January 7, 2004
For Immediate Release

Kirk Sets Environmental and Education Priorities for Navy Housing Project
Kirk letter calls for Navy to seek local approval

Highland Park, IL - Urging the Navy to work with local leaders, Congressman Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England, Wednesday outlining his environmental and education priorities for possible Navy housing projects at Ft. Sheridan and the Glenview naval housing area. Kirk called on the Navy to seek local approval.

"I support upgrading current housing and putting the value of these structures on the local tax rolls," said Kirk. "This will help increase funding for our local schools. Any change must have the full support of our mayors and local communities. I cannot support an expansion program if the local community opposes it."

Several draft plans have been put forth to upgrade the housing of Navy men and women and their families living in Ft. Sheridan and Glenview. Included in the draft plans is a possible expansion of homes at both sites. Local leaders have expressed concerns over military housing expansion placing a tax burden on their schools. Military housing is exempt from property taxes. The federal government is responsible for reimbursing school districts for lost property tax revenue, known as Impact Aid.

Upgrading the housing for Navy families at Ft. Sheridan also offers up the opportunity to increase the environmental protection of pristine Lake Michigan bluffs. According to Lake Forest Open Lands, eight endangered species live in the “Bluffs” ecosystem.

“Discussions with the Navy are going well for this area to be turned into a migratory bird sanctuary,” said Kirk. “We agree that there should be no new development in the new “Bluffs” sanctuary.”

As a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, the Navy must have Congressman Kirk’s approval in order to go forward with any development plans for Ft. Sheridan and Glenview naval housing. Kirk is urging the Navy to work closely with the Mayors of Highland Park and Glenview and other concerned citizens so they have the information needed to assess this opportunity to improve the lives of military families.

“Our past experience with changes at Ft. Sheridan and Glenview Naval Air Station show that when the federal government listens to the local community and works closely with its leaders, all parties involved emerge victorious,” said Kirk.

The northern part of Ft. Sheridan and the Glenview Naval Air Station both closed in the 1990s following the recommendation of the Base Closure Realignment Commission. The subsequenct civilian redevelopments of these areas have become models for public-private cooperation. Hundreds of military families still have their housing in the southern part of Ft. Sheridan and the Glenview naval housing area. Most of the homes in Ft. Sheridan have not been upgraded since the 1950s.

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