You have to go there, today or tomorrow or the next day, to actually see and FEEL the tremendous loss that would occur were the mansion and 2.5 acres to be sold.
For ANY amount. Today there were painters who had set up easels, a children's outdoor class, people resting on benches. Not on the beach. On the gentle, tranquil grounds of the mansion. All this availability, all this ambience, all this land overlooking the lake will be lost.
Even today at 11:20 a.m. parking was impossible. Not one space (except handicap) was available in the entire lot. And you are going to put a hotel with 57 rooms here? I know, I know. Parking will be included in the "plan." But not
enough parking when there is an "event." Not enough parking when it's a nice summer day.
But the central point is that we the people of Evanston will be losing some of our parks to a commercial enterprise. We didn't think our parks could be sold off. We thought our "special places" like Lighthouse Beach and the Grosse Point Wildflower Trail Garden would stay as they are. We didn't think anyone else would "own" Jens Jensen's Grotto and tell us we could no longer go there.
Tonight at 7:30 at the Civic Center will be a meeting on this matter. I suggest concerned people get there early. And if you want a yard sign go to 802 Colfax where they are sitting on a bench in front--free for the taking. Evanston's public land and public gardens should not be sold.
