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Riverside Info » About Riverside

1. commonsense
   Member

   It is common knowledge that when you move to Riverside, part of the deal is that you keep it a big secret. Good for us who were smart enough to find Riverside, but if too many people find it...well it just won't be the same.

   The Village Board needs to needs to decide whether Riverside should be an “open” or “closed” community in terms of business development.

   The direction the RCA majority board is heading so far is to close Riverside off to outside markets and seek to sustain our business districts solely from the support of Riverside residents.

   I guess this is one way to preserve Riverside’s pastoral feel and beauty. But is this a healthy attitude?

   What do you think - can Riverside encourage businesses and customers from surrounding communities without sacrificing our idyllic way of life?

   Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 08:50 #

2. newriversider
   Member

   Absolutely...as I mentioned in previous blogs Long Grove is an upscale community which has promoted the CBD without sacrificing their idyllic way of life. How is this done? In my opinion I think it takes a board with vision and a board that is not afraid of "others" (by the way...Mr. Shevitz is the ORIGINAL user of that comment) coming into our town. We DO have a wonderful town that could be developed into a charming little hamlet with quaint speciality shoppes. Again that would take opening up our "gates" and sharing our village. By the way...I have friends that reside in Long Grove and they "occassionally" shop in their CBD, the bulk of their revenue comes from moms on outings with their girlfriends for a day out. I have often frequented Long Grove for just that purpose.

   Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 09:14 #

3. ChrisHajer
   Member

   newriversider: how could the village board help with this -

   "...could be developed into a charming little hamlet with quaint speciality shoppes"

   Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 10:24 #

4. JohnM
   Member

   Chris,

   Off the top of my head (and not trying to answer for newriversider)--

   1) Appoint a trustee to work with the EDC and the Chamber of Commerce to develop a comprehensive plan for the district, identifying the type of busineeses we want, what would be successful and how to get them.

   2) Work with a consultant specializing in businesses in historic communities (suggested by the RCA during their campaign).

   3) Do more to promote Riverside as a destination, both for tourists and for shoppers.

   The threshold question, however, as Commonsense noted, is what does the Board (and by extension, the residents) want? Do we want a town with a thriving business disctrict that attracts people from beyond our borders, or do we want a closed and isolated community that discourages outside investment. I lean to the former, although I certainly believe that preservation and landscape interests need to be taken into account. However, it seems to me that the latter may be the preferred option by the Board and those who put them in office.

   Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 10:44 #

5. commonsense
   Member

   Long Grove had a TIF.

   This discussion will continue spinning in circles (yes bikes, but no bike paths, yes commerce but no parking, yes boutiques, but no TIF, yes trees, but no culitvars) until the board sets the agenda and direction for Riverside's future. I know it is early on, but so far the agenda is do nothing and the direction is backwards.

   Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 12:21 #

6. newriversider
   Member

   JohnM...you took the very words right out of my mouth!!! Of course we will need a TIF, as stated by "commonsense". Look at Forest Park...how did they do it? A TIF!!! It has worked beautifully for them....can't we meet with villages that have been successful with this and learn from them?

   Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 13:13 #

7. Tim
   Member

   Our last Board considered a TIF for the CBD. They were even thinking of including the old Arcade owners in the deal. After reviewing their options, they decided against it.

   Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 13:28 #

8. newriversider
   Member

   I know, I have a lot of catching up to do regarding this town and previous boards..but I was informed that the residents voted down the TIF and that Gorman was very outspoken on the subject and was very much against it.

   Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 13:40 #

9. commonsense
   Member

   Long Grove's TIF history is similar to ours in that it split the town in two. Long Grove was split into two camps - on one side they had an extremely vocal and active group trying to defeat the TIF and on the other side was the Village Board and supporters who were committed to long term planning who worked to eventually pass the TIF.

   I wonder if this RCA board could control a TIF in a way that is amenable to them - would they be willing to look into it again?

   Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 14:16 #

10. CuriousResident
    Member

    Before we drudge back up the reasons "the residents" voted down the TIF, there are plenty, let's finish the topic started.

    Can we envision a business model for a successful CBD that is *not* reliant on high volume? And by volume, I mean adding substantial density and/or traffic from outside.

    Or maybe it needs to be broken down into 3 concepts:

    1) Mayberry - Low volume, 90+% supported by the residents
    2) Destination - Somevolume, 70+% by the residents, rest by tourist (architecture, bicycles, whatever).
    3) Concrete jungle - High volume, like the rest, add high density housing, modify traffic flow and recruit "anchor" stores.

    What I hear is people debating a 1.5 versus a 2.5. Meaning I do not think either side truly is advocating for the extremes (1 or 3). But that each group's version of 2 is heard as being closer to a 1 or 3.

    Bottom line of the debate (IMO) - How much volume can we add without changing the character of the village?

    Posted Monday Aug 31, 2009 14:37 #

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