Walmart example of Elgin's quick fixes

I was anticipating a hearing for final approval of the proposed Walmart store at Randall and Bowes roads in Elgin. Last spring a recently-retired city employee said there would be one - perhaps I missed it.

I suppose it is too late to reverse the decision. Another loss and waste of land to wanton commercial development. City officials in any city should be reviewing companies that want to vacate an existing site and then create a new site in the same city. For businesses to further destroy unused land when they could be either remodeling an existing site or moving into some other business' empty storefront should not be allowed by municipalities. We need to reuse, and a city should encourage it. No more quick-fix decisions because you can't go back.

Elgin quick-fixes without referendums are legion - the casino with its declining revenue, the large amount of downtown condominiums sitting empty (it's not solely the economy), commercially developing Randall Road, expanding the city limits - will Elgin yet annex the Villa Olivia area for tax revenue? - the construction of the revenue-losing Centre to the demise of the Borden plant, which could have housed restaurants, shops, theater, etc.

Citizens should demand long-term considerations rather than allow short-term quick-fixes. Downtown and neighborhood commercial districts should be a priority for tax revenue. If a city is interested in creating an aesthetic environment as Elgin claims it is, then it should be setting standards and not wavering.

Susan Hess

Elgin