MONROE - Plans to build a new Kwik Trip gas and convenience store in the former trailer court along 8th Avenue and 8th Street have slowed until early 2017, despite the 60-day notice a dozen residents were given to vacate the property by the end of November.
Since that time, the trailer homes have been removed and demolished to reveal a flat grassy piece of land with no development.
Former resident Mary Reynolds, a 68-year-old with two dogs, expressed disappointment with the status of the area because people had been "rushed" out of their homes.
"Everybody was scrambling," Reynolds said. "They could have waited. There was no rush."
Reynolds was a renter on the property for five years. Her neighbors owned their residences. Each tenant was given $1,000 after making new living arrangements. Reynolds said the money was half, or less in some cases, of a number of the trailer homes' assessed value. However, a number of owners could not afford the $5,000 it would take to move their homes elsewhere. Reynolds said she found her current apartment by luck, but is not happy with the higher rent and the lack of options she had while searching for a place to live. Neighbors have been pushed to other cities such as Rockford or moved in with relatives, she said.
Roundy-Bader LLC, established in 2014, continues to own the property. Troy Bader, agent for the company, said the sale of the location should be finalized with Kwik Trip within weeks.
Assistant City Administrator Martin Shanks said he had email correspondence with Kwik Trip Real Estate Development Manager Troy Mleziva on March 1, in which Mleziva indicated the site development process was currently underway and land closing sales should occur in late spring.
Mleziva told Shanks construction should begin spring of next year. The current owners will level and re-seed the ground to ready the area for the 2017 construction.
Currently the city is awaiting finalized plans in order to issue building permits. In February, the city granted a demolition permit to Roundy-Bader LLC for the area. Shanks said Kwik Trip developers have corresponded with the city to ensure they are in conformance when plans are submitted.
Since that time, the trailer homes have been removed and demolished to reveal a flat grassy piece of land with no development.
Former resident Mary Reynolds, a 68-year-old with two dogs, expressed disappointment with the status of the area because people had been "rushed" out of their homes.
"Everybody was scrambling," Reynolds said. "They could have waited. There was no rush."
Reynolds was a renter on the property for five years. Her neighbors owned their residences. Each tenant was given $1,000 after making new living arrangements. Reynolds said the money was half, or less in some cases, of a number of the trailer homes' assessed value. However, a number of owners could not afford the $5,000 it would take to move their homes elsewhere. Reynolds said she found her current apartment by luck, but is not happy with the higher rent and the lack of options she had while searching for a place to live. Neighbors have been pushed to other cities such as Rockford or moved in with relatives, she said.
Roundy-Bader LLC, established in 2014, continues to own the property. Troy Bader, agent for the company, said the sale of the location should be finalized with Kwik Trip within weeks.
Assistant City Administrator Martin Shanks said he had email correspondence with Kwik Trip Real Estate Development Manager Troy Mleziva on March 1, in which Mleziva indicated the site development process was currently underway and land closing sales should occur in late spring.
Mleziva told Shanks construction should begin spring of next year. The current owners will level and re-seed the ground to ready the area for the 2017 construction.
Currently the city is awaiting finalized plans in order to issue building permits. In February, the city granted a demolition permit to Roundy-Bader LLC for the area. Shanks said Kwik Trip developers have corresponded with the city to ensure they are in conformance when plans are submitted.