in the revised proposal, is the lack of any reference to how the Navy PPV development (also across the street) will affect Highwood!
In addition, as far as I can conclude, there is little or no reference in the proposal as to the financial underpinnings of this Developer. What are the source and terms of the construction funding? How will the City guarantee that the developer will meet their promises, regarding quality and time frame? What assurances does the City have that the ever changing proposed (high-end) retail services will materialize?
Will Highwood need to pay for the personnel to cover the responsibility of riding herd on the many construction facets? At what cost? Remember, during the Town of Fort Sheridan development Highwood had significant assistance from Highland Park and even Highland Park was required to outsource many building and zoning services (I only learned about this fact a few months ago due to a need to research early zoning issues regarding my condominium building).
There is a huge fiduciary responsibility facing the Plan Commission, Zoning Board, City Council, and City staff. I pray that they take their obligations seriously, and move forward cautiously.
Signed -- An interested neighbor
_________________________________________________
HIGHWOOD TOWERS ZONING MEETING: On January 18th, 2007 at 7:00 PM the Plan Commission and Zoning Board will commence a new hearing for approval of MEGA Realty's nine story, mixed use Highwood Towers proposal. If you care about Highwood's future, you will be there.
Is This Your Idea of Highwood? Actual Rendering of the MEGA Proposal!
You will find the Highwood Towers Zoning submittal and related materials on that web site, available for download. In addition, these materials are available for inspection at Highwood City Hall. Further, FTC has provided the City with CD-ROMs containing the PDF materials. You can pick these up at City Hall. 
Hoping for a better Highwood tomorrow, through your involvement today!
Based on citizen pressure, the Plan Commission and ZBA started over to correct their errors. It's up to you. Keep up the pressure, or let the Developer win. Contact the Plan Commission Members, Zoning Board Members, The Mayor, your alderman, the City Administrator...Attend the Hearing, let them know how you feel
PS - Remember, the FTC "Year in Review" is coming soon!
Bookmark the FTC Web site: http://hwdftc.home.comcast.net/
***********************************************************************
HIGHWOOD NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!
FTC Special Edition -- Guest ColumnistAn Anonymous Town of Fort Sheridan Resident
IntroductionFTC welcomes comments and contributions from its readers. We first brought you a commentary from former Mayor Sirotti on the outrageous actions of the City Council in levying a 20% tax hike without showing any need or justification. Later, we presented the review of Highwood Towers by Attorney, Mary Sfasciotti. The Highwood Towers proposal is still generating a lot of interest from others who have reviewed the proposal. Today's FTC is entirely devoted to some thoughtful commentary from a Fort Sheridan resident that has taken the time to review MEGA's proposal. In addition to the many hours expended by today's guest columnist, many others are doing similar meticulous research. I can assure you of two things:
None of this would have been possible without the Developer's materials being distributed by FTC. None of this information came from City Hall voluntarily. As a matter of fact, the Mayor actually tried to suppress the distribution of Highwood Towers materials. He actually threatened a resident who obtained the materials before the first hearing. To paraphrase "You better return that book, it doesn't belong to you. Besides you will just give it to Diambri/FTC!". What a shock! The Mayor should be complimenting the resident for their civic interest, and welcoming a review and distribution by the former City Attorney! What is he hiding?
That despite the meager resources available, FTC and its readers/contributors have done far more research and due diligence on the Highwood Towers than the City and it's staff have. WOW!
ONCE AGAIN, The hearing is tonight, January 18, 2007 at 7:00 PM at Highwood City Hall. FTC will bring you more info as the hearing approaches. It is critical that you ATTEND AND EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS! The trained Chimps, flying monkeys and insincere shills certainly will.
________________________________________________
An Opinion from A Town of Fort Sheridan Resident with A Highland Park ZIP Code
Regarding the Development of Highwood Towers on Sheridan Road To Replace the Moraine HotelThe City of Highwood will soon consider the Proposal of MEGA Properties, LLC to construct the nine story Highwood Tower project. I reside in the Highland Park portion of the Town of Fort Sheridan subdivision. The Town of Fort Sheridan is prominently cited by the Developer as a marketing comparable in their study and presentation. If approved, the Highwood Towers development will have a profound impact on my future residency in the Town of Fort Sheridan. It will also have a significant impact on a number of my Highland Park and Highwood neighbors who currently reside (or will reside) in the Town of Fort Sheridan ”just across the street”. The fate of the Highwood Towers proposal is not known. However, it has already been the subject of a positive recommendation from the Plan Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Their ultimate recommendation will be forwarded to Highwood City Council for subsequent consideration.
All current Fort Sheridan property owners are financially burdened due to the our developer’s refusal to (a) pay a two year assessment obligation of approximately $150,000, (b) perform their obligated major ravine restoration which will cost all owners over $500,000 to save it the ravines, and (c) fully comply with a legal agreement with Lake County. This will possibly delay the complete development of the Forest Preserve acreage which was gifted by the US government to the County by up to ten years. This acreage (valued in the range of $5 million) was conveyed with a restrictive covenant to operate a golf course within the preserve. Needless to say, the Fort Sheridan developer is named as a defendant in the respective unsettled lawsuits. To what degree and when will the homeowners be unburdened? We don't know. Highwood cannot afford to make the same mistake with the Highwood Towers proposal.
What's on the horizon regarding the potential Highwood Tower developer? The wisdom and integrity of the City of Highwood’s governance is, and will be the basis for the outcome of this “win or lose” proposition.
Granted, I don't vote for City of Highwood issues, however, I'm blind to the Highwood/Highland Park boundary line within the Town of Fort Sheridan where I reside. Highwood is my backyard. I bank in Highwood, frequent Walgreens; enjoy the superb restaurants (too often), have both my cars fixed in Highwood; regularly fill my two gas tanks in Highwood; attend St. James parish; use the Highwood Library; love the Highwood Postal service; attend many of the festivities held in Highwood; contribute tax dollars to school districts; and drive the Highwood thoroughfares constantly. I even vote at Highwood Polling places for county and national elections. I have taken the time to study MEGA Properties revised Highwood Towers proposal. That proposal was finally made available to the public last week, but only through the insistence and efforts of private citizens to disseminate the information. I'm personally appalled by how late that the materials were submitted, and the lack of updated data. There are no reasonable assurances that this complex project will be financially successful and completed within the various conflicting time frames contained in the proposal. I've documented many holes in the proposal. Hopefully, these discrepancies will be investigated by Highwood, and explanations provided by the Developer. One glaring omission in the revised proposal, is the lack of any reference to how the Navy PPV development (also across the street) will affect Highwood!
In addition, as far as I can conclude, there is little or no reference in the proposal as to the financial underpinnings of this Developer. What are the source and terms of the construction funding? How will the City guarantee that the developer will meet their promises, regarding quality and time frame? What assurances does the City have that the ever changing proposed (high-end) retail services will materialize?
Will Highwood need to pay for the personnel to cover the responsibility of riding herd on the many construction facets? At what cost? Remember, during the Town of Fort Sheridan development Highwood had significant assistance from Highland Park and even Highland Park was required to outsource many building and zoning services (I only learned about this fact a few months ago due to a need to research early zoning issues regarding my condominium building).
There is a huge fiduciary responsibility facing the Plan Commission, Zoning Board, City Council, and City staff. I pray that they take their obligations seriously, and move forward cautiously.
Signed -- An interested neighbor
_________________________________________________
HIGHWOOD TOWERS ZONING MEETING: On January 18th, 2007 at 7:00 PM the Plan Commission and Zoning Board will commence a new hearing for approval of MEGA Realty's nine story, mixed use Highwood Towers proposal. If you care about Highwood's future, you will be there.
Is This Your Idea of Highwood? Actual Rendering of the MEGA Proposal!
You will find the Highwood Towers Zoning submittal and related materials on that web site, available for download. In addition, these materials are available for inspection at Highwood City Hall. Further, FTC has provided the City with CD-ROMs containing the PDF materials. You can pick these up at City Hall. Hoping for a better Highwood tomorrow, through your involvement today!Based on citizen pressure, the Plan Commission and ZBA started over to correct their errors. It's up to you. Keep up the pressure, or let the Developer win. Contact the Plan Commission Members, Zoning Board Members, The Mayor, your alderman, the City Administrator...Attend the Hearing, let them know how you feel
PS - Remember, the FTC "Year in Review" is coming soon!
Bookmark the FTC Web site: http://hwdftc.home.comcast.net/
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