I see very little good coming from this and potentially a lot of things bad.

This is the dumbest idea I've yet to hear! Bring on the thugs...and Drugs!!!!! Oak Forest will regret this. Perfect for the ruff area of town to get their drug dealing on.

Great idea. There needs to be a good, clean, spirited and wholesome environment for teens to enjoy. Treat them with respect, and maybe they'll grow up to be responsible adults.

Years ago a few Oak Lawn bars had teen nights and there was always trouble. With gang problems as they are compared to years ago, this is creating a powder keg. Why expose teens to a "nightclub atmosphere" now? They'll get there soon enough, just like the rest of us did.

I guess Mayberry's burned to the ground and gone. Ain't it pathetic that even when the villiage wants to do something to give the kids something to do we have to worry about the punks? We need to get our noses out of the middle east, where they hate us and don't want us there and declare war here at home. Spend some time and money to clean up our own backyard.

Bad idea! Now the kids who smoke dope at Central Park will have a place to go. Oak Forest needs to open there eyes and not there pockets on this one. I know one thing my kids will not be going to this place of trouble! Wake up city officials!!!!!

Headline change: City Council Wants More Crime In Oak Forest, Feels There's Not Enough.

"Property values aren't far enough in the toilet, council agrees."

Why would you try and discourage a business that will pay the high taxes in Oak Forest to not open. That is the dumbest idea ever. You want OF to grow and offer jobs, but yet don't want people to open a business. Talk about the do nothing and collect welfare mentality. Grow up people. Oh and Congrats on the 7th court getting it RIGHT! Conceal and Carry in 179 days

I have a teenager & I'm not sure I would want him there. How are they going to seperate the 20 somethings from the teenagers?? Plus, I think there will be a lot of riffraff coming from the neighboring towns coming over. That's the last thing we need is a shooting or some gang issues going on. :( Looking at the news, there is more reports of young kids getting in gun fights & drug wars every day. Sorry, but my opinion (which everyone is entitled to their own, last I checked.) is that this is a bad idea. Btw, I would rather have our kids safe then worry about a business opening & paying taxes.

i for one really dont like the idea of this "club". Teens do not need to be exposed to night club environments where it will be easy to obtain drugs, have sex, and any number of things that go on in teen clubs. i remember all too well what it was like hanging out in Zero Gravity. If the council wasnt stupid they would have shot this down for sure. they're just desparate to get any business in there, even if it means bad things for our kids and community.

This club will be patronized by teens and young adults who live east of Cicero. Drugs, gangs, rapes and fights. Welcome to Oak Forest.

I think one of the biggest red flags should have been that off-duty police officers were needed for security.
When everybody including the owner knows that there will be enough problems to warrant having a police presence at this place ALL the time it makes you start to question the intelligence of our city council and mayor.

Oh come on, give the business owner a chance. I agree whole-heartedly about riff-raff from other towns, but let's trust in our local law enforcement. Secondly, if your worried about your teen patronizing 'the club', forbid them to go. Remember, you are still their parent(s) so do your job. Thirdly, why is it a red flag to have off-duty police at the establishment??? More security/police, the better...

I would think a 3:00 a.m. closing time would raise a huge red flag. Are they going to throw everyone out that is under 18 at curfew time? Also, is the mayor naive enough to think that over 18 year olds will wait until 11 p.m. to come here? He doesn't think are any perverts out there who would love to hit on a 16 year old? Even worse than that is the owner could not even say what the occupancy will be and neither the police nor fire department have reviewed this plan. This just shouts DESPARATE. Will take any business. So all you folks who think this is going to be a tax gold mine, the entry fee is not subject to sales tax. If the city has to close the place down, will there be attorney fees further down the line?

Bad move! Wait til the first gang related shooting, stabbing or sexual assault! Hat's off to Clemons and Ensing! Best thing for that whole corner is to raze it and start from scratch all the way including old DD!

Are there any people out there that are positive about anything??? Most of the people who respond on the Patch are negative about everything. They could win the Lottery, but complain about paying taxes. This is a Teen Club, not a strip club. You can't watch your kids every second of the day. Teach them values, lead by example and you might like the results. There are gangs everywhere, ever go to the Mall??. Do you ban your kids from going there? Lighten up, this sounds like a good idea. I believe some schools have off duty policeman as guards, does that mean you don't send your kids to school? Ever go to a sporting event? Off duty police there, so does that mean it is unsafe, come on! Give this a chance, it sounds like a great place for young people to go. Let's be positive for a change, quit be so negative.

I think that the alderman who voted to approve this should be the people that patrol this place...open to close!

This idea is a waste of money and not a good investment, teen night clubs never work in neighborhoods! Kids will not pay to go into a venue were they cant smoke and drink. Its the honest sad truth.

As long as they keep the riffraff out, I have no problem with any type of new business opening up.

Really not interested in allowing my 16 year old daughter to talk to a 22 year old man. Different mind sets, not that I don't trust my kid, I just don't trust yours. Ever think about what will happen on the Friday night when the bengals beat the braves or the titans and they all go to the same teen club. It's not being negative, it's being realistic and preventative.

Thank you Aldermen Laura Clemons and Dan Ensing for disagreeing with this concept. It seems like it will be more trouble in Oak Forest and invites others for other towns to come trash our neighborhood. We have enough crime already in Oak Forest. Why would be the age limit be set 16 to 22 - I do not think that 22 year olds should be socializing with 16 year olds. That right there seems like it will lead to trouble. How will they be able to tell who is under a curfew and who is not, alot of the younger girls that I know look older than 16 or 17. Will the attendees be stamped with their age? Cannot we find something else to fill that vacant spot?

Tom Ceska
If this is called a " Teen Night Club " then why would you open the doors to someone that is 20, 21 22 last time I checked it was not 20teen 21 teen 22 teen...this town has enough problems with thugs, gangbangers, and wanabees. Why would we want to invite more problems. This is not for Oak Forest, this is a family community that helps, and supports its residents, lets not become a city that invites trouble.

Will it be cheaper to pay a cover charge and buy soda pop than to buy drugs?? What an alternative! I wonder if these kids will want to spend their hard earned money on music and soda pop?? This is a good way to for kids to enter the adult world.

Coming from a sensible 23 yr old taxpayer this is not a good idea my friend has a business right across the street that i visit and this night club is a block away from my own house more trouble to invite into this neighborhood that we dont need not a good idea at all city of oak forest i dont feel safe walking in my own neighborhood as it is without watching my back not a good idea having a liquor business right across the street from a teen night club def more trouble we dont need in oak forest we have enough going on in this neighborhood NOT A GOOD IDEA AT ALL

They better have police patrolling this club 24-7 open to close and where they are visibly seen at all times

And after so much trouble they better be shut down welcome to oak forest

If its a teen club? Then why is anybody over nineteen going to be allowed in? Only the guardians should be over that age cut off! Oh,that means more trash or property damage to our area,thanks city hall!

We have so many vacancies,tear them down and role some sod and plant an oak tree!!!!!

James Marcanio,

I don't know you but I personally think this place is a great idea, given the right security measures are in place. Kids need a hang out which they won't get kicked out of like McDonalds and other fast food joints...a place to go with their friends as a group where they will not be raided by police and frisked without warrant just for standing there (parks, parking lots, etc). Kids need a place where they can walk in as a group without the evil eye (stores etc). Our society has made it very hard for a youth to be a youth and have fun without alcohol and drugs. A kid climbs a tree and the police are called (liability issue). Obviously there are security risks in everything (like older, bored kids having no where to go except to a party where kids are drinking). Reality Check- in the 1980's a kid could still use a school or park baseball diamond to play at with a group of friends or play basketball with a working hoop without a membership to a club. The notion of the 'bad apple ruins it for the good' sings its chorus and there you go... another good thing a kid is not allowed. Seriously, adults need to take back the reign and fight for these teens. It is our job to take back the streets and give kids more good opportunities- not less. I like this idea of the Oxygen Night Club. Good for you James! I am a parent on board with this.

I have no problem with hangouts,I loved hanging out with friends at Dukes,Haunted trails,Scottsdale plaza,I hope i'm wrong cause if i'm not! I'm gonna have to police bad kids from bad parents!