Citizen groups exchange blame after Beacon pullout
By Bob Seidenberg Citizen groups are trading blame on who is responsible in the wake of Beacon Academy’s withdrawal of a $500,000 gift and its participation in the Robert Crown Community Center project. In an Aug. 5 letter to the City, Patty Abrams, chair of the Beacon Academy Board, a Montessori high school…
Other cities have revived historic buildings
By Bob Seidenberg In Crystal Lake, the Dole Mansion, described as a “Civil War era architectural masterpiece”, appeared to be heading for demolition in 2002 when neighbors got wind that a developer wanted to knock down the mansion and annex. Community members banded together in a major fundraising effort called the “Lakeside Legacy Project,” raising…
Citizens charge Evanston clerk’s powers weakened in Council’s approval of additional FOIA officers
By Bob Seidenberg/ Evanston City Council members backed Mayor Stephen Hagerty’s resolution on Tuesday to bring in more Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) officers to join City Clerk Devon Reid in that role — a move that activists charged would weaken the clerk’s authority. By a 5-3 vote, Evanston City Council members gave approval to…
