Elgin stresses deconversion program

Returning single-family homes that over the years have been turned into apartments to their original condition is Elgin's top priority for the next four years.

That pledge won applause this week from Elgin Historic district residents who had turned out for a neighborhood meeting to address last week's double murder.

The city's multi-family deconversion program has aimed at returning many older homes to their original glory -- while primarily being a way to address overcrowding.

Pushing that program ranked first among Elgin's Top 10 priorities list for 2008-2012.

Right now, the city's deconversion program offers $33,000 grants to landlords to remove apartments to make their buildings single-family dwellings once again. This year, the city has doled out about a dozen such grants, Assistant City Manager Sean Stegall said.

The city now is getting tough on landlords who don't provide adequate parking and will give them the chance to either provide the parking or deconvert.

"Crime isn't the motivation behind the project. It has more to do with the other types of problems associated with inappropriate density," Stegall said.

City staffers still need to determine how much the program would cost -- Stegall says it will be very costly -- how the city would implement it, how many years people would have to comply and which of the roughly 1,600 houses that are now apartment buildings qualify.

"It's an extremely ambitious project for the city council," Stegall said.

Stegall noted that the money would continue to come from the city's allotment of taxes from the Grand Victoria Casino.

For the first time ever, environmental issues also made the city's top 10 list.

The city would like to develop a green master plan, deciding which environmental options Elgin could undertake, Stegall said.

They range from purchasing more hybrid vehicles -- the code enforcement department already uses one -- to cleaning up the Fox River, Stegall said.

These ideas originate from council members, city staffers and residents. The plan is to solicit even more, using the ones that best suit Elgin and developing a comprehensive plan around them.

"I do believe there is such a thing as global warming and that we use too many fossil fuels," Councilman Mike Powers said. "Let's continue to do things in the areas we can do them in, in baby steps."

Here are the other projects rounding out Elgin's top 10 list, many of which have been discussed previously or are already under the way:

•Hiring four full-time public works employees.

•Building a professional softball stadium or complex.

•Renovating the Elgin Sports Complex.

•Either making extensive renovations to the Hemmens Cultural Center or building a new performing arts center.

•Continuing the plan to beautify Elgin's entryways.

•Buying up problem properties.

•Burying or relocating electric wires.

•Improving the look of signs along Dundee Avenue.