Saturday, March 8, 2008

* NORTH SHORE SCHOOL BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED

Don't mess with the Lakefront Protection Ordinance!

Joe Moore is coming under fire again for his haphazard 'Pay to Play' tear-down policy. The neighbors are mobilizing and this could be Joe Moore's last stand as the people's alderman. The neighbors have no trust in this man's word.

* What 24/7 Howardwatcher has to say.
"According to Mr. Land, the demolition company only has to notify buildings within 250 feet of the demolition. The alderman's office does not have to provide any notification."

* Jocelyn has come out of blog retirement. What RP Neighbor has to say here.
"Here again, we face the destruction of a historic Rogers Park building. This one to make parking. Lakefront property used for private parking. How sad. One need only take a trip over to Winthrop in Edgewater where once stood architectural marvels of single family homes but now is a 4+1 corridor to see what regret is."

Blognotes: It's no wonder Joe Moore spends more time gallivanting around the country than he spends in his own ward. The neighbors are hopping mad at his lazy ass and bad decision making.

If Joe thinks that old saying: "Out of sight, out of mind" will work - don't count on it.

You think the last election was a dog fight? Just wait - you've seen nothing yet. By 2011 I'm guessing Joe Moore will need to spend more than a $1 million dollars if he wants to keep his job. And that may not even be enough. Why? Because the neighbors aren't too happy with this Bozo constantly messing with the Lakefront Protection Ordinance. That's why.

17 comments:

Craig Gernhardt said...

Triem, Swanette
1201 W. Chase
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00 on 3/2/2006
Individual Contribution to Citizens for Joe Moore

Triem, Swanette
1201 W. Chase
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00 on 11/30/2006
Individual Contribution to Citizens for Joe Moore

Triem, Swanette
1201 W. Chase
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00 on 11/30/2006
Individual Contribution to Citizens for Joe Moore

Triem, Swanette
1201 W. Chase
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00 on 4/4/2007
Individual Contribution to Citizens for Joe Moore

Triem, Swanette
1201 W. Chase
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00 on 7/16/2007
Individual Contribution to Citizens for Joe Moore


The last contribution in July 2007 happened just days before the famous tear-down Infomercial.

Hugh said...

a private parking lot in the 1200 block of Chase is extremely poor land use and very bad public policy

Craig Gernhardt said...

Blogger glitch. A few of you have left comments and they've been lost in Blogger space. If you care to, try again, I think it's fixed now.

Mo Cahill, unless you taken off the tin-foil hat, don't bother leaving yours.

Fargo13th said...

Triem, Swanette
past(?) owner of apartment buildings north of Howard; 1649 Jonquil Terrace that remains unopccupied for years? Great slumlord, one of the finest in the area. onward and upward. maybe she can wreck the lakefront in RP too.

Craig Gernhardt said...

So much for Joe Moore's bullshit "Green Campaign".

"Demolishing historic buildings in Chicago and elsewhere is no different than throwing away thousands of gallons of energy every year, according to a leading preservationist.
Mike Jackson, chief architect of the Preservation Services Division of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The greenest building is the one that already exists," Jackson said, repeating oft-stated slogan in the preservation world.

We also are wasting resources when developers replace sturdy older buildings with those that have a shorter lifespan, he said.

"We're actually throwing away buildings that will last for centuries and building buildings that will last for decades,"
he said. Source.

DorothyParker007 said...

Its been 8 months since this "story" broke, how many people have you and hugh and jocyeln brought to table to buy this property? How much are its taxes? Did you talk with the owners, why are they selling? what did you do to offer to help them save their building?

Craig Gernhardt said...

A emailer sent this out...> "Just to emphasize the irony in all of this, our Alderman serves on the..."

Committee on Historical Landmark Preservation: (The Committee on Historical Landmark Preservation shall have jurisdiction over designation, maintenance and preservation of historical and architectural landmarks. The Committee shall work in cooperation with those public and private organizations similarly engaged.)

Craig Gernhardt said...

More email:

Lakefront Protection Ordinance: Specifies in Section 16-4-150 (Approval Required - Exemptions)...

It shall be unlawful for any physical change, whether temporary or permanent, public or private, to be undertaken... within the Lake Michigan and Chicago Lakefront Protection District... without first having secured the approval therefore from the Chicago Plan Commission as provided in Sections 16-4-100 through 16-4-140...

The approval mentioned in 16-4-100 through 16-4-140 requires the completion of a 13 page application submitted to the Chicago Plan Commission, who in turn posts notice of a public hearing on the matter. Failing this, the recourse that the City has is detailed in Section 16-4-170 (Penalties Not Exclusive)...

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 160-40-160 hereof, in the event any structure or building, landfill, excavation, impoundment, mining, drilling has been undertaken in violation of this chapter, the City of Chicago may institute appropriate legal equitable proceedings to prevent the completion or maintenance of said unlawful undertaking.


By the way, the "exemptions" listed in 16-4-150 which are excluded from seeking CPC approval are:

1. improvements adopted prior to the effective date of the ordinance

2. accessory buildings

3. repairs and rehabilitation which do not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the replacement of the existing structure

4. additions which do not increase the site coverage or the height of the structure

5. residential structures containing not more than 3 dwelling units

Demolition and parking lots are not exemptions.

Don Gordon

The North Coast said...

I agree with Hugh...very poor land use and bad public policy.

An attractive and historic building is to be replaced by an apron of asphalt.

I also agree with the quote Craig posted from preservationist Mike Jackson.

I haven't bothered to attend Joe's little Monday night "greening the 49th" meetings since I don't see what this slummifier and destroyer of historic properties who drives his car five miles to pick up $25 worth of office supplies has to tea ch any of us about conservation of resources and environmental protection....any more than a mayor who allows the priceless sightlines along the Chicago River to be permanently destroyed by the construction of the 113-story Trump monstrosity, all the while preening over his designation as the "Great Green Augustus".

Fargo Woman said...

2011 is too long to wait. Why don't we have an allowance in City law to impeach an alderman? The pay for play, the constant lies and loophole exploitations, his absenteeism . . . and on and on. Obviously 2010 will be a year full of his face in every newspaper, his outspoken advocacies for any cause other than ones benefiting his constituency (but hey, geese are people too, right?) and more glad handing at every el stop throughout Rogers Park. Then the same stupid imbeciles who voted for him this time will show up to vote for him again because, well, "Because he's a liberal, an advocate for change, - " and anything they can parrot off his campaign fliers. My only question is what will be the new pink postcards that year?

Sorry, I shouldn't rain on your parade but I just don't think short of getting him out of the neighborhood, i.e. Washington (thank you Mr. Obama, Sir!) there's much chance that the same sheeple who voted for him last time won't vote him again and again, for as long as he asks them to.

- PEACE -

Craig Gernhardt said...

It takes a construction fence to be set-up before neighbors actually get the timetable to destruction.

Application Status: 1217 W CHASE AVE

Description: WRECK AND REMOVE A 2-1/2 STORY COMMERCIAL BRICK BUILDING.

01/22/2008 - APPROVED: The owners of this address received a permit on 01/23/2008

bloglurker49 said...

Don quotes the ordinance: "It shall be unlawful for any physical change, whether temporary or permanent, public or private, to be undertaken..."

Wow. A strict interpretation would suggest that ANY renovations that physically changed any building-or space-in the zone would be subject to this ordinance!

Does that mean the city could go after EVERY condo conversion and every property owner who replaced porches, changed facades, etc and FINE THEM FOR VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE? What a cash cow for the city! Way to go Don!

Hugh: start pulling those permits! You've got almost 40 years of scofflaws to uncover! Why, with all that money, maybe we can tear down Swanette's building and give the old school a view again!

The North Coast said...

Bloglurker, you will note that the letter of the ordinance says that improvements cannot be undertaken "without first securing the approval therefore from the Chicago Plan Commission."

There is nothing in the ordinance that forbids replace-repair, so you are being extremely silly and quoting out of context.

The ordinance is meant to block inappropriate and destructive land uses that injure the area, not to prevent necessary repairs and replacements from being made, and if you read the entire text you will see that.

Ryne said...

It is stories like this along with the bullshit e-mails I get from joey moore telling his two faced lies, that make me hope the "goofs" that keep re-electing this tub of shit as our aldermen wake up and face the fact that joey doesn't care about the people of the 49th wards wants & needs but only of the "pay for play" peoples needs.

One last thing joey moores view & goals of the "greening of the 49th ward" are the greening of joeys pockets! Time to vote joey and his band of "moore-nons" out!

Oh boy said...

Looks like somebody here needs to go and read the Lakefront Protection Ordinance. It seems someone does not understand that the LFO does not stop development nor does it prevent tear downs. What the ordinance says is...

http://www.hydepark.org/parks/lkftprotord.htm

Basically the ordinance prevents development at the water's edge so that the public may enjoy it.

Sorry to say folks, that's it. Now if someone wants to build on that property, they will have to get approval. However, no way does this ordinance prevent a private owner from re-developing the property. Property is redeveloped in the LFO area all the time.

As DP007 says, if you want it, buy it. Step up to the bag folks. Joe Moore may be a shnook, but you are a bunch of saps believing that he's got some mystical powers to control every square inch of RP.

What did you want him to do? Condem private property and acquire it for the public's use? Eminent domain anyone? Did any of you lobby for it? Is there even money in the city or park district's budget to do that? Did any of you get off your butts and ask?

The North Coast said...

The current property owner surely knew that this property was covered under the Lakefront Protection Ordinance when she acquired it, and knew that any development she contemplated would be subject to official approval, and landuse rules.

You are correct in saying that the ordinance does not prohibit "redevelopment". However, the development must be in keeping with the ordinance, which says specifically that development that differs substantially from the previous use must be approved.

A parking lot is a strikingly different type of development than the current structure on the property.

Yes, property rights are paramount. However, if you wish to have a community and enjoy the benefits, such as visual beauty and public use of amenities like beaches, of a community, that means that you develop your property in keeping with rules already in place. It takes nothing away from the primacy of property rights to make rules that keep a property from being developed for a use that is detrimental to the appearance and tone of the neighborhood. That is why every well-run community has zoning and land-use rules for specific types of property, and it behooves a prospective buyer or developer to inform himself of those rules before acquiring the property.

People who wish to be able to "enjoy" their property without reference to land use rules, zoning laws, or the impact of their use on their neighbors, should retreat to some rural redoubt where there are no zoning laws, no land use rules, and no obstructionist neighbors. Sure, there's no COMMUNITY in places like that, and you'll have to put up with whatever noxious operation your neighbor has going on his place- tanning operations, cars parked allover the front yard,a trailer-home with additions built out of parts dug out of a landfill. But it's Freedom City.

been there said...

while you are all running off at the mouth, how about someone find a map of the actual district to which the lpo applies. i have googled a little and not found it. which tells my none of you have bothered to look it up, either. or looked it up, decided it did not apply, but decided to beat the issue for a while, anyway.

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