Group walk to show blighted areas of Elgin

With Elgin officials pouring millions of dollars into downtown revitalization, the South West Area Neighbors want to make sure city officials don't neglect their neck of the woods.

The group is staging a walk at 5:30 p.m. today to shed light on what they consider the blighted intersection of State and National streets.

"That corridor is not very desirable at all," SWAN President Charlene Sligting said. "We're just trying to work with the city to bring it to light even more."

Sligting said there are several problems in the area, including code violations and one house that can't be improved because it's the subject of an arson investigation.

Sligting and others also have taken issue with two smoke shops near the intersection -- although she said that tonight's walk isn't meant to single anyone out.

"The whole intersection needs to be cleaned up," she said. "It's not like this huge protest. I don't want this to be a combative thing. But we want something done with that neighborhood."

Council member Juan Figueroa said he plans to attend the walk.

"I think there's a need for open communication between the neighborhood and the business owners there," Figueroa said. "I think that's vital."

Jerry Peters, manager of Papa Smoke on State Street, may not be walking tonight.

But Peters said he does understand the neighbors' concerns and is more than happy to work with them to improve the area.

"We've been here for years," Peters said. "We want to work with them. To succeed in business you have to get along with everybody. It's good that they're aggressive and care about the community."

Peters also said he apologized to neighbors for some temporary signs the business put up recently while relocating to a bigger space.

"We didn't think they were excessive," he said, but they took the signs down anyway. "We expressed to them we want to communicate."

The walk starts at 5:30 p.m. today at Ryerson Park, at South State Street and Ryerson Avenue.