" Let's see, the city is hurting for money and who, pray tell will foot the bill for this work? "

" I am a bit concerned about tearing down the brick church, and not because it is a church. I'd like to hear more about its history. If it is only the second to inhabit that spot, how long ago was it built? Was it built on the foundations of the original, with brick being used to replace other building materials when the congregation could afford to erect it? What else happened on those grounds during its long history?

There are too many other areas with unused and decaying buildings available that could be torn down without obliterating a site that might be of historic significance. I would like to see better information made available before a decision is made as to whether or not the site is significant.

After all, do we really need another expanded chain store and parking lot among the chain stores and resturaunts we have been flooded with? How many hamburgers, chicken wings, deli sandwiches, quick shops, and ethnic meals are needed to make our lives complete? Travel from town to town in this country and everything looks the same. Maybe we should try to think original thoughts. And preserve our history where it exists. "

" I'm hoping the Council will consider taking action to improve the taste of Mattoon water at tonight's meeting. Despite the replenishing of the charcoal supply (which we apparently ran out of a couple months ago), the water still tastes like the bottom of the lake!

What gives? Does someone in city government have a friend or family member in the bottled water business? "

" It would be a sad loss for Mattoon if the church building is demolished. Although economics often dictate such decisions, surely the building could be saved for another use. As I recall, it was the former Lutheran Church before a new church was built on East Broadway.

Even as a young person, I thought decision to obstruct the beautiful front stained glass window facing Broadway was a bad choice.

Over my lifetime, Mattoon has lost many distinctive and architecturally interesting homes and buildings, most often in the name of progress. The town is becoming just one more homogenized version of every other small town across the midwestwith Walmarts and unattractive malls.

I hope there is someone in public office in Mattoon who will at least consider trying to save the church building. "

" I think this would be a great addition to this part of town and help to bring some life to downtown Mattoon. "

" It looks like the only historic building the City wants to keep is the old ICRR depot. Once CVS builds the new building what will happen to their old building? Another vacant structure like the old K-Mart? Are the tax payers expected to pay for this project? "

" Change is a good thing! It would be more convenient for me and many of us who live on the west side of town to have something closer to us :) Oh, and yeah, I agree with the really bad tasting water problem too. It's really awful :( "

" I'm hoping the Council will consider taking action to improve the taste of Mattoon water at tonight's meeting.

Yeah, and the very worst water in town is the water fountains right next to the window where you pay your water bill. They tell me it's the pipes. "

" grumpy, you need to get out more often. the old k-mart is now buffalo wild wings, hibbets, verizon, etc. "

" I find it strange the same rich people owning these sites get richer, build,
teardown, sell property over and over.
I don't even bathe in Mattoon water when visit friends,,,much less drink the stuff and my friends animals have bottled water, not even want them drink it. Fish tank is filled with containers of good water. Yet the depot is a eyesore mess of confusion. I do not foresee CVS business being any better even with driveup as we have one open 24 7 year round,,,,,can't beat that. Think CVS fooling selves.
AND who are these brains always thinking of improving Mattoon. Not much has improved can see. Maybe grumpy meant the old walmart building instead of kmart. Kmart building looking good but how long people don't have money.
OVERTAXED, UNDERPAID, MINIMAL FOOD BUYING, CAN'T TAKE VACATIONS, CAN'T AFFORD GAS EXCEPT FROM BEANS, NO SEX MIGHT CATCH SOMETHING. GEESH. "

" Class of 65 is correct. The church building once housed St. Johns Lutheran before they built the current building out by Peterson Parkn 1956. My parents were married there in 1953. "

" A better site might have been that eyesore, that keeps getting ignored, a couple of blocks to the north. "

" It is nice to see improvements coming to town, but it doesn't seem to make much sense to tear down a fairly new building like the muffler shop to move it to the other side of the block. No wonder the country is in such a bad financial shape when money is wasted like this. "

" i may just be young and stupid, but why would anyone other than CVS pay for the move? they're the ones buying the land, they're the ones causeing all the change...seems like common sense to me. it's just like when walgreens in charleston wanted to move. that whole block was bought by a developer. the gas station was torn down, they bumped the liquor store down to the old LJS's which had stood empty for a long time, and demolished the varsity inn which was a cesspool. they paid good money to get everyone to move out of their way. now it's a beautiful and busy corner. i think this is a good thing for mattoon. "

" 61938, you are correct about getting out more, excuse my "senior moment". The biggest shame was the time needed before someone bought the property and redeveloped it. At least the new CVS parking lot will give the kids a place to skateboard. LOL "

" As a guy who spent most of my teenage Friday and Saturday nights in the passenger seat of a 1979 Monte Carlo, I can easily guess that I've driven past that church 10,000 times in my life. I've only been inside it once or twice. But it's part of the landscape at this point. Why does it need to move?

Is the city out of land? Why not work toward growth on the west side of the city? There are factories filled with employees and houses filled with families over that way. Name all of the restaurants west of 19th Street in Mattoon. Now name all of the restaurants north of Broadway and west of Logan.

I can think of two restaurants. That's it. People who live over there have to drive halfway across town to go anywhere.

Here's a suggestion. Put the drug store on DeWitt at 21st street where the car wash is or a few blocks up, where there is a huge lot for a oil change place and not much else. Tear down a few of the houses collapsing on Dewitt or on another street in the north east part of town and put it there. But don't build the thing where there are already buildings in good condition. "

" Hold on pj1983. I wouldn't bet the farm on the idea that the tax payers won't somehow get stuck with at least part of the bill on this deal.

I totally agree with you that it makes sense that the parties involved would pick up the tab, but seeing how things work in Mattoon, I would be willing to bet that they will go to city hall begging, and will get some cash for this project. We'll see. "

" I can't imagine that the city would foot the bill for any of the project. If it does, someone's a fool. The infrastructure is a gray area for this sort of project. If it increases traffic flow, who pays for the traffic devices and so forth?

In this case, we're talking about a TIF district. This project will bring in tax dollars that can be used within that district. Plus, it will bring in additional taxes for the city. Those tax revenues could offset about any cost that the city might incur. But I should hope that it doesn't incur any cost.

I still think it would be better elsewhere. But I'm one of those guys who just doesn't like to see his hometown change overnight. Heck. Twenty years ago, I rode my bike to a movie theater downtown that no longer exists. I went with my buddy when he bought his first box of condoms at the drug store where Common Grounds is now. I remember how scared he was and how pleasantly surprised I was to learn I could order a real cherry coke in the place.

There are parts of the mall that have changed stores about once a year for the past two decades. When I was a kid just 20-25 years ago, my family's favorite restaurants were Tomaso's, D&W and Top Boy.

Someone should turn Hoots Haus into a giant German restaurant, the kind of place that lures people from other counties with various schnitzels. Instead, we're going to tear it down and build a cookie-cutter drug store that will only give you the discount price if you have your little card on your key chain. "

" Why is it any of your business if CVS wants to "waste" their money. It's their money, let them buy the church and tear it down if they can afford to. If you disagree, you buy it and sink your money in it to keep the building in its place. I agree, I think it is silly to tear down Midas, but it's not my money. "

" Harry, if you were refering to the old Young Radiator plant, you made a very good point. We seem to be throwing a lot of money into sprucing up Mattoon, when that abandoned factory has set there for over 20 years. "

" I agree with Myles 100%. This is a CVS project, not a city of Mattoon project. If they want to build at a certain location, then that is what they will do. That is what Wal-Mart has done for years. Yes the city and taxpayers will incure some out of pocket expense. This should be no suprise to people. The city will also gain big in sales tax and property taxes that they will collect from CVS.

Why the big stink about tearing down the VACANT church on the corner? If it was such a good, stable and thriving location for a church, why did the Lutheran church move? Its because all of the churches that tried to survive there, including the Apostolic Center that was the most recent, could not begin to afford to fix the leaking roof, replace a very inefficient and out of date boiler, and keep up on the maintenance. I think that a nice side walk monument or historical marker would be a great way to pay tribute to what purposes this church had throughout history.

As far as the posts about the Youngs Radiator property. Well it seems that the owner of that property, who was begging for help and was scrambling for ways to get this land cleared from the EPA for development has forgot about all the people who helped him accomplish that feat. I hear that since the NFR letter from the EPA has been granted he thinks his property is much more valuable than before. So to make a long story short, no one can afford to develop there now. Greed got the best of him I guess.

I am not disagreeing that if an older building can be revived and put to use, that is what should happen. But in may cases this is not feasable for certain business needs. And I would assume that if you were the one footing the bill, you would make darn sure that you got what you wanted! "

" First, let me assure you that CVS is not "wasting" any money on any thing. Having some experience with the CVS headquarters in Providence, RI, I can tell you that CVS is a group of very shrewd business people. They know the value of a pharmacy/convenience store in a central area of a community that is either depressed or becoming so.

The population is aging. This means more income from prescriptions each and every year. Generally, people in the center of a community as well as those who are aging are less mobile and rely on one store for the bulk of their daily needs and a lot of the remainder of their needs. Take a quick look at the retail prices of products on the shelf and compare them to any other retail outlet farther out from the center of town. Keep in mind that CVS pays the same - if not somewhat less - for the same items as every other store in the city. After you've checked some everyday prices - come back and tell me they're not going to make some serious profit at that location.

Would it shock anyone to know that the city fathers have either granted or extended any tax abatements or other considerations to entice CVS - or any other store - to locate or improve in an area they are targeting for development? I'm not saying they did, I'm just asking the question.

I cannot say that any abatements have been granted or extended, but I think it might be something to check out. If the city fathers HAVE granted any tax favors, one has to wonder . . . why would they do so for a business that is not going to actually BRING anyone downtown? Who is going to go downtown to pay MORE for the same item they can get at WalMart or wherever for less and drive less to do so??????

Would it be because CVS is going to supply so many jobs to the community that the abatements or considerations are worth it? I doubt it. How many more retail, part-time, minimum wage jobs will be created by a store expanding? Two? Three?

No, if the city fathers have granted one nickel of any kind of tax break, the citizenry must demand to know why.

I really can't go on with this with any insight until we have an answer to THAT question. What have the city fathers done FOR CVS that would entice them to stay or expand in that area? If the answer is "nothing", then it's purely a case of smart marketing on CVS's part. If the answer is "something", this may be a starting point to try to figure out WHAT THE HECK ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING???? "

" It's another in a long line of crying shames that a building with the history, heritage and memories of the old Lutheran Church has deteriorated to the point of being worthless for anything other than the enjoyment and thrill of witnessing a full-blown implosion.

Not being an expert or even close, I don't know whether or not the building would qualify as a historical building but what if it had? If it had, there would be ample funding to renovate, improve and protect this bit of "Mattoonicana" and thereby increasing its value rather than diminishing it to the value of another parking lot for the downtown area where nobody comes to park in the first place.

It seems to me that there is no plan of action for much in the city - that the city fathers pretty much fly by the seat of their pants running from one project to another being attracted to the next shiny object that catches their collective eye.

I have not lived in Mattoon for almost 40 years but I've returned from time to time only to be moved to tears - and those aren't tears of joy. And even though I've lived OUTSIDE of Mattoon for over 65% of my life, I still love Mattoon and call it "my home town".

So once again, we are faced with the same question I had four years ago and the same question that prompted me to begin posting on these threads in the first place, "What can be done about this and similar situations?" Everything about what I read on these threads tells me the city of Mattoon is in desperate need for some leadership but nobody is stepping up! What are you going to do about all this? If history is any indication, all but about 1200 people are going to stay away from the polls and thereby let about 620 people (a majority of 1200) decide the future of a city where 19,088 USED to live!

Let me know where I've missed the mark. "

" I don't deny that CVS has a right to put the building on that block. But it also must jump through various hoops.

I cover city government meetings for my local paper, and one city is considered a gem among others that have been bulldozed beyond recognition. It's the only city in the county and one of few in the state where you can drive down a street in full shade. That's because they haven't chopped down all of the trees. The city has strict guidelines for development, and it's a bone of contention. Some believe it holds back growth too much. Others love their little city and don't want a bunch of large corporations setting up shop on their pretty streets.

All I know is that I want to live there every time I drive through the town. It's a great break from the concrete jungles that are most common here. "

" It's exciting that a CVS wants to invest in downtown Mattoon, and Midas wants to expand operations. In the middle of a recession, we'll have lots of construction jobs in the short term, and I won't have to drive across town to go to a drug/convenience store anymore.

That old church will soon be an eye sore, like the one on Western Ave. Better to replace it now than later.

It's amusing that someone suggested turning the "old Hoots Haus" into a German restaurant to bring in people from out of town. First of all, why don't YOU turn it into a German restaurant, and we have lots of other places that bring in people from out of town (Buffalo Wild Wings, etc). But just what is "Hoots Haus"...?? Do you have to live here thirty years before you're allowed to understand the language? It's like when the mall talks about the "old Walgreens" or "the old So Fro"... I still don't know what that means. It's time to move on, people!

And with forward thinking business people in Midas and CVS, we're doing so! Grant them tax incentives or whatever, but make it happen! "

" Here is a neat site.


http://savemattoon.home.mchsi.com/ "

" "But just what is "Hoots Haus"...


The owner was Gene Hoots, the same guy that owns burger king. Does that clear things up? "

" medic57 wrote on Dec 4, 2008 9:11 AM:

" Here is a neat site.


http://savemattoon.home.mchsi.com/ "



Thanks "

" Ed - Nope it sure doesn't, or at least it wouldn't to anyone who's not lived here at least 25 years. The question was rhetorical, to illustrate a point.

I guess my point is, why are we referring to these buildings by some business name a quarter a century ago? Why not reference the one building as ... oh, the old teen hangout, what was it called? LOL. I'll tell you why:

The article was written to inflame the "save the old building" passions in this town. He referenced the Civil War! The Civil War?? That's like saying, "Hoots Haus sat on a location that during the Civil War had buildings on it too." I mean, come on!

Those comments (calling that building Hoots Hause and referencing a church during the Civil War) have no bearing at all on the CVS and Midas's request, except to make people say, "GASP! They're tearing down the old Hoots Hause and that old church! We're losing our legacy!" "

" Come on guys...seriously? Kmart is as it has since been pointed out a vibrant bustling shopping center. The Youngs site is awaiting EPA clearance...once its granted, then the owner (who is currently not the City) has to agree on a fair price to sell it to the City. Only then can the City move to demolish the structure... The Church is junk...its not the original church, if it were then it would have some signifigance. Communities that are progressive, ones that see good things happen move forward...why do many citizens of Mattoon want to look back all the time? Keep building, keep developing, keep moving forward. Here is an idea, CVS has to put dumpsters somewhere... use some of the bricks from the old church to build a nice wall around the new dumpsters for CVS. Place a nice brass insert saying something like "these bricks came from a church that was here...civil war...ect...ect..." Now people can drive by and say look that dumpster corral was built out of the old church. I am all for history, but not at the cost of progress. Hoots Haus, I wish they would re-open it in the existing "burger king" so we could pave the way for a "real" burger king, Mattoon sorely needs a wopper or two, oh and those cheesy tots. Just my two cents... "