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Politics & Government

Geneva Newsmakers Countdown 2012—No. 4: Joe Stanton

Editor's note: This is the seventh of a 10-part countdown of articles looking back at the Geneva newsmakers of 2012. The No. 1 newsmaker will be Geneva Patch's 2012 "Person of the Year."

  • Editor's note: This is the seventh of a 10-part countdown of articles looking back at the Geneva newsmakers of 2012. The No. 1 newsmaker will be Geneva Patch's 2012 "Person of the Year."

 

Yes, Joe Stanton was the Wood Award winner in 2011—but he was a newsmaker in 2012 because of his association with one of the top stories of the year: the possible demolition of the Pure Oil Building.

On Feb. 21, Geneva Historic Preservation Commission voted 5-1 to deny a demolition permit for the blue-roofed former gas station that was at the time the home of The Pure Gardener, 502 W. State St.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stanton, who owns the building as well as the one next door to the west, argued alongside commercial architect Jeffrey Lietz and St. Charles Bank & Trust President Tom Hansen that it would cost $360,000 to modernize the interior, an investment Stanton said would prohibit any adaptive reuse of the building. Commission members also heard testimony from community members, who pleaded to keep the building intact.

The City Council Committee of the Whole heard more empassioned pleas from the community on April 2, when it upheld the decision to deny demolition with an 8-2 vote, sending Stanton back to the drawing board.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In May, Stanton returned with new plans—calling for an adaptive reuse of the building as a component of the bank drive-through. The plan preserves the shell of the facade facing State Street, but demolishes the back part of the building. This time, the HPC said OK, the Plan Commission OK'd the plans in August and the City Council agreed.

Work around the building began in November.

For Stanton, it was affirmation of the old adage, "if at first you don't succeed ... " and confirmation of his ability to get things done. For the community, it was a reminder that downtown development and historic preservation can mix and that the voice of a community can be heard.

 

Related Articles

  • Letter to the Editor: PURE Gardener Owners Say Please Don't Tear Down History
  • POLL: Should City Allow Teardown of Historic Kuchera Building?
  • QuickStory: HPC Votes 5-1 Against Demolishing Pure Oil Building
  • Pure Oil Building Status Still in Limbo
  • You Write the Story: What Happened at Tuesday's HPC Meeting on the Pure Oil Plans?
  • UPDATE: New Pure Oil Building Plan Approved by HPC
  • Hot Meeting on Pure Oil Building Tuesday at Geneva Fire Department
  • Pure Oil Plans OK'd by the Historic Preservation Commission; Plan Commission Next
  • Pure Oil Building Drive-Through Plan Goes to Plan Commission Thursday
  • Pure Oil Drive-Through Sails Through City Council
  • Pure Oil Building Development in Full Swing
  • Pure Oil Building Wins in Extra Innings

 

The Series

  • Geneva Newsmakers of 2012—No. 10: Jenny McCarthy
  • Geneva Newsmakers of 2012—No. 9: Pam Broviak
  • Geneva Newsmakers of 2012—No. 8: Todd Searcy
  • Geneva Newsmakers of 2012—No. 7: Steve LeMaire
  • Geneva Newsmakers of 2012—No. 6: Kevin Burns
  • Geneva Newsmakers of 2012—No. 5: Nicole Wiesner
  • Geneva Newsmakers Countdown 2012—No. 4: Joe Stanton
  • Geneva Newsmakers Countdown 2012—No. 3: Bob McQuillan
  • Geneva Newsmakers Countdown 2012—No. 2: Carol Young
  • Geneva Patch Person of the Year 2012: Mark Grosso


 

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