Elgin Alano Club gets OK to move downtown

The Elgin Alano Club, a nonprofit serving people in 12-step recovery programs, was given the thumbs-up to move to downtown Elgin over the objections of two council members.

Councilwomen Tish Powell and Rose Martinez voted Wednesday against granting a permit for the club's move into a 4,300-square-foot space in the basement of 73 S. Riverside Drive.

The club is currently housed on the near west side. Club officials said the downtown spot is ideal because it's close to public transportation and easily accessible to people with disabilities. Board member Laurie-Faith Gibson said the move is planned for early November.

The current location holds 15 meetings per week attended by five to 30 people each, all adults 21 and older, with meetings typically over by 9 p.m. Special events, such as Bears games viewing, might attract more people and end later, the club said.

Powell said she supports the club's mission.

"I'm just not necessarily sure this is the best place for that," Powell said.

She asked why city staff members didn't recommend imposing conditions on hours of operation and noise levels, and if there were any concerns about loitering and littering.

Community Development Director Marc Mylott said those were not topics of discussion. "It wouldn't be different than any other type of assembly," he said.

Councilman John Steffen, whose law office is downtown, said there were never any issues when the club was in the ground floor of the Elgin Tower Building, also downtown.

Martinez said she, too, appreciates the club's value.

"On the other hand, the city has put a lot of resources into Riverside Drive, and it seems to me that this specific area of downtown should be reserved for retail and entertainment," Martinez said.

Gibson pointed out the basement space wouldn't attract window shoppers. "I do believe us bringing daily foot traffic to the promenade is a bonus for the retailers around us," Gibson said. "It certainly was when the club was in the Tower Building until 2011."

Powell also noted that staff had imposed strict restrictions two years ago on a proposed after-hours youth club next door at 74 S. Grove Ave, including picking up litter and more.

That was a different situation, Councilman John Prigge said, because it involved youths, later hours, and a possible dance club.