Possible New Owner for Multiple Hunter Buildings |
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The DeKalb City Council on Dec. 2 will consider an agreement that would put the Hunter Ridgebrook apartment complex under new ownership and see the property undergo $3 million in renovations.
The proposed development agreement for the three-building, 184-unit complex on Ridge and Edgebrook Drive is with Clear Investment Group, a Chicago-based real estate firm specializing in the acquisition, renovation and maintenance of larger, affordable apartment buildings that can be successfully maintained under strong management.
The firm is planning a total investment in Hunter Ridgebrook (shown in above photo) of $13 million, including $3 million in renovations. Under the agreement, the City would provide $1 million to support the acquisition and renovations of the complex. The funds would come from the City’s general reserves.
Under its current owner, the Hunter Ridgebrook buildings have seen a disproportionately high percentage of police and fire responses every month and have accounted for more than a thousand property maintenance code infractions in the past three years.
While the City cannot afford to buy the property, City Manager Bill Nicklas said the proposed agreement would help put the property under new ownership.
“There is now an opportunity to partner with a private development firm with a proven track record that can establish the safe and clean living spaces that the Council, City departments, and Annie Glidden North neighborhood groups and residents have been struggling to create,” said Nicklas.
Under the agreement, Clear Investment Group would have three months to acquire the property and then would be required to complete the renovation of the complex in one year from the first building permit request.
Other provisions would further improve living conditions.
Installation of security cameras would be required. Management would conduct periodic walk-throughs of common areas and use private security personnel as needed. Knox boxes would be installed to ensure access to the buildings by emergency responders. The common areas would be inspected annually by the City to check code compliance, and the Police Department would be able to issue no-trespass warnings to those on the property unlawfully.
This could be one of multiple Hunter-owned properties in DeKalb purchased by Clear Investment Group. The firm is also in negotiations to purchase Hunter Tri-Frat and Lincoln Tower.
The development agreement will be considered at a special meeting of the DeKalb City Council at 5 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Yusunas Meeting Room of the DeKalb Public Library. More information on the proposal and the meeting agenda can be found here.
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First Appointments Made to New Citizens Police Review Board
New Business Approved for Sycamore Road
Twombly Road Resurfaced
Bus Ridership Bouncing Back
McMaster Retires After 26 Years; Thomas Named Acting Fire Chief
DeKalb Police Dept. Celebrates Promotions
Mayor & Deputy Police Chief Attend NIU Watch Party
Snow Reminder
DeKalb Bus Taking Families to See Santa's Arrival
DeKalb Film Shown at ICMA Conference
Donations Sought for Heroes & Helpers Event
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Community Honors Veterans, Rededicates Clock |
A large crowd turned out Nov. 11 for the rededication of the newly restored Soldiers and Sailors Clock and a Veterans Day ceremony in Memorial Park in downtown DeKalb. Thank you to all veterans for your service to our country, and thank you to the DeKalb Rotary Club for leading the restoration of the 100-year-old clock.
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Facebook Photo Gallery
More photos from the Veterans Day ceremony and clock rededication can be seen here on the City of DeKalb Facebook page.
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First Appointments Made to New Citizens Police Review Board |
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The DeKalb City Council has given final approval to creating a Citizens Police Review Board, bringing new levels of public participation to the DeKalb Police Department.
The Review Board, which was approved unanimously by the City Council on Nov. 8, is made up of five residents. It will review use of force cases and citizen complaints and make recommendations on possible discipline. The board will also monitor police training.
The ordinance creating the Review Board was written with input from community stakeholders, including the Human Relations Commission, and it underwent several revisions over a three-month approval process. Fifth Ward Alderman Scott McAdams (left in above photo) said it was a community effort.
“If you would have asked most people after the murder of George Floyd if we thought we could ever get to this point where we were ready to pass the Citizens Review Board on second reading, most would have agreed that it’s unlikely,” said McAdams. “It takes all of us to bring about big changes.”
The Board will be able to review the records, reports and recordings in a case, and its recommendation will go to the Police Chief before a decision is made on any discipline.
The first appointments to the Board, made by Mayor Cohen Barnes (right in above photo), received the consent of the City Council on Nov. 22.
The members are:
- Justin Carlson – Owner and President of Virgil Cook and Son
- Maurice McDavid – School Principal, former Dean of Students at DeKalb High School
- Kate Noreiko – retired Human Resources Director, former Fifth Ward Alderwoman
- Veronica Origel – Fields Operations Supervisor
- John Walker – UPS Service Provider, former Human Relations Commission member
For all the members, their appointment is a continuation of previous community service activities.
Carlson and McDavid were each appointed to a one-year term, while the other three members were appointed to full two-year terms. This staggers the terms so all five members do not need to be appointed at the same time in the future. Members can be reappointed, but no member can serve more than two consecutive full terms.
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New Business Approved for Sycamore Road |
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An indoor self-storage business has been approved to help bring new life to a shopping center on Sycamore Road.
The DeKalb City Council on Nov. 22 unanimously approved a special use permit for a Boxed Up self-storage business in the DeKalb Shopping Center, north of Evolve Fitness. The business will occupy a 20,000 square foot space that has been vacant since 2015 and has been difficult to fill because of its narrow dimensions and far distance from the roadway.
Mark Robinson, Chief Operating Officer for the project’s developer First Midwest Group, says a similar self-storage business his firm opened helped spur other new businesses in a Rockford shopping center.
“Our intention is to bring good development to the City. We think that this is the highest and best use of this property at this time,” said Robinson. “We spent over a million dollars between the parking lot, the roofs and other maintenance on this building in the last couple of years.”
Along with building improvements, Robinson says his firm has assisted existing businesses in the shopping center through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Thank you for taking care of the property and continuing to invest in DeKalb even in the hard times of COVID,” said Seventh Ward Alderman Tony Faivre (shown in photo above).
Robinson also assured the Council that his firm has no problem with litter from the emptying of storage units at their other locations.
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Visit the City's Employment Page to view and apply for open positions. For more info, contact Human Resources at 815-748-2398.
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The City is current accepting applications for the following positions:
- Certified Police Officer
- Fire Chief
- Telecommunicator
- Transit Planning & Grants Coordinator
Please click here to review the full list of job openings and to submit an on-line application. |
Get community news from the City of DeKalb all month long by following us on social media. |
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The repaving of Twombly Road is now complete.
Crews last month put the final lift of asphalt on Twombly Road between Annie Glidden Road and Rosenow Way. Lane striping was then completed.
The sidewalk on the northside of the road has also been extended as part of the project, and a pathway was built on the southside of the roadway. They are part of a new pathway to DeKalb High School. New concrete curbs have also been installed.
The project was a joint effort of the City of DeKalb, DeKalb County and DeKalb Township.
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Bus Ridership Bouncing Back |
Ridership on the DeKalb Public Transit System continues to bounce back from the pandemic.
More than 388,000 rides were provided in the first ten months of the year. In October, the Huskie Line averaged 2,420 rides per day and the paratransit service averaged 110 rides daily.
With NIU students back on campus, 41 percent of this year’s total ridership happened in September and October.
It’s estimated that 470,000 to 500,000 rides will be given by the end of the year, and that number is expected to be markedly higher next year.
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McMaster Retires After 26 Years; Thomas Named Acting Fire Chief |
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DeKalb thanks retiring Fire Chief Jeff McMaster for 26 years of dedicated service to the City, its residents and his fellow firefighters.
A retirement ceremony was held at Fire Station One on Nov. 19, and McMaster (right in photo) was presented with a plaque at the Nov. 24 DeKalb City Council meeting recognizing his exemplary career.
“There really are not enough words to say how grateful we are for your dedication. This is a person who always showed up as Chief,” said City Manager Bill Nicklas. “He was one of the chief officers who would roll up for every major fire call, and he was often on the fire scene and providing incident command until others could arrive.”
McMaster’s final day with the City was Nov. 27 – 26 years to the day that he became a probationary firefighter with the DeKalb Fire Department.
In the Operations Division, McMaster rose to the rank of Lieutenant/Paramedic in 2004 and served in that capacity until 2009 when he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He served as Captain until 2012 when he was promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief.
In 2013, McMaster was promoted to the Administrative Division as Assistant Fire Chief of Training. In 2017, he was appointed Deputy Fire Chief of Operations. After the retirement of former Fire Chief Eric Hicks, McMaster was appointed to interim Fire Chief on November 30, 2018. On February 1, 2019, the City Manager appointed McMaster to the position of full-time Fire Chief.
Deputy Chief for Operations Mike Thomas (left in above photo) has been named Acting Fire Chief.
The search for Fire Chief has been extended, and at this time there is no certain date for the appointment of the next permanent Chief.
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Facebook Photo Gallery
More photos from Chief McMaster's retirement ceremony can be seen here on the DeKalb Fire Department's Facebook page.
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Receive important notifications from the City by signing up for ALERT DeKalb. Text, email, and phone messages are used to alert the public to emergency situations, severe weather, and traffic disruptions.
Users can also text ALERTDEKALB to 67283 to report criminal or suspicious activity and quality of life concerns.
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Facebook Videos
Videos of promotion ceremonies can be seen here on DeKalb Police Facebook Page. |
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DeKalb Police Dept. Celebrates Promotions |
On Nov. 5, Jason Leverton (left) was recognized for his promotion to Deputy Police Chief and Chad McNett (right) was recognized for his promotion to Commander of the Patrol Division. |
A promotion ceremony was held Nov. 16 for Sergeant Hernandez, pictured here with Police Chief David Byrd (right). |
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Mayor Cohen Barnes and Deputy Police Chief Jason Leverton were among the crowd who gathered at Fatty’s Pub & Grille to watch the Huskies beat Buffalo on Nov. 17 to win the MAC West Division Football Championship.
Similar events were held across the country for the NIU Alumni Association’s National Football Watch Party.
The Huskies play Kent State in the MAC Football Championship Dec. 4 in Detroit.
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Please remember to clear the sidewalks next to your property within 48 hours after the start of a snowfall.
The owner or renter, whomever is living in the home, is responsible for clearing the public sidewalks adjacent to their property. Snow cannot be shoveled into the roadway or onto a neighboring property. The snow shoveling ordinance takes effect with two inches or more of snow, and sidewalks need to be cleared within 48 hours of the onset of snow.
Thank you for taking the time and effort to clear your sidewalks for the safety of your neighbors.
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DeKalb Bus Taking Families to See Santa's Arrival |
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The DeKalb Public Transit System will be running a special bus to take families to see Santa’s arrival downtown to kick-off the holiday season.
The fare-free bus is being put into service especially for the Lights on Lincoln: Santa Comes to Town event on Dec. 2. The bus will service approximately 50 bus stops throughout DeKalb with the bus arriving at Van Buer Plaza to see Santa illuminate the downtown holiday lights at 6 p.m. All stops along the route will be marked with fliers to indicate where passengers can board the bus.
The route is being added this year to ensure that all families can participate in this annual holiday event.
“DeKalb Public Transit is thrilled to be a part of this year’s Lights on Lincoln: Santa Comes to Town event. To join in on the festivities, the inside of the bus will be decorated so that passengers can enjoy the holiday spirit throughout the night,” said DeKalb Public Transit Manager Marcus Cox.
Beginning at 5 p.m., the bus will stop at various locations including: Seventh and Grove Street, Annie Glidden Road and Crane Drive, Varsity Boulevard and Regent Drive, Suburban Apartments on Twombly Road, Normal Road and Hillcrest Drive, Pleasant Street and 10th Street, 14th Street and East Dresser Road, and Seventh and Lewis Street. There will then be two round trips to take families home beginning at 7:00 p.m.
The bus schedule is below and it is also available here on the City's website. On the night of the event, riders can track the special bus on the City’s bus tracker: dekalbpublic.etaspot.net.
Those who come out to the event, hosted by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Merchants and City of DeKalb, will hear carolers and children will be able to visit with Santa at his house at North Second and Locust Street. The downtown holiday lights are being supported by a grant from ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
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DeKalb City Hall will be closed on the following days:
- Dec. 23 & 24, Christmas Holiday
- Dec. 31, New Year's Holiday
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Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Special Meetings
Dec. 1 & Dec. 2, 1 p.m. each day in the 2nd Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department
Citizens' Environmental Commission
Dec. 2, 4 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department
City Council Special Meeting
Dec. 2, 5 p.m. in the Yusunas Room at the DeKalb Public Library
Planning and Zoning Commission
Dec. 6, 6 p.m. in the Yusunas Room at the DeKalb Public Library
Human Relations Commission
Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department
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DeKalb Public Library Board
Dec. 8, 7 p.m. in the Bilder Family Room at the DeKalb Public Library
City Council
Dec. 13, 6 p.m. in the Yusunas Room at the DeKalb Public Library
Planning and Zoning Commission
Dec. 20, 6 p.m. in the Yusunas Room at the DeKalb Public Library
City Council
Dec. 28, 6 p.m. in the Yusunas Room at the DeKalb Public Library
Airport Advisory Board
Dec. 28, 7 p.m. in the West Community Hanger at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
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To view agendas for City meetings, please go to the City's Agenda Center here.
To check for meeting cancellations and location updates, please check the City Website here.
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December Community Events |
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Downtown Merchants
Merry Market
More than 30 vendors are participating in this event throughout downtown DeKalb
Dec. 10, 5-8; Dec. 11, 9-4 & Dec. 12, 11-3
For more information on events by the Downtown Merchants, visit their Facebook page.
Lights on Lincoln & Santa Comes to Town
Wave to Santa as he rides through downtown DeKalb. Enjoy a Christmas tree lighting with hot chocolate and caroling in Van Buer Plaza once Santa stops at the Egyptian Theatre. Santa will then be available for visits in his house. Information on a special bus to event can be found here.
Thursday, Dec. 2, 6 p.m.
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
Visits with Santa
Visit with Santa inside his house to share your Christmas wishes.
December 4, 11 & 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Van Buer Plaza
Learn more about the Chamber's downtown holiday events here.
Submit your event to be consider for the e-News Community Events calendar by e-mailing here.
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DeKalb Public Library
309 Oak Street
Carol of the (Berim) Baus with Arcomusical
Projeto Arcomusical will play special arrangements of holiday music as well as original compositions in an after-hours holiday concert open and free to the public
Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.
See all of the library's programs on its calendar.
Egyptian Theatre
135 North Second Street
Lightwire Theater: A Very Electric Christmas
Follow the story of a young bird, named Max and his family, as they begin their journey south for the winter. When Max gets blown off course and ends up at the North Pole, his adventure begins!
Friday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m.
Stage Coach Players
Elf: The Musical
Based on the cherished 2003 New Line Cinema hit, Elf features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar (The Wedding Singer) and Chad Beguelin (Disney's Aladdin on Broadway), with a book by Tony Award winners, Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).
Dec. 16-19 at the Egyptian Theatre
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City Hall
164 E. Lincoln Highway
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Police Station
700 West Lincoln Highway
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Public Works
1216 Market Street
Monday - Friday
7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
3232 Pleasant Street
Monday - Friday
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
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City Clerk 815-748-2095
City Manager's Office 815-748-2090
Community Development Department 815-748-2070
DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport 815-748-8102
Finance Department 815-748-2000
Fire/Police Emergency 911
Fire Non-Emergency 815-748-8460
Mayor's Office 815-758-1886
Police Non-Emergency 815-748-8400
Public Works Department 815-748-2040
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