" There he goes again! Should we add this property to the blackmail? "

" I smell more of the same from the Phillips trio, & it stinks to high hell. "

" Has anyone else noticed that even though there have been posts about the saga of the rental/dilapitated/mess that the paper has ignored publishing comments? Also, what about the furniture that is piled under the Unique Homes sign? Isn't there an ordinance against that? Why hasn't something been done to prevent that mess? "

" I find it funny that another thread right now is complaining about how Charleston needs more business (industrial and retail)and the first 2 comments on this thread are negative toward someone trying to accomplish just that.
El, I understand that you oppose the Phil. bros. 4th street project, however I don't understand how it's blackmail. Knowing both sides of the story I have to say the city's position would better fit that definition. Let's just say Obama and Bush aren't the only politicians that lie through their teeth.

Charleston needs more business. The chamber won't help. Cindy is too busy "partnering" with other organizations and enrolling retired people in leadership classes. The city gov't. won't do anything as proven by the council. Coles Together hasn't been successful. The state gov't. does all it can to discourage growth in business. Here's an idea.
If someone has the time and money to exercise an idea that is profitable and it's legal---LET THEM!

I've come to believe that most people in this forum would complain if they we're hung with a new rope (as my grandfather used to say).

Wake up! there is no bail out for small business or small towns! We just get to help finance the bail out, not collect it.

Besides, if Reggie builds a retail outlet and it fails and sits empty, it will be a years before it looks as bad as Lulu's and the old Harrison bldg. do now. We all know how the city has been working so hard on cleaning that up. Why hasn't the golden touch rip off artist sued those people?

Also if Reggie builds it his people will be working on the project. Whoops, that's jobs! Jobs for locals! Not just for Effingham contractors like our city and Coles Together uses.

What do you want people? More shopping, more options, or more of the same old stagnant economy Charleston has had for the last 20 years?

Trailmobile or anything like is not coming back anytime soon. We must move past the outdated model. "

" LC is right. A lot of whining and conspiracy theories but very little action.

The Phillips clan are about the only ones doing anything. We're lucky to have them. I am looking forward to the new development on the corner of Lincoln and 7th. That will be an outstanding place for new businesses.

We should be embracing and encouraging our entrepreneurs not criticizing them. Let's build each other up not tear each other down.

Remember that we are all in this together. So get involved, show up to the meetings, start a business. "

" How's this?

If it's new businesses....Hip-Hip-Hooray!

If it's another apt complex....We-Told-Ya-So!

LOL! "

" I drive 20 to 30 minutes just to get a whopper. That may not change for a few more years. While there, I tend to shop. If the school sales tax passes, I will do that even more. I already avoid Champaign more, they already lost thousands of dollars a year, in retail business, from just me. Most trips included shopping and lunch or dinner. Now they also have put a surcharge for non residents getting any emergency response, which is having several folks have second thoughts of spending any more time in their area than absolutely necessary. I already avoid the Mattoon Mall district, because of the 1% shopping toll. Rewarding or ignoring bad behavior perpetuates it.

I am all for responsible sustainable development. If the church sold prime development space like that too low, that was ultimately their decision.

Why would the developer even anticipate reasonable permits and zoning would be an issue? They don't even have posession of the property yet. Seems like putting the cart before the horse is this companies business as usual.

If the church hasn't finalized the deal yet, they should probably, open this up to bidding or other offers. EIU or others may want it. Might be some that are less likely to put a sports bar or another college bar on the former church site. Tough economic conditions or not, this site has big ticket value. Location, location, location like this has the possibility to disproportionately line the developers pockets, or go in the churches. I would rather the church saw the maximum potential return. "

" Mike P said:
I already avoid the Mattoon Mall district, because of the 1% shopping toll. Rewarding or ignoring bad behavior perpetuates it.


In case you're not aware, the stores in the mall didn't ask for a higher tax percentage. By not shopping at the mall you're hurting the stores, not the people that passed the tax increase. Why not make your stand against "bad behavior" at the polls? People complain left and right about how bad the mall is and how no new stores want to come there. If you owned a chain of stores would YOU want to move to an area who didn't support their local mall? "

" I also worry about this project because of the developer involved. It doesn't seem like he cares about what's best for the community (or he wouldn't keep building mega-apartment complexes in residential areas, esp. when we have a glut of rental property sitting empty already -- which other posters on other threads have pointed out will invite a criminal element into our sleepy town).

I'm all for more choices of hotels or restaurants, but again, I worry about the impact on businesses already in place. As 1 example, will this force What's Cookin' -- a locally owned, family- and community-friendly restaurant -- to completely shut its doors if Reggie uses his clout to bring in a chain like an Applebees? What has Reggie Phillips given back to the community (other than temporary construction jobs)? Not only have business owners like the Kincades (What's Cookin') provided jobs, but they also have generously supported this community, sacrificing personal financial gain to reach out to the poor, to support the arts and education, to help groups with numerous fundraisers. Does Reggie Phillips have that same track record? It's not JUST about bringing new businesses to town, but about WHAT KIND of businesses and how they'll impact our community. "

" More empty buildings coming right up if build and do and lets do this and that.
We could write a song about certain planners, fixers, ones receiving the money for such projects. Never saw so many small wannabe that bellyup. Have to have a good product before can SELL something and Mattoon/Charleston is not doing the business like South and North but they wannabe. Or if a business has one good year just have to remodel.
I would rather keep up what got and give the patrons better prices on food and other items. AND lets not forget not trashing the sites have left.


We use to shop in Champaign Menards,
Red Lobster, or Applebees, or other good eating places while there. Then gas was higher, the cost became $100
day vacation for things needed and at that time not find in Mattoon. Since
the newer buffets and homecooking restaurant it is better. I still love
Cracker Barrel. "

" The city isn't even backing its own play on the 1% mall shopping toll district, that if it doesn't make enough to make its bond payments, the city is going to have to pay it from something else.

Since when should consumers be restricted to only voting to impact issues? Not letting our wallets do more of our talking for us, has been part of the problem. If some aspect of a business is unsavory, and you keep patronizing it, you perpetuate and reward bad behavior.

If some business or group of them, participates in behaviors that add to or create problems, and you hire or do businees with them anyway, it ultimately rewards bad behavior.

Advertizers and consumers always have voices besides their vote, that often get noticed and appreciated only when they make a specific point to use them. Every consumer has a say on how they spend or don't, every day, not just twice a year, or every 4 years.

Benevolent benefactors are pulling their stakes out of the mall.

TIF and shopping tolls impact business and tax bodies viability, and they all kept quiet while the snake oil was peddled or shoveled. Now several of them need local bailouts, because of various numerous irresponsible behaviors.

Many folks think Illinois policy is bad for business in general. But implementing even more of its burdon shifting principles, somehow is bought from the purposly misleading, carefully crafted sales pitches, as being a solution. Doing anything to throw more money at bad irresponsible behavior, perpetuates the issues that led to the problems in the first place. PTELL didn't sink in. Now they are constantly desprately circumventing or trying to smooth talk their way around it.

Sympathetic tales of woe, and bare bones budgets keep getting peddled. Even the library trying to get out of the corner its now painted in, couldn't bother using the unspun truth, or less ambitious expansion than a 50% budget increase, from day one. Sob stories over the truth, has become the selling points basis. All or nothing ambition, has greed written all over it, and responsibility or accountability is no where to be found. Mattoon had how many schools, many of which were solid stone structures that were fallout shelters, deteriorate at once and need leveled immediately? Now they need access to more money to pay off bills they forced on taxpayers, and be able to leverage bonds against it as they please, to build more to their hearts content.

Its all pretty much the same nonsense, just different tactics. None of it is above board, honest and open, and citizens and taxpayers get to pick up the tabs. Be it property taxes, sales taxes, income taxes, prices, fees or rent, citizens foot the bills. Bad behavior is rewarded and perpetuated plenty enough without discretionary spending adding to the rewards available. If the leaders can't look out for citizens interests responsibly, citizens are on their own to steer their available resources to the best possible result, giving them the most for every penny they actually get to choose where it goes. "

" Excellant points, Hahvahd - well said! "

" LOST CONFIDENCE, people griping about Reggie Phillips is 100% justifiable. The Phillips family is doing their best to consolidate the rental business in Charleston. This will have HUGE implications for local entrepreneurship. The cash ain't flowing through the community, it is going to one family, limiting the potential for small business investment. "

" I agree with what you're saying, MikeP. BUT it's not as if the stores at the mall voted collectively to raise the sales tax and then presented the idea to the city council. The mall and the business in it had NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. Some of them weren't even aware of the change until the city manager came out and said "why aren't you charging the right percentage" Your stand is going to drive current business away and keep interested ones out. Take up your issue with the people that made the decision!! "

" Lefty,
Let's stick to this issue. I personally don't have any problem with Unique Homes or Chad/Hadley's apt. developement. But this is a completely serparate issue.

If Unique (Reggie not the boys) builds a shopping plaza of sorts yes, he will collect rent. This time the rent will be from business. Business provides jobs. Jobs provided a larger tax base and more sales tax revenues from the purchases at said businesses and the ability of the "now employed" to purchase or goods and services.

It may be hard for some of you, but try to look at the issue not the person behind it. If you disagree with Reggie's sons on the 4th st developement, fight it, but this not the same fight. "

" From above. "Unique Homes has been hesitant about moving forward with plans for the corner property in the near term due to concerns about the economy and concerns about whether it could get all the necessary permit approval from the city, Simmonds said."


4th and polk is also openly part of this article.

No posession, or even plans yet, and spouting off about city being questionable on permits. Where is that going, or even coming from, if the two aren't being hitched together?

"Various city administrations during the last decade have given approval to the majority of Unique Homes single-family home subdivisions and apartment building projects, including plans in fall 2008 for the new University Baptist Church building."

What has been turned down? How many projects have they done in Charleston in the last decade?

Who is having a tantrum hissy fit over simply not getting their way as fast as they previously have had fairly streamlined access to? Who is no longer on the board?

How many days until over 80 busted in one bar raid gets that record broken? What was the penalty for that again?

What does that possibly have to do with perceptions of rubber stamped zoning process going on quite often for some? "

" It is fascinating that these archived articles, like this one, of LOCAL interest continue to generate readers' comments, yet they stay buried in the archives. Thanks to a poster from the discussion of the 4th and Polk issue (not one bit of rubble cleaned up yet, by the way), I have checked the court case information at judici.com but do not see any information about whether or not the court hearing was held or whether Brian Bower did request dismissal as was planned, per newspaper reports from last week. There are also no updated newspaper reports on that subject. Does anyone know? Also, does anyone know if the University Baptist Church traded the property near Old Main for their new church and its construction, done by Reggie Phillips? "

" Hey Moderator! Take this out of archives and get it back up!

Mike, the reason that was stated I'm sure was due to recent deal with the boys, remember Reggies has no stake in that deal (other than pride in his sons). But if the council breaks precedent as they did with the Chad and Hadley, as they did do really think that any developer-Carter, Parker, Drake etc. haven't had their faith shaken in a handshake meeting. "

" The perception is there is more than one bad egg in the basket, as far as several questionable kinds of dealings go.

Charleston isn't alone. Mattoon thinks they have more than 180 city right of way problems, and wouldn't make a properties use fit its zoning 10 years ago. Complaints from neighbors ran into the if we enforced 1 we would have to enforce more, that could get expensive. So I think its safe to say many of these problems are going on throughout the county.

Bottom line is Zoning isn't some game for some to follow, and others to basicly write their own rules, or even play by few or none. Doesn't a properties zoning affect the rate it is taxed at? Favoratism is not only unfair to those that follow the rules, if it shorts tax collections, it is also short sheeting the taxpayers.

I know, lifes not fair. Life gives you lemmons, some folks make lemonaid, others go out and put up lemonaid stands to rent out. "