Monday, April 3, 2006

* What Loyola Wants.....


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Alderman Joe Moore, AKA "The Orange Flyer King" and his 49th Ward Zoning and Land Use Advisory troupe invite you to a "Smoke and Mirror" meeting so we can discuss Loyola University's proposal to construct a new building on its campus. No mention if Kimberly Bares from DevCorp North will be serving cookies and milk.

The meeting will be Tuesday April 4th, 7 pm, Bremner Lounge, Centennial Forum, Loyola University, 1125 West Loyola Ave.

Representatives of Loyola University will be presenting a proposal to construct a building, called an Information Commons, to serve as an addition to the main library. The proposed site is currently an open green space between the existing Madonna Della Strada Chapel and Cudahy Library and just east of the Jesuit Residence.

The proposed building contains approximately 73,000 square feet and is four stories or 67 feet in height.

This new building needs approval under the Lakefront Protection Ordinance. The proposal is under review by the 49th Ward Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee. "I look forward to hearing from the community, and will only support the project if it enjoys substantial community support," said Moore.

Blognotes: Where have we heard all this bs before?

18 comments:

Hugh said...

> Representatives of Loyola University will be presenting a proposal

> an addition to the main library.

Question for Loyola

Wayne Magdziarz, Loyola's Vice President of Capital Planning, at a community meeting at Loyola 1/17/06, after he presented Loyola's plans for a property-tax subsidized "community" arts center, was asked by a neighbor:

"You say the Mundelein Center will be open to the public. Why did you close your library to neighbors? It was open to neighbors for years. Will you open it up?"

Magdziarz: "Yes, we plan to open the library to neighbors again."

Is the library open to the community?

Don Mac Gregor said...

Hugh asks:
Is the library open to the community?

Good question. I haven't checked in the past year, but the last time i tried to get acces at Cudahy, I was told I couldn't get in.

Don Mac Gregor said...

Re: The Loyola "Information Commons" proposal:
I posted photos of the land in question at:
http://unclecrabbysjournal.blogspot.com

Hugh said...

> I like neighbors who are committed to our community

Loyola has a record of deceiving the community. For more on Loyola's commitment to the community, please see

Loyola's TIF

At this point, if someone from Loyola told me "God loves you," I would check it out.

Jim Witts said...

I fully agree with RogersParking. Having a world-class university in our neighborhood is amazing!

Our other option is that we could force the school to close, turn all the buildings into CHA/section 8 housing with more dollar and liqour stores on the ground floors.

Seriously people, no matter what you may read on this site, having Loyola in our 'hood is a good thing.

Don Mac Gregor said...

I'd like to hear what's supposed to be in this "Information Commons"
So far as I can see, the only things wrong with this project are
1. Less green space on the campus.
See
http://unclecrabbysjournal.blogspot.com
2. The Jesuits on the East side of their residence hall are going to have their beautiful sunrises blocked.
-----
One other thing I'm wondering: How can the community make a case for opening up the Cudahy Library to the public, when there's a CPL branch on Clark?

Knightridge Overlook said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jim Witts said...

Private School often "look" unaffordable.

However, unlike their public sibblings, they have the ability to drastically lower their costs with grants, scholarships and other means of financial aid.

With a lot of hard work, and good grades, private schools such as Loyola, DePaul, and such will bend over backwards to drop their price to a level the student and their family can afford.

What is left over after financial aids, scholoships and savings can always be paid with both subsidised and unsubsidised loans.

If one really wants to attend college, they can find a way.

As far as giving Loyola what ever they want? No, if they are asking for public tax dollars, that should be heavily scrutinezed. Yet, this commons building looks as if it is a building on their own property with their own money. I see no reason why anyone in this community would want to stop the university from improving itself.

Unless that person is just bitter and stuck in their old ways, hating change.

Hugh said...

> TIF funds are going to be used for the development of the property around the El

Sorry, no. Public property tax subsidies are proposed for:

1. pay for the rehabilitaiton of several tax-exempt buildings on Loyola's campus tht Loyola has already rehabbed;

2. to purchase the Root Photography building on W Sheridan Road and take it off the property tax roles; and

3. to rehab the Mundelein Center, another tax exempt property on Loyola's campus

For more information including the definitive official documentation on this question, plase see Loyola's TIF.

Don Mac Gregor said...

Loyola's library has an incredible collection of old maps and old manuscripts that I suspect you would never find in the local CPl. COMMENT: I thinl Loyola would conter that you could get a readers admission card and acces these documents at the Newberry Library
If it's government documents you want - especially international documents, try the Library at Chicago-Kent College.
On the other hand, I don't understand why Loyola Alumni can't use Cudahy

Hugh said...

> I don't understand why Loyola Alumni can't use Cudahy

alumni can, neighbors can't

Hugh said...

> Demanding that a private school open its library for everyone?

It was open until recent years.

Jim Witts said...

While the library was open tot eh public a few years ago, they probably had a decision to make...

Who is the library really here to support? The students or the community. If allowing the public access to the library was causing conflicts to the students recieving the best education possible, then they had every right to close it to the public.

Aa stated above, the students at Loyola are paying a large amount of money to get an excellent education. That is who Loyola has the first responsibility to help. Remember, they are not a public university or even a community center.

Jim Witts said...

Jeff-o,

Thanks for the smile. I remember reading some of your comments a while back about the graystone that was to be torn down, and thinking the same thing about your comments.

jeff-o at his best

Knightridge Overlook said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jocelyn said...

Paradise said: "We have certain rights over Loyola,because they are claiming a HUGE chunk of my money and yours."

You hit the nail on the head there Paradise. That's why we have something to say about what they do- our money is in the mix.

And as for this development, I haven't heard anyone mention the loss of scarce "green space" on Loyola's campus- that particular spot is an oasis and well-loved by many people.

And who says the library can't be open to the public? As many of you said, it used to be. They have security and can screen people upon entering. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask given the money and support they are getting from the community at large.

I'm getting tired of the SAME OLD arguments (and misuse of the word Nimby) that because some of us want planned and thoughtful development, we are "against all development". That is simply nonsense. Why don't you guys try and come up with a more intelligent argument? Spend some time pondering instead of spending your time with diarrea of the keyboard. sheesh!

Jocelyn said...

jeffo- you say I don't appreciate the destruction of old buildings like the Adelphi is "the greatest sin." Well, I happen to be all for preserving older that buildings that can and are being utilized. In my opinion the Adelphi had its chance and it didn't cut the mustard. Clark Street needs help my friend and if it means tearing that rat infested eyesore of a building down (sorry) then so be it. Yes, I wish someone would renovate all the old buildings if they warrant re-use, but I am a realist as well as an idealist. I let that one go. It doesn't rank as high on my list as yours obviously.

Re: green space. You might think we have alot of park space and we have a lovely lakefront this is true- but RP actually has one of the lowest ratios of park space in the city. I think some people around here could speak to that. If you're not on the lake- you are SOL.

Part of what needs to be preserved around here is our lake access- totally unique in the city and worth saving- it is only going to become more special as time passes. It will harken to simpler times and keep our neighborhood a neighborhood and not a concrete menace (Lakeview).

Why do you think we have to go along with whatever developers want? We don't. We pay taxes. We live here. Damn man we have some say in what goes on.

Jocelyn said...

I'll keep it short for you litter bug.

to Been There Done That: Shame on you for sinking to that level. Paradise obviously cares greatly about what goes on here. Your malice is showing.

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