Under Contract, Openlands Touts Proposal as Safe and Practical

Responding to concern and criticism from residents of southern Western Springs, Openlands—the organization for conversion into open parkland—has stated that their proposal will not increase crime rates and is superior to in both practicality and universal appeal.

“Public open space does not increase the incidence of crime to adjacent residences and can actually create an environment that decreases the incidence of crime,” said Openlands Land Preservation Specialist Emy Brawley, citing a “wide body” of national research. “To claim otherwise is inaccurate at best.”

Openlands is already under contract with the PNC Bank holding company that owns the land, and say they are working through a due diligence phase to satisfy the requirements of the Village of Western Springs for their proposal. They have recently submitted a fiscal impact report to the Village that they claim supports their plan.

While proponents of a golf-course concept say they believe the Openlands contract (which is confidential and limited to parkland use) is expired or otherwise flawed, Unit II property managers Red Seal Development denied this.

“They [Openlands] are still under contract,” said Red Seal representative Brian Hoffman. “The contract is still in force—and as a representative of the seller, I certainly hope that they proceed forward.”

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In answer to the golf course proposition, Brawley said the organization had “no philosophical opposition” to it, and stressed a common goal of saving natural resources and preserving a site of historical and cultural importance.

But she also emphasized that their proposal allows for multiple uses, instead of the single one of a golf course, and added that it was highly unlikely that funding could be found for a course in an economy that has been hostile to golf, closing far more courses than it has allowed to open.

“If somebody wants to invest in a golf course, there are golf courses that are ready to go that can be had at a fraction of the cost of this property,” Brawley said. “So I think it’s really just white noise that there’s any likelihood that there would be an investor for a golf course… I just don’t see it as a realistic option. It’s not economically feasible.”

“And at this point, Openlands is 75 percent of the way there. If there’s a competitive and realistic alternative out there, let’s see it. I don’t see it yet.”

Golf-course proponents Michelle Kosik and Arthur Poletti say they remain resolved to fight for their concept, and say they are already in the process of securing an investor or investors. They also point to the documented correspondence between Openlands and Village staff as being indicative of irreconcilable difficulties in the negotiations.

“Openlands has not paid the $60,000 [escrow] fee and they have not been forthcoming to the Village,” said Kosik. “How can you be under contract when you haven’t complied with the Village? … We are very hopeful that we can find a way to stop them and find a way to get our buyer in.”

But Brawley called the ongoing process “very standard” and expressed confidence that Openlands would successfully complete their negotiations with the Village and would have the support of locals during the public hearings expected to follow.

“The vast majority of the residents of Western Springs do think this is a fantastic idea,” Brawley said.