Dinsdale - I agree with most everything you have written. However, I think everyone must take a strong look at what type of school were are talking about, what is the enrollment, what are the hours of operation, what are the pick-up and drop-off methods, how will the use of the building change, will it be expanded, if so, by how much, etc. The devil is in the details. It very well might be that a school has less of an impact to the neighborhood than a church...it very well might not be true as well.

I guess we shall see. However, all that being said, why the hysteria before the facts come out? I don't get it.

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:
I guess we shall see. However, all that being said, why the hysteria before the facts come out? I don't get it.

Come on friend. You know well that all to often by the time the facts come out, the decision has been made!

Read that attached Sun article and it said something like the school's contract with the Iowa owner expired 2/14 or something. So what is the current situation? It always amazes me that it can be so difficult to actually access "the facts" regarding matters such as this. I don't recall seeing any sign on the property informing of an upcoming village action with respect to it. As someone else said, there was never even a "For Sale" sign to let folks know what was up.

It seems pretty obvious to me that 80 or so parents making 2 trips a day to the school 5 days a week would very likely be a considerable increase in traffic over the (just guessing) 100 max parishoners showing up on Sunday mornings. We're talking 400 vehicle trips per week for the school, compared to 100 for the church. (Just to continue my WAG, but I'll suggest the schools assemblies and meetings would cancel out church trips for weddings, potluck dinners, and the like.) Moreover, the school's vehicle traffic would likely be occurring closer to the time that pedestrians are going to/from school/work, and when traffic would be heavier (during the week) than Sunday mornings.

But heck, I'm one of those idiots who thought it was obvious that rebuilding the clinic would increase traffic on Western. Wish we had an expert traffic forecaster around here!

FTR, I've got no objection to (or love for) Montessori schools. At one point briefly considered sending my kids to one.

I'm curious at the motivation for the property owner wanting to sell to Montessori. Are they getting more cash than they would for residential housing?



well, I have no clue if I remember correctly, but I heard that the owners called the village to say they intended to sell. Seems like the insider deal with the lawyer representing the school told them it was available. Very suspicious and leads to non-trust with the neighborhood. I do not think the property was ever on the market.

Plus the whole railroading of the neighbor to use his easement. Neighbor to the east shares a driveway with the church, long standing recorded easement. Poor guy never heard a word of what the school inteneded until days before the village meeting.

**above may not be completely accurate, but what was heard at the village meeting from people in attendence

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:
I thought the same thing...that is, once all the asbestos, which is surely there, is removed.

Allot of houses in town are covered with that stuff. Siding, shingles and old floor tiles. If you have a boiler or vermiculite insulation in the attic . . plaster walls were reinforced with the fibers also. . . It was a very popular material during the late 40's, 50's and 60's. If the church was built prior to the 30's then chances are it was only added to the heating system.

quote:

Originally posted by Dinsdale:

Come on friend. You know well that all to often by the time the facts come out, the decision has been made!

Or the envelope has been delivered

This is the second or third time that I have heard that the church owner had contacted the village notifying them of his/her intent to sell. Was the property offered to the village or something? Not that the village wants to be in the real estate business, so I am told. But what difference does this make?

Anyone?

Bueller?

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
Anyone?

They're out making new banners.

The least that these No Birds could do is answer a simple question. For the good of the village and all.

Found this on youtube.

That kid shouldn't be near Park Blvd.

I guy I know had his house foreclosed on right up the street from the church and since a friend of mine had been using it as a comp, she had to knock her price down. Whoever thought that one house on Park and Hill could affect one on Hawthorn and Prairie? I think they are turning the house on Park into a Potbelly's...but that may not be accurate.

That is b/s. I know for a fact that my car drove by the filming at least twice....and it wasn't included.

What could have been....

I just got home and I did notice a large moving truck outside the church...

I read this whole message board. All 7 pages and several hundred posts. About the only thing I could NOT find, anywhere, was this:

"I contacted the Diamante School staff and asked them to discuss [whatever my concern is]... and they said..."

Good Neighbors? Right.

What a great community we are, if so many people can get so emotional and spend so much time **speculating** about this, but nobody has actually gone to the source to get any facts.

In FACT, I called the school. Asked how many "good neighbors" had contacted the staff/owners to ask any questions. Answer? ZERO.

I asked if the school had reached out to the neighbors to discuss things and hear their concerns. Yes, several times. Result? The neighbors did agree to meet, but the only subject the would discuss was to convince Diamante to buy a different property (NIMBY). They **refused to discuss** any terms or ideas that would allow the school to exist at Park/Hillside in harmony with the neighbors.

I see lots of **speculation and assumptions** on this site ("this will dramatically increase traffic..."); but no research, no evidence, no facts. Has anyone asked the school how many cars enter/exit each day? Has anyone asked the school specifically about their plans to expand or not? Well, no, because nobody has asked the school anything.

I DARE ANYONE opposing the school's plans to contact the school, ask your questions, and post the results here. I dare you. Prove you're a "good neighbor."

And knock off the hyperbole. You're only hurting the community you profess to love and want to "preserve."

Wait...I had assumed all along that they had spoken to the proposed school owners and that is where they got their information that contained doom....with a healthy side order of gloom.

Rhett...thank you! You have stated the biggest issue in this town. People need to talk to other people! What ever happened to knocking on a door and talking to someone vs. going for every possible assumption of what ifs.

I like you - don't know you; but like your reality check.

quote:

Originally posted by little...way:
Found this on youtube.

Was my sarcasm meter on low or was this really an attempt to persuade me that the school is a bad idea?

You're just a typical American that the French loathe so very much. Everything on film needs to be spelled out for you in the form of exploding national monuments and torrid bedroom scenes. The subtlety in this piece is admirable. I got the point almost immediately. I love the raw feel of this film. The kid didn't have to say anything...I knew the message. It was so clear, so concise. His spoken word was merely icing on the cupcake.