Mike Southards and other Lakewood subdivision residents were caught off guard when they were notified a week or two in advance that an energy center was going to be built right across the street from them.

The proposed location for the center was off the intersection of 18th Street and Edgar Drive.

“We were having it built in our backyard when we didn’t know what was happening,” Southards, the minister of the First Christian Church, said.

He said he would easily be able to see the plant from his window.

Charleston residents, like Southards and others from the Lakewood subdivision, attended the informational meetings held by the university to express their concern over the location of an energy center being so close to their homes.

Southards said he originally thought the meetings were the community’s last chances to vent, and the project was going through regardless.

President Bill Perry announced Tuesday the Renewable Energy Center project has been put on hold for further analysis.

Items related to the institution’s proposed Renewable Energy Center were pulled from the Board of Trustees’ agenda for its Friday meeting.

“We are pleased with the president’s decision,” Southards said.

Perry said in his announcement that the current economic downturn was an unforeseen factor affecting the feasibility of the project.

Perry also said the university learned through the open informational meetings that community members were unaware of the planned relocation of the center to the current proposed location.

Southards attended the Monday night meeting in Charleston Carnegie Public Library.

Meetings were also held on Nov. 12 and Nov. 14.

Perry said he would now be forming a group to include community members for consultation on the location and the form of the replacement steam plant.

“EIU and the community coexist; and I appreciate the president’s plan to include residents in the process,” said psychology professor Assege HaileMariam.

HaileMariam attended the informational meeting on Nov. 14.

Carla Thomas, also a Lakewood subdivision resident, said she was elated.

“Obviously, President Perry and Mr. Cooley heard our concerns,” she said. “It’s apparent to me that they do care how we feel.”

Thomas said she still feels the plant is not appropriate for the proposed site.

“My hope is that they come up with a site that is within the campus of Eastern,” she said. “Somewhere where it would not affect subdivisions like mine.”

Thomas thinks Eastern needs a new plant, and the proposed plant is healthier than the current coal-operating plant.

“It’s the location that I’m concerned about,” she said.

Southards said Perry’s decision was in the best interest for all concerned – university and community.

He said there might be a more efficient location for the university, as long as the community does not have a high tower in their neighborhood.

“From Eastern’s point of view, there may be a more economically feasible option,” Southards said.

Southards said the closer the power plant that is to the center of campus the more efficient it is.

Pam Klepzig, business manager for her husband’s acupuncture business and Lakewood subdivision resident, was encouraged by Perry’s decision.

“It buys us more time,” she said.

She said she was at first concerned about the proposed center affecting air quality so close to her house.

After attending the informational meeting and hearing what the center will be like, those concerns were dispersed.

Now, Klepzig’s concerns with the energy center are the aesthetics and the property value near the plant lowering.

She said there is time now to look into other options, like making the plant farther off the street and making it more attractive.

Southards said the phrase in real estate is “location, location, location.”

The current location of the Lakewood subdivision homes is higher priced than other neighborhoods.

If an energy center were placed near there, the property value could decrease.

When it came time to sell, residents would lose a significant amount of money, Southards said.

Klepzig said she would like to see the center move somewhere else.

She said possible locations could be by the water plant or closer to O’Brien Stadium.

She said if it were not moved, she would like to see the structure look more like a school building than a power plant.

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.