Springfield ICON

Independent Coalition for Our Neighborhoods

ICON News

  • Thurs, Oct 4 – Town Hall Meeting: Changes to City Garbage Pickup

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    ICON is sponsoring three town hall meetings to discuss the changes proposed in the ordinance: Wednesday, Sept. 26: 7 to 8:30 p.m., South Side Christian Church, 2600 S. MacArthur Blvd. Thursday, Sept. 27: 6 to 8 p.m., Wanless Elementary School, 2120 E. Reservoir St. (Also a Ward 3 community meeting) Thursday, Oct. 4: 6 to…

  • Recycling Resources

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      At the July, 2012 ICON meeting, Abby Walden, new Director of Recycling for Springfield, Joan Walters, moderator of the Zero Waste program, and Marie Streenz, Community Relations Director for Midwest Fiber, a privately owned recycling (harvesting) company in central Illinois offered a “vision” of seeking “zero waste” that has become an integral part of…

  • ICON Meeting Monday, July 30th

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    To ICON Members and Participants The July ICON Meeting will be held next Monday the 30th at the First Church of the Brethren, Ash and Yale, 7 p.m. If you missed the Citizens Club program on “Zero Waste” Friday morning, you’ll have a chance to review and discuss some of the main points of that…

  • ICON Monthly Meeting Monday, June 25th

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    To ICON Members and Participants We will hold our next ICON meeting Monday, June 25th, 7 p.m., at the First Church of the Brethren, Yale and Ash. Mark Cullen, city attorney, will join us to review new language in the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance which is on the July 3rd agenda for final passage. The new…

  • Neighbors Join in Modest Efforts to Embrace Abandoned Properties

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    Residents in neighborhoods that make up the Near Northwest and West Side [of South Bend, Indiana] — treasure troves of vernacular architecture — describe what is happening to help solve the abandoned property problem as nothing short of “a movement.” Almost everyone knows someone who bought a deteriorating property on his or her block, with…

  • ICON Monthly Meeting March 26, 7pm

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    Our ICON meeting will be next Monday, March 26th, 7 p.m., at the First Church of the Brethren, Yale and Ash – SDAT Steering Committee I have invited Lisa Stott, Chuck Pell and other members of the SDAT Steering Committee, Victoria Ringer, and Michael Higgins, to explain how the neighborhoods encircling the downtown area can…

  • Creating Inner City Suburbs: Blots

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    Read about the process of “blotting” – homeowners taking possession of adjacent abandoned property to expand small city lots into suburb-sized “blots”. Enterprising homeowners are changing the landscape in many depopulated cities, bringing the look of spacious suburbs to abandoned urban neighborhoods.  For less than the cost of an airplane ticket, in some instances, owners…

  • SSCRPC – Regional Comprehensive Plan – your input needed!

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    HELP US SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY! The Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission invites you to participate in the development of a Regional Comprehensive Plan. There are two ways for you to be involved in this process: 1. Attend one of three community workshops to tell us your concerns, values, and desires: March 8th…

  • High Traffic Freight Trains – Public Information Hearing Tuesday 3/6 4-7pm

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    Illinois Department of Transportation Illinois State Rail Plan Public Information hearing March 6, 2012, from 4 – 7 pm Lincoln Library 326 South 7th Street Springfield IL Please attend this meeting and provide input on how the State of Illinois’ Rail Plan will affect our downtown community!

  • February 27 Membership Meeting

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    ICON Members and Participants: Our February meeting will be next Monday (2/27), 7 p.m., at the First Church of the Brethren, Yale and Ash. Mark Mahoney will be our guest. He will bring us up to date on early results of the new ordinance regarding boarded property. He will also identify the city’s priorities for…

  • ICON Members Get Budget Details from Director McCarty

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    The ICON membership was provided information and insight into the 2013 proposed budget by Bill McCarty, Director of the Office of Budget & Management, at the January ICON meeting. The proposed budget reflects an emphasis on repaying old debts and doubling the funds for infrastructure. The budget for the Corporate fund, which is only one…

  • Enos Park area rates 68 in ‘Walkability’

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    By TIM LANDIS () The State Journal-Register Posted Feb 04, 2012 Expect to hear a lot about a WALKABLE COMMUNITY in the next few months. Springfield, as a rule, isn’t.  We are more of a “car-dependent” city. Members of the Sustainable Design Assistance Team pointed out the city generally is walking-challenged during an initial two-day…

  • Thanksgiving Message from Steve

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    To ICON Members and Participants Had a great meeting last month! Mark Cullen provided a lot of insight into his philosophy and strategy to eliminating blight in Springfield. As he indicated, the key will be in the enforcement. Our next meeting will be Monday, November 28th after the Thanksgiving weekend. I hope all of you…

  • Pizza Party

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    To ICON Members and Participants We will hold our ICON meeting one week early on Monday, October 24th because of Halloween. We’re also starting a half hour earlier at 6:30 p.m. to have pizza and celebrate the Council’s support to increase fines and set limits on boarded properties. We appreciate the support of aldermen Edwards,…

  • Enos Park Homes For Sale

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    Buy a House for Less Than $5,000   Click the link above for the latest story from News Channel 20 regarding homes for sale in the Enos Park Neighborhood.   Six Enos Park homes opened up for urban pioneers   Click the link above for the latest story from the SJ-R regarding homes for sale…

  • A Note From Steve

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    To ICON Members and Participants Last Tuesday the ordinance promoted by ICON regarding increased fines and time limits on correcting violations was introduced by Cory Jobe, Doris Turner, Gail Simpson, and Kris Theilen at the Council meeting. This coming Tuesday, October 11th, 5:30 p.m. the Committee of the Whole will review the ordinance for final…

  • Neighborhood Sues Owners of Abandoned House

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    Please, view the IT article below. http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-9132-neighborhood-sues-owners-of-abandoned-house.html

  • Sustainable Springfield

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    Sustainable Springfield, Inc. will host two presenters on Wednesday, September 21 from 6:30 – 8:00pm at the Carnegie Room North of the Lincoln Library, Seventh and Capitol Streets. The meeting is free and open to the public. The first speaker will be Sue Kemp with Decatur Is Growing Gardens (DIGG). DIGG is a gardening effort…

  • Ordinance Proposal

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    Below is the list of time lines and fees that are being proposed. Registration of Rental Properties 30 days to register rental property with the city at the start of the fiscal year. Owners contact information required and property manager’s contact information if the owner doesn’t live in Sangamon County. Registration Fee – Free Late…

  • ICON Monthly Meeting June 27th 7pm

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    The Monday, June 25th meeting will be held at the Assisi Conference Center in the Main building of St John’s Hospital. The Assisi Center is right next to the hospital library. There is convenient parking in the garage at Carpenter and North 9th Street. We are anticipating a number of aldermen will attend and review…