I don't have an issue with tear downs and I don't like the City telling home owners they can't tear down a house unless it violates a code or zoning laws. But I agree that this Hammerschmidt story struck a nerve because of the way Chris Cobb had his wife or fiance buy the home from the older neighbor, and had The Cobb Team act as her broker to get the commission. If it is true that the last owner said she would not have sold the home to Chris Cobb because she did not like or trust him, I can see why her family was so angry last year when they read in the Sun that the lady who bought it was really Chris Cobb's fiance or wife.

Well said Anonymous. The Cobb ethics twist gets even worse, because the buyer was actually Chris Cobb's wife (not just fiance) at closing. That may not make much difference in a basic "right and wrong" sense (i.e., it still seems wrong to me), but it would appear to remove any doubt about the ethics / legality. The ethics and licensing rules for realtors are pretty clear and the way he bought it seems to leave Bernie Cobb Sr. and Chris exposed. I am curious to hear what the licensing board does with the ethics complaint. It is too bad this story became simplified by the Sun as being a case of property rights vs. historical preservation.

BigMike 12/29/2008 9:57am:

Great post. I think you captured it pretty well. Time for change in D204. Ever think about running for SB yourself? I think you'd be good!

tear downs on January 12, 2009 11:49 PM
Ken on January 12, 2009 11:47 AM

I agree with you and I agree with Ken because you are both making separate points. Ken is correct, a property owner can do what they wish as long as it doesn't violate existing law or zoning, etc. If you don't like it run for office (or petition your representative) and change the law.

The Cobb story took a twist with the fact that the seller is an "older" person with the implication that she didn't fully understand the deal. This fact, while unfortunate, does not rankle me either - it's not like they swindled her and bought the house for half its value.

The part I don't like is that Cobb's fiance bought the house in her name using father Cobb as the broker. I don't remember if this fact is viewed as an ethical or legal issue? I also don't recall if the Cobb's have ever commented on this interesting coincidence.

While I agree with Ken that property owners should generally be able to do what they want with their property, realtors also need to be held accountable to their professional standards. What bothers many people is not that the house is being torn down. Many older homes are torn down without major protests and controversy. I think what struck a chord with many in the community is the fact that Chris Cobb lived next door to the elderly lady and if he wanted to buy her house he should have simply walked next door and made an offer. I have to assume the reason he didn't do that is because he knew she would not sell it to him, so he sent in his dad and his new wife without her relationship to him being disclosed. That just doesn't seem like a neighborly thing to do, or an ethical way for a licensed realtor to conduct his business.

Best story of the year:
The Cobb's get to do what they want to with their property. This story also illustrated the greed and hypocrisy of many people.

First, the greed and hypocrisy of the sellers. They claimed that restoring the house was part of a verbal aggreement, and that the owner would have never sold it to someone who would not restore it. However, if she felt so strongly about restoring the house, why didn't she obtain landmark status for it before she listed it? Because it would limit the market for the house, and her profit. Greed and hypocrisy at its best.

Second, the greed and hypocrisy of those who wanted the house restored at someone else's expense. They all greedily wanted other people's money to pay for the restoration they wanted. Again, greed and hypocrisy at its best.

Most pathetic story of the year -- Chris Cobb having his wife buy the historic Hammerschmidt mansion from his elderly neighbor so that he could tear it down for a yard. Per the early articles on the story, the former owner's family claims she never would have sold it to her had she known the lady listed as the buyer who said she wanted to restore the home was really Chris Cobb's wife, who was moving in next door with Chris. And having Chris's dad act as broker for his wife, keeping the broker commission in the family... all just to tear it down for a yard. That was a great way to make new friends in the neighborhood. Well done! I hear the Cobbs are getting ready to fire up the bulldozers again, even while an ethics complaint is pending against Chris and Bernie Cobb Sr. based on how they bought the place. You have to hand it to him, Chris Cobb does not seem to worry what anyone else thinks about his sense of ethics. In that sense, it kind of reminds me of our governer, Rod Blagojovic, another great story of 2008. They both have great hair too. :-)

For me the D204 / Metea controversy was the #1 story of 2008. I am one of those "babies" (see Karla 12/25/08 10:05pm, Merry Christmas to you too sweetie) who lives in the southwestern end of the district. For my family this story weighed heavily on us and caused us much stress.

For us the school switch isn't about the newness of the school. It isn't about demographics. Plain and simple it is about the substantially further distance our kids will have to travel to go to WV instead of NV. It is about the CN railroad. It is about traffic increases on Eola. It is about the conduct of the superintendent and the school board. It is about the bastardization of the referendum process. It is about being told there was "no time" to change the ballot language to specify a site, and then being told that we're stupid because we "didn't read the ballot".

It is about being told that the AME/MWGEN site was "inappropriate" and then being told it was ideal. It was about there being "no time" for an appraisal (were there other buyers lined up or something?). It was about being told that transportation times wouldn't be longer. It was about being told to sit down and shut up. It was about being called elitist, racist. It was about being told that they would "pave it over baby!" It was about buried gas lines that virtually no other school district would be stupid enough to build a school next to. It was about being told that public feedback was welcome when in reality the decisions were made in private without public feedback. It was about being told that we were on budget, on time, and self-funding. It was about mysterious memos being published on the district website (which basically told a specific neiborhood to go pound sand before they even opened their mouth!) and then mysteriously un-published. It was about completely failing to integrate your community, to show an openmindedness to be a steward of your constituents' taxpayer dollar, being pompous, divisive, short-sighted, opaque, secretive, closed-minded, unprofessional, and basically being a complete jerk. You know who you are.

2009 will be the year that you go away. I'm not sure if and when we can correct any of the mistakes (is that what you call it when something is done on purpose?) you made, but at least you'll get your comeuppance.

It is almost always true in life that what goes around comes around.

Favorite Story - Hammerschmidt Mansion battle

A story of greed and deceit by the realtor neighbor who bought it without disclosing his identity, combined with a group of neighbors who stood up for the elderly lady who felt "duped" by The Cobb Team. Ethics complaint is pending...

I wish the result came out differently but it was a good story anyway.

Two stories, one published and one "open", catch my interest for top stories:

1)The 2008 House elections and the vile, underhanded methods that Diane McGuire used were defintiley a huge story. The national & statewide Democrat party money (I am told it exceeded $700,000.00!) that poured into her campaign was immoral and truly represented the ongoing attempt by the state Dem party and Madigan to over-run DuPage County.

However, even this was surpassed in sketchiness by the money that the Teachers' Union poured in (I am told it was $300,000.00 or so).

Even if the amounts above are wrong in exactness, the magnitude and intent are accurate and a bad sign for our County.

We all need to ask ourselves "Why would the Teachers' Union have such a high interest int his little house seat?" For those who looked into it (it was absent from any local reporting), the answer appeared to be the Dem interest to INCREASE the State income tax to up to 6% and to centralize ALL education funds under Springfield's control. Now, we can probably all agree that THAT would NOT be in the best interest of Naperville children OR Naperville home values.

Apparently, all those people who moved from Cook to DuPage county have become nostalgic and want to rebuild the problems of Cook here!

2)Property taxes --- Despite the significant drop in home values during 2008, Naperville somehow managed to increase our taxes by an average of about 8% or so in 2008. The reasoning? The bills applied to 2007 (before the drop).

Now, we find out that there will be a major equalizer adjustment in 2009 and, again, we will have a huge increase in our 2009 taxes DESPITE the drop in values in both 2008 and, expectedly, 2009.

When will we, as a citizenry, FINALLY revolt against the taxes in this town? When will we quit giving blank checks to the School Districts, the Clerk, the Council? When will we finally demand that those who we elected to run this town & county run it like a business with finite resources?

Since this is the season of impeaching civil servants who are embarassments lets bring that wise action to District 204 and get rid of Metzger and Daschner as well as Birkett, Clark and as many of the rest of the board we can fit on the bus.

Thank god we have good teachers and dedicated parents in this district to counter the incompetent leadership.

Their actions make my list for the top (embarrasing story) for 2008 and the Top 2009 story will be the sweeping of these folks out of their chairs and getting some competent leaders in the district.

How much is that Brach-Brodie deal realy costing us? Also a new High School in the area of the district that is done growing. Most of the students are going to have to cross the EJ&E(soon to be the CN with 3 times as many trains) and the Burlington Tracks and have to mess with Rt59 & Eola Road once they put the on/off ramps onto I88. Just to get to school, what a mess. Bus pick up will be @ 4:30AM. Plus next year all of the students being crammed in to Waubonsie with out the freshman center. This is not only the story of the year but the bait and switch of the century!

One of my votes would be for the 204 BOD and Administration’s misuse of the referendum funds.

The boundary issues aren't the half of it... Buying land without an appraisal and at a site previously ruled out by the same characters as unsafe. Boy and we talk about Chicago as being corrupt? These 204 BOD members and school administrators could give Blago and Daley a run for their money.

If we wanted to dream up how to waste tax payer’s money we couldn't come up with a better scheme than these clowns. Build a school on the Northern edge of the district and then spend millions per year bussing kids out of their neighborhoods to distant schools.

Yep, this is my vote for the best story. If it wasn't so sad it might be a joke. Hopefully next years story will be about the NEW board members and the NEW superintendant who can get our schools and out district back on track.

Its time to get Metzger, Clark and Daeschner out of this district and get some progressive thinkers in there to restore trust and fiscal responsibility to the district. Our kids deserve better than these dinosaurs.

Taxes are very high in Naperville. I own a 2900 s.f. house and my taxes are $12,568. I am out of this tax base as soon as I can find a buyer.

Don't want to be around when we have to increase taxes to plug the operating costs and budget costs. And certainly not when we have to come up with all that pension money in arrears.......

Besides the economy slowing down real estate sales in Naperville, high taxes are also chasing customers away.

May God help those who stick it out in Naperville for the long haul.

They will suffer the same fate as those who tried to stick it out in the stock market the last 10 years.

Heck I was thinking the best story in 2008 would be the babies living in 204 arguing over boundaries.

Passing referendum's to pay lawyers was really what occurred. I have a friend who lives in a 2 bedroom CONDO and pays $6K a year. Now that's comical.

No wonder we dropped to 29th. I guess the bigger the square footage, the bigger the ego.

Go Bears!

Sun Editors,

I agree.

But let's put something in perspective. When I was young, the teachers union movement was first starting. After a strike (one of the first in my area), I had lost all respect for the teachers. No matter what they said, they used us children as pawns.

Later is life I also discovered that many of the "concepts" they taught us were totally wrong. They painted corporations as evil entities that hurt people. At one point, I was brainwashed in believing and advocating that 95% of a corporation profit should be paid to the government in taxes. More extreme than Obama's share the wealth.

Fortunately, I learned the real "truth" when I went to college. People in business took risks and if they worked, they would be paid well. If they failed (like the Sun Times right now), the employees get nothing (by the way, it did not happen 20 years ago, but it would be great for Murdoch to buy the Sun Times group and put the final nail in Sam Zell's coffin. Rename the papers Fox News Print including the Sun.)

And now when my children's teachers spew "liberal nonsense", I need to reprogram them that teachers are just angry people who do not know any better. Our society is based on winners and losers. You find your niche and win or live in poverty if you are mislead.

So again, I thought hard about the comment. But do teachers have zero tolerence in schools for drugs and misdeads? No way.

Joe and Web Guy

Imagine what integrity was taught to our children by this lady. Maybe she is the cause of the 27% drug use.

I've got to agree with Joe on this one. The whole McGuire/Senger fiasco was definitely the shocker of the year for my family. To say the near-daily mailings reached a new low is an understatement, and in my opinion lost McGuire the election. Quite a few of my friends who otherwise just vote blindly down the democratic ticket voted republican for state representative.

In my opinion, character and integrity are the most important things in local politics. Someone who slams their opponent daily with extremist mailings about sexual predators can't go much lower, and isn't a person I want representing me on any level.

How about a story about the new low in campaign sleaze reached by former NUEA President, Dianne McGuire and her friends from the Illinois Ed Assoc and the Illinois Democratic party?

Drew Peterson should not make he list at all. What do you want for "Best"? "Biggest" stories are not necessarily the Best and most important. Where are the stories of hope, courage and triumph on these lists? Biggest...$$$$! Sad...

Best local stories:

1. 204 School boundary issue
2. Furstenau
3. Missing wives
4. Turmoil in the park district
5. Economy

Best statewide stories:

1. Blagojevich
2. Ryan's clemency request
3. White Sox and Cubs
4. Economy

Best Nationwide stories:

1. Presidential election
2. War in Iraq
3. Economy
4. Economy
5. Economy

Is the CNN/Money Best places to live in 2009 out and I can't find it? The latest I can find is 2008 where Naperville comes in at 3rd.

Anyway does it matter? This town is so lucky in so many ways. An educated affluent workforce that will weather the economic storm better than most towns, great schools, city services that actually work. Yeah the traffic congestion stinks, and a few people put on airs, but I like and respect my neighbors and the kids and their families my children attend school with. I'm happy to live and raise a family here.

Concerned Naperville Resident,

Sorry, I overlooked the 2 murders we had and the ever increasing crime rate.

I have been told that 27% of our students are using drugs.....and I am not counting alcohol as a drug.

I guess when the Napergate Man made it hard for them to get booze....they switched to nickel and dime bags of marijuana which are readily available on the streets of Naperville. The Naperville Police can not blame the Napergate Man for that as to the best of my knowledge he is not a Licensed Drug Dealer.

The kids feel very comfortable using drugs in the subdivisions. When I asked them why, they said because the police never patrol the subdivisions. They're always patroling the downtown area and the kids all know that.

As I said, I hope we crack the TOP 100 next year!

Thanks!

I lived in Naperville from 1995 to 2003. I was proud to be a resident when Naperville was in the top 3. Sad to see it drop so far. Hey maybe those red light and speed cameras they will end up installing all over town will help to prop up that sagging budget. I live in Scottsdale, Arizona now (where it's currently sunny and 65 degrees). We have those cameras all over town here, even on all the freeways. I'm not sure where the money they generate goes, but it must be helping some politician, right? Yep, you read correctly. They CAN put them on the tollways and expressways too. Wait, you'll see.

"Now that the Napergatians exposed the truth about Naperville and its problems, our town and its mounting fiascos may have finally been let out of the bag!"

don't forget the murders and increasing crime rate.

The biggest story of the year was that the City of Naperville fell from the 3rd best city the USA last year to the 29th best city in the latest Money/CNN poll.

If a college football team falls that much in the rankings in one year, some shuffling would be taking place.

I hope we can shuffle our city council a little in the upcoming elections in order to restore our top rankings that we held for so many years.

Maybe the Napergatians are right when they say are city government is crumbling. CNN and Money Magazine apparently have began to notice the cracking at the seams. Wait until they find out we have a $61.4 million pension fund deficit on top of our 11 million operating budget deficit that does not even include the 1 million in "sunk costs" for the library deck that is about to be shelved.

We will be lucky if we can crack the Top 100 in next year's CNN/Money Magazine Poll.

Now that the Napergatians exposed the truth about Naperville and its problems, our town and its mounting fiascos may have finally been let out of the bag!

Thank you!