Comments on: Zone defense in the Heights leave kids in the lurch

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:35:08 +0000

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By: Shawn Rothwell

Shawn Rothwell — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 22:20:52 +0000

It is pointless to qualify Alexis Khazzam’s intentions. Just look at the results. DO you like it? Does it make sense in your environment? etc… But beware!
Mr Khazaam’s resume is very dodgy and made up mostly thanks to his inheritance and yes, his lovely wife. His ambition and ruthlessnes are what matters to you, they should be obvious to everybody. Unfortunately he is still in the phase of garnering support in the Peoria community untill he is uncovered as he was where he lived previously.

By: prego man

prego man — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 17:00:58 +0000

That’s another part of the problem. Obviously, the Village isn’t going to sign over the right of way for Khazzam to own, and yet 3/4 of the court lies on Village property. What if a kid gets hurt on that section of the court? Do you think Khazzam will take responsibility? What will his insurance company think if this “neighborhood park”? I wonder if he’s checked into that yet. Even if it’s just the Grandview Area kids out there, that’s a helluva insurance risk increase.

Plus, you open up the basketball court to everyone (which I seriously DOUBT Khazzam EVER had plans of doing), you’re going to be brining in some hard-core basketball dudes from even the South Side of Peoria. Not that that is wrong, right, indifferent, or whatever, but I’d bet my life that Khazzam never had that in mind.

Someone earlier stated that all of the facts have not been understood in this case. I think the more that the public delves into Khazzam’s plans for this “park,” and the more they realize that he went way beyond his legal powers to put it in, I think the more they’re going to realize that the Peoria Heights Zoning Board acted responsibly and for the good of ALL.

I know that the mayor wants to have more open land for parks, etc., and that will likely happen in the near future. The old Kelly Avenue site would have made A GREAT park AND parking lot area, but the previous mayor Earl Carter forced through the Heritage Square thing… and look what’s going on there… NOTHING. I think that’s a goodly reason why that snake was voted out of office. I don’t think the Beach St. location is the best for a public park… no street parking available… no really good access… but, we’ll see if Khazzam truly had ALL of the area in mind, or just HIS OWN.

Thanks for the good banter, guys. Have a great Fourth.

By: Floyd

Floyd — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 13:39:08 +0000

Prego Man, you got it. That’s the undiscussed feature of this scenario, and Emtronics labeled it. If this guy is around and a bunch of Black kids show up and play basketball, the fun begins. If he chases them off, clamining private property, then the basketball court shouldn’t be there. If he says that they can play at the park, then it’s considered up for grabs by the community, therefore a true neighborhood park. Simple as that.

And you also got it right-he ought to offer to give it to the Village. Then see what they say about it.

By: Emtronics

Emtronics — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 13:00:15 +0000

Two things: Why doesn’t anyone just say it. What if a group of BLACK kids from the “otherside” showed up to play?
The other? What happens if a kid gets hurt on that property. Who is liable?

By: prego man

prego man — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 07:51:00 +0000

Oh, and Floyd, it would have been really easy for Khazzam to say, “This is a park for anyone in Peoria Heights,” rather than saying how many kids are in the “neighborhood.” And, just because it is a “park,” unless it is owned by the city, it is NOT open to anyone who happens by. If you put up some monkey bars on a lot you own, YOU still control who can play there, don’t you think? If you put a pool in, YOU control who can swim there, right? Don’t you think that Khazzam would have every right to move kids on who are playing on his basketball court? Of course he would! It is ONLY a “city park” if the city owns it, right? Just because it LOOKS like a city park, does not mean it IS a city park, unless it is owned BY the city. I think Khazzam should be asked what he will do if a group of kids from the other side of Peoria Heights comes over and plays on his basketball court for several hours. I think it’s a fair question. And, I believe that he would likely reply, “That court should be used by who I allow to use it, cause I paid for it.” It’s the reply I would give if I owned it. If he truly wants it to be a park for EVERYONE, he will deed it over to the Heights to be run as a city park for EVERYONE. Would that color anyone’s opinon of the situation if he stated that he will control who plays on HIS property?

By: prego man

prego man — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 07:42:20 +0000

All this talk about the right of way, but the bigger problem is that even though there is no house at that section, Khazzam has put a basketball court into a “front yard.” If the zoning board had given me a variance for that, what would stop the next guy who wanted to put a basketball court, a tennis court, or a pool in his front yard? Or someone taking an empty lot and doing the same thing that Khazzam is doing? Does anyone who posts on here really want to have a nearby neighbor who has a basketball court right next to the street? There are reasons for zoning laws. And, there are reasons why some guys put stuff in without consulting the zoning board… they know that it’s not going to be approved.

‘Nuff said.