(2001 - 2005) Beth Beucher, representing the group Mixed Use for Mallinckrodt, speaks during a meeting with city and Loyola University officials on Tuesday. Wilmette Life, December 6, 2001
When Loyola University announced in October 2001 that it would sell the historic Mallinckrodt campus -- a school building sitting on 17 acres of wooded grounds in Wilmette -- former Village Trustee Mimi Ryan called Gail Schechter urging Open Communities to make sure the building included affordable housing: "Rayna would have wanted this," referring to Rayna Miller, a founder of Open Communities and its director from 1974 until 1986. Indeed, Gail called Rev. Heather VanDeventer of RELATE who hosted a well-attended strategy meeting at her church, St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, and that's how Mixed Use for Mallinckrodt was born. MUM assisted the major grassroots campaign Citizens Action League for Mallinckrodt (CALM) to save the property from conversion to a collection of 40 McMansions. After numerous meetings at the Village Hall, letters to the editor, and petition drives, today, the building comprises 88 senior condos, 11 of which are affordable.
On behalf of MUM, Jean Cleland, Gail Schechter, and Mimi Ryan accept a Golden Trowel Award in Springfield from Housing Action Illinois.