Friday, January 25, 2013
One alderman thinks the city would welcome one.
A Palos Heights alderman is asking the city's Parks and Recreation committee to look into the possibility of building a new fitness center. Michael McGrogan, an alderman for the 4th Ward, said the current favorable bond rates for construction projects, which had come up in discussion of library construction, make for an ideal time to build a center. He talked about a comprehensive fitness center at a recent City Council meeting. "This would be a complete rec center that you could actually have people working out (at)," McGrogan said. Skip ahead to the 26:00 mark in this video from the Jan. 15 City Council meeting on PHTV Channel 4's UStream feed. Palos Heights current rec center, located at 6601 W. 127th St., currently offers a variety of …
Friday, December 7, 2012
Would you use an ice-skating rink?
A few Palos Heights aldermen are pondering a synthetic ice rink for Community Park. Relatively low cost and maintenance requirements and portability make bringing an all-season rink to Palos Heights an appealing prospect to some alderman, The Regional reports. Alderman Mike McGrogan recently touted the possibility: “It’s pretty amazing,” McGrogan said. “Alderman Clifford and I and some others have said for a long time ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have some kind of rink for the kids.’ It’s hard to believe but it’s like 4-by-8 sheets that are like plywood and glossed. You can use regular skates on them and it looks just like a rink that is maintained with water and pipes … like if you went to the United Center. Others all-season rinks in the …
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Several aldermen have sent clear messages that more banks in Palos Heights are not welcome.
It went as fast as it came. The proposed Palos Town Square development was tossed out last month by the city council in a narrow 4-3 vote. The development's preliminary plan sailed through three previous votes before the ultimate death blow. The primary issue was the developer's plan to place a bank on the corner of Harlem Avenue and Route 83. "[Residents] don’t want to see another bank in town," Ald. Dolores Kramarski said at the time. "I don’t think something is better than nothing." Ald. Jack Clifford expressed dismay that the plan would be struck down at a preliminary stage, before the developer even had a chance to make changes. "They didn't even give [the developer] a chance," he said. The aldermen have had their say, now we want …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Aldermen voted 4-3 Tuesday night against the preliminary plan for a proposed development on Harlem Avenue and Route 83.
After sailing through three previous votes, the Palos Town Square development was killed Tuesday night with a razor thin margin. Aldermen voted 4-3 not to approve the preliminary plan for the six-building retail development at Harlem Avenue and Route 83, effectively killing the project. Developer Lagestee-Mulder planned to build a six-building development on the long empty corner that would possibly include a restaurant, auto repair shop and most controversially -- a bank. The preliminary plan passed through the Planning Unit Development Commission, the Planning and Zoning Committee and an initial City Council vote. The plan would have to filter through the same process should the developer attempt to try again, a scenario that is …
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The planned retail development would sit on the corner of College Drive and Harlem Avenue and is made up of five mixed-use buildings.
The proposed Palos Town Square retail development will get another look Tuesday night as members of the Palos Heights Planning and Zoning Committee are scheduled to discuss the matter at their monthly meeting. The retail development was given preliminary approval from the Planning Unit Development Commission in a 7-1 vote on June 11. The four alderman who sit on the Planning and Zoning Committee also sit on the PUD Commission. Ald. Alan Fulkerson was the lone dissenting vote. At the time he characterized the proposal as not "forward thinking enough." Read Patch's Previous Coverage: The preliminary plan calls for 90 percent of the space to be classified as retail. The tenants would likely be national outfits, said developer Tad Lagestee…
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Palos Heights' longest serving alderman stepped down Tuesday night after an over two decade long career.
Emotions were running high at Tuesday night's Palos Heights City Council meeting as Ald. Art Phillips stepped down from his position after 23 years of service. Phillips was the longest serving member on the council and has most recently chaired the water and sewer committee. Fellow alderman spoke of Phillips' generosity to his colleagues and willingness to take on issues he believed in. Mayor Bob Straz announced that Phillips will be given the title of honorary city ambassador. "I'm not retiring, I am still going to be around and help when I can," Phillips said. He sat on the council through several mayoral administrations, including the turbulent late 1990s. Phillips said that within the past 10 years the city has been on a noticeable …
Friday, April 6, 2012
The Palos Heights City Council voted to draft an ordinance that would allow for Goodwill to open a drop-off storefront in the Indian Trails shopping center.
A storefront could be filled, but it wasn't easy as the Palos Heights City Council approved the drafting of a zoning change that would allow Goodwill to set up shop in town. The new location would be in the Indian Trails shopping center on Ridgeland Avenue and 127th Street. Goodwill plans to use the space purely as a drop-off center where items can be donated. The donations will then be shipped off to other Goodwill retail locations where they will be sold. The Council vote was split 4 to 4 and Mayor Robert Straz was forced to cast the deciding vote, an unusual occurrence. The dissenters expressed concern with the fact that no sales tax will be generated. "My concern is retail," said Ald. Dolores Kramarski. The idea that other towns, …
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The Palos Heights City Council granted funding to the city's 2012 road program, pending a final budget. See what roads will get attention this year.
The Palos Heights City Council awarded funding Tuesday night to the 2012 Roads Program that will upgrade several roadways throughout the city. The annual program received $274,969 in funding, pending the approval of the entire budget. Seven streets have been targeted for improvement this year. During his State of the City Address last week, Mayor Robert Straz said that since 2001, 27 of the city's 55 miles of roadways have been resurfaced. You can watch a video of the full speech on PHTV's Patch blog. The following projects have been identified as part of the 2012 program: Wards 1, 2 and 3 are each home to two of the projects, while Ward 4 is receiving one.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Palos Heights City Council agenda for Oct. 4.
The Palos Heights City Council will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. On the agenda is a presentation by the Northern Illinois Municipal Collaborative on energy aggregation programs available to municipalities. The council will also vote tonight to instruct the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would place a referendum about the issue on the ballot in March of 2012. In order for municipalities to enter into an agreement on electricity aggregation, the issue must be approved by a referendum. Programs like this have become increasingly popular as ComEd moves toward rate hikes. Palos Hills is considering the same program. Click the PDF on the right to view the entire agenda.
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Patty
7:30 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I think a nice 24 hour fitness or Lifetime fitness on 83/Harlem would be better.Those who want it can pay for it then, not every taxpayer. Just a thought. Or why can't Palos Hospital build a nice fitness center like they have way out there in Orland? more ›