I am wondering why we would want to spend $21,690.87 on a new sign in the current economy. Is there something wrong with the current sign?

And perhaps it is a typo, but "$5 Million 183rd Street Fence Replacement"? The description of the specific fence to be replaced with the smaller dollar amount seems to be in front of Flosswood Condos?

The amount of tax payer money we are handing over to businesses seems to grow by leaps and bounds at every meeting. With everyone having gotten their real-estate taxes, I think we are all a bit sensitive to where these tax dollars are going.....since they cant go to pay our bills, send our kids to school, or buy anything with these businesses that seem to keep getting a larger chunk of our dollars even if we don't shop with them.

In my opinion, if Joe Aurelio Jr. cared about this community, he would allow that fund money to be invested in one of the many vacant business properties in town. From their $30 pizza to their no free refill pop, I am pretty sure they make enough money to cover this out of thier own pocket.

Why does Joe need money from anyone with all the pizza places he has? Maybe, if he cuts back on his lifestyle living he could afford it.

What a joke. We need a new marquee? Really, is the old one broken? Aurelio's needs a hundred thousand or so like I need another hole in my head. With their outrageous prices, they should be able to pave their parking lot with gold. Subway makes a better pizza! Please, elected officials, use our money elsewhere. It's so easy spending money that's not yours. Use this money wisely.

I and many others I know cannot afford an Aurelio's pizza. I would hate to see tax dollars spent to improve this property. Please use our taxes to benefit everyone in the community.

Everybody thinks it's fine to give $200,000 to the Cottage on Dixie, but not $140,000 to Aurelio's. I call that picking winners and losers, which one might correctly label as discrimination?

Jim - that's because the Cottage is a new and non-established business. Aurelio's is an old and established very profitable business. It has the funds necessary from those profits to do the improvements themselves at no cost to the taxpayers.

Also, there is no need for an electronic marquee sign any more than those lame murals they insist are necessary. How about they put some street lamps up along dark streets to deter night time crime? I can think of many better uses for our money than unnecessary signage and useless murals.

Not that I think this will produce any results, since the Village Board has consistently voted the opposite of their constituents' wishes for the past few months (even Tm has been letting me down lately), BUT an electric marquee will look tacky. Tacky as the day is long. The sign that's there is fine. Electronic means like the three screens Country Club Hills has on 183rd - too bright, unnecessary movement (just because you CAN animate something doesn't mean you SHOULD) and tackiness. Like a sequined tube top on a woman who looks fine in a nice blouse. Since there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the old sign, it appears the Village is just looking for places to throw their money away.

You want to spend money on signs? How about helping the 183rd viaduct sign that has lettering that's so teeny tiny on the circle graphics that no one can read it unless they're hanging over the rail fence?

Speaking of which, why are we spending 5 grand on replacing a fence that was just installed a few years ago? Don't replace it, LENGTHEN IT all the way to the driveway! Why was it left half done in the first place? I was told by a village employee that the fence ended where the money ran out. And why is this a Fire Department task?

Finally, no money for Aurelio's. They want to make changes to their seating areas? They pay for it. Joe Jr., I appreciate what you do for the community, and we pay you back by continuing to come in droves.

I'm all for helping local businesses but I think we should help those businesses that NEED help - Aurelio's doesn't NEED an enclosed addition, they WANT it - and with our tax dollar!! Schedule a meeting with our local business owners to hear what their needs are / then use that $142,000 to help several business -Aurlelios is a Homewood tradition but all our business owners need help to survive this economy .

The current Village of Homewood sign is perfect. Don't spend tax dollars on a new sign.

Same goes for Aurelio's. Don't spend tax dollars on it. The extra space is unnecessary. We go there often, and it's never THAT crowded that they would need the extra enclosed space.

How on earth can a booming business like Aurelio's even ask for $142,000? Their high prices make them no longer an option for me. Yet we do go there when former South Suburban family members are in town once or twice a year. I am always reminded why we quit ordering from them ($), and also notice there are never many empty seats.
But they will probably get the $142k because they know how to play the game. Shameful.

Aurelio's Pizza will creating much needed jobs by spending hundreds of thousands of its own money investing in the community by employing local companies to perform the construction, of which these companies employ more than 50 tradesman in the local community.
The private banquet room addition has been requested by customers to fulfill the need for large parties, wedding rehearsals, showers, anniversaries, team parties, reunions, funeral luncheons, business meetings, and other special occasions.
The additional revenue created by the private banquet room will directly impact the Homewood community by increasing sales tax revenue year after year.
Because Aurelio's Pizza is a destination for many customers, these customers  drive many miles from surrounding communities or are from out of state visiting family.  These customers in turn spend money at other local businesses while they are in Homewood.
Aurelio's Pizza will also be adding a number of jobs to its current 140+ local employees to service it's 5 generations of customers.

New Marquee – The existing Marquee on Dixie looks fine, no need to spend the $21 grand. I would be more interested in hearing what is the deal with the marquees along Dixie and the Metra tracks. One of them has a cheap banner hanging over it, I think that was supposed to be a digital sign. The other one listed all of the Village yearly events, the type is so small that when driving you cannot read anything on it.

183rd Fence – No need to replace the entire fence just extend it as far as needed…the project should have been done right the first time.

Aurelio's – This is the inherent problem with the façade improvement program. The program should be intended to help business’s make outdoor upgrades in order to improve their business, improvements that without help from the village would not be possible. The last family business in town that needs financial help from the village is Aurelio’s, when a fiesta pizza is pushing $25 (with toppings) the profit margin has to be huge. This chain has to be very profitable and thus should be able to afford improvements without tax money.

To all the commenters, why dont you consider going to the Board Meeting and making your postions known to the very people tasked with voting on this? Seems to me that would be a good place to start.

Hey Kirk, you can build 5 new banquet rooms if you want to, just don't ask for taxpayer money...it's that simple!

Will the village get a percentage of the incremental revenue earned from the new dining room? If not, how much incremental sales tax will have to be generated to "pay back" the $142,000.

A little education about Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

One tool successfully in use in Illinois and 48 other states to meet this economic development challenge is Tax Increment Financing: or TIF. With this development tool, financially strapped local governments can make the improvements they need, like new roads or sewers, and provide incentives to attract new businesses or help existing businesses stay and expand. And TIF does this without tapping into general municipal revenues or raising taxes.
TIF projects also help retain existing businesses that might consider relocating away from declining areas. These jobs and investment — public and private — mean more revenue to help a community meet its other needs. As a result, the community as a whole, not just the area targeted for TIF revenues, improves.
(credit: www.illinois-tif.com)

The current sign seems fine especially in this economy.
But layoff Aurelio's. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful business in this town. They employ over a hundred people here in Homewood. From mothers who waitress to support their families, delivery drivers, cooks, and all the kids who have worked there through high school and college. We should be happy they are expanding and will be able to have larger functions and contribute more tax revenue to the village.
Aurelios has been incredibly generous to this community. From fundraisers, to sponsorships to little league, soccer teams, volleyball teams and other non profits. They donated the entire proceeds from their brick program to the Cancer Support Center in Homewood. Dawn don't make personal, they are a wonderful family and business!

Your missing the boat on the whole situation. These monies should be used to help struggling businesses and infrastructure in the community. Last time I checked, the pizza place is doing well, and I don't believe their existing structure is hindering their business. It has nothing to do with how nice the family is or how much they donate. Let's be real people!

I agree with June, WA Mama, Querty & Juan. Too much of our Homewood taxpayer's dollars goes toward careless spending. I wonder if Homewood Village Board Members or the Village President ever read the comments on this site? If they would,they would see how unhappy their constituents feel about these situations. Most of the taxpayer's are very unhappy with their spending habits. As per the comment regarding going to board meetings, I for one am too busy working 2 part-time jobs to pay my taxes and other expenses to live in Homewood. Plus in the past, I have been to the board meetings, if you're not for what's on their agenda for that night, they pretty much don't want to hear from you, it's like make it quick, the attitude is "just give us your tax dollars and shut up" is their reaction I've experienced. I can't believe how they can just spend, spend in this economy.

I guess no one read Kirk's comment about TIF. Other businesses are welcome to apply for TIF money! I will copy Kirk's info and post again.

One tool successfully in use in Illinois and 48 other states to meet this economic development challenge is Tax Increment Financing: or TIF. With this development tool, financially strapped local governments can make the improvements they need, like new roads or sewers, and provide incentives to attract new businesses or help existing businesses stay and expand. And TIF does this without tapping into general municipal revenues or raising taxes.
TIF projects also help retain existing businesses that might consider relocating away from declining areas. These jobs and investment — public and private — mean more revenue to help a community meet its other needs. As a result, the community as a whole, not just the area targeted for TIF revenues, improves.
(credit: www.illinois-tif.com)

Hmm. The Cottage got TIF funds, and people complained that the business owners have no experience. Grapes & Grain got TIF funds, and people complained that the business owner wasn't experienced enough. Aurelio's applies for TIF funds, and we're complaining that the business owners are too experienced. Just wondering who's left to qualify...

I don't think Aurelios is in a TIF district, I think this is a business incentive.

Aurelio's IS within a TIF district, which is why they are eligible for this money. Also, for what it's worth, I can think of few recent new village developments that haven't reached out for economic incentive money. Twisted Q, Good Life Cafe, Grapes & Grain, The Cottage on Dixie, Allied Realty, Global Fusion, plenty of land developers—the list of (recent) tax incentive money recipients goes on and on.

I think the Aurelious issue boils down to how the program was setup. If the board intended the funds to only go to those businesses showing signs of economic difficulty, or only to new business' then Aurelios won't qualify. Otherwise as a business person why would you NOT apply for any and all funds that are available to you from all sources? If the intention of the program was to invest in Homewood business who are expanding or beautifying their properties with the ultimate goal of increasing their revenues than it shouldn't matter who the business is that gets the funds. Which business has the better chance of creating more revenue with the $142k? A start-up business in one of the vacant store fronts, or one of the most established companies in town that would not be making this improvement if they didn't think it would be a money making proposition? I would say the later. I'm not sure how you quantify how much a table at aurelios makes in a given day, but if you consider that what they are doing is basically doubling the number of days a year they can use all the tables in the current patio I would think that the potential ROI is huge. This money comes back to the village in the form of additional sales tax, additional employee wages, additional donations back to the community, etc etc.

Just my 2 cents.

I vote to let Joe pay for his own renovation - it is his property, his business and his responsibility. No one helps residents when repairs are needed for ones home and grants are no longer offered (last I heard). I pay out of pocket for my renovations and up keep; Joe should pay his own tab. Homewood has enough expenses including removing all of these dead trees which I am told has been put on hold due to lack of funds. Isn't Homewood also looking at repairing water/sewer lines? Maybe the pizza fund can go towards something Homewood really needs. How about making repairs to the metra station or adding street lights (as someone else commented). I don't go to Aurelio's but if I did I would surely stop.

If there are Tiff funds to be had for facade improvement, why has no one approached Little Tokyo on Ridge about their lack of a sign? I have to imagine it hurts their business when you can't even tell that the space is occupied. Also, it makes the downtown area appear even more empty and destitute than it already is. Little Tokyo (I’m assuming that is still the name since they moved) appears to be much more in need of help than Aurelios. Little Tokyo is also a business that is loyal to Homewood and no one even knows they are still here!

On another note, does anyone have any info on the storefront that used to be Super Loot? It seemed as if there was some work done and then it just stopped. Now, it’s just an eyesore with the ripped up paper covering the windows. Adds to the dilapidated look of downtown Homewood.

Good point about Little Tokyo. But I think they need more help than just a sign unfortunately. However I would guess the reason they haven't asked for TIFF funds has to do with the 50/50 split noted above by Kate. If the owner can't come up with his half of the funds for the project then he can't qualify for the assistance through the program.

At least Kate Duff seems to get it. Now, let's put this to bed by learning what a TIF actually is and where that money comes from (note that your property taxes AREN'T directly paying for these renovations nor will they be increased to help pay for these investments). Also, note that these funds are not specifically for businesses that need financial help like so many of you believe.

Now, read this before you comment;

http://www.illinois-tif.com/about_TIF.asp

Now that we all see how this works, I think you'll agree that Aurelio's is probably the safest investment that Homewood can make.

I recently (about a week) read in the Southtown Star regarding this recent TIF money given to Aurelio's from the village, In this article it states this is the 3rd time they are receiving TIF money from the Village of Homewood. Why has Aurelio's received TIF money 3 times from the Village of Homewood? Don't you think there should be a limit on how many times a business can receive these TIF's? Just curious. From www.illinois-tif.com/about_TIF.asp, it states: "TIF funds may be used for costs associated with the development or redevelopment of property within the TIF, allowing blighted, declining and underperforming areas to again become viable, and allowing these areas to compete with vacant land at the edge of urban areas."
Is Aurelio's property "within the TIF, allowing blighted, declining and underperforming areas to again become viable?" I don't think so and if this is the reason the TIF was given & what the village thinks I guess we all should start looking for a better area to live in if we live in such blighted, declining and underperforming area.
I agree with Simone, plus where's our incentive to stay in the community that doesn't help residents/taxpayers with their "renos," aren't we a safe investment (like Aurelio's) for Homewood and don't we contribute yearly towards their Homewood tax dollars for too.

Yes, you are citing one intended use for the TIF funds. However, if you read the entire link that you posted, you'll also see that "TIF projects also help retain existing businesses that might consider relocating away from declining areas. These jobs and investment — public and private — mean more revenue to help a community meet its other needs." Sadly, we do live in a declining and underperforming area; most of Main St. USA does.

You neglected to cite the positives mentioned in that Southtown Star article - the project will provide jobs for 75 tradesmen, the hiring of more Aurelio's employees and provide more work hours for the existing employees. Also, Joe Aurelio knows his business best and when he says that a banquet room is needed and will provide additional tax revenue, these gains are all part of Homewood's return on investment. They will certainly re-coop the $142k of TIF money invested.

You're correct in that there should be a limit on TIF requests. The village has since passed an ordinance in 2008 that limits the requests to one. Aurelio's received $36k in 2000 and $80,000 in 2006. Since those benefits happened prior to 2008, they are allowed this one more request.

Speaking of TIF money, why is Bogarts closing?