It seems the much-hyped-by-the-mayor-of-aurora Shodeen project on the east side of downtown is falling apart and not moving forward with progress.
Various construction equipment has been removed and there are reports that the environmental problems are complicated.
Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner has been touting the Shodeen project, but the reality is the project has lacked specific plans, budgets and timelines that are transparent and clear for everyone to measure the progress.
Various construction equipment has been removed and there are reports that the environmental problems are complicated.
Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner has been touting the Shodeen project, but the reality is the project has lacked specific plans, budgets and timelines that are transparent and clear for everyone to measure the progress.
70 comments:
Pardon my ignorance,but is this the project on south river st?
What makes you think this project has 'fallen apart.' Because the environmental-related digging has stopped? Doesn't construction have various phases? Sounds like you are leaping again.
According to the June 2206 report of the Aurora Economic Development Commission (AEDC):
"The Shodeen project will continue with site remediation as well as the selection of an architectural firm to design the new urban community to include residential, retail, and commercial use".
The report also makes mention of several environmental issues but doesn't specifically outline what those concerns are. From my experience, environmental problems are extraordinarioly expensive to clean up requiring strict oversight by government entities such as the EPA.
Perhaps there is a snag?
I agree with 5:37am. This is actually very common for environmental work to have "down-time". I suspect this project is being done in phases. It may be that the first phase has reached completion. This site is very complicated for redevelopment and I would not be surpirsed if it hits a snag every now and then. This is par for the course in the environmental arena. There are a thousand scenarios as to what may be going on there.
Now this does not go without saying that a serious issue has arisen, but I would hope that this would be confirmed.
If there in fact is a plan for this site we would all know the answer would we not?
From what I heard from someone that knows one of the truck drivers working on the project is that they used up the initial 3 million so work has stopped until more funds are available. It was also said there is way more contamination then was originally estimated.
So first you criticize the Beacon for not having all the information, then you post this, without any facts to back it up? Did you even call Shodeen to find out what's going on? Do you guys do any work at all, or do you just wait for legitimate news sources to get the story for you?
9:23
Touchy Touchy!
Are you the Beacon employee who wrote the article in question perhaps?
All openline did was bring up ligitimate concerns and asked a question of it's readers to spur discussion.
Maybe if the Fishwrap followed their lead they wouldn't have all the problems they have.
The Shodeen project is the old Burlington Depot site on south Broadway (on the east side of the river.)
It is an old limestone quarry, about fifty feet deep filled with contaminants that have been leaching into the river for many years.
I think the city has an obligation to reveal the status of the project to the citizens of Aurora.
Does anyone know if the Shodeen obtained a permit from the state or federal gov for the hazordous material clean up?
This what happens when you don't have a plan. There is no plan there never was a plan, nothing has beeen submitted to the City. Sherman Jenkins said we would never do this for anyone but Shodeen, lets hope we don't do it again and we get out of this without to much debt.
To the Beacon (fishwrap) staff member who wrote at 11/21/06 at 9:23am:
Are you guys at the fishwrap showing your jealousy of this blog again because they are asking the tough questions that you cowards can't?
Do you think the people of this community don't realize the Beacon has no hesitation to print lies, but when it comes to serious issues and facts, the Beacon runs and hides? Shodeen? Drive-in? Land donation scam? School district collusion? Lies by city officials?
Shodeen's project is a mess and doesn't have a full plan, but has already cost taxpayers. Where was that in the Beacon? What's the matter? Can't the cowards at the Beacon call up Shodeen and ask him where his plan was all this time?
Taxpayers are going to get stuck with the burden of the Shodeen mess. And, we know what the solution of the Weisner goons and fishwrap is...raise more taxes!
Construction equipment like that is not removed unless the project is falling apart or being put on indefinite hold.
Openline is asking a serious question and the city better come up with a very quick answer.
It's funny how all these bloggers on Openline can criticize the Beacon News for misreporting or lack of information and out of the other side of their mouths say they will never subscribe to the paper.
Yea right! Thanks for your patronage.
Shodeen locked the city workers out of the parking lot that they had used for years because that area was going to be developed immediately. Nothing is happening there, but the City had to buy the lot on the corner of Illinois and Broadway for five times the appraised value for employee parking. Of course, it is too far from City Hall for the employees to walk, so the city had to hire buses to drive the employees to city hall from the parking lot.
How could the City sell their parking lot without making arrangements for the employees or an agreement with Shodeen for its use until the lot was actually being developed? Oh that's right! The village idiot Weingartz reviewed the contract, or should have.
11:37
You don't have to subscribe to read it!
Library, local coffee shop, online, there are many ways to read it without paying for it.
I personally look it over just about everyday for a laugh, However, I would never pay for that crap!
Regarding the parking for employees, inspectors are given an extra 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon to move their city vehicles. That's 20 minutes per day per employee. That's 100 minutes per week per employee. That's 5200 minutes per year per employee or roughly 87 hours per year per employee to move a vehicle. That's 2 weeks and 1 day per year per employee to move a car. That's roughly $2800 per year per employee spent by the city to move 1 city vehicle.
I would have requested the employees take their city car home, as a favor to the city and forego the tax the city places on those employees who take a car home. It would save time, money, and the city would not have had to pay $500K for the lot.
So let's see, if one were to take 10 inspectors, for example, that would cost the city $28,000 plus the cost of the lot at $500K, and let's not forget the lost productivity. Hmmm now this is what I call fiscal responsibility.
How are those condos selling at river street plaza?
Vanteses project was approved at the end of March there are two buildings up, occupancy will be in Febuary, the buildings and all the landscaping will be complete in June of 07. Then they will start on building three. In January of 07 the loft builing will begin on the corner of Gale and River. Plus they are constructing River Street for the City. Aurora Black top, J&S Construction and Eagle Concrete are working together, needless to say it is quite impressive.
The sales are going fine. even in a tough market. That being said, the sales do not should suggest an over whelming market that would support 1400 units on the east side of the river in a less desirable location with a train running through the middle of it.
Vantrese has done a great job with the way he has marketed his product and that he has never wavered from his original plan of or the qauilty he wanted. He will be successful because he believes in the project and it is based on a well thoughtout plan.
Shodeen is not stupid he is not going to spend his own money on a site like this. He will push for more and if they don't give it to him he will leave. That's Shodeen.
I'm more interested in the connection of the bike trail. Can anyone comment about that?
The project is hardly falling apart. There is a break as the next step is mapped out. That's how things can go in the real world.
As far as the City employees and parking their cars, I hear that all of them were offered the chance to take their vehicles home. Some wanted to, others didn't.
I see this whole post as typical of this blog. Toss out some unsubstantiated feigned issue, stretch it and see if people will bite. Hardly worth much of anything.
Watch the corner of Clark and Water the next few days where the City parking lot is located. You will see the blacktop removed soon as remediation continues. I can't believe that you think Shodeen will be a loser here. He has been successful in lots of projects. He would laugh pretty hard if he ever read these ridiculous blog entries. The residents of Aurora will win as a result of this project also.
Where's the plan? Where's the bills? Who's whatching the money? Where's the environmental studies? Where's the market studies? Where the geological reports? Where's the engineering? Where's the traffic studies?
If it was a serious project after one year you would of seen something. Shodeen will play for a while,then we'll see.
7:04 and 7:10 you are obvious one of the followers. You guys are so desperate to see any project and to show anything that you can't understand, this is not a project until there is a plan and we see the money, neither of which we have seen.
You seem to spend your time reading this blog.
I still think it funny that people go oooolala over Shodeen. He is a regional developer, if that. No big woop. That is one of the problems with Aurora it thinks too small.
I personally think it's crazy to put a bunch of small cheap units like Shodeen is planning for the east side of downtown.
The Vantreese project on the west side of the river makes much more sense because Rt. 31 is easier to access.
I predict Shodeen's project will never meet the promises made. I hope union people who supported Weisner before are paying attention since Shodeen is hated by them.
Some of you people are real pieces of work.
Call your alderman and ask what is going on, if you're that desperate for information.
Reading some of this makes me wonder if a few of you are just making up your comments to stir the pot and have fun.
I hope so, for your sakes.
Don't call the Alderman they don't know anything.
If it's a real project it really wouldn't matter what anyone said. Would it?
yeah 2:37 I will call my alderman. Sure, she is about as smart and in tune with what is going on as the rocks around my house.
Hey 7:04 AM, yes employees were asked if they would take their car home, and they would then incur the cost of the taxes associated with that "benefit". I'm saying it would be a benefit to the city IF the employees took their car home, and therefore, should NOT incur the added cost. The cost should be absorbed by the city as a good faith effort on the part of the employer...but then again, when has this administration shown good effort to the employees...
Why isn't BNSF paying for any of the clean-up? It was their mess and it isn't like they went out of business or anything. They moved 7 blocks up the street.
Hey 6:06 p.m.:
What makes you think that the City is exempt from the crazy rulings of the IRS? That's probably where the edict comes from. That's life and you are not any different, nor is the City so don't spin your rath toward the "administration." It's not that simple and neither are we.
I get a kick out of all these questioning claims about studies and reports. The first time this project was questioned by your poking post, I challenged the blog makers to call the AEDC or Sieze the Future Campaign in order to obtain some facts. Looks like you would rather blindly question. That's as bad as blindly following........
I sure would be in favor of the City using my tax dollars to further pay you for the sacrifice of taking your car home. Would you also like to receive a stipend for travel time? How about compensation for time away from your family while working? Would you also like money to help you get over the trauma having to wear a uniform while at work and denying your freedom to express yourself with you own choice of clothing? Would you also like the City to re-paint the car for you so it more closely matches your house and neighborhood? The benies ought to be endless.
It looks like some of the former City lawyers are back posting again. Please stay away with your negative spewing.
Again with the complaining openline. That site is going to take a lot longer than expected to be ready. So what if some construction vehicles are gone. Shodeen has no plans to scrap the project. Stop going down to the level of the fishwrap, please.
Stop going down to the level of the fishwrap? Did you see the article in this morning's edition about the opportunity for riverfront development? Aurora is one of three cities in the State that can qualify for some water to prime the pump. This blog consistently stoops down and puts this City in the backstabbing backwater with all of its unsubstantiated acusations, and you say that this blog is going down to the level of the fishwrap? If the Beacon was wrapped around this blog, you would not use it for compost.
You mean Friday's article in the fishwarp where Andre Salles LIED about how Weisner helped create a law?
The river edge thing that hasn't been funded?
The one that would help Shodeen's project, but Shodeen has stopped? That one?
I would love to see the river front developed, but from what I've seen of the Weisner "plan" we would be better off to have nothing happen until the next mayor except for whatever Vantreese is doing. He's the only one thus far I've seen who knows what he's doing.
Considering the work at the Shodeen site has stopped, Andre's article today was irresponsible and inaccurate at best.
As for Weisner creating a law, that is ridiculous. Weisner isn't a legislator. He was an incompetent department head in the city who got elected by the money of cronies.
Can't wait for Shodeen's project can get over this little hicup so it can truly kickstart riverfront revitalization. We'll see what your misguided posts will say then. My prediction? You'll still be stuck in your crony time warp while the rest of us get involved with creating the future.
Hey 12:44pm, who's "us" that you refer to? I thought Shodeen was doing Shodeen's project. Is Tommy creating Shodeen's project? Let me guess. Tommy operates the backhoe.
Hey 12:44pm, who's "us" that you refer to? I thought Shodeen was doing Shodeen's project. Is Tommy creating Shodeen's project? Let me guess. Tommy operates the backhoe.
If I were to ever live on the river, it would not be on the east side. Aside from many physical problems, there's the DISTRCT 131 mess, which Tommy's people have made worse.
Us. The difference makers actually contributing in a positive manner to the future of this City. As opposed to them lemings who spew negativity and rely upon kinked keyboarding as their lasting factor.
Oh, please tell us who these great "difference makers" are. Cronies profiting from our taxdollars?
I agree with 1:05...there are a core group of people that work hard to be aware and make a difference in this city. And there are those who whine.
Lots of whiners, unfortunately...
Hey 1:21 p.m.:
They are not whinners like you who share the malady of crony on the brain (small spot on a small specimen of gray matter).
Anonymous said...
I get a kick out of all these questioning claims about studies and reports. The first time this project was questioned by your poking post, I challenged the blog makers to call the AEDC or Sieze the Future Campaign in order to obtain some facts. Looks like you would rather blindly question. That's as bad as blindly following........
11/23/2006 9:42 AM
Are you Nutz or just stupid?
The AEDC and Sieze your future don't have any facts to give. You can't trust those bozos as far as you can throw the mayor.
to annon 11/21 @ 5:28am
Did anyone answer your question?
This is the project on Broadway(Rt.25).
Dear 5:21 p.m.:
Yes they do. They certainly have more facts than the collective mass of this blog on this project. Just because you say there are no facts means nothing. Other than mere bellowing, that is. You see that the project has temporarily taken a break and you automatically assume the worse. Based upon no fact finding of your own, that is.
Good point FT.
I have no idea why the city and state are bankrolling this environmental cleanup. Indeed BNSF (formerly Burlington Northern) created half of this mess. Makes me wonder how they got out of having to spend a dime on it.
The Weisner goons don't want anyone to think the suspension of work is bad, but notice they aren't able to say anything that says the project is continuing as planned.
Have you seen those gigantic sinkholes? There's a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Just watch for work to resume. This will happen. If you want to spend your time speculating about abandonment, post on with the rest of the non-factual-based morons. I still am loving how this blog does not homework and posts no facts about the project, but points everyone down the road of negativity, gloom, doom and destruction. Are we supposed to believe anything that gets posted here?
Nobody yanks construction equipment from a project site unless there's a problem. Payment, process or project.
For the project to resume, a PROBLEM has to be resolved. Maybe they need more taxpayer funds to fleece.
The blog has raised questions about what is going on there. The blog has said the public has yet to see specific plans on the project. The blog said construction equipment has been removed, there's environmental issues and work has been suspended.
All of the above is TRUE. The Weisner and fishwrap goons who want to duck their heads in the sand should come up with answers instead of whining about how the blog has the audacity to ask questions about OUR TAXDOLLARS being spent on a private development.
6:23
You can believe what you want to. No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to read these opinions.
If you don't like it, feel free to leave...but something tells me you won't.
Someone needs to be the voice of fact and reason, but I actually like the quote challenger better.
Openline has brought issues up to I think make people in Aurora look at what is going on in this town. Maybe some are armchair quater backs but I believe some start looking into what they say and if something is wrong try to see if they can get some answers. For most part I think the people in this town just let things go by. But now there is a medium for citizens to voice their opions no matter if they are right or wrong and have an open discussion. I see that many really look into the things stated here and check to see if what is said is right. The last election day proves that people are getting more involved and doing some research on things. I don't think that many people have shown up to vote in this time for a long time. What ever is motivating citizen in Aurora is a good thing. We need to pay more attention to what is happening here.
Openline has raised the important questions the fishwrap is scared to touch or the Weisner admin doesn't want to discuss. People forget that when it comes to government and our taxdollars, it's your RIGHT to know what is going on.
It would be great if the city administration was fully transparent, but they are not. It would be great if the local fishwrap were objective and got to the bottom of many of these things, but they are incompetent and/or biased. We are fortunate Openline has created an environment that people can really discuss things. I have learned more from this blog and that includes many of the informative comments.
Great self-congratulatory comments. Let's have a parade.
Sure 2:07 why don't we. Seems these days any group of people can get ward money and have a three day celebration. Well as long as we do not wave flags.
You can get all fifteen regular posters who spend time of this blog and have any type of parade you'd like.
There was a Beacon article on this in today's paper. It actually contained some....... huhhhhh, facts! About this very project. Imagine that.
to annon 12/02 @ 9:29am
Wish Beacon had started delivering my subscription so I could have read it.
The project is in trouble.
every project of this type goes through junk. even the biggest developers can have things that are touch and go. big whoop.
I mean really. Is there any other way to check out the level of contamination than to dig, haul and test? Do you think that maybe this developer knows what he is doing? If you drummed out the death march every time there was a lull in the development of a brownfield, we'd be in serious trouble, unlike this project.
Post a Comment