Pantagraph.com | News | Chatsworth housing development moving forward

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

AN OUTSIDER wrote on Dec 26, 2007 2:26 PM:

" I have been to Chatsworth many times to vist my kids who live there with my ex-wife all i see is a town that time forgot. My three kids are doing just fine there if there is crime there i havn,t seen any. But on the other hand i do think a police dept is what they need "

yes, chatsworth wrote on Nov 7, 2007 11:20 AM:

" is really like what everyone is posting! Not sure what family you know, but maybe they are some of those that are wearing their blinders... out of sight out of mind! Or maybe, they have never really talked about this to you... Alot of people don't want to get involved and help stop the crime, so this is what we get! It is here to stay till more people come forward and be willing to help their community! "

oh my wrote on Nov 2, 2007 7:28 PM:

" i know of a family that is there, but they NEVER said it was like that? Is it true with all the break ins, drugs, and violence? I looked at the sex offendors list and there are 7 in a 2 square mile radius and only 1200 people live there. That is outrageous! How many children have been harmed that we dont know about? Is it the norm for the kids to be out of control, smoking, drinking, doing drugs, and running the town? It sounds like the book Lord of the Flies. "

And the wrote on Oct 30, 2007 2:50 PM:

" "Good" people sit back and let these convicted felons run there town into the ground and don't do a thing about it. I grew up in a small town and we would have never let our town end up the way Chatsworth has ended up. When people moved into town and didn't want to dance to the tune we were playing...we would show them the road out. Not in Chatsworth, no they sit around and complain about it and when someone says hey we should do something about this eveyone tucks tail and says its not my problem. Sad!! "

Observer wrote on Oct 29, 2007 3:47 PM:

" One must also consider the ratio of "convicted felons to the general population" of this small town. When one considers this, ...it's alarming! Not the kind of atmosphere most people desire to raise a family in. "

To Break Ins. wrote on Oct 29, 2007 8:26 AM:

" How many shootings has Chatsworth had between 2001 and 2004? How many other little towns around here can say that. How many times has the gun store been broken into in the last two years, I bet those drug dealers on the corner of 4th and Locust know. There is a case going on right now where a hood broke into a guys house while he was out of town and sold all of his belongings in his own front yard...in the middle of the day!! That's the great little town you are talking about....I'm glad I don't live there anymore! "

Break ins almost every day?NIBY! wrote on Oct 28, 2007 7:27 PM:

" Get real. Check the records. You've exaggerated beyond reason. Chatsworth is mostly a law abiding community with no more crime than any other town. The biggest crime in Chatsworth(check the official statistics) is EXTORTION. Index on that is about 125. Too bad "I have personally" is only counting the worst. Too bad most of the people who buy at Olivers Crossing won't get to know as many people from all walks of life as I have in Chatsworth, Forrest,Weston, Sauneman, Strawn, Wing, Charlotte and Fairbury. Add to that Gibson City and Piper City and you won't find better townspeople(new and old) anywhere in the world. Get to know the farmers around here and you'll find most of them among the world's best people. Chatsworth is no different than any other struggling small town. I'm glad the Kurtenbach's are pursuing their dream. I just hope they don't bury some of the other folk's dreams any more than they are already by blocking some $40,000,000 in wind turbine easement income. "

Observer wrote on Oct 28, 2007 7:44 AM:

" Here's a reality check: Does anyone "in their right mind" truly believe that wealthy people from "high-class" Chicagoland suburbs are going to "uproot" their family and invest hundreds of thousands of dollars, to move their families from a "up-scale" lifestyle, (schools, shopping, arts, entertainmaent, first class medical care, top paying employment, etc., etc.) for a community such as this?????? DAH! These people didn't reach this "status" in life by being STUPID. "

Remember wrote on Oct 26, 2007 5:07 PM:

" It takes more than just to call the police. They need people to go to court and tell what they have seen. In most cases if the deputy does not see the person in the act he or she can't do anything about it. If you really want to take your town back then this is what it is going to take. "

I have personally wrote on Oct 26, 2007 7:03 AM:

" seen the drug dealers at 4th and Locust st. I have called the police and reported when I saw a drug deal take place, I even gave the police a desciption of the cars. BUT by the time they got there the guy had already sold out and they said they couldn't bust him because he had no drugs on him!! The town park is also a horrible place to let your children go!! The last time I took my children there, there were people smoking dope and drinking beer in the park! This town is going to hell in a hand basket! Unless the people stand up and take it back it isn't going to go anywhere except to the drug dealers and gangs! I myself will keep dialing my phone and do my part, are you willing to do yours?? Lets take our community back and throw out the TRASH!!! Pick up your phone and report these people!! "

To All peaches and cream wrote on Oct 25, 2007 5:24 PM:

" A new town!!! You can not be happy with the way the town is now. Drug dealers standing on corners(4th and Locust) until the early morning. Beak-ins almost every day, and don't say its not like that. Anyone in this county with a scanner knows it's true. People like you who don't want change and think the town is the same way it was 25 years ago and refuse to see how it really is, are the reason Chatsworth has gotten as bad as it is. You have no one to blame but yourself and the rest of the towns people who look the other way and say "Well if they don't bother me then its OK" or hide in your house with your tail between your legs and blame the sheriff for all the problems. "

Police department for Chatsworth???? wrote on Oct 25, 2007 5:20 PM:

" Village officials said a police department would cost $180,000. I don't think so! Quality law enforcment costs taspayers a lot more than that! Residents at Oliver's Crossing would demand more than some "yer in a heap of trouble redneck." Chatsworth doesn't have a polcie department because it can't afford it. And we the residents deserve a police force that won't be under the influence or, dictatorship of the present "law and order" commssioner and the village president, neither of which have done one solid thing about serious crime here. The County Mounties seem less under their influence and doing a great job. The village leaders haven't indicated they've even thought about high resolution surveillance cameras. I guess there's not nearly as much return from that as from the subdivision and the dreamed-of motels, service stations and convenience shopping centers 2 miles out of town. Or the inflated prices for commercial property along what is laughinglyc alled "merchants' row" which is about half owned by the present Oliver's Crossing fan, the mayor(president of the board.)It's scary that these people will be deciding where TIF funds will go. "

Soil borings? wrote on Oct 25, 2007 5:04 PM:

" We were told those were done two years ago! "

All peaches and cream? Nope. wrote on Oct 25, 2007 4:43 PM:

" Did Kurtenbach say the water resources people declared their planned dam HIGH HAZARD or the Army Corps of Engineers also has to rule and has yet to get an application or his subdivision is blocking some 40 million dollars in income for property owners and a fortune in fees and taxes up to 3 miles from the subdivision? Did he figure what 28 to 58 homes a year would replace that? Did he mention the purchasers of his homes would have to drive or fly over(to his planned short runway) hundreds of wind turbines to get there? Did he mention the pig farms and the poor quality of tap water? Did he say the possibility of his investors are speculating on reselling their "options?" Did he mention the residents there, used to the best, wouldn't do much buying in nearby towns? Did he mention as soon as the population is more than 100 they'd have the power to take over the town, which officials already are favoring everything Oliver's Crossing Investors want? "What's in it for me...or more what's in it for the decision makers and their relatives and buddies?" "

To Observer: wrote on Oct 21, 2007 9:47 AM:

" Amen!!! You are absolutely right - "

Observer wrote on Oct 19, 2007 5:16 PM:

" Here's the "situation"..... Several years ago, the Chicago Housing Authority shut down the large housing projects, (Cabrini Green, Robert Taylor Homes, Etc.). The people that were displaced from these large projects were moved out to other smaller residential "housing" scattered throughout Cook County and the "collar" counties. Over time, the welfare residents who had been living in these various scattered "housing" locations (predominately white welfare recipeints), moved out to the outlying areas West and South of the Chicagoland area. Many of those moved South along the I-57 corridor to small rural towns, ...towns that provided a rather large amount of "Section 8" rentals as well as standard "welfare" housing. Those small towns which have a high proprtion of this "housing" (Onarga, Chatsworth, etc.), ended up with these people and all of the "troubles" that "many" of them brought with them. "Locals" in these towns decided to buy-up and rent out more & more homes for Section 8 housing in order to "cash-in" on this, ...thus creating their own hometown's demise. That's it in a nutshell. "

old chatty resident wrote on Oct 19, 2007 11:08 AM:

" i know a lot of people from chatsworth and i know there are good kids there. ive babysat most of them and they are definatly going places but you can ask any of them and they'll say they dont care so much what they do as long as there out of chatsworth. i dont see any of the kids that are from the better families ever moving back to chatsworth. maybe im wrong but i just dont see it happening. the thugs and drunks are running a lot of people out and its really sad. "

look around wrote on Oct 19, 2007 9:00 AM:

" everyone says that people that come from chatsworth are no good and thugs. Last night at the volleyball game (at PC) their were three starts on the volleyball team that are from Chatsworth. All three come from a good family, one is a state policemans daughter, and all three want to go to 4 year colleges. Not everyone is a in trouble that come from Chatsworth. "

To Ahhhhh wrote on Oct 19, 2007 3:30 AM:

" It's been long past due for Chatsworth to get its own police dept. Bottom line, Chatsworth just does not want to spend the money. The town board just does not care enough about its people to take the steps to get its own police dept. "

Ahhhhh, wrote on Oct 18, 2007 6:32 PM:

" now let's blame the Town Board. The Board is making is trying to "clean things up", but what do they get - ridiculed and critized!! For you Chatsworth complainers, if you want to make a difference, support your Town Board. They aren't God, but they're doing their best. As far as criminals, we have our share, but a little support from Livingston County Police would be helpful! Chatsworth pays big $ for very little protection. It's time we start thinking about our own Police Department. Hummm, how about a substation here like Saybrook in McLean County?? "

old chatty resident. wrote on Oct 18, 2007 5:28 PM:

" i do realize that there are a lot of good people in the town of chatsworth. i know a lot of very good families that live there. i am just saying that its being taken over by the bad. i think the town board could do a lot more and my a lot i mean A LOT. they talk about it all the time but the dont do anything. they say they want the crime off the streets and for people to clean up so do it already. get out there and take action then maybe people would move into a community where people actually care rather then just live there and drive through when they are going somewhere. "

People!! wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:51 PM:

" Not all criminals live in Chatsworth. There are a lot of generations of people that live here and are proud. Some of you make it sound like all that lives in Chatsworth is thugs and drunks! Look around, there are a lot of good people here. You don't have to live west to be "good" people. There are some outstanding youth in Chatsworth that you need to focus on. Don't always dwell on the bad - got out there and make it better! You check out every other town in the area and they have their share of drugs and crime also. No town is perfect - not even west of us - where they all flocked to because "Chatsworth" was so bad. As far as junk in the yards, the Town Board needs to take a greater stand and enforce the laws stricter. As far as the development - Go for it and best of luck to the Kurtenbach's. They haven't lost hope in our little town. "

Food for thought... wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:41 AM:

" It is my understanding that the lots aren't actually SOLD - for $1,000 deposit you can HOLD a lake front lot. Could it be that some of these people will be holding out for a better price when the lake front property gets scarce, with no intention of actually building there?? "

I lived wrote on Oct 18, 2007 4:06 AM:

" On the west side of Bloomington for five years and had no problems with anyone, I moved to Chatsworth and my apartment was broken into, my car got keyed there were always drunks yelling and fighting when they would leave the bars. This is a town of 1300 people and there were three shootings in the five years I lived there. I would not let my kids talk to anyone or play with any other kids. There is a reason why the town park is called "Crack Pipe Park". There is no way any self respecting person is going to buy a $150,000 house in that town. You don't even have a police dept. to protect the investors. Give it up!! "

old chatty resident wrote on Oct 17, 2007 10:00 PM:

" to add on to what i was saying......i believe that people should take pride in their home and in chatsworth people just dont care. most of the town is nothing but run down houses with junk all in their yards. i know i wouldnt want to look out my windows and see that. a lot of people that are there are also in and out of prison their whole lifes so they dont care about what happens or what they do. my grandma still lives there and she is scared every night when she goes to bed that somebody might break in or damage her house. i dont think she should have to feel that way in her own home. nobody wants to live near a town with that stuff going on. they might have a lot of lots sold but thats to most of the people that either already live around chatsworth and not actually in it or for those who are from chicago and dont really know that chatsworth is just little chicago without the buisness. i dont think this will do anything for the town but bring it down more. "

I'm not sure about it wrote on Oct 17, 2007 7:50 PM:

" being gated, but I do know that Ken himself said that the lake will NOT be for the public use, just for ppl that own homes there!! "

TO: Chatsworth Resident wrote on Oct 17, 2007 5:42 PM:

" As I recall, there is a portion of the properties that will be gated. The island where the houses are will be gated. I could be wrong, but I think the rest of the area is not gated. "

Chatsworth Resident wrote on Oct 17, 2007 4:38 PM:

" I am not really for this developement, because I don't foresee any money being spent in Chatsworth businesses. As far as I can understand, this is going to be a "gated community" so how can this help us?? Also, I don't think all the rude comments about Chatsworth are really necessary. Yes, we have drug, crime, & alcohol problems, but so do other small surrounding towns. One example was the party in Forrest where a teenager ended up dead. These kids all go to Prairie Central High School, which is made up of Chatsworth, Forrest, Fairbury, & now Chenoa. Please, look at all towns for these problems, not just ours. "

Give me a break wrote on Oct 17, 2007 4:06 PM:

" If you people really think that your town does not have the problems that Chatsworth does, you are straight up crazy!! Fairbury for example, they do a great job at hiding it. Where have all of the drug OD's come from in the past? If you guys call these stupid kids running around Chatsworth gangs, you must looking with your eyes half shut. I for one think this would be a good thing for Chatsworth. And the ignorance in the education? Granted, my children are only into the first grade, but I wouldn't trade their teachers for anything. Just so you guys know...there are over 110 down payments on lots for the project as it stands right now. "

Man, this will be a wrote on Oct 17, 2007 3:18 PM:

" great thing!!! We only have 7 sex offenders in a population of 1300! So, lets make the population more so we have less offenders per population!! "

Read the paper for wrote on Oct 17, 2007 2:33 PM:

" names of the thugs here!! They are in there all the time for violence, drugs, alcohol! There isn't anything in Chatsworth for kids to do but get in trouble!! There isn't much for jobs.. Homeshield... and that just depends who you b***!! The marriage wrecking factory!! So where is the greatness to attract new people??? The greatest job to most ppl there is how can I ripoff the welfare system and get more!!! "

I Live in Chatsworth wrote on Oct 17, 2007 2:28 PM:

" also, so don't say that I am bashing it and don't live there!!!! If I didn't owe so much money on my house a for sale sign would be in the yard!!! So, yes I do know what i'm talking about!!! As for Fairbury I would NEVER live there! "

To: I live in Chatsworth wrote on Oct 17, 2007 2:16 PM:

" I lived in Chatsworth for a year, and was never so glad to leave an area. I do not know what was worse, the general poorness of the town, or the ignorance of its education. The town was so depressing, that even the low property values could not keep me, and I sold out to move to a place with at least a 5th grade educational level. A place where welfare is not considered a legitimate job. If you think Chatsworth is such a great place, the you can keep it. Think about this though, homeless bums think a beat up cardboard box is a great home, so your opinion from the inside of your box is not that important to the rest of the world. "

to think positive: wrote on Oct 17, 2007 1:28 PM:

" I wasn't referringto this as being a welfar housing project!! I was referring to the welfare housing projects that are already there!!!! If you think that the drugs, crime and gang activities aren't in Chatsworth your head is stuck in a bag!!! Get out take a look around... you must not have preteen and teen age kids of you would be seeing it!! There are a few slum land lords that would rent to anyone even if they stiffed her on their rent and that is where these thugs are living at!! THERE IS A GANG AND DRUG PROBLEM IN CHATSWORTH!!! Look at the gang graffiti around town.. I could name a few of these thugs names but the pantagraph won't allow that!! "

I live in Chatsworth wrote on Oct 17, 2007 1:27 PM:

" For those of you that are bashing Chatsworth and have never lived their you need to stop. I am sure that you are from Fairbury and have never even drove through the town. I have lived their my whole life and I am far from living in "poverty." Sure their are drug problems and some crime, but nothing worse than what is in Fairbury and everyone thinks that is such a great town to live in. "

Think positive! wrote on Oct 17, 2007 10:01 AM:

" Crime and gang activity in Chatsworth??? Are you kidding me? I don't think you read the article- it's not a welfare housing project. The lack of crime, gang activity, and housing projects is what makes living in small, country towns so nice. Chatsworth isn't too far to commute to jobs in the bigger towns. "

Go Ken wrote on Oct 17, 2007 9:58 AM:

" It's easy to tear Chatsworth down. You might want to look in your own backyards. Do you really feel the surrounding towns do not have the same problems? They all have their own little HUDS, drugs, gangs, might I remind of the drinking problems in our high school. "

Hilldweller wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:21 AM:

" I don't think people are appreciating the value of rural living and the charm of Chatsworth. I support the Kurtenbachs for having a vision. That's about as American as you can get. Livingston County has been living with mediocrity for too long. It's time for us to stand tall and be proud. I think the Kurtenbachs might want to consider a public access canoe launch and bike path. If I were investing I wouldn't want a bunch of motorized vehicles but the quiet ones would be harmless. "

who would... wrote on Oct 17, 2007 8:14 AM:

" want to live in Chatsworth with the incrase in crime and gang activity?? A welfare housing project doesn't help any either in a small town with virtually no employment!! Where are all the new jobs going to come from?? As for an increase in money for business owners, think again!! Ken has said himself that this is a efrect place they would be in the middle of 3 major cities to go shopping!!! Bloomington, Kankakee and Champaign... So where is the extra money gonna come from?? The hudsters?? Get real!! "

Chatsworth??? wrote on Oct 17, 2007 6:35 AM:

" Maybe THIS will help the local grade school to "lift" it's label as a "poverty" level school. But then again, would a wealthy family from the Chicago area really want to move their kids down state to this "type" of an area??? No, ...I don't think so either. "

Hooper wrote on Oct 16, 2007 11:10 PM:

" What can be said about a town whose sole claim to fame is a 19th century train wreck? "

JD wrote on Oct 16, 2007 9:58 PM:

" This development is advanced. They will even have their own 'ghetto', namely everything in the town. "

Ken wrote on Oct 16, 2007 8:21 PM:

" If they think they can get 50 families a year to move to Chatsworth they are crazy.. "

Bill wrote on Oct 16, 2007 7:51 PM:

" I like to fish "

Chatsworth.. wrote on Oct 16, 2007 6:27 PM:

" Why build a huge lot there? It's in the middle of nowhere! If Chatsworth is next to I-55; then it's worth it.. I used to live there... just nothing there... "

Get real. wrote on Oct 16, 2007 4:21 PM:

" How will wind turbines drive people out of Livingston County? Believe me.. I'd LOVE to go... but there isn't any less expensive place to live. The wind turbines don't matter a rat's posterior to me... nor will they matter to people who move to the area. "

Lakegoer wrote on Oct 16, 2007 3:20 PM:

" How about all of the people spending money in and around Chatsworth??? I know a few people who have already put deposits on lots there, and I believe they have sold most of them already. "

only person part 2: wrote on Oct 16, 2007 2:35 PM:

" Also, most ppl probably don't even know that if you don't own a house there you will NOT be allowed to use the lake!! What a bunchof bull! There is alot of stuff he isn't telling ppl!! I hope this doesn't get completed!! "

The only person that wrote on Oct 16, 2007 2:33 PM:

" is gonna benefit from this for atleast 5 years in Mr. Kurtenbach himself!! When you add on of build a house you can get a freeze on your property taxes for 5 years!! How is this gonna bring in alot of money right away for our community!!! Not to mention the need to hire more town employees to help take care of this place!! Get real!! most people I have talked to are not happy about this!! "

We Love Development.. wrote on Oct 16, 2007 2:24 PM:

" and the good lord knows that Chatsworth could benefit from it. Has there been, however, a feasibility study done? Chatsworth is remote, it's far from Pontiac, Bloomington, Champaign, etc etc. Will there be enough interest. Sure they can build 28-58 homes a year for ten years, but is there going to be enough interested purchasers? I presume these houses are to be a lot nicer than the average chatsworth home... (just compare homes in fairbury, etc to homes in bloomington, and that is evident) "

Go Ken! wrote on Oct 16, 2007 2:07 PM:

" Stop the wind turbines and seek the right kind of growth. The wind turbines will kill any forward movement on economic development and will drive people out of LIvingston County. "

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