quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:
This is exactly why I have not and will not attend these meetings. What's the purpose? To say that we need different stores, different products, and a different selection? Those are issues entirely outside of the province of the village, village staff, the EDC, and the COC. The village will not, cannot, and never will have any say in what stores are leased, sold and marketed to private individuals by the private individuals that own the buildings.

There are only two ways in which the landscape of Main St. and the CBD will ever change. One, by some stroke of God, all of the building owners gather together and decide to adhere to a new plan and a new way of doing business- at their financial detriment. Two, the village of Glen Ellyn abandons its 75 year philosophy of fiscal, political, and social conservatism and actually takes affirmative steps to either issue a TIF, take property by eminent domain, or raise taxes. All of the downtown consultants in the world, and all of the ideas of the residents won't change those facts.

As far as I'm concerned, while your motives are noble, you are wasting your time.

Oh Fan, so young and yet so old. No, the Village, EDC or COC cannot control leases, however they have more control than you think. A certain poster on here has direct experience with it and can provide you examples. Whenever politics are involved, their "power" can be far reaching, even beyond the written codes/rules.

I agree with your two ways of changing, although I do not think that is those are the only things that will help downtown. I believe in small changes to help start the current movement towards the bigger changes. How are we suppose to convince the Village to do something big if we can't get them to try something small?

I do not think that by bringing in a new men's store that our downtown will be saved. I was only making a point that we cannot exclude types of stores based on what has been here before. However, if we do land a GOOD men's store, it is a step in the right direction to bring more foot traffic. More foot traffic, hopefully more sales, more sales, more $ from downtown, more $ from downtown, the more the Village will take a look at furthering their investments. So one small tick of an increase would mean we are at least on the right blip.

To get there though, there have to be several larger changes. Many that have been discussed on this board. Including leadership in two different groups need to be changed, certain positions need to be changed and our downtown "look" needs to be changed (read into that all the different types of changes you could possibly think of).

I am also disappointed that with all the talk about how much our downtown stinks that more people have not shown up at the meetings. I will say that this board is great to air out opinions and provide information to people, but the follow through is also what counts. Only about 50 people showed up at each meeting on Monday and Wednesday night. Considering that everywhere I go, people ask me what is going on downtown and give me their ideas, I would think that a lot more would participate. If GE's own residents do not prioritize their downtown as a top priority, how can we ask any other resident of any other town to make our downtown their priority for shopping/visiting? Or for that matter, their Village government?

I do not think I am wasting my time because I still believe we can better our downtown. So I will continue to go to the meetings and provide updates. To quote Bob the Builder, "Can we do it? Yes we can!"

JustAResident & Fan,

You both have very good points.

JustAResident, Thank you for reopening the discussion, but as you were aware, I just couldn't grasp the concept of a wish list. I agree with you that the village needs certain types of businesses, but the business will only come here if they can make a return on their investment. Lets say the bakery goes out. We then have new options, Panera may become the new bakery, or maybe the one on Geneva & Gary would serve Glen Ellyn. If the demand in town is great enough and an investor sees the potential to make a profit, they will open a business to satisfy that demand, but only because it is to their benefit. If they open a business and the service/selection isn't up to expectations, or the demand falls off, then closing would be logical.

Fan, If the landlords got together they would just screw it up or create a monopoly.

If a bureaucracy runs something, well they'll screw it up even worse. (case in point, Fed Ex and UPS would not exist if the post office delivered quality service with a smile) The problem with this is that there is never any accountability.

I truly think the underlying problem is the general business environment in the CBD and the perception that Glen Ellyn can be difficult to work with at best.

JustAResident,

If I would have refreshed the page, I wouldn't have done all of that typing. Well said I think we are on the same page now, except for that thing you said the other night.

Fan, You need to come to next meeting. I'll buy you a couple a drinks.

quote:

Originally posted by bitterboy:
I'll be there tonight. We BBers really do need a secret password and/or handshake - something allowing us the ability to identify other BBers we do not know. For example, if I were to walk up to someone I thought was GEM, I'd say "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" and GEM would reply "Three blind mice. See how they run"

Ok, here it is. Learn it. Live it. Love it. BB Handshake

quote:

Originally posted by GEM:

quote:

Originally posted by bitterboy:
I'll be there tonight. We BBers really do need a secret password and/or handshake - something allowing us the ability to identify other BBers we do not know. For example, if I were to walk up to someone I thought was GEM, I'd say "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" and GEM would reply "Three blind mice. See how they run"

Ok, here it is. Learn it. Live it. Love it. BB Handshake

That looks suspiciously like my fraternity handshake.

quote:
Originally posted by GEM:
quote:
Originally posted by bitterboy:
I'll be there tonight. We BBers really do need a secret password and/or handshake - something allowing us the ability to identify other BBers we do not know. For example, if I were to walk up to someone I thought was GEM, I'd say "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" and GEM would reply "Three blind mice. See how they run"



I got everything down but the splits.

Ok, I was at THG and saw nobody but Grateful. He was leaving as I was entering. We need colors - doo rags and all. Who's in?

quote:

Originally posted by JustAResident:

Oh Fan, so young and yet so old.

Maybe - but I prefer to characterize myself as a realist.

quote:

I do not think I am wasting my time because I still believe we can better our downtown. So I will continue to go to the meetings and provide updates.

I'm glad you do! However, I'm not going to do it and I refuse to feel some sort of guilt or obligation to do so.


However, GEM, for you, I'll go to one soon....only because you mentioned drinks.

quote:

Originally posted by bitterboy:
Ok, I was at THG and saw nobody but Grateful. He was leaving as I was entering. We need colors - doo rags and all. Who's in?

I'm out....SweetMariez is in.

quote:

SweetMariez is in.

I wasn't suggesting we sell crack.

I would pay money to see Bitterboy and GEM do that handshake!

Sorry BB, I didn't see your message until it was kind of late. Another time would be fun. Wish I could make Yoss's party. But I plan to contribute some "libation" which I will leave with Yoss.

So, I really did want to know what was presented at the final meeting....GEM, will you summarize?

quote:

Wish I could make Yoss's party.

That sucks! You are going to miss my applewood smoked/memphis-style pulled pork. I've been working on a new rub concoction and I've just about got it nailed.

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:
So, I really did want to know what was presented at the final meeting....GEM, will you summarize?

Summary by GEM

quote:

There are only two ways in which the landscape of Main St. and the CBD will ever change. One, by some stroke of God, all of the building owners gather together and decide to adhere to a new plan and a new way of doing business- at their financial detriment. Two, the village of Glen Ellyn abandons its 75 year philosophy of fiscal, political, and social conservatism and actually takes affirmative steps to either issue a TIF, take property by eminent domain, or raise taxes. All of the downtown consultants in the world, and all of the ideas of the residents won't change those facts.

Great crytalization of the alternatives! A third way may be to work with county, state and federal legislators, many of whom are from our village (and others, like Metra and churches), to secure development and possible grant money for improvements. And a 4th option could be to really evaluate the situation when we change our zoning from commercial to residential, with variances allowing it to be done. Our CBD has suffered from a lack of new development and expansion because, in at least four cases, we have allowed residential development to be built on commercial property in or contiguous to our CBD.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MP:
Our CBD has suffered from a lack of new development and expansion because, in at least four cases, we have allowed residential development to be built on commercial property in or contiguous to our CBD.

Amen!

quote:

Originally posted by GEM:

quote:

Originally posted by Amy:
So, I really did want to know what was presented at the final meeting....GEM, will you summarize?

Summary by GEM

Of the bazilion YouTube videos available, my youngest was actually watching that same video last night! Weird.

That green space on either side of the tracks was very inviting, however.

quote:

Originally posted by GEmom2:

That green space on either side of the tracks was very inviting, however.

Really?

What's going on with TBS? I haven't seen an update in a while and the website appears to be down.

I'm fearing that we will get a nice presentation with no options in December and Miss Vickie will tell us "Too bad, it is what it is".