“Hear Our Voices” Rally at Homewood Village Hall and Civiclab’s “TIF 101” Sponsored by SSGOC
HOMEWOOD, Ill. - February 23, 2021 — In response to the Village of Homewood’s expedited rezoning and TIF district creation for the property formerly known as Calumet Country Club, South Suburbs for Greenspace Over Concrete (SSGOC) will hold a “Hear Our Voices” rally outside of Homewood Village Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. On Wednesday, February 24, SSGOC is sponsoring Tom Tresser from CivicLab for a customized look at TIFs called “TIF 101.”
The rally is an opportunity for residents and concerned neighbors to informally object to the hurried process and will take place outside of Village Hall. The “Hear Our Voices” rally starts at 6:30 p.m., and the Homewood Board of Trustees meeting starts at 7 p.m. Though most participants will likely be attending remotely, there will be some participants or video equipment in Village Hall. People are encouraged to bring signs and noisemakers.
“TIF 101” is an educational opportunity that will inform the public about how tax increment financing takes public money for private entities, in general, and about TIFs in Homewood, specifically. The event is free and open to the public, and SSGOC is happy to welcome TIF-expert Tom Tresser to the Southland, virtually. TIF 101 runs from 7-9 p.m., and there will be several opportunities for participants to ask questions about these complicated tax tools. The link to join is tinyurl.com/Homewood-TIF-Forum. A fact sheet about TIFs and the proposed new TIF at the property formerly known as Calumet Country Club will be available to attendees.
SSGOC believes the processes to rezone the land and create the TIF are being rushed through the public view, during a pandemic, when the existence of open meetings is being pushed to the limit. The Homewood Boards of Trustees voted in a public meeting on January 26, 2021 to start the rezoning and TIF creation process. But Diversified Partner, LLC’s application to rezone the property is dated December 15, 2020, and the village published notice of the public hearing regarding rezoning on January 25, 2021 before residents were even made aware of village official’s plans. Additionally, the Planning and Zoning Commission scheduled the second hearing continuance for 1 p.m. Thursday, February 25, 2021, which is a time when many residents will not be able to attend to ask their questions about the rezoning and give public comment on the project. Residents’ voices are being shut out of this process.
Comments for Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting, which are supposed to be read in the “Public Comment” portion of the meeting, may be submitted to comments@homewoodil.gov by 3 p.m. Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
About South Suburbs for Greenspace over Concrete
A multi-racial group of concerned residents of Homewood, Hazel Crest, East Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Chicago Heights, South Holland and Glenwood formed in opposition to Diversified Partner LLC’s planned development of Calumet Country Club (2136 175th St, Homewood, IL 60430) into a fulfillment/trucking hub. The group is a campaign of SAFE.
About Illinois Southland Against Fossil Energy
Illinois Southland Against Fossil Energy was founded in response to the proposed gas-burning power plant in Glenwood. SAFE is building an inclusive, multi-racial coalition that believes the Southland needs and deserves a clean environment, clean government, healthy people, and a healthy economy.