SS4G Thanks Community on its First Anniversary
HOMEWOOD, Ill. - January 26, 2022. A year ago, today, the Village of Homewood Board of Trustees voted for the now infamous settlement with Diversified Partners to destroy the land and trees at Calumet Country Club, allowing 127 acres of greenspace to become a paved, industrialized wasteland.
A year ago, a group of concerned residents said, “Not on our watch.” The Village of Homewood told the community the development was a “DONE DEAL.” We were told that our efforts were “too little, too late.” But we knew we couldn’t sit by and do nothing, particularly when we learned that there are more than 2300 trees on the property! We owed it to the future to make a stand.
We were told we couldn’t trust other Southland leaders. We were told the Homewood board did everything they could to prevent this from happening, but the property would be razed by May.
As we watched Homewood schedule slap-dash zoning board and TIF approval processes, the community came together out of a concern for transparent government and greenspace. We reached out to surrounding communities and neighbors, and we pushed the Planning and Zoning approval process to an historic five days, until the commission eventually voted against the rezoning. The Homewood board followed suit.
Though the property is no longer in Homewood and is still owned by Diversified Partners, a year later the trees are still standing, and our roads and community have been spared a detrimental increase in traffic and pollution.
We want to take a moment to thank and congratulate every Southland community member, neighbor, elected official, and activist who played a role in this major accomplishment. The successes we’ve had over the last year are a testament to what an engaged community of caring people can do when they work together.
About South Suburbs for Greenspace
South Suburbs for Greenspace is a committed group of Southland community members fighting to protect scarce greenspace in an already over-industrialized region of Chicagoland and formed in opposition to Diversified Partner LLC’s planned development of Calumet Country Club (2136 175th St, Homewood, IL 60430) into a fulfillment/trucking hub. The group is a campaign of SAFE.
About Illinois Southland Against Fossil Energy
Illinois Southland Against Fossil Energy was founded in response to the proposed gas-burning power plant in Glenwood. SAFE is building an inclusive, multi-racial coalition that believes the Southland needs and deserves a clean environment, clean government, healthy people, and a healthy economy.