Text of Email to Atty for Atlantic Realty Partners
From Atty for La Grange Friends of the Park
Regarding Proposal for Settlement of Legal Action
Over Park District's Petition to Sell Gordon Park Acreage
From: Thomas Beyer
Sent: Friday, October 02, 2009 11:44 AM
To: brad.block@bradblocklaw.com
Cc: Mark Wohlberg; Joan Johnson
Subject:
Brad, what follows is the settlement we are proposing. I have attached a map of the property to help make the offer clear.
It is our understanding that a prominent issue in the development of the YMCA Parcel is density and the Park Land is desirable because with it the density of the project is lowered. With this in mind we propose that:
1. Instead of purchasing the Park Land ARP purchase's a non-exclusive open space easement over the Park Land that would have been acquired in the proposed current transaction including the vacated Shawmut Avenue Right of Way that is what is shown on the attached map as parcels 2, 3 and the vacated Shawmut Avenue Right of Way.
2. This easement would run with the YMCA Parcel and the Village of La Grange would credit the development of the YMCA Parcel with the 3.5 acres of open space in the easement. There is some indication that the Village would be receptive to this, as this approach was first suggested by one of the trustees.
3. It may be that to give easier access from existing Shawmut avenue to the YMCA Parcel a small portion of the west end of vacated Shawmut would be transferred to ARP and we would not object to such a limited transfer. We would also consider other transfers that would not materially affect the character of the Park Land.
We lack the information to put any numbers to this proposal, but it appears to us that there are benefits for ARP beyond being able to move forward on the project.
These include:
A. Lower land acquisition cost.
B. Not having the cost of developing Shawmut Avenue.
C. Not putting capital into townhomes which in the current economy may prove difficult to sell.
It also has the benefit of giving most of the interested parties what they want:
The YMCA gets to sell its land and move on.
The Village gets the property developed, eliminating an eye sore and increasing tax revenue.
The Park District gets some money for the easement and keeps the Park Land.
The objectors have the Park Land remain as, just that, Park Land.
Of course, this is not the Park District's preferred resolution, as on paper they have already spent the money they would have gotten from the sale. On the other hand they would keep the land as Park Land. The Park District would be giving up substantial rights by granting the easement. They would not be able to sell the land for development by anyone else and would not be able to materially compromise its characters as open space. Negations with the Park district as to what they would accept for these rights would have to be conducted. As little more than a guess we believe that the Park District may accept $1.5 million, but this is a guess.
Please give this proposal serious consideration. Another benefit for ARP is that they will gain supporters for the project, including myself.
Tom Beyer