After nearly an hour of public opinion, the Village Board approved an alteration to the 90-10 ordinance allowing the ATI Physical Therapy Center to move into downtown.
The move was approved with a 6 to 1 vote.
The center was still contentious at the last Downers Grove Village Council meeting Sept. 22, as attendees debated the impact the center would have downtown.
The lease agreement will give the center 10,000 square feet for a physical therapy and fitness center. This lease agreement required a vote from Village Council since it goes against the original ordinance, requiring 90 percent of the space being used for retail and 10 percent for services.
Many residents and business owners urged board members to research their decision and not to rush to any decisions.
Don Jankowski, resident and local economist, said he has worked with retailers and holds a doctorate degree in economics.
“The fact is, retailers are struggling in this economy and that is likely not to change in 2010,” Jankowski said.
Jankowski said based on his experience as an economist, he predicts that the economy will not return to its original state until 2015.
Jankowski also said he received physical therapy for a replaced knee at ATI and after his sessions he would often shop at the stores in the same center.
Up until Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Marilyn Schnell had not made up her mind on which way to vote, but the opinion expressed by Jankowski swayed her to approve the amendment.
“This is truly not an easy vote. It’s the kind of vote that can go either way,” Schnell said. “If indeed we have to look toward that 2015 date, the amount of financial burden and hardship this would put on all of our residents, including the people who bought property in Acadia on the Green and including the people who are retailers, would be beyond detrimental financially because all of as tax payers would ultimately have to pay back the bond.”
The area also is a tax increment financing, or TIF district. A loan of taxpayer dollars was taken out to pay for downtown improvements and now must be paid back — a feat that will be difficult with the current vacant space. The center is estimated to bring $50,000 in property taxes to the village annually, but if the location had brought in a retailer, an extra $26,000 annually could be earned in sales tax revenue.
Commissioner Bill Waldack was the descending vote.
“Whenever you’re opening a business there are pros and cons and you never know how things are going to shake out,” Waldack said.
He said he looked at this issue as a tax payer and decided not to support the motion. Waldack suggested that ATI Physical Therapy pay the extra $25,000 they would be missing out on each year.
Commissioner Bruce Beckman said his decision was based on the fact that the building has been empty for three years.
“The vision of yesterday is not supported by the facts of today,” Beckman said.
