Candidate Response: Fifth Ward, Daniel P. Winiecki

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1. Is the corner of Miner and Lee, site of the Choo Choo and Masonic Temple buildings, an appropriate place to build a police station and an appropriate use of TIF funds?

I do not believe that the corner of Miner & Lee which is the site of the Choo Choo Restaurant and the Masonic Temple Building is a good place to build the new police station. I have eaten there several times with my family & friends and it should stay right where it’s at. If Des Plaines decides to move that building to another location it will not be the same and probably lose customers. This will be another mistake that Des Plaines will make. The Choo Choo is a landmark in Des Plaines and a lot of people from other towns visit Des Plaines to eat there.

2. Do you believe the Des Plaines Theater has the potential to act as a catalyst to attract more activity downtown?

We need a theatre in Des Plaines and my wife used to go there when she was a teenager. It can attract residents from within our town and also outside of Des Plaines. It needs to be cleaned up but also preserved. I have asked residents and teenagers what the theater needs and the two main concerns was the parking for the theater and it needs to be cleaned up.

3. How do you think downtown can be made a more appealing and productive place?

Downtown Des Plaines is missing this Hometown Feeling. I would compare it to the way Downtown Evanston is. We should have a café where you can go and sit outside with a cup of coffee, shops where you can walk up and down the street, restaurants and a theater. We need specific stores in Downtown Des Plaines to make it more attractive and more like a meet & greet. If we look at what is there right now, is there anybody that would come to downtown Des Plaines. Also parking in Downtown Des Plaines.

4. Do you support the creation of a Heritage Commission and preservation ordinance to identify, evaluate, and protect Des Plaines’ historic resources?

I do support a Heritage Commission so we can protect some of Des Plaines historic properties.

This would be something a lot of residents could look back on along with future generations. One prime example would be the McDonalds.


5. Do you support pursuing listings on the National Register of Historic Places for Des Plaines historic properties and districts, making them eligible for Federal tax credit programs?

I do support listings on the National Register of Historic Places for Des Plaines.