THE ISSUE
The Friends of Gordon Park group has proposed a settlement to a dispute over how to use park land.
OUR VIEW
Everyone involved in this issue should seriously consider this plan and finally settle the costly lawsuit.
SPEAK UP
Should Atlantic Realty Partners and the Park District of La Grange accept the proposal by Friends of Gordon Park? Tell us what you think of this by leaving a comment below. You can also e-mail your comment here. Or leave a voice message at (630) 368-8882.
A proposed settlement to the impasse caused by the potential sale of a portion of Gordon Park in La Grange has offered a slight glimmer of hope in an otherwise absurd story.
Atlantic Realty Partners wants to build a mixed retail/residential development on the site of the now-closed Rich Port YMCA. It’s also seeking a 2.82-acre tract of the adjacent Gordon Park from the Park District of La Grange as part of the deal.
The La Grange Village Board amended the zoning of the land to accommodate the deal. The Park District accepted ARP’s bid for the land, and a referendum held showed most voters approved of the sale of the property.
But a lawsuit by resident Orlando Coryell has thwarted the sale and brought to light errors committed by public officials. Cook County Circuit Judge Leroy Martin Jr. ruled the auction resulting in ARP’s buying the Park District land constituted a private sale because the zoning had been changed beforehand according to what ARP wanted.
Friends of Gordon Park proposed ARP pay the Park District for an easement on the land for a mutually acceptable price. ARP could then dedicate the 2.82 acres of land as open space.
This land would be added to the total density of YMCA land used by ARP for the development.
ARP representatives said they would consider the plan. Park District officials said they weren’t asked to be involved with hammering out this plan and haven’t yet seen the deal.
The key to the deal is if ARP can develop the site as it wants while keeping the Park District land open. If it can, this could be a way out of the legal nightmare this whole situation has become.
All parties involved need to make some concessions.
Coryell and Friends of Gordon Park should remember most La Grange voters approved of selling the land for development. The Park District must recognize the mistakes made in the process and get on board with this potential solution. And ARP would be wise to acknowledge it may not get everything it wants.
If everyone remains flexible, common ground in the land deal may be discovered. Ending the legal proceedings would benefit the most important group here: the taxpayers.
