WurfWhile

I have been writing in support of the DuPage Theatre’s restoration for almost a year now (see my first post here), so it was not without a little amazement that I looked at my email this morning, after a weekend without computer access, to find numerous blog comments and emails about the topic. I was, truthfully, even more surprised by the threats of some of the anti-restoration commentators against me (no exaggeration).

In some cases the accusations were bizarre, such as the following:

- Accusations that I am advocating “county interference on municipal issues” - simply not true.
- [Editor Note: I originally was (I think understandably) suspicious about receiving numerous negative comments (some on the blog, some as email) from a number of people sharing the last name “Difino” and/or sharing the same computer (with a different name). To the best of my understanding, having checked out information sent to me by Robert Difino, Jr., I now believe there are a number of the Difino family living behind and near the DuPage Theatre. I have put up their comments that I had held back as they were sent to me - this bullet point originally questioned the authenticity of the comments and has been altered to reflect my better understanding.] One person claims in a comment my “post was irresponsible and innaccurate” and never says how or why. Likewise, he demands I “post a counter viewpoint” but never says what the content of the viewpoint would be (although one assumes it would be anti-DuPage Theatre restoration). [Editor Note: I now have gotten some specific objections to the theater development project in emails that I hope to research and post in the near future.]
- On a message board about the Theatre I am called an “irresponsible partisan” for my support of theatre restoration, despite the fact that I am a publicly announced Democrat and the post that brought about all this ire is titled, “Illinois State Senator Dan Cronin And Former Illinois State Senate President ‘Pate’ Philip Lobby For Lombard’s DuPage Theatre”. Both of these state senate supporters of the theater are well-known Republicans, not Democrats.

[This paragraph has been edited to eliminate the charge of “duplicity” based on the “Difino” investigation as mentioned above] I think it’s fair to say that this is a good sampling of the bizarre and counter-productive anti-DuPage Theatre handful who, by appearances, seem to use threats and almost no reason in their advocacy of their viewpoint. [Editor Note: As mentioned above, I have gotten some substantive criticism since this posting in private emails - I will attempt to investigate it and report in a future post.]

But, I believe, there still is a decent, honest and reasonable case to be made against theater restoration - and it is unfortunate that the volume of a few might drown it out [Editor Note: It got pretty late last night, after a long day, and this is poorly worded/explained. My morning edit of it, which was rushed, wasn’t much better. So here’s my last try - what I meant to convey is that “decent, honest and reasonable” people can come to different conclusions based on the facts of a case.] While I hesitate to attribute any email sent to me on the topic as being from a legitimate person, in a leap of faith I will say that “Jayme” from Lombard wrote me this:

“I am very upset with the article on your website. I am also very offended. Did you know that the oversized condo unit in the plan would require a varience that would allow this building to rest 8 feet from the property of the residents behind it? Do you know that the theatre property will not generate revenue towards our schools until the year 2024 because it requires an unprecedented TIF extension? Did you know that high school District 87’s referendum did not pass and that our schools are in trouble?”

While I will address what I take to be Jayme’s ill-founded offense at my position below, assuming that Jayme is correct about the closeness of the new condos being an issue (and I can imagine it might be) I am sympathetic. While I do not know all the particulars, I also am sympathetic to problems with school funding - and agree a school funding fix is necessary that relies less on property taxes. If the plan for the theater restoration and development is done well, the additional business and resulting taxation from it in the downtown area should help offset the tax collection worries to some extent short-term. Long-term the local education funding problem, as Jayme noted, already exists prior to the TIF (tax increment financing) District - it is my guess the lack of funding would continue regardless of the TIF - it is hard to imagine some non-TIF development on a small bit of property downtown is the answer to all of District 87’s educational financing needs. The problem is a state-level financing problem that has gone on for years and needs a state-level solution, it is not a problem that can be solved by the Village of Lombard.

Finally, while it may seem strange after all this to clarify my position on the theater, I do need to do it. I support the restoration of the DuPage Theatre because I believe that properly done it can lead to a downtown renaissance in Lombard, with its unique proximity to the Metra train and the heart of downtown Lombard. It can offer a unique beauty that can make downtown Lombard a “destination” location for village residents and non-residents alike. I have not endorsed a specific plan for this restoration - but I have endorsed the efforts of the Friends of the DuPage Theatre. This may seem like splitting hairs, but it isn’t. The Friends have, with single-minded devotion (from what I see largely second-hand), advocated for the restoration of the DuPage Theatre. They had hoped to do restoration largely on its own, but when they couldn’t come up with the money that way, they creatively have tried to tie in housing and retail development with theater restoration. Is the plan perfect? Likely it is not. Do the Friends seem to be the only game in town for preserving the theater - and are they willing to adapt their plan to save the theater? As far as I know yes. Do I support the best plan that will achieve the goal of theater restoration? Yes. If the Friends plan can be improved, I’m all for it.

So, in answer Jayme’s criticism, I think the “offense” is misplaced, because where a better plan can be worked out to address the legitimate concerns of Lombard residents, it should be. Does that mean that at the end of the day Jayme and I will agree? I have no idea, but I can promise that I am willing to listen and learn with respect. Despite not living in Lombard, I did for a time work there, regularly passing the theater, and I do care about Lombard as an important part of DuPage County where close to 5% of our population lives. When Lombard develops better, DuPage does better too. Creating jobs and maximizing mass transit use increases tax dollars through increased employment, and saves Village, County and State transportation tax dollars by reducing road congestion. I’m raising a family in DuPage - to me it matters.