Politics & Government

Continued: Council Candidates Address Economic Development in DWA Forum

City Council candidates who participated in the Downtown Wheaton Association forum addressed questions from the business community on downtown redevelopment, Hubble and the Wheaton Grand Theater.

Five of six Wheaton City Council candidates and both Mayoral candidates participated in the Downtown Wheaton Association candidate forum Wednesday morning. Questions from the downtown business community addressed downtown redevelopment, TIF monies, TIF monies pertaining to the Wheaton Grand Theater, Hubble and the SSA #6 tax. 

Where do you stand on using public funds in the form of TIF money for continued downtown revitalization, including the Wheaton Grand Theater?

Gresk: I’m a big proponent of TIFs … I fully support the Wheaton Grand Theater … (but) you need a private/public partnership … I voted against the referendum because it was ambiguous, I think the friends of the Wheaton Grand Theater realize it (and) that’s why they met and wanted to publicize what that means, (and secondly) because it’s an abrogation of our responsibility as leaders not to make that decision. If you come to a decision and you don’t want to make it, then you go to a referendum.

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Molenhouse: I’m all for the TIF funds too but you need to be careful how you set them up. I think that taxpayers are going to be liable for some big amounts of money (by the courthouse area).

Pacino: Public funds in the form of TIF money (are) in place for just that: downtown revitalization and I will not stand in its way. As it pertains to the Grand Theater, when we think of TIF monies, we’ve got to understand that not everyone can avail themselves of these TIF monies … I went to the fundraiser and I liked the fact that we are seeing a plan but the plan that was proposed was reliant still upon thee public sector. I’m not seeing the other part which would avail the Wheaton grand theater of the TIF monies … and the other part is the private sector.

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Prendiville: I absolutely support that (TIF funds for the Wheaton Grand Theatre) Nothing’s happened in our downtown at in least the last 20 years without some public assistance … I think it’s very important if you care about the downtown that you support some public investment as long as it’s done intelligently.

Adamson: I have no problem with TIF money for downtown revitalization. As part of the TIF redevelopment project report the objectives include: 1, promote downtown economic development to capitalize on the unique character of the protected area, 2, establish cooperative and mutually reinforcing investment opportunities for the public and private sectors, 3, preserve and reuse buildings of historic value and of architectural merit, 4, enhance the sense of place through additional streetscapes and improvements and by highlighting the civic culture core of the community— this is what is missing in Wheaton. And as a national and a local landmark, the Wheaton Grand certainly qualifies for the TIF.

Bromstead: I am absolutely in support of a TIF. There haven’t been any other projects that have been done in the downtown area that haven’t utilized some of the TIF funds. I do think that anybody, any private citizen that has a decent business plan, that comes to talk to the city and has the desire, the energy and the commitment to being able to open a business can leverage  these TIF funds if they’re developing a new piece of property—or if they’re purchasing some new property … We need to make sure we’re monitoring it—we need to make sure we’re doing it in a prudent fashion. We need to make sure we’re not giving all the money up front. I think there need to be some incentives—a schedule for payout of these funds based on development activity … if we don’t do that we’re just mortgaging our future away. 

What is your position on the Hubble project and its connectivity to downtown Wheaton?

Molenhouse: I’d like to see Hubble back on the tax rolls.

Pacino-Sanguinetti: I support the park district’s mixed use proposal ... I support their offer to take over those fields and maintain them for our children … the property fronting Roosevelt Road should be sold and developed in the private sector and it will have a connectivity downtown.

Prendiville: The park district use is the highest and best use for this property … If a $30 million development is put on the site, city, park district and school district real estate taxes combined would be lowered about $.04 combined, or about $15 a year. We taxpayers would give up Wheaton’s gateway as the most visible site … with a strip mall goes in … 20 years from now, will we be proud of the decision we made? While any additional revenue is welcomed and needed—at what price?

Adamson: What is best for the community? We need to have a sound economic development plan … because that generates tax dollars. We don’t have it right now, but we need to work together to make sure whatever goes there is best for the community … I think it’s interesting that he school district put the suggested criteria on that whoever is interested works with the park district and doesn’t ask for TIF money. I think it’ll be interesting to see the outcome … I’m opposed to a big box store … I would like to see a mixed-use … I’m opposed to demolishing the building … and would like to see it retrofitted into perhaps a boutique hotel.

Bromstead: I think this absolutely has to be the gateway to downtown and I think the city has to be the gatekeeper of the gateway … even though there may not huge impacts at the tax base … every little bit helps … I think we should try to work out a partnership between the park district and a developer. 

Gresk: I think we should sell it. It has a value. I think we should develop it, I think we should collect real estate taxes and I think we should collect sales taxes on it. Last July, I have led the discussion with developers. Scalzo and I talked with Mariano’s a grocery store… if $10 million is too high that’s fine … if nothing sells now, that’s not the end of the world.


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