If buying, renovating and selling the building at a profit is a viable strategy why isn't a private developer doiing it and putting their money at risk? Instead the City elite vote to put the taxpayer's money at risk. This should no be the "People's Republic of Saint Charels" where tax money is used to speculate on business ventures that should be done by the private sector.

I think that they ought to worry about renovating the Arcada. What a terrible shame! Many stars won't come back to do a show due to the condition of the venue! Terrible reputation for Saint Charles.

Wow, certainly a vicious attack on Ron Onesti and the beloved Arcada! I had no idea that Ron incited these kind of feelings! I also had no idea the Arcada needs renovating?? Which part of the theater do you find so offensive Sandra? And exactly which stars aren't coming back?

All though I tend to be critical of the City on many issues. This is not one of them. This was a good move as this site has been an eyesore for many years, and regardless of what happens to the Arcada that building could impact its success. For this property to be available for a good rate buy it now and insure something gets done with it vs sitting vacant for months or years with noting going on. We have had that for way too long. It is nice to see the City being proactive for once.

This is the same as when the City bought the Century Station building and turned it into a fire station/office building. Whenever a property is available at such a good price it makes sense. Good move on their part!

Joss again I will note that property has been in bad shape for a long time. Some may remember The old Hoops building now the Bee Hive. Very similar situation. This time though the property became available for a very reasonble price and so the City could purchase it. That was not the case with the Hoops building. The City however did invest in Hoops to get it fixed. Expansion for the Arcade is just one possibility something the compliments the Arcada would be good too. It is definitely a location that will get noticed. I again stand with the City on this decision. It is an investment in our downtown. If that building sits much longer without help it won't be there and that would not be a loss of a potentially beautiful building. Now the only thing I ask of the City is don't let it become a bar.

I think the City should be willing to help a business to ehlp revitalize our poor commercial situation, but we have already given the Arcada financial help with other things and it is starting to look a bit strange that 1 business is getting all the attention and help while we watched as Pi Pizza close, as did the Bistro in Fox Island Sq. My question is why only the Arcada, why aren't we bending over for all these other struggling businesses and property onwers with vacant commercial. $225,000 + the needed rennovations will easily bring the total upwards of $300K, that' is a lot of funds that could have been spread to many businesses instead of to just one.Now we are looking at setting up this east gate business district which in my humble opinion will burden the businesses to charge an extra % of sale tax to fund their own revitalization while the Acrada gets these special perks and handouts without any detriment. What the City is trying to do with Arcada is what they should now be willing to do with ALL businesses in town to revitalize the business climate. For anyone to really think forcing a special sales tax on certain businesses because of their location (especially when they are located in a "run down dead zone" of our City) is going to bring shoppers and really work is beyond me. If you are goning to do for one, the City must do the same for all.

Some excellent points being made here, in terms of the city supporting businesses. However, if the city wishes to dole large chunks of tax payer's funds for private enterprises, at least let them do so in the form of some formally established revitalization grants. A business could *request*/apply for such grants along with a business plan that would be vetted for viability. This would create fairness and transparency while allowing the city to support worthy local businesses, rather than randomly handing out financial favors to their cronies.

Hey Schnell, why have my comments (and yours) been deleted? Censorship at its worst! Why is the Patch so defensive about Arcada/Onesti?

Hmm...seems the City of St. Charles has already given Onesti $80k, of which he was supposed to repay all but $41,250 (no mention of whether Onesti ever repaid this partial "loan") and given another $65k for various interior improvements , not to mention various tax breaks, etc. Google "Onesti" and most results also include Dewitte...I have no problem with the city fairly and transparently supporting local businesses, but I do have a problem with cronism.
http://stcharlesil.gov/sites/default/files/meetings/2011/attachments/a03-07-11-cc-IIB2.pdf
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100307/news/303079944/print/
http://insidestcharles.com/category/collaboration/page/2/

My Onesti has done tremendous things for the City of St. Charles and its residents. He (anonymously) volunteers his time, energy and facilities to local schools and rents the facility for very little to local dance and performing schools.

The City has invested in Mr. Onesti and he has returned the favor.

This purchase seems like a very good investment. The building was deteriorating rapidly and the purchase was for the good of all St. Charles- IMO.

It's disappointing to see the amount of vitriol and hatred spewed on these forums.

Karl, where did you see "vitriol and hatred" here? Just wondering...

I agree, I think Ron has done great things in keeping the Arcada going as well as trying to give back to the community, but at some point if he needs more space or upgrades, in America it is called bringing in partners or private investors. The City (meaning tax payers too) has truly done it's fair share of trying to help with his new sign and interior upgrades and it's time in my eyes they start helping others who may also be in need. With all the pretty famous names he brings in, you would think he would be doing fairly well financially wouldn't you? If he is not, I think as a businessman, he needs to negotiate these deals better so that he is making enough, as it seems the performers must be doing well or else they wouldn't keep coming here. For me it sounds like an awful large perk of my tax dollars to be buying and rennovating this building if it is only going to help his business and nobody else. As a tax payer I would like to see the projected return on investment of my tax dollars in this project and the time frame. I also agree with Joss in regards to the "grants" which there has been a program for years for exterior facades and signage but over the past several years due to the economy and available funds, it's taken a hit. That's why I find it amazing that we can keep finding this money for one business when we can't increase the grant fund back to where it originally was or even increase it to offer more help to others?

Who ultimately is the beneficiary of this purchase? The guy who leases the Arcada theater, the guy who owns the Arcada building, or both of them? I do not know what the length of the lease is and how much time is left on it but it would seem somewhat suspect to help the one who leases the theater unless the City knows that he will be there for years to come.

Craig---thanks for your post. This issue becomes more and more interesting. According to the city, the Facade Improvement Grant is a a 50/50 matching grant program administered by the City of St. Charles to encourage the rehabilitation and restoration of downtown building facades which gives a up to $10k to qualifying properties and because of budget limits"Limitations apply to the overall grant amount. In general, the overall amount of grants for any property cannot exceed $20,000 within any five year period". http://www.stcharlesil.gov/documents/fa%C3%A7ade-improvement-grant-program

Joss your description of the grant program is correct, that then creates the question as to how and why does the Arcada keep getting these perks? Especially when you consider that any other property owner going for the Facade Grant can only do so every 5 years. It just doesn't seem fair does it? Again I do not wish to see Ron or the Arcada go away, but there must be an explanation and limit as to when one business has received more than their fair share of "special treatment" for lack of a better phrase. I would like to see money spread around to other businesses as freely as it is for the Arcada so we finally start seeing a turn around in our commercial businesses climate which again in my opinion plays second fiddle to all the surrounding Cities to the North and South. I love St. Charles but think we fail miserably in recruiting new and exciting businesses and retaining those that we have. It still amazes me that we supposedly have no communication with the owners of the Charlestown Mall. For a fraction of the money we wasted on a consultant to tell us what we already new about the Mall's potential which does nothing for us, We could have sent City Officials to CA to make formal contact and meet with them which could have broken the ice and actually have something to show for it. At a minimum we might have an answer as to why they won't talk to the City which seems more than we know today. And what would would it have cost us? Maybe 1/5th of what a useless study did?

Ya know what would be a real nice and fair gesture from the Arcada back to all STC taxpayers would be to give us all a 10% discount on all tickets residents purchase until the debts and perks are paid back. Kind of like the resident discount we receive from the St Charles Park District since our taxes fund their budgets. LOL

Craig, you work for the City, right? Do you know if there is a list of businesses that have applied for the Facade Grant, and, if so, is it publicly available?

Joss no Craig does not work for the City. I use to and I am not sure if they have a formal list still, but I use to manage the program and nearly all of the downtown buildings that have had exterior renovations on them over the last 17 years have participated in the program, including what is now known as Beehive, the Harris Bank block across from City Hall, the entire building that houses Arcada, Starbucks etc..., and the Old Erik and Me building just to name a few bigger buildings that have participated in it and received more than the normal $10,000 allowment.