I’m new here and I just don’t get it
Our family moved to Libertyville just this past June from the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. In making the move to the suburbs, it was important for us to find a home in a true neighborhood that was within walking distance of shops, restaurants and activities for the kids. We had lived on a landmark street in a home that was over 100 years old and wanted to find a similar street in Libertyville. Thankfully, we did and are very happy with our decision.
This winter, when the first notice about the proposed parking lot arrived, I was surprised but thought that there was just no way that our village would allow rezoning for a parking lot. It just seemed ridiculous to me, but that may be because I don’t understand the culture of suburbia quite yet.
You see, city churches like Moody, ask parishioners to use parking lots within a few blocks of their church as well as public transportation. As you can see from their map, attending a service may require parishioners to take a little walk.
So, knowing that the village of Libertyville was in the process of building a parking garage just three blocks away and that the church already had three parking lots, I thought the idea of tearing down a home that was over 100 years old was simply foolish. Now that I have a better understanding of how important a close parking spot can be, I realize that not only is tearing down a historic home a possibility, but First Presbyterian has also asked that they be given 20 feet less green space on the parkway to allow for six additional parking spaces. (As you can see from this map, parking within Libertyville is plentiful. Maple is the street at the very bottom, just south of Church Street.)
I continue to be shocked that rezoning our residential street is being considered. While I understand First Presbyterian’s need to update and grow their property and I commend them for their good works in the community, I don’t understand the need to take away from a family neighborhood to save a few steps.
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