Elgin building root of problems
My husband and I purchased our home located in the Near West Neighborhood in 2003 with hopes of rehabilitating a historical home. As being a lifelong resident of Elgin I was well aware of the fact that this was a questionable neighborhood. However, after much discussion my husband and I decided that the only way a questionable neighborhood has a chance of being turned around is if people move in and try to fix up the homes in the area.
In the past five years that we have lived here the following has happened. There was a gang shooting in our backyard which resulted in a bullet hole through our garage window. There was also a drug bust that lead the SWAT to surround our house and collect drugs that were thrown in our backyard. All four tires on my husband's car have been slashed. My car has been broken into on four separate occasions, with money and my stereo stolen. My husband has also been threatened to be shot by a teenager. All have been residents of 222 Locust, with exception of the car break-ins due to the fact that no one was caught.
Now that we just had our first child we are seriously questioning if we should continue living here. We are wondering if anything is going to change. The issue that we have is the few changes that have taken place in the past five years have produced nothing to stop the cancer that grows within the building. We are extremely discouraged that the city of Elgin has allowed this to continue to be such a monumental problem for our neighborhood and the surrounding areas.
I am not going to pretend that I know the solution. I do know that big changes need to happen to 222 Locust for this neighborhood and surrounding areas to flourish and become a place where you can raise a family and feel safe. I am not sure if tearing down the property would be the only solution. I do know it is the city of Elgin's responsibility to come up with a solution and fast.
It is great to see the downtown area being revitalized, however ,it won't make much of a difference if you have a building like 222 Locust right across the river feeding crime and gangs into the community you just revitalized. All you are doing is giving the thief's and gangs a large pool of victims to prey upon.
We beg the city to take swift concise action against this issue.
Sandra and Chris Tonis
Elgin