Sent to Daily Herald

I found the 10/28/00 article titled “Meijer’s size might be scaring off suburban support” to be one sided, outrageous and disturbing. The article allowed simplistic, mindless statements to be made by developers and real estate brokers without challenge.

Many communities are drowning in a glut of retail over-build. It is the responsibility of citizens to stop the big box bulldozers and all that accompanies these developments. It is on the side of right that people should be deeply sensitive to proposed developments and the degradation of their neighborhoods.

The reference to the “Not In My Backyard” or (NIMBY) is particularly offensive. While the article infers NIMBY to be influenced by ignorance, I challenge the reporter that actually the opposite is true. Fear of the unknown and aversion to change is not what NIMBY is about. NIMBY-type movements involve people that care about their neighborhoods and community - where they live, work and raise their families.

The article stated that NIMBY is caused by fear. Perhaps we all should be very fearful. Fearful of politicians that take no responsibility to represent the voters and residents that elected them to office. Fearful of local Voodoo Economics, a common excuse used to support the approval of these massive developments. Fearful of the threat to our air and water quality. Fearful for our last remaining natural areas and the impact on wildlife. Fearful of the deterioration of commercial centers and those that go belly-up. Fearful of the impact on traffic and all the related issues to traffic. No, people do not fight these massive developments out of ignorance. 

It depends on the common citizen and resident to keep a neighborhood free from unwanted development. It is a matter of getting involved and it is a battle that can make a significant difference. Any senseless labels bestowed upon the type of person that cares about their community is worth the effort and I wear that label proudly. 

My last point regarding the article involves the last paragraph that quotes Stuart Lenhoff as saying “Let the buyer beware. And shame on you if you built a beautiful home near a beautiful area that will be developed.” Residents depend on Comprehensive Land Use Plans and zoning ordinances and laws to make informed decisions prior to moving or remaining in a community. To say let the buyer beware is ludicrous. Mr. Lenhoff (web site, email) is a realty broker that represents 3 million square feet of retail space in Chicago and handles construction and development of shopping centers. The article failed to recognize Mr. Lenhoff’s true qualifications.

Let the realty brokers, retailers and elected officials beware. Massive land-consuming, overgrown, windowless, big box retailers are warts on the faces of our communities and like it or not, will continue to be challenged.  

Marilyn Kramer Berdan
Lisle, IL