Brach/Brodie Trial is Over

[doctorwho]

macy said:

archwinsome said:

Any property needs to seriously be acquired and started on. If it's down south, fine. If it's BB w/ a scaled back school (2500 was the figure someone was tossing out) then fine. If it's up north. fine. It needs to be gotten and started.

Agree here. Any available land needs to be considered. Even if that means delaying the school opening. To "bite the bullet" and pay millions more for land than absolutely necessary is a mistake in my opinion. It is simply not fiscally responsible.

I prefer not to defer the school opening as that will also incur ever increasing construction costs. Trading one higher cost for another higher cost does seem to fix anything. a 10% increase on a $90M building - and the walk away costs from BB, and changing plan architectural costs end up putting us right back where we are.

If it is other land - it has to start very soon, at today's construction prices. IMHO

[doctorwho]

macy said:

eagledad said:

Frankly, at this point if Lehman/Macom would sell the land to the district for a reasonable price and get off of it quickly I'd jump at it and shaft BB. I'll even give them naming rights.

"Macom Stadium" anyone? Sound good Paul? how about we throw in "Lehman Library" as well?

I'm not above eating my words if it gets Metea underway this year. Paul can be my knight in shining armor, I'm jiggy with that.

I couldn't agree more.... Lehman High sounds good to me.

I'd be a little more inclined for football stadium rights - someone send him the artcile on rustoleum and the $1.8 they donated to Vernon Hills high.

[doctorwho]

casey said:

It's not a great location and there are obvious reasons that it may not be the answer but wouldn't it be worth investigating further? !

I know you may be shocked - but this part I do agree with. We are at the point where all options have to be looked at. I do not like many things about the site, ( no sense in repeating them for repetitions sake) but it can't be ruled out at this point either, even though a lot of $ to make up from walking away at BB. AND, it has to be ready to start on IMHO to be considered - or else we are looking at another increase in construction rates, and even 5% or 10% on $90 - $100M puts us behind the 8 ball again as that property costs more than original plan also.

[macy]

doctorwho said:

macy said:

Agree here. Any available land needs to be considered. Even if that means delaying the school opening. To "bite the bullet" and pay millions more for land than absolutely necessary is a mistake in my opinion. It is simply not fiscally responsible.

I prefer not to defer the school opening as that will also incur ever increasing construction costs. Trading one higher cost for another higher cost does seem to fix anything. a 10% increase on a $90M building - and the walk away costs from BB, and changing plan architectural costs end up putting us right back where we are.

If it is other land - it has to start very soon, at today's construction prices. IMHO

We are in this position because we delayed looking at other options because of the confidence that BB would come in at a reasonable price. It didn't.... It's unreasonable to pay that much for land. Period.

I'm uncomfortable with that amount of money for land. There has to be other options.

To say we are forced to pay that amount because we've gotten this far, is not acceptable to me. The district has said all along they have other options. I think they owe it to residents to present them.

[EagleDad]

bob said:

We can't start at macom until at least Spring. Road is still there and it runs right through the middle of his plans.

You, me, some shovels and box wine and the road is gone in a weekend.

I could put my pitchfork to good use breaking up blacktop!

The point is where there's a will, there's a way and Macom could bring significant land moving equipment to bear. The knight rides in on his backhoe.

We may need to think outside the box more now.

[macy]

eagledad said:

bob said:

We can't start at macom until at least Spring. Road is still there and it runs right through the middle of his plans.

You, me, some shovels and box wine and the road is gone in a weekend.

I could put my pitchfork to good use breaking up blacktop!

The point is where there's a will, there's a way and Macom could bring significant land moving equipment to bear. The knight rides in on his backhoe.

We may need to think outside the box more now.

Yes! Boxed Wine is back.... LOL! Those were the good ole days.

Where's Ross? Wouldn't you love another diagram from him. That has to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Anyone remember that? LOL

Seriously, I'll get out with my shovel as well... We can move that road.

[Arch]

I hope I'm not reading too much into this but did I just read that we can delay the construction, potentially pay way more w/ the increased construction cost (resulting from start-delay) and the legal fees of BB all just to 'prove a point' that the land price is too high? Of course it's too high, but is it really being fiscally responsible to incur more costs to 'make a point' ?

[EagleDad]

Also, someone needs to stay sober and drive pickup truck loads of debris back to the 25 acres on BB before we hand it back.

Arch, were you saying something about spite before?

[macy]

archwinsome said:

I hope I'm not reading too much into this but did I just read that we can delay the construction, potentially pay way more w/ the increased construction cost (resulting from start-delay) and the legal fees of BB all just to 'prove a point' that the land price is too high? Of course it's too high, but is it really being fiscally responsible to incur more costs to 'make a point' ?

I guess I'm just really concerned with why all of the sudden there is this concern for the increase of construction costs. Honestly, I've been concerned over that for a long time. It's one of the reasons I've questioned why we were so dead set on BB.

If we had moved on the Macom land back in 10/06 when it was originally proposed would we be in this situation? Where was the concern for the increase in construction costs back then?

We passed this referendum a long time ago. If we were so concerned with the increase in construction, why did we wait so long for BB?

ETA:

Also, I don't think the offset in waiting another 6 months will outweigh the cost of 518K an acre for land. Til I see those numbers, I'm of the opinion it's not fiscally responsible to pay that for the land.

[casey]

macy said:

doctorwho said:

To say we are forced to pay that amount because we've gotten this far, is not acceptable to me. The district has said all along they have other options. I think they owe it to residents to present them.

AMEN! Now let's hope the SB is listening and at least gives the residents and taxpayers a chance to speak out. Sitting in Executive Session isn't going to help any of us know what's really going on. I'd like to think that going to Monday's meeting would serve a purpose but it sounds like we'll be shut out anyway. We'll be sitting around until the closed door session is over. Hey maybe we can tailgate in the Howie Crouse lot and raise one up to the big guy!!!

[macy]

eagledad said:

Also, someone needs to stay sober and drive pickup truck loads of debris back to the 25 acres on BB before we hand it back.

Arch, were you saying something about spite before?

Oh, forget it then... If I have to be sober, I can't bring my shovel..

I can't risk arrest for a DUI. "Digging Under the Influence".

[Arch]

If we moved on the Macom land, guess what? We still would not be building.

There's a road that still needs to be moved, does it not? It's been 'planned' for a while and it was said it would have been done by now. It's not.

[macy]

archwinsome said:

If we moved on the Macom land, guess what? We still would not be building.

There's a road that still needs to be moved, does it not? It's been 'planned' for a while and it was said it would have been done by now. It's not.

Arch,

I understand your frustration as I'm frustrated as well.

I think we both need some answers from the administration and the SB. We are in the same space but differ on how to move forward.

I think we should wait to hear what the real numbers are in terms of construction costs, delay if we pursue other land, etc.

It's sort of dumb to banter back and forth til we know the reality of the situation.

Once we do, we can get back to being dumb again...

[Arch]

macy said:

archwinsome said:

If we moved on the Macom land, guess what? We still would not be building.

There's a road that still needs to be moved, does it not? It's been 'planned' for a while and it was said it would have been done by now. It's not.

Arch,

I understand your frustration as I'm frustrated as well.

I think we both need some answers from the administration and the SB. We are in the same space but differ on how to move forward.

I think we should wait to hear what the real numbers are in terms of construction costs, delay if we pursue other land, etc.

It's sort of dumb to banter back and forth til we know the reality of the situation.

Once we do, we can get back to being dumb again...

I'll anxiously be awaiting your return as I am sure you are of mine.

[bob]

macy said:

archwinsome said:

If we moved on the Macom land, guess what? We still would not be building.

There's a road that still needs to be moved, does it not? It's been 'planned' for a while and it was said it would have been done by now. It's not.

Arch,

I understand your frustration as I'm frustrated as well.

I think we both need some answers from the administration and the SB. We are in the same space but differ on how to move forward.

I think we should wait to hear what the real numbers are in terms of construction costs, delay if we pursue other land, etc.

It's sort of dumb to banter back and forth til we know the reality of the situation.

Once we do, we can get back to being dumb again...

Can I deejay while you two dig? I'll bring the Abba.