tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post845676610494939009..comments2023-04-01T06:34:38.141-05:00Comments on Hyde Park Progress: Hans Morsbach, the New Normal Medici, and Harper Courtchicago pophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17055796523227869734noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-18168918781794418312011-07-06T19:36:51.402-05:002011-07-06T19:36:51.402-05:00Hans is a typical statist:
Do as I say, NOT as I ...Hans is a typical statist: <br />Do as I say, NOT as I do.demathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05324412445714465376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-64967225507162630342007-10-27T12:27:00.000-05:002007-10-27T12:27:00.000-05:00To Beth's question, No, the new Medici in Normal w...To Beth's question, No, the new Medici in Normal will not displace the business that stood in the location previously (Other Ports).<BR/><BR/>That business had closed in 2004. Morsbach went in on a deal with the business and property owner Bob Steinman to demolish that property and rebuild it as a 250-seat restaurant.<BR/><BR/>While this particular project involved no use of eminent domain and condemnation, the Town of Normal agreed to subsidize the Morsbach-Steinman redevelopment project to the tune of "up to 30 percent or $350,000 of the annual interest costs on their first mortgage, provide a $100,000 grant for life/safety work and a $15,000 facade improvement grant." (Bloomington-Normal Pantagraph, September 7, 2005).<BR/><BR/>So, while no business was displaced by the Medici, it received money from the Town of Normal that has actively condemned and displaced businesses and property owners in the area.chicago pophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17055796523227869734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-82109266878837465702007-10-27T09:59:00.000-05:002007-10-27T09:59:00.000-05:00Will his Medici in Normal IL displace an existing ...Will his Medici in Normal IL displace an existing business? Or was the building that they tore down empty? (Sorry if you've explained this already.)Elizabeth Famahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04931639156261179425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-7206046812004764932007-10-26T22:41:00.000-05:002007-10-26T22:41:00.000-05:00To Beth's point, that the new Normal Med is "bigge...To Beth's point, that the new Normal Med is "bigger, better, nicer, cleaner", this is all obviously because it's NEW. That's what you get with NEW CONSTRUCTION.<BR/><BR/>Strangely, such new construction as will house the Medici in Normal is a relative rarity in Hyde Park, and is often quite vocally objected to by people like the owner of the Medici on 57th Street. <BR/><BR/>Morsbach has gone on record objecting to the two most promising commercial redevelopment projects currently in the pipeline in Hyde Park -- Drs Hospital and Harper Court, both of which could offer entrepreneurs the kind of NEW CONSTRUCTION that he is benefiting from in the tear-down project in Normal.<BR/><BR/>This is the most flagrant case of NIMBY-ism that has so far been presented on this blog.chicago pophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17055796523227869734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-69175633655111867502007-10-26T09:44:00.000-05:002007-10-26T09:44:00.000-05:00I'd have to say that this Morsbach example is a ne...I'd have to say that this Morsbach example is a new low in Hyde Park NIMBYism.<BR/><BR/>Why does Normal get the newer, better, more liveable, New Urbanist revitalization that adds to quality of life in the area? And not Hyde Park?!! Well, I guess HP residents have to thank folks like Hans More-bucks for that.<BR/><BR/>I'd have more respect for More-bucks if he were actually consistent in his "principles" and were as vocally opposed to the redevelopment of Normal as he apparently is to overhauling Harper Court.<BR/><BR/>As an aside, this is the kind of investigation and analysis that the Herald should be doing if it had even one iota of journalistic professionalism and integrity.LPBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12317816059809707252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-74829952833874108262007-10-25T21:11:00.000-05:002007-10-25T21:11:00.000-05:00Wow. Just wow. This is a fascinating post, Chica...Wow. Just wow. This is a fascinating post, Chicago Pop.<BR/><BR/>Aside from all of the important things you pointed out, a seemingly unimportant one struck me: did you notice how both the interior layout and exterior facade of the Normal Medici seem to be bigger, better, nicer, cleaner renditions of the Medici on 57th? Like he's trying to duplicate his success -- hmm, except that the Normal folks are getting something better.Elizabeth Famahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04931639156261179425noreply@blogger.com