Group seeks to boost Carpentersville image

Changing the perception of outsiders - and some residents - is vital in reoccupying the hundreds of vacant and foreclosed homes peppered throughout Carpentersville, members of a newly formed grass roots organization say.

The Carpentersville Housing Redevelopment Council aims to "acquire, renovate and market nationally the ... ever-increasing stock of foreclosed and vacant homes" in the village through outreach and education, according the group's mission statement.

"To many people in the community, the empty houses are an obvious problem," said Jim Krenz, a Carpentersville business owner who formed the group. "We need to not only talk about Carpentersville moving from under the black cloud, but we also need to take control of the vacant housing ... and improve the village's image."

The 35-plus member group, which includes local business owners, banking professionals and village officials, will work with government entities and agencies in attaining funding but will remain separate from the village board. The council will work under committees, which include finance, marketing, image and safety, code redevelopment, government liaison and demographics.

"These are people from outside the village who want to assist in anyway they can," Village President Ed Ritter said. "Sometimes the village sees things from our side of the table and we need to let people see things from across the table and point out stumbling blocks."

Barbara Beckman, executive director of the Northern Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, said a mix of public and private input is needed to get Carpentersville moving.

"Everyone can agree that the vacant homes with broken and boarded up windows and overgrown grass depresses a neighborhood ...," Beckman said. "We wanted to see what we could do to help families get back into these homes. It is going to take a large public and private partnership to address the issue."

One of those problems is reversing the perception that Carpentersville has a crime problem, said Thom Jareczek, who will open an insurance business in the village in October.

"We need to make people aware of the positive changes that have taken place," Jareczek said. "That's something we cannot do on our own."