Saving Ragon Motel

Saving Ragon Motel One man"s journey thru memory to fight the village of Creve Coeur, il for the rights of property owner against demolition case. and so on.

The case brought up by village as unsafe structure. Then it is changed to cost factor by their estimate.

06/08/2020

May 18, 2020. After judgement of demolition by court, Judge Korte gave opportunity to file the motion to reconsider. So, date was for trial. Every trial it felt like I was walking into a slaughter house for my own death. By this time whole thing felt like nothing to do with justice. I tried what court asked for but village denies permit to start to work three times. Village of Creve Coeur, il is acting like tyrant. Their will was even overpowering the court. I felt like that from the start. I wanted to end it. Crazy thought in my head. I agreed to demolition. I gave in to end it. My lawyer seems relieved of pain of going into trial. I have been trying to detach all the feelings I have with the place. So I can let go. Let go........ So, I hope I can let go.. Whole process make you wonder how fragile we are under government's way to force their will on us. WE are feeding them with our tax money to harass, bully, deny our right to exist, be happy, live in peace and love one another. As a veteran with trust in system, this might be start of long fight against system that is not of the people, by the people and for the people.

02/19/2020

It has been difficult 2 years dealing with city on lawsuit for demolition of Ragon. 2-20-2020 there will be decision made by the court. I hope court consider all the efforts I am making to preserve the ragon and I am willing to do what is best for Ragon. I hope property owner's right do not get deprived. That is a real fear about this case that my rights get ignored, overlooked, pushed over. By going through the process I feel like I have my hands tied behind my back, my lung feels like 100 lbs weight pressing down on it, and my brain does not belong to me. It make me feel like I am lost in woods.
All I believed is to work hard for your dream. That was what everyone did for their american dream. All the village was loking for was one mistake from the owner and a complaint to take away everything that took almost 4 decades to make it.
Either beliefs still stands or different set of view about my future in America will grow. I hope my view of future is as optimistic as ever.

more posting after 2-20-2020.

12/28/2019

History of Ragon Motel...
(Motel was named after Mr. Ragon, who built it)

Back in 1982, my parents bought Ragon Motel with the help of their two sons (one son being me), a daughter and a daughter-in-law.
This was a great accomplishment for our family...
We have been here in the US since Nov 1974 from S. Korea as immigrants. All we had were each other and firm belief of an "American Dream" with strong work ethics.
When families settled in Arlington Height first with aunt then Palatine, Illinois, the picture was not that rosy.
First six months were harsh. We had to find places to live. Kids including me had to get enrolled in schools. Adult had to get driver license, work.
My big brother joined U.S. Army and got assignment to S. Korea. I graduated from Palatine high school 1976 and enrolled at Marquette university but had to quit after one year. While I was working thru jobs with
my dad, I got interested in motel business.

We moved to Rockford, Ill. Motel was Flying Saucer Motel which was eleven room with small living quarter. Parents ran motel, I worked thru many jobs and became a machinist. My older brother came home, married beautiful bride and had a son. Family was getting larger and we talked to about buying bigger motel.

That was Ragon motel in 1982. I went back to community college. The Caterpillar went on strike. Everyone in the area was suffering including us. I left to Florida for a job to help to save family business. My own family joined me. I got married in 1984 and had a son. Things got better back in Illinois. I joined U.S. Army after I got laid off in 1988. I came back home in Illinois 1992 with three kids. My family left to New York and left New York after two years to come home. But I realized living together was very difficult at last. My parents were still running motel with my older brother. My family left Creve Coeur again. I was thinking this might be the last time.

I bought Plaza laundry in Granite City, Ill in 1995 and back to school for HVAC degree at SWIC. I found job at the Granite High school with the help of Mr. Pyo and Mr. Eavanson. This has been home to my family still. My parents has been living with us since about 15 years ago. My older brother was on his own running Ragon. I was getting letters from Tazewell county health department about condition regarding Ragon. My parents are still the owner bur left Ragon to my older brother in the trust . My brother moved out of Ragon July 2018.

Back to Ragon again.

To be continued.

Address

Creve Coeur, IL
61610

Telephone

+13096999521

Website

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