Tuesday, September 27, 2005

* Save the Lakefront

This is always dangerous to have a paid consultant float a harbor idea at Loyola. Where have we heard this possible harbor plan before? Sneeky officials doing sneeky things. Never-mind you, over 90 % of the voters said no to this wacky idea.

9 comments:

Michael K said...

This article doesn't seem to indicate anything too wacky. Is there some info I am not aware of? So long as they don't close beaches to build a harbor, I don't think it would be such a bad idea.

Michael K said...

Michael J.,

Thanks for the info. The Sun-Times article didn't mention much detail as to what type of development they were talking about. I used to live near a marina in Lakeview that I thought was quite lovely (I have never owned a boat but have always thought they were cool) but it did take up a faily large chunk of beach front.

Also, I do not know where you got the pic for your header, but if it is anywhere in Rogers Park I'd like to know where.

Michael K said...

Maybe I'm less frugal than some people but I am willing to entertain the idea of possibly paying higher taxes if there are indeed added benefits to the nighborhood. I am not saying that building a marina is the best thing for the nighborhood (I am still studying what would be invovlved) but I am not going to condemn a public works project just because my txes would be higher. My concern here would be protecting public beaches and park lands.

Speaking of development, I have noticed a great deal of activity at the Gateway Center over the past few days in the southwest area that faces the bus terminal. Does anyone have any ideas as to what is going in? You can post info on this to my blog: http://michaelonfargo.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Knightridge Overlook said...
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dan2 said...

According to the Sun-Times article:

"The Park District has said there is a waiting list of about 1,000 for the most desirable downtown slots. But, Dikmen predicted, it would be more difficult to convince boaters to dock away from downtown."

Why build a harbor on the most northern point of the city? Does it make sense to build a huge Marina -- er, harbor in Rogers Park if the boaters want space downtown?

The article doesn't state when this report was completed, and when the final version was submitted to the park district. I'd love to know that. The article says the consultants were COMMISSIONED to do the report in January, and now public hearings are already being conducted.

That's a quick turn-around time to compile a report, digest its contents and determine the locations and schedule meetings.

I really, really hope that Tom is wrong, but it does sound like this is a done deal. If this is a done deal, it would be a gigantic, blatant disregard for the voice -- and vote -- of the community. No wonder they want to limit community meetings and involvement in things like zoning and development.

When they come up here for this "public hearing," we really need to rally the troops and make sure the community voice is not just heard, but that our votes are taken seriously. We've got to get the media to attend, and get Ald. Moore and Committeeman Fagus on our side. I don’t know that this will be enough.

How do you stop a "done deal" in Chicago politics?

Michael K said...

I am having a hard time visualizing how they would expand LSD. I imagine they would have to build out over the lake. I know that LSD was always intended to be built further north (Isn't there a church on Loyola's property that has "Our lady of the Highway" in latin over the door?)than it currently is and I am sure that will be used as an argument to get it done. My question is, has anyone seen a construction plan for such an expansion?

Knightridge Overlook said...
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Michael K said...

Thanks Thomas. I had hoped that perhaps the plan that was proposed last time was available for view somewhere under the assumption that they would be similar if not the same.

Unknown said...

The analysis Thomas gives is terrifyingly persuasive. It is simple to understand how easy we are to sacrifice politically. Last time, we had the Evanston neighbors on our side because the proposed site was on the Chicago/Evanston border - will they be adding their voice this time? I doubt it and I doubt Loyola will be as unambivalent as the fine beachfront mansion owning Evanstonians were about whether this is a good idea. So what do we do about it? Don Gordan, where are you?!

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