City leaders are expected to make a decision Monday night on what's become a controversial rezoning and development project in Galesburg. While it could bring jobs to the area, some neighbors nearby do not want the development in their backyards. The proposal is to rezone a parcel of land on North Seminary Street and Highway 34 for a hotel, businesses and 16 duplexes. However, some neighbors are concerned about traffic, noise and their property values.
We spoke with local appraiser, Stephen Daly of Midwest Appraisal Associates, about property values Wednesday. He tells TV-6, there should be no problem. He says while it could possibly extend selling time, values should not go down, and other neighborhoods have been through this before without an issue.
The neighborhood on Catherine Street used to be surrounded by cornfields, but then a Lowe's and new bank went in. To buffer the homes duplexes were built too, which is the same thing developers plan to do with the North Seminary Street property. Two other neighborhoods also went through a similar situation and residents in those areas say, while they were against new developments at first, things have not been as bad as they thought.
Kandy Sayrs has lived in the neighborhood on Catherine Street for the past 22 years. She says when she first moved into her beautiful brick home, no developments were nearby.
"No Lowe's, no bank, just a bunch of farm land," she said.
Sayrs says when she learned those things were going up, it wasn't welcome news.
"It was a little scary at first, especially when they put things right behind our homes, we were nervous about the extra run-off and water because we have always had issues with water, worry about the noise and such."
However, she says she had nothing to worry about.
"Surprised though, didn't have a lot of effect on any of that."
Sayrs says the biggest problem has been increased traffic on Carl Sandburg Drive, which connects to her street, but she says overall she is glad the area has been developed.
"I am glad we have Lowe's and the bank. I think change is scary no matter what, I think you have to give things time sometimes."
Sayrs says the value of her home has not gone down because of the development. We also talked to several newer residents in that neighborhood who told us the traffic and businesses behind the homes, did not stop them from wanting to buy there.
