05-19-2009, 06:45 AM
Mayor Sabonjian optimistic about Waukegan's future
Comments
May 19, 2009
BY JUDY MASTERSON <!-- e --><a href="mailto:JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM">JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- People interested in the future of Waukegan packed the stage of the Genesee Theatre on Monday to listen to Mayor Robert Sabonjian offer a hopeful vision and a new theme for a struggling city.
Sabonjian, a longtime Lake County Board commissioner who defeated former Mayor Dick Hyde last month, was feted at the 24th annual Lunch with the Mayor program sponsored by Waukegan Main Street.
awards
Waukegan Main Street and the Waukegan Business Association recognized the following business owners.
⢠Friends of Main Street: Alice Alviani and Mark MacLeod, Family Piano Co., 114 S. Genesee St.
⢠Design Award: Dale Shea, 11 N. Genesee, which includes a Subway sandwich shop.
⢠Hospitality Award: George Patterson, Louie's restaurant, 1009 North Ave.
⢠Independently-Owned Business Award: Wendy Walker, Pierce Florist, Flowers, Fine Art, Gifts and More, 218 N. Genesee St.
⢠Corporation: AT&T
⢠Entreprenuer of the year: Kent Moon, Lakeview Construction
⢠Impact Award: Vista Health System
Vowing not to settle political scores, Sabonjian said he is determined to govern "only looking forward" and to work to find solutions to "problems that weigh upon us all."
Those problems include a 15 percent unemployment rate, more than 1,000 homes foreclosed or abandoned, a rising high school dropout rate, residual pollution from former lakefront industries and business siphoned-off by towns in Wisconsin.
Sabonjian also cited the underperformance of the Genesee Theatre, renovated at a cost of $24 million but that stands dormant 80 percent of the time, he said.
"Working together, we can solve these problems," Sabonjian said. "Waukeganites are a tough breed. We have seen many difficult days in the past and survived them, coming through the experience better, smarter and more capable of handling the next round of challenges. We will do it again."
Sabonjian, who stressed the importance of partnerships in and out of government, has formed an "economic development strike team" headed by Robin Schabes, director of downtown and lakefront development. The team will meet with developers and move quickly to take action on business opportunities, Sabonjian said.
Also new is a separate Planning Department headed by Russ Tomlin, director of planning and zoning. Waukegan also has a fresh theme: "The New Urban Adventure."
The adventure will include green zoning, green design and building and perhaps a wind turbine field on the former Johns Manville site. Sabonjian wants a mixed-use lakefront, with quality, attainable housing, and both commercial and industrial development. He also wants to bring young professionals into the city by offering $10,000-$15,000 housing grants to those college graduates who maintained a B average and are willing to return to their hometown for at least 10 years. A Young Professionals Homebuyers Grant would offer a similar deal to teachers, police, firefighters, and young business owners. Financing for the grants would come from Community Development Block Grants and the Lake County Affordable Housing program.
The urban adventure will have no room for gaming, which Sabonjian made clear by commenting that "with the casino monkey off our back," Waukegan might stop "being the Chicago Cubs of local communities."
With gambling out of the picture, Sabonjian, who drew a standing ovation, expects to attract higher quality retail to Fountain Square on the city's southwest side. He will also put into effect the business plan for the historic Genesee suggested by Ray Shepardson, who designed the renovation, and who pushed for increased use of the theater and more community access.
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Comments
May 19, 2009
BY JUDY MASTERSON <!-- e --><a href="mailto:JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM">JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- People interested in the future of Waukegan packed the stage of the Genesee Theatre on Monday to listen to Mayor Robert Sabonjian offer a hopeful vision and a new theme for a struggling city.
Sabonjian, a longtime Lake County Board commissioner who defeated former Mayor Dick Hyde last month, was feted at the 24th annual Lunch with the Mayor program sponsored by Waukegan Main Street.
awards
Waukegan Main Street and the Waukegan Business Association recognized the following business owners.
⢠Friends of Main Street: Alice Alviani and Mark MacLeod, Family Piano Co., 114 S. Genesee St.
⢠Design Award: Dale Shea, 11 N. Genesee, which includes a Subway sandwich shop.
⢠Hospitality Award: George Patterson, Louie's restaurant, 1009 North Ave.
⢠Independently-Owned Business Award: Wendy Walker, Pierce Florist, Flowers, Fine Art, Gifts and More, 218 N. Genesee St.
⢠Corporation: AT&T
⢠Entreprenuer of the year: Kent Moon, Lakeview Construction
⢠Impact Award: Vista Health System
Vowing not to settle political scores, Sabonjian said he is determined to govern "only looking forward" and to work to find solutions to "problems that weigh upon us all."
Those problems include a 15 percent unemployment rate, more than 1,000 homes foreclosed or abandoned, a rising high school dropout rate, residual pollution from former lakefront industries and business siphoned-off by towns in Wisconsin.
Sabonjian also cited the underperformance of the Genesee Theatre, renovated at a cost of $24 million but that stands dormant 80 percent of the time, he said.
"Working together, we can solve these problems," Sabonjian said. "Waukeganites are a tough breed. We have seen many difficult days in the past and survived them, coming through the experience better, smarter and more capable of handling the next round of challenges. We will do it again."
Sabonjian, who stressed the importance of partnerships in and out of government, has formed an "economic development strike team" headed by Robin Schabes, director of downtown and lakefront development. The team will meet with developers and move quickly to take action on business opportunities, Sabonjian said.
Also new is a separate Planning Department headed by Russ Tomlin, director of planning and zoning. Waukegan also has a fresh theme: "The New Urban Adventure."
The adventure will include green zoning, green design and building and perhaps a wind turbine field on the former Johns Manville site. Sabonjian wants a mixed-use lakefront, with quality, attainable housing, and both commercial and industrial development. He also wants to bring young professionals into the city by offering $10,000-$15,000 housing grants to those college graduates who maintained a B average and are willing to return to their hometown for at least 10 years. A Young Professionals Homebuyers Grant would offer a similar deal to teachers, police, firefighters, and young business owners. Financing for the grants would come from Community Development Block Grants and the Lake County Affordable Housing program.
The urban adventure will have no room for gaming, which Sabonjian made clear by commenting that "with the casino monkey off our back," Waukegan might stop "being the Chicago Cubs of local communities."
With gambling out of the picture, Sabonjian, who drew a standing ovation, expects to attract higher quality retail to Fountain Square on the city's southwest side. He will also put into effect the business plan for the historic Genesee suggested by Ray Shepardson, who designed the renovation, and who pushed for increased use of the theater and more community access.
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