Dear Members:

 

You are receiving my President’s Message for November early as I leave for Phoenix on Sunday morning to compete in the Men’s Senior Baseball League World Series.

 

November 6 General Election

There is a lot more than a Presidential race to be decided in the November 6 General Election, so it is imperative that each and every citizen exercise his and her greatest right as an American by casting their vote for the candidates of their choice.

 

Since starting October 22, early voting turnover at Elmhurst City Hall has been fairly strong.  When I got in line mid-morning on October 25, Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni was just being called up to vote via electronic ballot.

 

Economic Development

The Thorne Building on Addison Avenue in downtown Elmhurst and the Elmhurst Ford building on North York Road have been completely demolished to make way for new and exciting developments…or should I say redevelopments.

 

The Addison LLC project is a public/private partnership between the City of Elmhurst and a development group to replace the old medical/commercial office building with a modern mixed-use structure comprised of first-floor retail space, multiple floors of office space and parking deck.

 

The Elmhurst City Council and developer are still discussing the pros and cons of allowing the development to build above the City’s ordinance maximum of four stories (45 feet), which would lower the cost per square foot for construction.

 

The Addison project is the latest in a long and successful line of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) redevelopments that have literally change the landscape of downtown Elmhurst (TIF 1) over the past quarter of a century.

 

Mariano’s Fresh Market has cleared off the Elmhurst Ford site and held an October 12 ground breaking for its new grocery store, which is expected to open in the spring.

 

As the first project within the new North York Street TIF, Mariano’s Fresh Market will receive $1.25M of  TIF 4 funds in assistance through a Redevelopment Agreement with the City, as approved at the September 4City Council meeting.

 

Elmhurst is forecasting to recoup its Mariano’s investment in the first 10 years of the TIF’s 23-year lifespan based on property tax only and in only three years based on the combination of property tax and retail sales tax.

 

City officials continue to negotiate with the impacted taxing bodies, in hopes of “making them whole” in regards to new TIF-generated property tax dollars.  For example, the City has offered School District 205 up to $6 million for capital improvements at Churchville Middle School and Conrad Fischer Elementary School, both of which are in TIF 4, $1 million in cash reserves to be released from TIF 2, and 10% of the property tax increment generated in TIF 4 after the first 10 years.

 

Happy Anniversary

Seven members are celebrating Chamber anniversaries in November, as follows:  25 yearsCity of Elmhurst, DeWittDentistry, Leonard’s Fine Men’s Clothingand Sal’s Beverage World; and 15 yearsLife Education Centerand OECBusiness Interiors; and 5 years—BrightStar.

 

New Members

The Chamber welcomed 11 new members during October, as follows (in alphabetical order):  AthleticoElmhurst, CKRunning, D.M. Merchandising, Inc., Edward Jones Investments (Nick Torres), Firearms Safety Group, GursSweets Bakery, Nu Crepes, Project Green Environmental Solutions, RaineCenter for Plastic Surgery, P.C., and Special Kids Day.

 

Members No More

The Chamber said goodbye in October to the following four businesses:  Greenfield Optical, Kenneth Stein Violins, Phototek and Topiary Floral Designs.

 

Congratulations to…

David King of David King & Associates, Inc., who will be honored at Triton College’s 20thAnnual President’s Reception on November 14 for his years of service as President (2000-2012) of the Triton’s Foundation Board of Directors.

 

Stephen Alltop, Music Director of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, on being named Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestra.

 

The Elmhurst Park Districton its recent Administrative Office move into an eco-friendly building (375 West First Street) featuring a roof-top garden.

 

Condolences to…

Chamber Director and Treasurer Dee Longfellow of the Elmhurst Independenton the recent passing of her father, and Chuck Tucker of Tucker Window Cleaning Service & Property Clean-Upon the recent passing of his mother.