Fight Continues Over Proposed Apartments In Campana Factory Building

KANE COUNTY, IL -- The fight continues over whether city officials in Batavia should move forward with the redevelopment of the historic Campana factory building. Those in support of the project contend the area needs housing for low-income workers and the 80-unit apartment complex would fill that need, the Kane County Chronicle reports.

“By including affordable rental units in 80 percent of the Campana redevelopment project, approval of this project will help our communities meet the critical housing needs of our low-wage-earning, working citizens,” said Batavia resident Patti Lackman of the League.

Those against the plan spoke up against whether apartments were the right fit for the historic building, the Daily Herald reports.

"Why was a housing project ever proposed for the Campana building? It's not suitable for human habitation," said Guy Prisco of Batavia. He cited the glass block windows and supports which would run down the center of the interior hallways as reasons behind his argument.

Others questioned whether there would be enough parking, if the Geneva school district would get its fair share in property taxes to deal with the influx of students from the building and whether traffic will be able to safely, according to the Daily Herald.

Evergreen Real Estate Group's proposal is aims to funnel $30 million in renovations into the Campana building in Batavia, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Of the 80 apartments proposed for the building, 64 would be considered "affordable," according to earlier Daily Herald article.

Those who spoke up in favor of the plan at a Wednesday Batavia Plan Commission meeting included representatives from the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry, the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County, Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley and the Fox River Valley Initiative. Those speaking in opposition to the proposal included Geneva residents--some from the Allendale neighborhood near the building as well as employees of Mainframe Software Management, which is inside the building, according to the Kane County Chronicle.

The meeting, which spanned over three hours, can be watched in full below. [embedded content]
The project has received low-incoming house tax credits to help pay for the apartments, according to the newspaper. Those tax credits are for projects housing families who earn no more than 60 percent of the median household income, which in Kane County will mean a four-person family with an income of $47,400 would qualify for the apartments.
The Batavia Plan Commission is next expected to deliberate the proposal in open session on Aug. 30. More via the Kane County Chronicle and the Daily HeraldPhoto via GoogleMapsGet free real-time news alerts from the Batavia Patch.Thanks for your feedback! Now share it with your friends!Thanks for your feedback. Originally published August 17, 2017. More from Batavia Patch

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