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Sandwich housing development delayed by Frank VaisvilasSANDWICH-Plans for a 300-acre housing development have been delayed because of the overall housing slump. Patti Bernhard, the attorney who represents the Sandwich Joint Venture development, requested from the city council on July 14 that the Oct. 23 deadline for the first plat be extended for one year. One reason is because final engineering plans are expensive, according to Bernhard, and it is an expense the developer is not willing to take in the current economy. “That's one of the expenses we need to forestall with this market,” Bernhard said. She gave no indication on exactly when the development could begin. “Hopefully, there will be an upturn in the market and get the project moving on the east side,” Bernhard said. The planned eastside development would include single-family homes, as well as town homes. The delay might make school district officials happy for the time being. With recent booms in the student population, the district has felt symptoms of overcrowding. Nine portable classrooms had been used at the high school, as the district plans to build a new high school. This year, the district saw a record high number of graduates. The delay of the development was discussed at the July 15 school board meeting. Board President Steve Skorup expressed his disapproval of allowing anymore town homes if, and when, the development begins. City Alderman William McMahon attended that meeting and said he is not personally in favor of town homes, either, but recognized that some developers need them to make money. “We don't care if they make money,” Skorup said. “We don't want town homes.” McMahon said they would be nice, decorative town homes if developed. Skorup wondered what the ratio of town homes would be in the development and suggested that Plano officials could, perhaps, talk to the city about the effects of town homes. Yet, McMahon said he does not think town homes would sell as much in the future market. Board Member Vicki Scharenburg pointed to how much the housing market has dropped and is expected to drop even more. “I don't know when we're going to bottom out,” she said.
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| Valley Free Press, 37 S. Main St., Sandwich, IL 60548
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