by Diane Benjamin

Since Chris Koos has been elected Mayor more than once – You Did!

In previous posts about the Town of Normal, I stated in 2003 every citizen was $11.52 in debt to Normal.  By 3/31/11 every citizen was $1725.18 in debt.  The 3/31/12 financial statements have not been issued yet.  A look at the properties purchased, retained, and given away by Normal says a lot.  This information was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and other public information.   Since this post is difficult to read, I will summarize the results:

Total spent on properties GIVEN away            $ 3,861,444

Total spent purchasing property still owned  $11,853,584

There is MUCH more work and research to be done.  I have the parcel numbers, sellers, and other applicable information if you want more information.  The current mayor has announced he will run for office again in 2013.  That implies he is not finished re-making Normal.

Properties Given away:

South Oak property used by Unit 5 for Chiddix baseball field                15,000

130-136 E Beaufort bought for $250,000

138 E Beaufort bought for  $300,000

both sold for re-development to Beaufort Partners LLC – $110,968   439,032

701 S Fell, 303,305 W Vernon – Given to Habitat for Humanity         265,000

304 W Vernon – given to Habitat for Humanity                                       145,000

201-203 S Linden $325,000 leased to seller rent free for 5 years       325,000

102 Broadway – conveyed to Commerce Bank                                         500,000

301 Broadway – conveyed to Marriot                                                      1,000,000

701 Broadway – conveyed to Matter Foundation for Single Family Home
Town bought in 2005-former frat house-tore house down                     182,412

102 & 104 W North Street   – still owned by town of Normal

104 Broadway – conveyed to Commerce Bank                                           200,000
106 Broadway – conveyed to Commerce Bank                                           200,000

All 4 properties purchased for 800,000, value per property est 200,000

Properties purchased and retained by
the Town of Normal since 2002:

101 E College                                                 930,000
111 E College                                                 100,000
101, 103, 105 W College                                570,000

103-105 E Beaufort                                       600,000
108 E Beaufort                                                160,000
115 E Beaufort                                                 120,000
129 E Beaufort-45 squ ft right-of-way                 0

201-203 West Beaufort                                240,000
211 W Beaufort                                               310,000
301 W Beaufort                                                98,000
101 Railroad                                                      55,500

207 S Linden                                                  250,000
305 South Linden, Unit 101                         118,000
305 S Linden Suites 201-202-006            204,000
305 S Linden Unit 2                                     120,000

601 S Linden – portion sold-$14,000,
rest  retained for road purposes                77,250 (net)
603 S Linden                                                    11,200
900 S Linden                                                 725,000
acquired to expand Underwood Park/Constitution Trail

109 North Street                                              80,000
209 1/2 North Street                                      133,500

102 E North and 100-104 1/2 E Beaufort     670,000

111 1/2 West North Street                                5,000
206 W North Street                                         10,000

102 Parkinson                                                214,000
106, 108, 110 Parkinson                                252,550
112 Parkinson                                                  95,000

213 1/2 North Street
213 North Street
104 Parkinson
103 Broadway –
leased to Beaufort Parners LLC
207 Broadway
Interior Parking Lot   All purchased for    1 ,987,000

Railroad ROW South of Beaufort                 240,984

210 Broadway –
.86 acres Commerce Bank-seller              1,550,000

Beaufort & Broadway for road                          3,000

More Property purchases-trades-give-aways:

309-311 W Beaufort bought for                $850,000
Traded to ISU for:
602 and 604 Hester and 300 South Fell
The 2 Hester Properties were sold for     $260,000
300 South Fell was given to Marriott
Net to taxpayers:                                      $590,000

These properties purchased from Bk of Illinois  $ 1,480,000
102 W College
99 W. Mulberry
98 W. College
Part was sold for $ 56,400, balanced used
For College Ave Parking Deck –
LAND ONLY COST:               $1,423,600

4 Parcels purchased from One Main Development LLC between
College and Beaufort totaling  12,035 sq ft  (.276323 acres)
Note size: around ¼ acre                        $500,000

Side note:  this format would not keep the numbers in columns-this is the best I could do!