Today I was solicited for "side walk snow removal funds" from a very pleasant lady. The gist of this is to have an outside company come out and clear the walkways after every snowfall, thus showing the Village (by example) that this can be performed at a very nominal expense. (I believe the contractor's quote was under $250.00/ snowfall including salting)

This once again, grabbed my attention for awhile and as usual, I was disappointed that the Village would differ this expense on the businesses and landlords. After a bit of research I came up with this.

This is a basic map of the Metra Parking in GE. After glancing at the map I noticed that the Village owns lots on all sides of the CBD. In addition they rent out these lots as commuter parking spaces ($1.50/day $70something/quarter and $270/year) Also there is a Seven (7) year waiting list for the spaces closest to the train station and Two (2) years for the outer lots. There are 962 something rentable spaces.

Based on this basic information this makes our Village one of the largest "retailers" in the CBD. They sell parking spaces. I'm sure they have more customers on a daily basis than any other retailer in the CBD. According to the map, their "customers" use the walkways on Main Street, Crescent, Forest, Duane and Park Blvd while engaged in the business of renting a parking space. Basically all of the major streets in the CBD.

Since they appear to have more customers than any individual retailer and the fact that the walkways are owned by the Village and they are the only "retailer" who has it's very own public works department. . . . . . Wouldn't it make the most sense that they are responsible for their care maintenance and upkeep if not only for the benefit of their "customers" but to the benefit of the Village as a Whole?

Isn't the Village there to for the benefit of the community? Wouldn't this help promote commerce?

A brief crunching of the numbers 962 spaces X $1.50/space X 5 workdays/week x 52 weeks/ year= $375K.. (This doesn't included fines/fees ect.) {Parking tickets start at $25.00}

If the demand for this parking is so great in our town, would it really be a bad idea to raise the parking rate by a quarter or so to help offset the cost of having the walkways cleaned (either by an outside contractor) or a Village Employee and a small tractor.) The problem we are experiencing is inconsistency in the snow removal process, with some areas well maintained and others being more than treacherous.

It truly was awful that a group of BBers had to clean up the sidewalks a few years back, now another "organization" is again picking up where our Village has failed.

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Originally posted by GEM:
It truly was awful that a group of BBers had to clean up the sidewalks a few years back, now another "organization" is again picking up where our Village has failed.

Why do you sound shocked by this?

Of course the guy has a point. Very difficult to disagree with him. But I also say if I am making a living by having a store anywhere, I'd be making it as safe and welcoming to my clientele and potential clientele as possible. You'd have to be an idiot for not clearing a path to your door.

Is it really the individual store owner? Some clear the walkways religiously, while others are either vacant or they don't give a sh!t. Everyone is pointing their fingers at everyone else. This problem needs to be consolidated to one entity (Village or Outside Contractor) that will do the work as contracted, provides insurance relative to the work and is cost effective not only to retailers and their customers, but to the several thousand commuters that utilize the walkways while traveling to and from the commuter parking lots.

As a general business practice. . . . .If you have a 2 or 7 year waiting list, It isn't going to hurt your business if you raise your prices to improve your product or service.

How do they do it in Chicago?

I walked through the Loop and back to Ogilvie yesterday, and I know there was far more snow accumulation there over the weekend than here in GE. My black suede boots do not even have a salt mark as they didn't get wet or snowy.

quote:

How do they do it in Chicago?

The local Alderman hires his Brother In-Law's newly created snow plowing firm.

quote:

Originally posted by GEM:

It isn't going to hurt your business if you raise your prices to improve your product or service.

Yeah, makes you wonder why business owners spend all of their time trying to get taxpayers to foot the bill for moving the snow in front of their business.

I shovel the public sidewalk in the public way in front of my home and my neighbor. When large storms hit I shovel in front of four homes.

If you really succeed in acquiring my tax dollars to shovel your business I will be none too happy. I have zero sympathy, buy a shovel or a bag of salt - or hire the kid that comes around trying to sell shoveling services. Shovel the neighbor store too.

There's no excuse for not shoveling or laying salt on the thin ribbon of walkway in front of your business when you're standing there all day 6 feet from it.

Buildings clean their walks - what a surprise!!! Some buildings put heated sidewalks in front of their entrances (Sears Towers has those, for example). See, I'm guess I'm just used to landlords who actually take care of their buildings, tenants, and visitors, more or less. City takes care of bridges.

And, guess what - I park every day in the train lots- and appreciate the owners of the parking lot clearing enough so I can get my car in and out and walk to the train itself - but, since owners of other buildings in the CBD can't be bothered to actually clear their sidewalks, I can't be bothered going anywhere other than the parking lot. I can't help it that CBD retailers don't notice those big trains, with thousands of commuters, passing them by every day!

Why should I pay even a nickel more to support CBD retailers - when I can just get off the train, take my car and go SOR where retailers/landlords actually do clear their sidewalks?

ETA - hmm, since we seem to need more parking spaces, and don't have many retailers, let's condemn a lot of the properties surrounding the train - we'd have hapyp commuters at least.

Unfortunately looks like everyone is still pointing fingers. We haven't had and I doubt if we will get 100% compliance in the CBD, thus someone needs to take a lead for the community as a whole. (One would think this would be where the local government steps in )

quote:

Originally posted by Nombrilisme:


Yeah, makes you wonder why business owners spend all of their time trying to get taxpayers to foot the bill for moving the snow in front of their business.

Uhmmm. . . . . . Last time I checked business owners/retailers and landlords pay taxes too. Lots of taxes!

Couldn't one say that the Village is in the business of renting parking spaces to commuters and it is The Village's responsibility to provide free and clear access to and from the train station and their parking lots?

They make a lot of money renting parking spaces and we don't get to "tax" them. It is absurd that they want the private sector to clean the walkways on their behalf, especially when they refuse the retailers the right to place small signs/advertising on the walkway to promote their own businesses.

Maybe leadership is leading by example. On Monday morning, shortly before 6 AM, I saw a crew of 2-3 guys shoveling and salting the sidewalk along the side of Bells & Whistles on Hillside and also along Main down to around Tap House Grill. It didn't look like Village employees, so I assume it was a landlord or tenants paying for it.

If I was a landlord without a tenant in the CBD I'd make damn sure the walk was shoveled and salted, hell I'd even splurge and clean the glass from time to time. At least I would if I thought it was important to present my product (retail space) in an appealing fashion and support the shared investment all retailers and landlords have in the CBD.

And if i was a retailer there'd be no question my walk - and the walk on both sides of me, occupied or not - was as inviting as possible at all times. Even if I had to go out occasionally between customers and spiff it up.

Zero sympathy for those in the CBD who have failed to police their own and keep a tidy house. *Zero*. Pick up your trash and clean your walk...even if you didn't put it there. If the trash can is full or the street's not plowed then call the Village, but take responsibility for yourself.

Couldn't agree with you more! However and like I posted before, we do not and probably will not ever have 100% compliance. Sections like this effectively kill the foot traffic this time of year and make traveling around the CBD quite dangerous.

Well I guess that's the difference between an upscale and inviting CBD and one that's not.

So sorry your investment is not making the returns you'd hoped for. So sorry as well that I don't support my tax dollars subsidizing your private investments.

Someday we'll have unlimited tax receipts and we can have both our walks shoveled. Until then I'll continue to shovel mine and my neighbors and you can continue looking for someone to come along with a "free" shovel.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul:
Maybe leadership is leading by example. On Monday morning, shortly before 6 AM, I saw a crew of 2-3 guys shoveling and salting the sidewalk along the side of Bells & Whistles on Hillside and also along Main down to around Tap House Grill. It didn't look like Village employees, so I assume it was a landlord or tenants paying for it.

This was organized by a very nice woman named Carol White of the Downtown Alliance.

She has organized the clearing of the walkways to coincide with the Village Clearing the street so the snow can be removed instead of being piled 6 feet high at the curb.

The company clears and salts the entire walkway (building to curb) in the heart of the CBD.

The company provides Liability insurance relative to their work.

The Company is way more cost effective than using Village Employees.

There are no pensions to pay!

They clean the entire strip so traveling will be easier for all.

Truly is a Great idea and what a slap in the face that our Village can't provide the same cost effective service as such a reasonable price.


Oh yeah, It was paid for by donations from retailers and property owners (Yes, I threw some coin in their hat! as I knew it wouldn't be squandered )

So everything is arranged, tested and operational regarding CBD sidewalk snow removal?

And the only thing preventing it's total success is landlords and retailers not kicking in a little to the kitty?

Did I mention I have zero sympathy? Here's a thought though, you seem to have just a few holdouts, why not just kick in the 2% or 3% extra to complete the task and have all of the CBD reap the enormous benefit that such a tiny and insignificant incremental increase in costs would provide?

Seriously, it couldn't be easier, everything appears to be in place except the desire by the CBD itself to care enough to lift a finger.

quote:

So sorry as well that I don't support my tax dollars subsidizing your private investments.

If his private investment starts looking like crap, the value of your home will decrease as well. Who wants to live in a village with a rundown downtown.

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:
So, since it's the Village's property, they should ensure that it is clean and free from snow and ice it would likely benefit them in the long-run.

Fan, I believe more landlords would participate in the clearing of snow and ice if the Village would indemnify them from any slip and fall claims.

quote:

Originally posted by Nombrilisme:

And the only thing preventing it's total success is landlords and retailers not kicking in a little to the kitty?

No, this came about b/c the Village stopped clearing and cleaning the walkways year round. "The Kitty" has been fed, problem seems to be the pigs at the public trough!

quote:

Originally posted by perplexed:
If his private investment starts looking like crap, the value of your home will decrease as well. Who wants to live in a village with a rundown downtown.

I guess I could support Government owning more business.

We now are good at running restaurants, mini-golf, golf, banquets, health clubs and more. We also are landlord to a tenant-less gas station, an operational dry cleaner, nail shop, hair shop and more as far as I can tell.

No problem diversifying into the CBD in size, we should get the property pretty cheap and can simply open up more stores that undercut and drive out private enterprise.

We'll need it too, pretty soon our main competitor COD is slated to open a hotel, banquet, restaurant, bakery and specialty foods store. The millions in tax-free taxpayer subsidized revenue they'll take in should punch a nice hole in someones business plan. I'll guess the bakery goes under first. Let's buy that building next.

Once we own the rest of the properties we can very efficiently clear the walks with more government employees.

Then maybe someone can clear my sidewalk and mow my lawn too.