I have learned with dismay of the village trustees’ vote to demolish the wonderful 81-year old Hoppe Building on Harlem and replace it with a parking structure. But last week not only did the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency determine that the building is a significant contribution to any future National Registry designation for Downtown Oak Park, but also the Oak Park historic preservation commission voted to give the building preliminary Landmark Status! It has called a public hearing to hear testimony. Yet the trustees still plan to demolish the building! And, unbelievable as it sounds, this is just one of more than 20 buildings in downtown Oak Park that they plan to demolish. Let’s remember their names: Joanne Trapani, Diana Carpenter, David Pope, Ray Johnson, Gus Kostopolus, and Galen Gockel. (Trustee Milstein voted against the demolition.) Their names will live in infamy in Oak Park history as irresponsible buffoons who sacrificed Oak Park history and cultural legacy for a parking lot. Shame, shame, shame!
Linda Kenelley
Oak Park
