Comments from raymond

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raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 11, 2005 at 8:56 pm

Challenger says Glen Ellyn and Wheaton’s downtown’s are constructed in a GRID PATTERN.
What possible difference can a grid pattern make? I DON’T hear people say “I will only shop in Glen Ellyn and Wheaton because their downtowns are in ” A GRID PATTERN" ……Spare me from this NONSENSE!
Challenger says Naperville has the best downtown and they don’t have a theatre.Naperville has a RIVERWALK [supported by the city of Naperville by the way] that attracts people into their downtown all year.
Naperville has a RIVERWALK [ DESTINATION SITE.]
Challenger says try getting a table at the Praga restaurant on cruise nights.“Wait time over 1 hour."
Try getting a "SLURPY” at the Seven Eleven on cruise nights.Wait time 20 minutes.
What about the other 6 days of the week…..GIVE ME A BREAK.
Cruise nights …Saturday 6-10 pm during the summer.That is it .
Downtown Glen ELLYN and Wheaton have traffic jams due to commuter and freight trains because they have no railway underpass.Doesn’t seem to stop businesses and shoppers. Yes—— both have theatres.
Lombard has an underpass [Funded largely through a GRANT from the Illinois Dept.of Transportation I might add] and no new businesses and not many shoppers.
GRID PATTERNS! Again , spare me this nonsense.
Downtown Lombard needs a destination facility..The Elmhurst medical facility just doesn’t cut it.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 11, 2005 at 5:19 am

Lombard district4 says “I was at the meeting along with SEVERAL [THERE IS THAT WORK AGAIN]"SEVERAL” others concerned with the R.S.C. plan.All I can tell you is that it was in May.“
Lombard district4 provides no specifics on the date.It figures.Spare me the small details.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 11, 2005 at 4:05 am

Dupe Neighbor still doesn’t answer my query about the date of the school district 87 board meeting when their inner governmental agreement with Lombard was tabled,due to a funding shortfall of the
Dupage Theatre/R.S.C. development proposal.
According to Dupe Neighbor, he said that he attended that board meeting.
Please Dupe Neighbor, would you PLEASE provide the date of that specific district 87 board meeting?
Thanks.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 10, 2005 at 7:46 am

Dupe neighbor does not respond to my tiny request.
Again dupe neighbor can you give me the date of the District 87 board meeting that the I.G.A.with Lombard was tabled?
Dupe neighbor again wipe the EGG off your face.I am Lombard tax payer.I would not be commenting on all of the miinformation,lies,and distortions that your and your group of ANTI-PRESERVATIONISTS theatre opponents keep posting if I were not a Lombard Tax PAYER.
Please GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF.
I pay my fair share of LOMBARD TAXES and I don’t have to shut up.
I am not a “FITZY "or Preservationist Jim Devitt.
Again ,GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 10, 2005 at 7:03 am

RobertR,There has been a power struggle for the theatre and adjacent property since they were donated as a gift to Lombard in the year 2000.
The vote to demolish the theatre without a plan for development makes no sense.“UNLESS”!
What is also astonshing is that according to the resolution to demolish the theatre ,Lombard will be paying for the demolition.
It would make more sense financially for Lombard to let the developer of the property pay for demolition.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 10, 2005 at 6:25 am

Dupe neighbor says “ NO CONSPIRICY FOLKS,” but a logical move to avoid a potentially dangerous redevelopment plan for town and it’s residents".
According to “Lombardian District4” there MOST definitlely looks like there was a “CONSPIRICY.” No surprises there.
“SEVERAL ” [not a majority ][or many] JUST “SEVERAL” District 4 residents and community leaders met with 5 of the 6 trustes individually to garner support for a vote to demolish .
Through our Springfield contacts we discovered that the Governor was going to release a slew of “pork"funds in October 2005.Included in this was the $1 million dollar "America’s First Grant.”
Get a grip on yourself LombardianDist.4.It is the ILLINOIS FIRST GRANT OF $1MILLION DOLLARS.NOT the Federal “Save AMERICA’S TREASURES GRANT."
"We had to make sure the village voted to reject the funds prior to October."
No conspiricy here say’s dupe neighbor.
Frankly I believe this is scenario is just smoke and mirrors by a few residents on Charlote St. with big imaginations who think that they have become public servants to the rest of Lombard,and in their own way are trying to come to grips with their own DESTRUCTION of a building that is on the National register of Historical buildings.
However if what LombardianDistrict4 says is true then there definitly should be a RECALL of the TRUSTEES who said that the Illinois First Grant money would probably never come when they knew all along that the grant money would be released and that the grants were not "GRANTS” “JUST APPLICATIONS.”
Blatantly “ LYING ” in PUBLIC MEETINGS is CAUSE for RECALL.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 10, 2005 at 4:01 am

Dupe neighbor are you saying that the Village of Lombard approved spending $15,000 for a lobbyist to get approval of the T.I.F. extension when there wasn’t full approval of the taxing bodies in the T.I.F. DISTRICT? Wasn’t that the same as Lombard “ PUTTING the CART BEFORE the HORSE?"
Quote from the Chicago Tribune on June 1,2005.
"A preliminary [village of Lombard] staff report in April raised some concerns about how the theatre restoration would be funded.For the financing to work,Lombard needs the approval of the state legislature to extend it’s downtown tax increment financing district through 2024.In May trustees voted 4-3 to pay $15,000 to a lobbyist in an attempt to win approval in the spring session.[2005]
BUT state Senator Dan Cronin said Tuesday that "the Village of Lombard had FAILED to provide the needed informatin in time for the legislature to act."
"There needs to be a good CONSENSUS in the community,and there has to be one strong voice,” said Cronin,whose district includes Lombard.He [Cronin] said legislatures WERE willing to help Lombard,but the matter now likely could not be taken up until the spring session next year.“
Lombard is NOT a Novice at T.I.F. extensions and creating new T.I.F. districts.Maybe you can explain just what went wrong for Senator Cronin to say that the "village had failed to provide needed information in time for the legislature to act."
Can you provide me with the date of the District 87 Board meeting when the board tabled the T.I.F. extension?
Seems funny for a school district that has an acculumated deficit of $27.2 million for the past 5 years and faces another deficit of $5.5. million would be concerned about a 3.5. million dollar funding gap for the Dupage Theatre that disappeared when after working with the village staff ,the developer and the foundaton made consesions to the development plan.No MAGIC there. "JUST PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER.”
Again more mis-information by the ANTI-PRESERVATIONISTS OPPONENTS to the Dupage Theatre.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 8, 2005 at 5:09 pm

Dupe neighbor about 5 people spoke against the R.S.C. proposal at public meetings.:IE village board meetings.
5 people does not constitute overwelming dis- approval.
I contactd my state senator also and he told me through his secretary that there was overwhelming support for the R.S.C. PROPOSAL.
He supports the proposal as do other prominent federal and state elected officials.
I have not given any tall tales of bribes or even suggested anything like that.I have however questioned the motives of our village trustees who voted to demolish the theatre without an alternatie plan for development on that site.Many others who aren’t even theatre preservationists have asked the same question.
There is nothing mis-leading about the roof story because I was informed of the error first hand.
If there are as many against the R.S.C.proposal as you say ,
then why were they so silent?
Abraham Lincoln said"Public sentiment is everything.With public sentiment,nothing can fail.Without it nothing can succeed.“
I submit to you that the 5 people who spoke against the R..S.C PROPOSAL does not constitute Public sentiment.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 8, 2005 at 4:07 pm

Dupe neighbor I see that you conventiently DIDN’T tell us all just where any of the Presevationists of the Dupage Theatre LIED.
You didn’t call me out on the 500 seats because I frankly don’t care if it is 800 or 500.So there.
“Any attempt to blatantly break as many codes and and use that many of our T.I.F.’s as R.S.C. did will
be fought with as much determination as R.S.C. was.”
May I ask by whom?
I counted about 5 people who spoke publicly against the R.S.C.proposal.
Unfortunatly the Dupage Theatre was left in a miserable state by
the previous owners,Big Idea Corp.and the current owner.
A large sum of money was donated by PRIVATE citizens to repair the roof.Unfortunatly the current owner DIDN’T tell the roofer which portion of the roof needed repair.The WRONG part of the roof was repaired.No surprises there considering who the current owner is.
Of course the “ANTI-PRESERVATIONIST OPPONENTS of the theatre just KEEP POINTING fingers at the Friends of the Dupage Theatre and laying blame on them for the state of condition that the previous owners and the curent owner have left the theatre in.
Kinda makes you wonder just what is going on.{Behind the scenes }

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 8, 2005 at 11:09 am

Maybe dupe neighbor can tell all just where any of the preservationists for the Dupage theatre have LIED.
Dupe neighbor sees words before his eyes that just aren’t there.
I said that comparing the GENESEE with 2,100 seats to the Dupage Theatre with 800 seats is like comparing apples and oranges.
The reduction from 800 to 500 seats was to comply with parking requirements and was a reasonable concession.
The Ides of March band has committed to play the opening of the totally restored Dupage Theatre.Hey maybe after the show you could get their autographs.I can assume that your didn’t attend the fund raiser concert for the Dupage theatre that the Ides of March performed at the request of the Friends OF the Dupage Theatre.
Please get a grip on yourself.If the theatre is no more and development occurs that has about 20-30 deviations from code then you can lament your next MOVE.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 8, 2005 at 7:23 am

Dupe neighbor wipe the egg off your face again.Duper supporter is not the Preservationist Jim Devitt.Duper supporter is not a Fitzy.
Comparing the Genesee Theatre {2,100] seats to the Dupage Theatre[800] seats is like comparing apples and oranges.
The Genesee may not be up to full bookings yet but it is getting there.The talent at that venue is great.Seinfeld,Bill Cosby,Ringo Star,The Moody Blues,ect.The Local busisness establishments and restaurants in Waukegan are astatic over high volume of patrons as a result of the Genesee.The Genesee has become a destination place for visitors and locals.
Again dupe neighbor distorts.T.I.F. funds required are
The Dupage Theatre and Arts Center would also be a destination place for visitors and local residents who are patrons of the preforming arts.
There has NEVER been any plans for the Dupage Theatre restoration or operation to be funded with local taxes or a realestate tax levy.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 5, 2005 at 6:30 am

Fiscal insanity says “the Dupage Theatre can barely justify breaking even”.
The PRO FORMA of the Dupage Theatre and Arts Center as it was presented to the village board of trustees most definitely indicated that the arts center would meet the projected bookings and also indicated that there was great interest by many performing arts groups from many different surrounding communities who NEED just the type of venue that the Dupage Theatre and Arts Center would provide.
That Dupage Theatre and Arts Center PRO FORMA was presented to the Lombard Village board of trustees who proceeded to analyze,disect,inspect,criticize and opinionate on it. Two of the trustees doomed the PRO FORMA and the DUPAGE Theatre and Arts Center from the very beginning. No surprise there!
The PRO FORMA of tha Dupage Theatre and Arts Center is available for your inspection at the Lombard Village Hall.
I would suggest that you read the PRO FORMA of the Dupage Theatre and Arts Center before you say that it “can barely justify breaking even.”

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 5, 2005 at 3:18 am

I find it “funny ” that the OPPONENTS of the theatre restoration project object to “village funding it through tax increment financing”,BUT DON’T object to the Village of Lombard financing [funding] a development with tax increment financing [FUNDING] as in [REALESTATE TAX ] REBATES,SALES TAX REBATES,SERVICE TAX REBATES and RESTAURANT TAX REBATES to the developer of the PARK DISTRICT PROPERTY.
It is no more than the Village subsidizing the developer for the the development of that PARK DISTRICT PROPERTY.
That property consists of condos and retail with all realestate tax revenue from the T.I.F. [REALESTATE TAXES GENERATED =[PUBLIC FUNDS] by the condos and retail being rebated to the developer.Along with all retail sales taxes,restaurant taxes and service taxes.
“ALL”—–“ALL” taxes generated [PUBLIC FUNDS] going into the pockets of a PRIVATE developer for the life of the T.I.F. district.
With tax increment financing FUNDS used for the theatre restoration, all residents of Lombard and elswere could use, benefit, and ENJOY the theatre if they so desired. Those T.I.F. FUNDS [PUBLIC FUNDS] would NOT go into the pockets of some PRIVATE developer as is the case with the PRIVATE developer of the park district property.
Another very important plus would be the preservation of one of the very few remaining historical buildings left on main street.
It kinda makes you wonder just what is really going on.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 4, 2005 at 10:24 am

Quotes from today’s Chicago tribune.
Preservationists wonder if there would be a future for the Lombard site after demolition.
“Oh there’s no doubt,"Sebby said."But one of the biggest concerns is all of the silliness going on."
Several parties have expressed interest in the site,said Trustee Steven Sebby.The question is why anyone would consider the site,given the ongoing legal battle.
"What’s going on behind the scenes?"preservationist Jim Devitt said."It seems funny to me that they’re willing to demolish it without an alternative plan.It makes me wonder what’s going on”

Yes!A vote to demolish an historical building without an ALTERNATIVE plan for development
does make you wonder JUST what is going on.[behind the scenes.]

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 4, 2005 at 9:46 am

From today’s Daily Herald.

www.dailyherald.com/community/zonestory.asp?id=101538&zone=lom

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 4, 2005 at 6:01 am

From today’s Chicago Tribune.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-0510040252oct04,1,7548010.story

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 3, 2005 at 5:19 pm

Challenger,more EGG on your face.For the VERY hard of reading [challenger] duper supporter is not a Fitzy.
$1.3 million in GRANTS {PLURAL}
Private donations ………100,000.00
Historic tax credits …..$700,000.00
A pretty good showing in FIVE YEARS considering the lack of support from some of the village board members who doomed the project from the very beginning.The Friends and the Foundation can be proud of their uphill struggle for preservation.
There is no malicious whining from duper supporter[not a Fitzy]
If you and your little ANTI-PRESERVATIONIST group think that your mis – information,lies and distortions will go unchallenged ,then you and your group are very much mistaken.
Don’t think for one moment that correcting your mis -information ,lies and distortions is malicious whining. One more time for the hard to understand [challenger]…..I am not a Fitzy
The fat lady hasn’t started to sing yet.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 3, 2005 at 11:07 am

Challenger says “no egg on my face,just a big smile as I watch your group continue to make fools of yourselfs"
Nobody is crying over the 296,000 dollar grant except maybe those who voted to reject it and then found out that they didn’t have the authority to reject it.They were in such a hurry to DEMOLISH and reject all GRANTS that they didn’t do their homework.
The village of Lombard DECLARED the theatre an historical site in the year 1978.The theatre gained the respect of the National Landmarks Commission and was placed on the Nationat Registry of Historical buildings.The Lombard village board of trustees voted to demolish the building.
Kinda makes you wonder what is really going on.
Challenger you have put some more egg on your face.
For the hard of reading[CHALLENGER]For the third time now please don’t call me "Fitzy”. I am NOT a Fitzy.{Kevin)
Your comments on this message show you to be just the ANTI-PRESEVATIONIST that you are.You contribute NOTHING to the cause of preservation.All you do is show your hatred for the “Friends” and the Dupage Theatre Foundation.Malicious criticism is POINTLESS.
Malicious criticism seem to be your only forte.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 3, 2005 at 4:53 am

Challenger you have more EGG on your face.
For the HARD OF READING[Challenger]My agenda is for SAVING an historical building that is on the National registry of historical buildings that has been voted to be demolished with no other plans or options for the development of that site.
Again I have no agenda against any trustee(s) other than that they be TRUTHFULL.
Makes you wonder JUST what is going on.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 3, 2005 at 4:24 am

Challenger says “applications verses grants who cares."
There is a big difference between applications verses grants.The difference is $1,000,000.00 dollars verses $0 dollars.The difference is $296,000.00 verses $0 dollars.
I CARE because I don’t want a public servant of my community to LIE about such matters.I don’t want my public servants to cover their actions with a LIE. No matter WHO that PUBLIC SERVANT is.
The word is trustee.Trustee as in "truthfull.”

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Oct 2, 2005 at 3:45 am

Dupe neigbbor ,the T.I.F. EXTENSION didn’t pass because Lombard DID NOT get approval from all of the taxing bodies in the T.I.F. DISTRICT,as is required by law.
The Illinois Senator from our district has said that there would be no trouble getting the T.I.F. EXTENSION passed in the spring session of Congress.
Dupe neighbor says “this town has waited YEARS for anything to happen at that corner and now we are to wait for another big maybe in spring."
This town has waited FIVE YEARS. FIVE YEARS since Lombard accepted the Dupage Theatre and adjacent properties free of charge from The Big Idea Corp.
In those FIVE YEARS, FIVE development proposals have come before the Lombard village board.All FIVE of those the development proposals WERE REJECTED by the Lombard village board of trustees.
Please don’t blame the Dupage Theatre Foundation or the Friends of the Dupage Theatre for the LACK OF DEVELOPMENT on that corner.
Dupe neighbor says that I have a fixation on the R.S.C. PROPOSAL.
I think that the R.S.C.proposal is a good proposal because it combines retail along with with residental condos and provides T.I.F. FUNDING for the restoration of the theatre.I think it is good for Lombard.
However the ONLY FIXATION that I have is SAVING an historical building that is on the National register of historical buildings and has been voted to be demolished by the Lombard village board of trustees.
Dupe neighbor doesn’t respond to my query about trustee Steven Sebby PUBLICLY stating that the GRANTS WERE NOT GRANTS. "JUST APPLICATIONS.JUST APPLICATIONS."
Especially now that it is EXPOSED that YES THEY were and are REAL GRANTS.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Sep 30, 2005 at 8:49 pm

Dupage neighbor you are getting like challenger.T.I.F. FUNDS were always part of a restoration effort.The VILLAGE PRESIDENT, honorable
William Mueller is in favor of T.I.F. FUNDS for the theatre restoration.
For the hard of reading [dupe neighbor]just read what I have previously said about the T.I.F. FUNDS.
You have a problem using T.I.F.funds for the theatre restoration,but you don’t seem to care if the village rebates T..I.F.FUNDS for the life of the T.I.F. and also sales,service and restaurant taxes to the developer of the condos and retail on the PARK DISTRICT PROPERTY.
The T.I.F. EXTENSION could occur in the spring session.That is if
the village does everything correctly.One never knows anymore.
Just a reminder to dupe neighbor…..The T.I.F. district extension
is only for the theatre property and adjacent South property.The WHOLE BLOCK IS NOT PART OF THE T.I.F. EXTENSION.
Why do you avoid the important issues.Why were the PEOPLE OF LOMBARD TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO GRANTS.“JUST APPLICATIONS”.JUST APPLICATIONS.
For the record I HAVE NO personal hatred toward trustee Steven D.SEBBY. I don’t even know THE MAN.However I do know of what he says.
Dupe neighbor, you are getting like that challenger fellow.
You just keep putting MORE EGG ON YOUR FACE.
One more thing for dupe neighbor.I am not “Fitzy” [Kevin]

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Sep 30, 2005 at 1:15 pm

Dupe neighbor.
Again you are mis-informing.All of the grant dollars were always part of the restoration of the theatre.The village of Lombard PRO FORMA
of the R.S.C. PROPOSAL and the theatre restortation funding would include those grants.Any restoration plans always did include GRANT MONEY.
Wasn’t it the DEMOLITION trustee Steven D.Sebby who said PUBLICLY
at the village board meeting that the grants were not GRANTS.
Didn’t he say that they were “JUST APPLICATIONS.JUST APPLICATIONS."
The qusetion is, was he lying, or does he not know the difference between an application and a GRANT?
Now it is EXPOSED.The GRANTS WERE AND ARE REAL GRANTS.
Makes you wonder what is really going on.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Sep 29, 2005 at 10:43 am

One million dolar Illinois First grant gone! Thanks to the Lombard
Village Board of Trustees.
296 THOUSAND dollar Federal grant that the Lombard Village Board TRIED unsuccessfully to REJECT.
Challenger says" smokescreen alert".
Looks like there is a maelstrom of smoke being generated by the powers to be on the village board.
Makes you wonder what is really going on.

raymond
raymond commented about DuPage Theater on Sep 29, 2005 at 9:45 am

For the hard of reading(Challenger )I do believe that I have already said that the village of Lombard released T.I.F. FUNDS to be used by the Dupage Theatre Foundation for the purpose of seeking and getting grants.Grants. The Federal Save America’s Treasures Grant.
I do believe that the year was 2003.March 20,2003 approval was given by the village board to seek the Federal Save Our Treasures
Grant.
The Save America’s Treasures Grant.The Illinois First Grant.[“GRANTS] Challenger,your math along with everything that you say is fuzzy and distorted.
Challenger maybe you should get your facts straight.
Again for the hard of reading [challenger] I am not FITZY {KEVIN}
You just keep putting more EGG on your face.
The DEMOLITION trustee Steven D.Sebby said that there were no grants,just applications.Now it is EXPOSED that NO they were REAL Grants.
Makes you wonder what is really going on.