City council talks pools and pads
Andrew Thomason
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Macomb could be adding another apartment complex, the second in two years.
At Monday night's Macomb City Council meeting, aldermen discussed the viability of converting Haeger Pottery's current property - a closed factory at 411 W. Calhoun St. - into apartments aimed at housing Western Illinois University students.
Some aldermen voiced concern over the current housing market and questioned if there was a need for the additional apartments. First Ward alderman Richard Vick said he was worried about overbuilding.
"I don't know where the people are going to come from (to fill the apartments)," Vick said.
Sixth Ward alderman Tim Lobdell said he was also concerned about the tenants who might occupy the building. However, Lobdell said he would rather let Haeger find something useful for the property than let the defunct factory stand as an eyesore.
"I'm unsure about the number of apartments we need," said 5th Ward alderman Dave Dorsett. "(But) I'm sure we as a community don't need to pay to tear down that building in the future."
Further discussion on the topic will be held at the next council meeting.
In other business, the council heard a report on the current state of Glenwood Park Swimming Pool from a special committee that has been evaluating the pool's condition for the past year.
According to Chuck Wrenn, committee member, the best option is to construct a completely new facility.
"We do not see repair or renovation as a long-term solution," Wrenn said.
Wrenn added the committee studied 27 municipal pools within a 60-mile radius of Macomb and discovered the Glenwood facility is way behind other public swimming pools in both equipment and amenities.
The council thanked him and recommended that action be taken as soon as possible. Wrenn said the earliest the committee's recommendations could be implemented would be in November 2008 after the plans passed as a ballot initiative.
At Monday night's Macomb City Council meeting, aldermen discussed the viability of converting Haeger Pottery's current property - a closed factory at 411 W. Calhoun St. - into apartments aimed at housing Western Illinois University students.
Some aldermen voiced concern over the current housing market and questioned if there was a need for the additional apartments. First Ward alderman Richard Vick said he was worried about overbuilding.
"I don't know where the people are going to come from (to fill the apartments)," Vick said.
Sixth Ward alderman Tim Lobdell said he was also concerned about the tenants who might occupy the building. However, Lobdell said he would rather let Haeger find something useful for the property than let the defunct factory stand as an eyesore.
"I'm unsure about the number of apartments we need," said 5th Ward alderman Dave Dorsett. "(But) I'm sure we as a community don't need to pay to tear down that building in the future."
Further discussion on the topic will be held at the next council meeting.
In other business, the council heard a report on the current state of Glenwood Park Swimming Pool from a special committee that has been evaluating the pool's condition for the past year.
According to Chuck Wrenn, committee member, the best option is to construct a completely new facility.
"We do not see repair or renovation as a long-term solution," Wrenn said.
Wrenn added the committee studied 27 municipal pools within a 60-mile radius of Macomb and discovered the Glenwood facility is way behind other public swimming pools in both equipment and amenities.
The council thanked him and recommended that action be taken as soon as possible. Wrenn said the earliest the committee's recommendations could be implemented would be in November 2008 after the plans passed as a ballot initiative.
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