Poll: What Should Be Done with Riverside Plaza?
Tell us what you think.
Photos
John Breugelman, the developer of Riverside Plaza, told Algonquin trustees during a Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting he needs to convert the building in the downtown district from condominiums to apartments in order to make the project economically feasible.
Following a two-hour heated discussion, most trustees reluctantly said they would be willing to compromise somewhat on the project.
READ MORE: Another Setback for Riverside Plaza
“We originally went for this project as a high-end condo building to attract a certain demographic to our downtown" said Village President John Schmitt said. "How are you going to fill (apartments) with the same demographic? That’s the only way you’re going to get my approval for this plan.”
The exterior of the building, which sits at Route 62 and Route 31, is mostly finished. Breugelmans told Patch.com last month he hopes to have the housing portion ready for sale or rent by early next year.
READ MORE: What's next for Riverside Plaza?
The building sat vacant as an eyesore for many years at the busy intersection.
What do you think should be done with the building? Condos or apartments or something else entirely? Tell us by taking our poll and leaving your remarks in our comments' section.
LAUREN
9:30 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
TEAR THEM DOWN AND WIDEN THE ROAD
Mikein algonquin
10:11 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tear the thing down. It never should have been approved in the first place. The corner of the building that faces 62 and 31 is an eyesore and is not architecturaly consistant with the rest of the downtown area.
Warren Cotton
6:58 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I very much agree.
Ken Melville
10:29 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I agree with tearing it down and widening the road.
James
11:52 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tear it down. What a mess. We don't need anymore housing in this town anyway...
Gina
12:44 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Who would want to rent or buy an apartment/condo in downtown Algonquin? Definitely not successful upper or middle class people! Who would want to look out the window and see people sitting in cars or backed up traffic? Tear it down widen the whole downtown area and put in a Starbucks with an outdoor patio area!
David Thomason
12:54 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tear it down. It was a mistake to begin with. Filling it up with renters will just depress the area more and increase traffic congestion. I drive through here daily and agree with widening the road. The most this intersection could bear would be a Starbucks (the patio is a good idea) or something small like that.
Lisa B
1:03 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tear it down. I drive by that building multiple times a day & am tired of looking at the mess! Who would ever want to buy there anyway with a lovely view of Shell or the side of Port Edwards? It should have never been built in the first place!
Erik
1:50 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
MAKE GREEN SPACE OUT OF IT, WHO WOULD EVER BUY A PLACE THAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AS MUCH AS THAT BUILDING WAS. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE BYPASS AS WELL. THEY STARTED DEMOLITION OF BUILDING A YEAR AGO AND NO WORK SINCE. THIS TOWN IS TERRIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION.
Dan Arenov
3:11 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
posted this on the other thread for the same article (don't ask..it's Patch), but they have wanted to close down Fox View in Carpentersville for years. Why not sell this to the gov't and offer the folks in Fox View the opportunity to move into a new place?
Only reasonable people and racists would be against doing this.
Dan Arenov
3:17 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Just heard a real estate expert today who said that there are over 2,000,000 extra properties out there...extra inventory.
Banks are getting ready to start foreclosing again, since they stopped doing so last year.
This will cause a downturn in housing. another downturn. This guy predicted that there is another 20% left until we reach the bottom of the housing market. Bad time to buy a home, unless you can get it for way under value in a short sale, etc.. Best time to sell a home, even if you have lost equity over the last 6 years since the bubble started to burst.
My point being that the situation in downtown Algonquin with the condos doesn't look good.
David
6:36 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tear it down. It should have NEVER been built in the first place. It's an EYESORE! It doesn't belong in downtown Algonquin.
Is there a zoning board in Algonquin? And if so, how much did they get under the table for approving this debacle?
Warren Cotton
7:00 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Yes, by all means, tear it down! I'd even be willing for an extra assessment to help pay for it.
Kelly Sietmann
8:31 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Tear it down and put in a resturant with a outdoor patio area or just Green Space
Larry Miglore
8:33 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Not all of us who disagree with you are racists or reasonable. Some are bigots, quite a few are sexists, some are homophobes and the rest are Republicans. There, that pretty much identifys anyone who has an opposing point of view to you.
Rose Connolly
11:14 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
I hated it from the beginning because it ruins the beautiful scenic view of the river & who would want to live at such a busy intersection with all those trucks.
Carole
10:33 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Tear them down. I am so disappointed in the Village of Algonquin. They have proven that they have no concern for their residents at all. For them it is all about the almighty dollar. Not the town I moved into 20 yrs ago that is for sure. I would sell my house tomorrow if it were not for the fact that it is almost worth nothing now.
It is a total shame.