Near West Neighbors ecstatic about new ROPE house
Last summer, residents from the Near West Neighbors Association pleaded with Elgin city leaders to help stop the rash of drug dealing, prostitution and other crime in their area.
Now, optimism levels are up.
Deputy Police Chief Robert Beeter said there have been no further arrests of hookers or johns since then.
And the city recently bought a different house in the neighborhood for the police department's Resident Officer Program of Elgin.
The neighborhood has had a ROPE house for years, but neighbors say the new spot at 302 W. Chicago St. is closer to the crime areas and will be more effective.
"When the ROPE house was on Union Street is was kind of useless. This is more of a hot area," said Cinda Bates, who lives down the street on Chicago. "I'm glad that whoever decided to do this did it, because it's definitely going to make an impact on our neighborhood."
Through Elgin's highly touted program, an officer lives in a neighborhood and is encouraged to be an active member of the community. A squad car parked at the home also acts as a deterrent.
RuthAnne Hall, city management analyst, paid $222,500 for the home with money budgeted in 2008. She said the cobblestone home, which is one of the oldest on the city's west side, had been converted into five apartments.
Beeter said city officials are evaluating how to convert it back to a single-family home.
The ROPE officer is still stationed at the house on Union for the time being, and there is no concrete time frame for a move to the Chicago Street house.
Beeter also said the location is closer to downtown and the intersection with Route 31. "We always listen to the neighborhood and factor in their concerns as well as those of the entire city," he added.
Association President Chuck Keysor praised city officials for the move.
"Everybody I've talked to is as happy as can be," Keysor said. "We're one step closer. They'll get to (the renovation) when they can. We couldn't have asked for a better spot."
The city has five ROPE houses in the program, which began in 1991.