Restoring the Sugar Bowl Sign

Lately, there has been a lot of press about city's plan to restore the Sugar Bowl sign, including a Chicago Tribune article this morning. Don't forget to take a look at our history of the Sugar Bowl.

Des Plaines preserves 1957 'Sugar Bowl' neon sign for the sweet memories
by Chicago Tribune - United States
Des Plaines recently decided to do that for a 50-year-old sign: the bright red and yellow neon one atop the Sugar Bowl restaurant. Officials worked with the..

Strong Reaction To $20,000 Sugar Bowl Sign Payment
by Journal & Topics Newspapers Online - Des Plaines, IL, USA

An invitation to readers of the Journal & Topics Newspapers to engage in public discussion about the city of Des Plaines' recent decision to fund the restoration of the downtown Sugar Bowl lighted sign has triggered a flurry of response.

While respondents expressed interest and support for the longtime downtown restaurant, nearly everyone said they believe the decision to spend $20,000 in public funds to pay for its total restoration is wrong.

Taxpayer Money To Fix Up Sugar Bowl Sign: What Do YOU Think?
by Journal & Topics Newspapers Online - Des Plaines, IL, USA
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor To some Des Plaines residents, preserving the "historic" Sugar Bowl Restaurant sign that hangs over the downtown

City To Pay For Sign Restoration
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor 7/8/09
The city will pay for restoration of the large outdoor downtown Des Plaines Sugar Bowl Restaurant sign, aldermen decided Monday night, even though some concern was expressed about the city having the authority to take over ownership of the sign should the business close.

Des Plaines to pay for historic sign preservation
via DailyHerald.com on 7/6/09
Des Plaines will pay to preserve a piece of its history starting with the iconic Sugar Bowl Restaurant sign that hangs outside the recently reopened downtown eatery.

Should City Restore Sugar Bowl Sign?
by Journal & Topics Newspapers Online - Des Plaines,IL,USA on 7/3/09
The proposal to change Des Plaines' Façade Rehabilitation Program to permit the paying of 100% of the cost was initiated after the new owners of Sugar Bowl ...

The Journal solicited opinions, and I submitted a letter. This is also a good place for discussion. The key points I made were:
-Because it is TIF money, it is not directly from taxpayers; this is money that must be used for downtown.
-It is a legitimate use of TIF.
-New development, particularly in downtown, has been financially facilitated by the city and has impacted the long-term downtown businesses negatively; it is right to improve them so that they contribute more to downtown economic activity instead of dragging it down. The TIF has been funded by these properties, and new developments should not be the only ones to benefit.
-However, it is not the best-structured plan; the city doesn't need to take it as an object, nor maintain it; the owners should be compensating somehow, perhaps through easements, covenants, or other forms of protection. Or the city could have matched the 50% of the facade program with a low-interest loan out of the TIF.
-It doesn't really protect anything; we need to preserve more parts of our history than signs. The fact that the sign ordinance was used to protect the sign (because it was non-conforming, the city had the ability to review proposed changes - had the owners wanted to, they could have just taken the sign down, and changed the name, but since they wanted a hanging sign, they had to play ball.) It's good that the city was able to convince the owners of the value of the Sugar Bowl name. I am sure La Mellet wouldn't be doing as strong business as the Sugar Bowl is.
-The city shouldn't be paying to alter the sign to suit the new owners.
-The bid for the sign includes repainting the faces, which is unnecessary and will require more maintenance in the future.