NILES —  Niles city council members voted unanimously Monday night to reject a request to permit the Forever Young Cruisers Car Show and Cruise In this summer in

the downtown.   

The car show, which was proposed to take place every Wednesday for 15 weeks from May 30 to Sept. 5, has been a tradition for the past eight years. The past three years, the event has been organized by Rex Carpenter, of Niles.

Carpenter was present at the meeting, alongside about 30 car enthusiasts who
appeared eager to share their support for the event. In addition to event approval, Carpenter had asked for the city to waive about $11,000 in in-kind services.

The event’s rejection caused a stir in the crowd and supporters were given a chance to leave the meeting if they wished. About 30 people took the opportunity. 

Most city council members said they supported the car show itself and had attended or even participated in the show in years’ past, however they said several issues have been brewing for a number of years and were once again not addressed, including a failure to obtain nonprofit status, discrepancies with the insurance and some concerns cited by downtown business owners.

Council member Daniel VandenHeede said he had patronized the car show for years, but he asked why Carpenter had not achieved a nonprofit status, as was requested by city officials in previous years.

“He does not have it (nonprofit status) yet,” VandenHeede said. “There is some supposed confusion on what paperwork he needed, but he was provided the paperwork and we still don’t have it. I know from other experience that it is not that hard to get.”

While the car show draws hundreds to the downtown, the event has caused some contention in the past among downtown business owners and travelers whose primary concern appears to be traffic. The car show shuts down Main Street from Fifth to Second streets, and Third Street from Sycamore to Cedar streets between 5 and 9 p.m. Wednesdays.

VandenHeede also said downtown businesses had been surveyed by the Downtown Development Authority. He said it appeared that the businesses were a bit divided on whether the car show benefits them.

“I have always enjoyed the car show and participated in it several times,” VandenHeede said. “At this point, we have made reasonable requests for a couple of years now. We can’t approve something unless they (the event organizer) will follow through with their part. That’s why I expect to be voting ‘no’ on this.”

Council member Bob Durm said he also had supported the car show in years’ past and he asked Carpenter to come to a compromise with the city about the event’s contested location. Durm suggested that the event take place in a park instead. 

“It’s somewhere that would be less expensive to the city,” Durm said. “We wouldn’t have to close streets. … If this motion does not pass, I would encourage you to keep working with the city.”

Former Niles mayor Mike McCauslin also spoke out against the car show. He said that with the city still paying for flood damages and other infrastructure projects, an event should not take financial priority.

Mayor Nick Shelton also suggested Carpenter listen to feedback on the event.   

“I see you out there shaking your head in disagreement and I am going to make a recommendation to you,” Shelton said. “If you want this car show to happen, you need to have a positive attitude and be willing to work with our city.”

Carpenter did not speak during the meeting, but expressed his disappointment in the vote afterwards.

“I think it is ridiculous,” Carpenter said. “We bring an average of 800 people [downtown] every Wednesday.”

In response to turning in his nonprofit application to the state, Carpenter said there was a mix-up with the paperwork, which he turned in about six weeks ago. When he did get the right paperwork, he said he was not aware that the application would cost $600 to submit. He said it was money he did not have.

Carpenter also said he did his own canvassing of the downtown businesses to see what they thought of the car show. He said 12 business owners signed a document this year stating that they would like to have the car show in downtown Niles.

Additionally, Carpenter said the tradition brings hundreds to the downtown throughout the summer months and helps to showcase Niles.

Carpenter said he plans to return next council meeting and continue to advocate for the car show to take place. He expressed opposition to hosting the event in another location, due to space and concerns about park mud or debris damaging vehicles.

Also Monday:

• City council members heard a presentation from Jeff Durrell, of South Bend. Durrell is asking to purchase a section of city property on Lake and 13th streets, where he hopes to establish a medical marijuana grow operation with two other investors. He said he would like city council members to consider selling the property to the company and a giving them a potential tax abatement.