OAK PARK
Plan Commission OKs 20-story tower
After four hours of debate last week, the Oak Park Plan Commission voted 6-3 to recommend approval of a 20-story glass tower for a busy corner in the village’s downtown area. Some village residents and commissioners praise the unique architecture while others detest the modern slim building that will tower over its neighbors. Some of those neighboring buildings are in a section of the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. The development includes a 140-room hotel, 85 high-end condos, retail space and a public/private parking garage.
“This changes the entire character of the neighborhood and even Oak Park,” said Commissioner Susan Roberts.
The site at Lake Street and Forest Avenue is now a village-owned parking garage and a one-story commercial building that once housed a popular pancake restaurant and a grocery store. If approved, the village will donate the land that the existing garage is on as well as money to build the new enclosed garage.
Concerns about whether there is enough parking and about the height of the building dominated much of the discussion at the meeting Thursday. The developer, Sertus Capital Partners, is seeking several variances from zoning regulations, including a reduction in the number of required parking spaces and approval to build a 204-foot tall building in an area where the code allows 80 feet. Across the street from the site, however, is a 165-foot tall residential building. A decision will be made by the Village Board, which is scheduled to take up the matter in March.
— Victoria Pierce
SCHOOL DISTRICT 303
Budget cuts target 22 teaching jobs
St. Charles Community Unit District 303 is bracing for cutbacks in light of an expected financial shortfall of up to $5.8 million for the coming school year, and $7.1 million for the 2011-12 term. Administration officials told the Board of Education last week that 22 full-time teaching positions would have to be eliminated and some instructional course offerings shuffled. The school board may vote to adopt the budget reductions at a special meeting Thursday or at its regular meeting next month.
Some of the burden comes from roughly $5 million in delinquent state aid payments, officials said.
“If the state comes through, we could finish this year with $5 million to $6 million instead of having to borrow money,” Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Brad Cauffman said at a school board meeting Jan. 11. “Will it make things harder on us? Yes.”
Other factors affecting district finances include increasing teacher salaries and health insurance rates. Health costs are expected to rise 10 percent for the coming school year and 12 percent thereafter, according to district officials. Teacher salaries also will increase 3 percent next year.
At the high school level, proposed cutbacks include eliminating four full-time dean’s assistants. The fee for participating in a sport would increase from $50 to $100 per sport. At the middle school level, nine teachers, two dean’s assistants and one office staff position would be eliminated, among other cuts. At elementary schools, reductions would be made for instructional support coaches, teacher assistants and assistant principals, in addition to other trims.
— Gary Gibula
