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Edgewater's Hysterical Historical Society

                      
The Museum after renovation by Green-                                             The building that was of such great interest to a
Propp Design, a firm owned by Historical                                            few board members of the historical society. Now
Society Board Member Thom Green. Is                                                they are paying the price for their unwarranted
that a conflict of interest? Interesting.                                                 interest...at the expense of the long term viability
                                                                                                                      of the historical society itself!

 

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE EDGEWATER HISTORICAL SOCIETY (source 990 tax filing):

 

"preservation, collection, research and documentation of the history of the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago"

 

Unfortunately, a group of elitist zealots on the board of this organization couldn't leave the organization to its stated mission, and instead embarked on a crusade against a property owner, which will likely result in the financial destruction of the historical society.


A group of board members from Edgewater's Historical Society, including  Thom Greene took it upon themselves to, as they would put it, "we were only exercising our free speech rights, in the democratic traditions we have come to accept in Edgewater." (Editors note: Thom Green is also involved, among other endeavors, in an anti-democratic promotion of landfill expansion in Edgewater, where again he attempts to impose his view on the citizens of Edgewater....against their wishes. Read more about his affiliations at http://stopthelandfill.org/schemers.aspx )

Has anyone ever told these folks that most of the people in Chicago are getting pretty fed up with the "democratic traditions we have come to accept in Edgewater"?

That "free speech" is very likely going to bankrupt the EHS.  Their conflict between self-interest and the public interest an interesting situation.  Some would argue that they and other neighborhood organizations use their influence to impact zoning and planning in undesirable ways. 

They have said, "The outcome of this suit has far reaching and chilling prospects for Edgewater and any community group that advocates or participates in community discussions about planning, zoning, and historic preservation."  The real fact is, the so called "community groups that advocate" in many cases here in Edgewater have already done quite a bit to create a chilling feeling.  (especially if you're a person trying to seek a zoning variance, open a business, etc...) 

Bottom line, the EHS interfered with the sale of a piece of private property ultimately resulting in a lawsuit with claims of financial harm. 

LETTER BEGGING FOR MONEY TO COVER THE ELITIST ZEALOTS ON THE BOARD OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

(our comments in red)

 

Edgewater Historical Society and Museum

 

Important Message To Our Members, Friends and Supporters:

 

The Edgewater Historical Society and Museum (EHS) and several board members were sued last year in the amount of $1.1 million for our efforts to support a proposal to landmark an “orange” rated house in Edgewater. Continuous efforts have been underway to dismiss this suit, but without success so far. We have been confident that we have a strong case, and that we were only exercising our free speech rights, in the democratic traditions we have come to accept in Edgewater. (those democratic traditions shut out all but a handfull of well connected insiders from any meaningful input into all matters Edgewater.)

 

But litigation continues, and we are not even at a trial stage. We are fortunate to have excellent representation and we received considerable pro bono support up until now. We are now at a critical juncture because EHS must now financially support all future legal representation. This has serious consequences for our community.(This is a serious consequence for the elitist zealots who are getting sued, and for the organization that they hijacked in their names to do their bidding.)

 

Should we go to trial and lose, the museum will be forced to close and we would probably have to dissolve the Edgewater Historical Society; in addition, our board members might be liable for considerable personal financial risk. (It is a crime that these few zealots can do such massive damage to an otherwise fine institution. If the society has to close because of the actions of these individuals, they should be held fully accountable for the damage and destruction they have wrought on the community. In terms of their own liability.....we can only say TOO BAD!)

 

Should we go to trial and win, the future is likewise bleak, because the high cost of defending this case could generate legal fees that would jeopardize the continued viability and existence of the museum. We cannot be certain of recovering legal fees, even if we win! (This is a case study in what happens when the same old retreads are on virtually every boad, commission, chamber and council. They are in it for themselves and nothing more, and now, this is the result.)

 

In the near future, we expect a decision on whether this case will be dismissed or will go to trial.

 

We are urgently concerned about the future of the museum and EHS.  We are seeking help to support our legal effort (with pro bono legal aid). If you know of individuals or organizations that could provide such assistance, please contact us as soon as possible.  (These people brought it on themselves and in the process are destroying the society. Why don't they have enough ethical backbone to finance their own legal defense? after all, they caused the problem. Now they want everyone else to pay for it. When will this community ever learn?)

 

The outcome of this suit has far reaching and chilling prospects for Edgewater and any community group that advocates or participates in community discussions about planning, zoning, and historic preservation. Enclosed is a statement of the facts about the lawsuit. (The lesson learned should be simple: keep the elitist zealots who would presume to tell you and everyone else what is best, out of any decision making or advisory capacity. Recognize these zealots for what they are: anti-democratic dictators. The circumstances here have no bearing on anything other than the excesses of these people. Shame on them, and shame on the residents of Edgewater who have let them dictate the course of events in the community.)

 

We are very proud of EHS and the museum as an important community institution; we want to continue to serve Edgewater.  We hope you agree. We will keep you up to date as this proceeds.(Not one scintilla of apology for the damage to the EHS that these people have done. Not one expression of remorse for the high probability that the EHS will be destroyed. If the museum was as important to the community as you say, Mr. Remer, why the hell did you undertake actions that will likely destroy it? And for no good reason. How self-centered and self-important can you and your miscreants get?)

 

Thank you.

 

Bob Remer

President

Edgewater Historical Society and Museum

 

(1) enclosure

Statement of Facts About Lawsuit:

 

 

 

Statement of Facts About Lawsuit Re: 6018 N. Kenmore:

 

The Edgewater Historical Society and Museum, and four board members (Betty Mayian, Leroy Blommaert, Kathy Gemperle, and Thom Greene) have been sued by the owner of the single family property at 6018 N. Kenmore for allegedly illegally interfering with the sale of the property to a condominium developer; the plaintiff is seeking $1.15 million in damages.(1) This was subsequently reduced to $600,000 on June 23, 2009.

 

EHS had taken a position to support the land marking of the building which is “orange” rated according to the City of Chicago. Under the city’s landmark ordinance, an “orange” rated building is the second highest rating and allows certain legal protections including provisions for requesting delaying demolition permits.(2)

 

EHS had also supported a plan presented to the community by Alderman Smith that she received that had been developed by the City Department of Planning staff. That plan included the property at 6018 N. Kenmore in a Landmark District along with several other buildings in that vicinity.  EHS and some other community organizations and individuals supported that proposal at the Alderman’s Zoning and Land Use Committee. The proposal failed.

 

Attorneys for EHS have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit based on, among other reasons, the protections granted by the Citizen’s Participation Act (CPA) which was passed in 2007.  CPA was passed to protect individuals and organizations from retaliatory and intimidating lawsuits, when legitimately expressing their first amendment rights in matters of zoning, development, etc.  Sen. John Cullerton was the chief sponsor. The Act was supported by all the state legislators who represented Edgewater. (3)

 

EHS is being represented by attorney Richard F. Friedman and the law firm Neal & Leroy, LLC. All matters and discussions pertaining to the lawsuit are being handled by our attorneys.

 

Hearings on the motions to dismiss have been ongoing; we anticipate some resolution by the end of the summer.

 

Information on EHS and preservation efforts is available at www.edgewaterhistory.org.

 

The membership of EHS will be kept informed of the progress of the lawsuit.

 

Sincerely,

 

EHS Board of Directors


Chicago Sun-Times Article chronicles the actions of the Edgewater Historical Society and members of their board

The August 11th issue headlined this story, showing the unfortunate victim of the actions of a few board members, which resulted in a lawsuit, and as one board member stated: "you worry what that life would be like if you had to sell your condo and give up a number of your assets" as a result of that suit. Bob Remer, another defendant stated "should we lose, our museum disappears; the members of the board will be attached for substantial sums; we are in danger of losing the (museum) win or lose". Isn't that nice: a museum founded to catalog and display the history of Edgewater is now in danger of dissolution to pay the legal bills for a few of their board members who hijacked the organization to pursue their personal agenda. Why didn't they pursue that agenda outside of the umbrella of the museum? Now, as a result of their actions, the who community must pay. Is that fair?Isn't it time that the community rebel against these self appointed arbiters of what the community should look like? Isn't it ludicrous that these individuals initiate their activities at the behest of no one, but now, when their legal bills start coming due, they ask the community to either provide funds or free legal aid to help them?

 

Thom Greene, one of the defendants was conspicuously absent from the photo contained in the Sun Times piece. Interesting.....he was also conspicuously absent from the public meeting on Landfill Expansion....with the excuse that he was indisposed.