* News Star Covers Coe's Woes

A Rogers Park developer with a reputation for sloppy demolition habits was given approval on a zoning variance for a mixed-use development on Howard Street by Ald. Joe Moore's Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee on Dec. 12.

But not before residents at a meeting the night before at the Gale Academy, could grill Robert Coe, a frequent campaign contributor to Moore, on his plans for the mixed-use development at 1523-25 W. Howard St.

Before giving their blessing on the zoning variance, residents first asked Coe to explain what happened during demolition at one of his construction sites at 1444 W. Morse last year.

In July 2005, a city-licensed demolition crew hired by Coe and his partner, Ofer Meged, ruptured a gas main while knocking down a former pharmacy to make way for a commercial and condominium building.

"We used a demolition contractor licensed by the city, who contacted the gas company and were advised that the gas had been shut off, but it wasn't," Coe answered.

Asked by an audience member if he had verbal or written documentation concerning whether the gas utility had been shut off prior to demolition, Coe responded that it was probably verbal. The developer then explained that he took care of mortgaging and sales, while his partner, Meged, who is out of the country, handled the construction end of the business.

"We don't get involved in each other's area," Coe said.

Coe was unable to tell audience members what contractor Meged was planning to use to demolish the three existing buildings at 1523-25 W. Howard.

When pressed on delays of the Morse Avenue project, which has remained unfinished since demolition of the former Morseview Pharmacy last year, Coe said that the project has to be redesigned and building permit applications revised after DevCorp North expressed interest in moving into the building's ground-floor commercial unit.

DevCorp North is the non-profit development organization charged with stimulating economic and business development in Rogers Park. DevCorp owns five percent of the Gateway Mall in the Howard-Paulina TIF district.

Coe said he had finally received building permits for the Morse Avenue project from the city, and that excavation of the site was expected to start before the end of the month.

Asked for assurances that plans for the Howard Street development will not change midway during construction, Pikarski said copies of building plans submitted to the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals are subject to conditions that no substantial changes will be made.

Area residents also questioned Coe about his firm's practice of hiring non-union workers, with the exception of masonry workers, for his other developments in the neighborhood, including a mixed-use, 13-unit building on the site of the old Pinewood Tap, and a nine-unit residential condominium building at 1617 W. Estes.

Coe added that using union contractors would add 60 percent to his construction costs and was not economically feasible. The two-bedroom units in the proposed Howard Street development will be priced in the low $300,000s, with three affordable, set-aside units to be sold below market rate.

Moore's Zoning and Land-Use Advisory Committee approved Coe's request for a zoning variance at its meeting the on Dec. 12. A hearing on the zoning variation went before the city's Zoning Board of Appeals on Dec. 15, with contingencies that another city-licensed company be hired to the do the demolition.

Moore said the would also address Coe's firm's practice of hiring non-union contractors.

A decision by the Zoning Board of Appeals on the zoning variance is expected to be handed down sometime before the end of the month.

Blognotes: Does anyone notice how quick it takes for Alderman Moores 'Rubber Stamp' gang to do something when a campaign contributor ponies up some money to the campaign coffers?