|
Summarized by Rosemary Pollock
Nauvoo Struggles with Moratorium on Growth
NAUVOO, ILLINOIS -- Nauvoo Mayor, Tom Wilson, announced that the
moratorium that was imposed in March on new building permits will
continue for the next few months. New commercial and multi-family
residential construction will have to wait for the commission on
planning and zoning ordinances to determine how growth will effect
the long-term plan now being developed. An urban planner, funded by
the Mormon church, will aid the commission that previously lacked the
authority a formal zoning ordinance would provide.
City real estate has been active since the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints announced plans last year to rebuild the Nauvoo
Temple. The $30 million project is expected to be completed by fall
200l. Wayne Marting, owner of the only real estate firm in Nauvoo,
doesn't see the moratorium slowing down the sale of the city's
red-hot residential property market. "A handful of people are just
kind of waiting to see what happens," he said. "I tell people what
you see commercial is going to stay commercial," he adds.
Nauvoo currently is a community of approximately 1,200 residents, but
there is concern that tourism will quadruple after the temple is
completed. Kay Walker, owner of the Nauvoo Family Motel, has
commented that he would like build another hotel. City Clerk, Carol
McGhghy, said no one has approached City Hall seeking permits to
build.
The plans for commercial investing and residences turned
bed-and-breakfast inns will have to wait for now. Wilson encourages
developers to be patient. "We've never done this before," he said.
Source:
Temple's ascension halts Nauvoo growth
Burlington IA The Hawk Eye 7Oct00 D1
By Stephen A. Martin: The Hawk Eye
|
