DTOP, village can’t fill vacancies with dog nuptials

The feigned concern by the village trustees and its crafty surrogate, Downtown Oak Park Association (DTOP), concerning vacant commercial properties is too funny (and sad) to be true for those who know the true lack of concern by these two real estate giants. The village long ago turned its back on the downtown Oak Park area by ceding authority to the do-nothing DTOP, which uses almost every dollar from TIF funds and the real estate surcharge on merchants and property owners in the downtown district for marketing for existing retailers, nothing for property owners, nothing for office building owners, and certainly nothing to attract new tenants to this area.

While the Lake Street/Oak Park Avenue district thrives with excitement on a shoestring budget and Forest Park abounds with shoppers and vibrant restaurants (many expatriate Oak Park eateries), DTOP prides itself on organizing the upcoming Dog Matrimony Day-attempting to beat the world’s record of 175 dog nuptials at one time. Now that is an attraction!

With a budget of almost $800,000, DTOP and its master, the Village of Oak Park, expend no effort in the Chicago area or nationally to promote the working environment of this district. But this does not stop DTOP from giving its executive director and staff annual bonuses the last two years on the crushing backs of businesses and owners in this area. I guess the formula for monetary success for DTOP officials is a continued high vacancy rate.

As office tenants continue to exit our buildings in this area, the downward spiraling sales of the few existing brave merchants in this area will continue to erode and the office buildings will fall, to be replaced by condo buildings or dismal prairies. Does anyone truly see any promise in “downtown” Oak Park other than those trying to save their own jobs with dog nuptials?

The fact of the matter is that the accelerated exit of good merchants and good property owners will eventually lead to less revenue in this area, with the result that real estate property taxes will spring to new heights.

But that is OK-the village is “concerned.” Some way to show it.

Anthony Shaker

Owner, Shaker Advertising