Live Blog: Welcome to Your Village, Your Vision

On behalf of Evergreen Park Patch, we'd like to give a warm thank you to Pastor Mark Brouwer of who graciously opened up his doors to us and Diane Shedelski who worked with us to plan the event. We'd also like to thank owner Neil Savani for donating the tasty donuts this evening. Special thanks to Patch regional editor who took time out of his evening to support our first forum. We'd also like to thank our elected officials who were able to make it, (D-36th), and Younus Suleman, deputy district director for ; and those elected officials who expressed interest, but who were not able to make it.

This is the first of many forums we will present and it has been our honor to initiate the conversation. Stay tuned!

9:03 p.m. Fitzgerald brings up concerns with the sewer system with a possible Sisters of Mercy development.

8:55 p.m. Amy Fitzgerald expressed concerns with the environmental concerns surrounding the Sisters of Mercy property. She asked what the land was used for when Evergreen Park owned it. According to George Peso, it was some kind of farmland.

8:53 p.m. George Peso talks about how The Plaza was a once bustling economic generator in the Village. "We as individuals can write lwtters to the village, get involved."

8:51 p.m. "What concerns me with the development is that this Plaza's been like this for the last 15 years and nothing's going forward," said one resident.

8:50 p.m. Jeff Lehey, said earlier there's not much we can do about The Plaza, but why can't we?" asks Amy Fitzgerald.

8:47 p.m. How to slow down traffic on 95th Street? How to bring more businesses into the village?

8:45 p.m. Most of what we've talked about this evening was the necessity to bring more businesses in Evergreen Park. We have a good retail base for the number of people who live here, but need a wider range, said Chris Clair. Many here agree that 95th Street isn't as pedestrian friendly anymore.

8:41 p.m. "Nobody's mentioning the cost of our schools," said George Peso. Evergreen Park has two school districts with six schools. Last year, across the country, there were many of schools considering consolidating districts.

8:40 p.m. One resident says when she moved to Evergreen Park it was much more reasonible to live here.

8:38 p.m. The Historical Commission is also putting together a book about Evergreen Park.

8:34 p.m. George Peso said the Evergreen Park Historical Commission is in the process of building a museum in the village and cronicling every business that currently exists in the village.

8:32 p.m. "It's the same story, the economy is killing everybody," said Cuprisin.

8:29 p.m. From a business perspective, what do you hear from business people about difficulty in the economic climate," Chris Clair asked Helen Cuprisin of the Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce. Her response: the biggest issue is the high property taxes.

8:24 p.m. Jeff, an officer from the Evergreen Park Police department talks about how important making traffic stops is to the safety. Apparently, the more visible police are, the less crime.

8:23 p.m. One resident says "Evergreen does have a reputation of stopping cars."

8:22 p.m. Traffic is also a concern. With the 35 MPH standard in the village an officer with the Village of Evergreen Park, "If you go out on 95th Street now, I guarante you you'll see someone stopped...just to keep the speed down."

8:19 p.m. One resident raised parking concerns. We're now discussing how importing parking is to economic development, sales, businesses. "If you can't find a parking space, you'll go to another store," said Amy Fitzgerald. Many Evergreen Park businesses are losing business from big box stores with plenty of parking.

8:17 p.m. One resident talked about how nice downtown Oak Lawn looks and how downtown Evergreen Park could be more pedestrian friendly, too.

8:13 p.m. "Maybe there's a way to make 95th Street more pedestrian friendly," said Niki Seidl.

8:10 p.m. Chris Clair, our Evergreen Parker starts off the discussion with the landscaping of 95th Street.

8:09 p.m. Special thanks to regional editor Dennis Robaugh "People are familiar with the news coverage, but we are more like an online town square," he said. We invite ou to always join the conversation with Patch, and will have more forums like this in the future. 

8:08 p.m. "My grandfather's name was on the Central Junior High School...I love Evergreen Park, I've been here all of my life," said one resident.

8:07 p.m. Thanks so much everyone for coming out on your Monday night! After our introductions we are now getting into the conversation.

8:04 p.m. Welcome State Rep. Kelly Burke! "Economic development is hard...but what I do want to say for people who open business in this town...we need to patronize them." "We really need to put our money where our mouth is," she said. Now because of what's happened there, it's going to be open space...that everybody can use," said Burke about the Meijer Menards development. "We need to keep in mind...you might not like what's happening on the other side of the track, but there's opportunity..."

7:58 p.m. Chris Meyer returned home from active duty in the military not too long ago. "When I came back, I wasn't happy. I came back here and I wasn't familiar with the town it turned into. I'm Here to get involved and do whatever it is I can to help change."

7:54 p.m. Avis Clendenen, a current faculty member of Saint Xavier University says "I've been actively involved as a proponent of the Mercy Circle. "I'm out tonight because I really love working in Evergreen Park...I've been a resident and not trying to upbring a business. "A resolution may be coming forth in December," regarding a possible settlement with the Sisters of Mercy. "I'd like to understand better the resistance," with the Sisters of Mercy, she said. "I certainly understand the concerns that were made...but I know that there may not be too much time before they have to make an ultimate decision," she said.

7:51 p.m. Welcome Younus Suleman, Deputy District Director, of Congressman Bobby Rush's (5th District) office. "The only problem I see, is that inndividuals contact us when they have their own personal problems, not community problems," he said. "I'd love to hear from you...maybe we could do something to help." He encourages those concerned about Evergreen Park to contact him. "It would be encouraging to both of us to stay connected," he said.

7:50 p.m. Lahey talks about how much an economic opportunity The Plaza is. But "If you want to change something, do something."

7:46 p.m. Jim Lahey grew up in the village and went to Southwest Elementary School. "If you're not satisfied, you should get involved." Meijer and Menards is not a TIFF...the schools are going to get millions of dollars, so will the village.

7:45 p.m. The Plaza is a "diamond in the rough," said one resident, that can attract much business.

7:43 p.m. Many residents are here who grew up in the village and now are raising their families. "I think I'm in the minority, where I'm excited about the Meijer and Menards, but unfortunately...may not be the best Meijer and Menards," said a resident who grew up in the village. "I think there are so many things that we leave this village for, that should be brought to this village," she said.

7:42 p.m. Deloris Smith says "My concern is what's going on with The Plaza."

7:41 p.m. There's got to be a way to get all of Evergreen involved. If you look around, we don't have all of our demographics represented," said Seidl.

7:39 p.m. We'd like to thank State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36) for joining us this evening!

7:38 p.m. "I think the strength of our community is our people," said Niki Seidl, the Evergreen Park Public Library director. "I hear a lot of people taking about economic development, but they don't give the village credit enough."

7:37 p.m. Residents are expressing concerns with information being accessible in the village. "The newest Trustee is not on the website," one said.

7:30 p.m. Resident Kate Bradley, expressees discontent with the schools, village and administration of the village, but said she notices the power of being an active community member.

7:27 p.m. I think that Evergreen Park is an underappreciated community, said one villager.

7:26 p.m. "If you want to effect change, get involved," said George Peso, who's part of the Evergreen Park Historical Commission.

7:15 p.m. Welcome, Evergreen Park Police Department and the Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce. We're now hearing introductions from each person here.

7:10 p.m. We'd like to give a special thanks to Jacob's Well Church Community for allowing us to share their space for the evening.

7:05 p.m. Welcome to Your Village, Your Vision: An open forum on Evergreen Park Development.