The Park District of Forest Park is inviting voters to attend a public forum next month during which details of its effort to purchase the vacant Roos property at the corner of Harrison and Circle would be discussed. Larry Piekarz, executive director of the parks, said he expects to ask voters on Feb. 2, 2010, to support a tax increase that would enable the parks to purchase the site. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the park, 7501 Harrison.
Preliminary designs of how the existing, but crumbling, structure at the site of the so-called Roos property might be used would be on display, said Piekarz. He also expects to detail how support for a referendum would impact property tax bills.
The Roos property is in foreclosure thanks to a failed condominium and townhouse project that was expected to revitalize the site. Because he is negotiating with the bank that holds the mortgage, Piekarz declined to speculate on how much the property might cost.