Will there be TIF funds given to this group by our city council and can we be told how much before the vote is taken regardless of the size, scope and nature of the project? Or, as is usual, will we know what'is in the bill after it is passed?

Of course there are TIF funds involved. There are also possible give backs on hotel/motel and sales tax.

This is all part of a cynical 'wearing down' process by Marquette Group and cronies in Naperville elite. Because there is so much antipathy to the project, things are jerked around, fluffed and prettifided, and then represented to a small number of people...and then rammed through without regard because in the end, it is about getting money and screw the town.

Gerald and James, try being gentlemen in your comments. Your comments only antagonize and inspire negative reactions, certainly they do not contribute any constructive action.

In a recent news article, it was verified that downtown Naperville is missing the boat on business meetings and the arts because it does not have adequate facilities to accomodate these events. This proposed project will help close the missing gap and generate business and tax revenue for our fine city.

The facilities that currently occupy the site are certainly an eyesore. The proposed project will correct this situation and further beautify our downtown. I would hate to see the public's reaction if the proposed project currently existed and there was action to return to the current eyesore structures.

The proposed project is not "too big" for our downtown, it is an action to "expand" and beautify our downtown.

For decades I have been of the opinion there is a need for a hotel in our downtown. My thought process is now developing into reality -- assuming the naysayers do not place obstructions in the way that would "wear down" and thus hamper any new development to improve my Naperville's downtown.

And here is arrogant, ignorant Freeland, - once again. I KNOW you are an investor in this, since you simply will not go away as you keep promising to do. The article in the Sun was talking about theatrical productions and admitted that theaters are not efficient businesses because they can't be filled every night. This is why Wentz Hall is such a boon to Naperville. It is a first class theater maintained by NCC. Beyond that, there are several first class high school theaters as well as NCC's Pfeiffer Hall. It went on to quote a few former arts/performance business owners who failed to make a go of it in Naperville, because THE THEATR, AS BUSINESS STRUCTURE IS ALL WRONG FOR NAPERVILLE. The arts - the real arts, fail miserably on a business footing in Naperville.

What you will get (and that is probably the long term goal of the self-appointed elite in this project, is a gambling casino, after a suitable period for the 'hotel' business to fail miserably (assisted in this by its management).

The downtown hotel is a dumb, stupid scam by fly-by-night flim-flam men to be pull off on ignorant, ambivalent people. It is a TROJAN HORSE for a yet-to-be-named secret business (casino, most likely) to get a foot in Naperville. Napervillians need to tell these people once and for all, "NO!"

Gerald, thank you for providing a gentleman's response.

James, you continue to be abrasive and talking speculations, certainly not facts.

First, it is none of my business of where you place your funds, and likewise it is none of you business where I place my funds. Regardless, I will tell you I am not an investor in this propopsed project, and to the best of my knowledge I do not know any of the groups people or any of their investors. So STOP your ugly speculations and deal strictly in facts.

Also, the article we both referenced addressed not only the arts, BUT ALSO BUSINESS MEETINGS.

And why do you keep SPECULATING ON WHAT THE GROUP IS GOING TO DO AFTER THE HOTEL IS BUILT? Do you have any facts to support your speculative claims?

And lastly, please give all of us the real proven factual reason, without speculations, of why you are so adament against this project.

In your response, please make an attempt to answer as a gentleman.

Why not?! You keep speculating what they are going to do to begin with. The entire hotel is a (wait for it) SPECULATION. THAT IS WHY IT IS IN FRONT OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION!!!!!!!!

The case 'for it' is a collection of deliberately overly rosy, dishonest promises of 'what it will bring' and total avoidance of what it will take away in terms of traffic congestion and downtown congeniality.

Again, Freeland, you are an ignorant, arrogant, condescending and dishonest agent here. Every time you post, I will counter post. Of the two of us, I am sure I have lived here longer than you and I resent your characterizing your view as 'the only one' or that Naperville is 'your' town. You are a hopeless case.

It always seems the last refuge of scandals especially politicians in this town is to threaten to sue. Can’t speak to Mr. Freeland's investments but we should be able to get a list of the project’s BODs, CEO and CFO as well as major stock holders and legal consultants.
In this pile of data we might discover who in city council or employees (IF any) are connect to or stand to gain from this project.

As in most other city council major projects like smart meters/grid, SECA and TIF supported endeavors the fish begin to stink when exposed to the outside air and light.

The question still is how much is being given to this project by our city council, under what grant program and who will supervise these funds????

The abuses of grants, TIFS and other crony capitalistic schemes are legion. Again, I say, if these projects are so good then it should be no problems getting financial support from the investment community including me.

By the way the web site on this project says money will be provided by private investors with Moser as a partner. I have no problem with this as I am a free market capitalist and am adamantly opposed to stealing from one group (Tax Payers) to give to another group (aka cronies and political hacks).

Lastly, it always seems that zoning ordinances, fire codes, traffic and parking restrictions get thrown under the bus in direct proportion to the political clout of the petitioner.

I am in favor of any project at this site which meets the current requirements I have to live under and is not financed by my tax dollars regardless of how prevalent this bribing practice is.

Gerald, thank you for your views. Are you a Naperville resident?

Freeland is most likely a shill for Marquette group. He acts exactly as the PR accomplice for the front flim-flam man by yelling from the back of the crowd, "What this town needs is a Monorail!" When he can't argue points logically, he threatens to sue. I was expecting that kind of verbal intimidation. He has some kind of hidden vested interest in the plan and has no right to be saying who is and who isn't a 'gentleman' - not knowing the meaning of the word, himself.

We revisit (sigh) the problems this useless project will bring:
First traffic congestion
Water St. is bounded by Eagle, Jackson, Aurora and Main St. Each of these streets is already congested to near gridlock. Each is subject to actual grid lock at different times, i.e. commuter times and weekends. Further, Eagle St has heavy pedestrian traffic from the Riverwalk. Aurora Ave, backs up from Washington past Main up to Webster often. Main St. is back upped by cars and pedestrians competing at Chicago and Main. Jackson is filled with traffic for the Beach, the Library, the Riverwalk and all the businesses along that way.

IF the hotel is built, this will increase the use of those roads on a regular basis by visitors, support/supply vehicles and courtesy vehicles. It will result in the need to widen one or more of the current roads at the expense of the town and those residences/business currently along those two lane streets. That will be a certain and hidden part of this plan in the near future. Since the downtown section is maxed out and streets can't be widened, that means Eagle/Mill Stes will have to be the designated alternate corridor into town. That means destroying the residential area to support the dubious benefits of a hotel on the Riverwalk.

What are these 'benefits' of the hotel? Certainly, its proximity to the Riverwalk will make it a great place for aspiring prostitutes and drug dealers to do business. It alleviates their risk of current police scrutiny of their activities directly on the Riverwalk. A hotel room becomes a great place to stash drugs and take them out a bit at a time for sales on the Riverwalk. A hotel on the Riverwalk makes a great location for quick sexual encounters as well. A hotel right near the Riverwalk simply cries to the seedier people "here is your ideal headquarters" from which to ply your trades or do your trolling.

Finally, the hotel (currently) has to fit a small footprint, which no business will tolerate for long. If a business can't expand, it folds. At some time, in the not too distant future, should this hotel be built, it will lose its new car appeal and degenerate into a place that either has to be renovated by expansion (towards Aurora Ave) or have its mission changed - most likely a casino, which is always the last resort of desperate hotel owners. This is a stupid idea that only stupid people and those seeking to soak stupid people will like.

By the way, Freeland, where are the notices here from people that consider my views 'consistently wrong'? You are the only one who is for the hotel here. What color is the sky in your world?

Ok...Marquette is Pulling Off A Grandscale Public Relations Info Commercial ie...Full Page "Artist Picture Rendering of the proposed Water Street" with Full Page News Article" as seen in Friday's January 11, 2013 NaperSun And Invite Open House Jan. 17 at the Pre-Emption House at Naper Settlement from 4 to 7:30 pm. My Questions To Be Asked Would Be: And Keeping With Transparency..." Who Are The Movers, Shakers, PowerBrokers..'Your Partners And Investers who Live In Naperville' Including Past and Present Elected Officials' Who Will Significantly Financially Benefit Should This Project Be Approved?

I have lived in Naperville for 12 years. It is a great place, but it also looks, in certain areas, like a woman trying to fit size 18 hips into size 10 jeans. The area wherein all this is planned is a part of town that was largely laid out in the horse-and-buggy era. One more grand-scale construction idea is one too many. Besides.....what is with that empty parking garage on Benton west of Washington? Why do we need another parking garage when that is unfinished, unused???

D. Douglas, in order to clear the air of certain opinions of others, as stated above, you may wish to open your questioning by asking if anyone in the Mrquette organization, or any of its affiliates, know me or have any knowledge of me as an investor in the proposed project, the Marquette organization or any of it's affiliates.

Now, for James D., anyone who knows me will tell you I do not make threats. I do on occasion, as a mad dog will do, provide a warning shot of what’s to come across the bow should things continue to deteriorate. However, it is obvious we totally disagree on this specific proposed project and neither is going to change the mind of the other. Although I think of you as a crusty, crude and obnoxious person, you are a fellow Napervillian, you and I living here about the same length of time and close to the same age – and just maybe there is some good in you. I have been thinking perhaps I should widen my base of the type of people I know. Therefore I think we should get together for a cup of coffee just to get to know each other. What do you think of us meeting at a Starbucks of your choice about 10:30 AM some day?

I decline your offer. I am not interested in talking to you. I have said my opinions about this project and when I find someone going out of their way to back the project; to consistently ridicule and denigrate all those who offer opinions contrary to their own and run roughshod over others, I have to seriously wonder what their motives are. Only those who have vested interest act with such obsession. I have no intention of giving you even more of an opportunity and I have no interest in making your acquaintance.