“We should have been here, I thought forever,” said Kevin Kinch, former owner of the Kinshasa Flower and Garden Center.
After more than 80 years in business, suburban greenhouses and flower gardens remain.
“We had four greenhouses. They were 36 per cent. We ate carrots and moms.”
The business was opened in 1938 by brothers Ed and Leo Kinch in Palatine. The present generation, including Kevin Kinshen, can only see the unbelief all around.
“so sad. This should always be in my family, your family and we love to do it. You know, I love people, my dad loved to do it with my family. And it was a family tradition. ” We were florists.
Until recently, those flowers were in bloom. Cook County’s 2019 property tax bill rose from $ 25,000 to $ 183,000. 640% increase. In 2020, they earned another $ 151,000.
After those big bills, the family decided to call and close it, hoping that it would eventually reduce tax bills if this land could be considered empty. Today, five acres[5 ha]of weeds are left standing.
If declared empty, future tax bills may be reduced. But what is happening to those current accounts? The increase was due to the fact that the cooks in Cook County changed the entire land from “farm” to “business.” In the past, only their small retail store was called a “business.”
For 50 or more years, the flower shop has always been a business and the greenhouse has always been a farm. You know, what has changed? Kinsch was surprised. “And no, no, this is all commercial. What has changed? Why has it changed? And no one is telling us.”
That was the year of the first evaluations of Fitchz Kagi, the cookie county of the county, for the 2019 Kinsh review. And Kinsch’s family was not alone. According to the Cook County Evaluation Board, all business values in northern villages have increased by 98% since the 2019 assessment. Many businesses appealed to the board and won. On average, these assessments have since been reduced from 98% walking to 35% walking.
“They put their blood, sweat and tears here. And literally, in 365 days, the county reviewed everything and drove us out of business, it was no longer possible to be here, ”said family member Michael Kinch.
The Office of Evaluation did not comment on why the land name had been changed, saying, “Land valued as farmland pays two and a half times more in property taxes than commercial property.”
The Kinsch family is appealing to the Cook County Review Board and the state, but even if they win in the end, they say they have already lost because they have to pay off their debts during the slow appeal process.
“It’s too late for business, there’s no way to support it,” said Michael Kinch. We are now just fighting and paying the property tax, ”he said.
The review office added, “ Appeals for this commercial property in 2019 did not provide sufficient documentation to support the assessment as farmland. Therefore, it is highly rated.
Family members say they have given us the correct document and will continue to appeal.
“We find it very unfair,” said Kevin Kinsch.
The former Kinsch small flower shop was moved to a street market.
“We were florists,” said Kevin Kinsch. “I love it. And sadly it’s not here now. It’s not here anymore. But time will go on and things will change.”
I-Team has acquired two other Northwest Garden Centers that are not classified as “commercial” and have a very low tax rate.
Asked why they were separated, the review office said those assets were assessed based on the documents provided.
Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. all rights reserved.
.