Shambhala Meditation Center opposes 7313-15 N. Sheridan project.
Dear Alderman Moore:
At this time the Shambhala Meditation Center cannot support Mr. Aronson's request for a zoning change on the property adjacent to ours. We have had additional discussions with Mr. Aronson, following the meeting Alderman Moore convened in late October. At that meeting we presented our concept for a project (attached). Our neighbors agreed that the vision we proposed would better meet the needs of our neighborhood. Although Mr. Aronson agreed to take our ideas into account, our later discussions with him have not led to a mutually satisfactory result. We have considered this decision from many different angles. Our present location in Rogers Park and our relationships with our neighbors are extremely valuable to us. We also believe that our presence is valuable to the community in ways that do not seem apparent to Mr. Aronson. We do not believe that a large multi-unit building, mostly seven stories high, although the portion housing the Shambhala Center would be only three stories, is in the best interests of our community. Therefore, we strongly oppose the proposed zoning change for the property at 7313-15 N. Sheridan Road.
Thanks for your assistance in this matter.
Best wishes for the holidays,
Alice Dan and David Stone, Co-Directors
Shambhala Meditation Center of Chicago
14 comments:
Part 2 - Runner-up.
"Green" Alderman Sells Permit for Lakefront Carcinogen Plume.
Without having seen the proposed site or mr aronsons plans- my gut tells me to embrace developement and encourage growth and $ into our neighborhood while respecting our diverse culture and wealth.more tax dollars coming in would certainly help us fight off many of the problems we continue to write about on this blog.
Wake up, Todd! There's more to 'quality of life' than development, growth and $$. Read the Tribune series Craig links to below.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-zoning-wrapdec31,0,5876530.story
Todd, All you have to do to figure out the outcome of this is look at three locations in Rogers Park.
1. the former Adelphi Theater
2. the former North Shore School
3. the former Lerner building
All three of these locations were demolished (supported heavily by Alderman Joe Moore), and all three are now either a big hole in the ground, or a dirt lot.
These three locations are in shambles, they look abandoned with broken fences.
When I asked Rich Aronson how we (Rogers Park citizens), can be guaranteed that his proposal would be fully completed in a timely manner, he could not provide an answer at all.
A personal Thank-You goes to Alice Dan and David Stone, Co-Directors
Shambhala Meditation Center of Chicago.
I know that your neighbors, and nearby small businesses appreciate your decision as well.
Does this developer have a history of pay for play?
Donations are part of the american why, so yes people donate and often, I do, don't you? Nothing excessive on the donations and your list reaches back 9 years. There is nothing from mid 2007 to 2009. What I need to understand is the abuse portion?
mcl - really no reason to talk that way to Todd - I agree with him - if it's a nice development proposal that brings more tax dollars in - great! If it's just another hole in the ground or section 8 housing - then no thanks!
Razldazlrr said...
mcl - really no reason to talk that way to Todd
Talk what way???
Thanks for letting us know about this, Craig. I wish the Shambhala Center had expanded into the North Shore School before this historic building was destroyed by a Moore contributor.
As for Aronson's plan, it is totally inappropriate to build a seven story building on Sheridan Road. This area falls under the Lakefront Protection Ordinance which was designed to stop the canyon effect which you see Sheridan Road south of Devon.
With just a bit more than 9 hours left in 2008, PLEASE take a moment to think of different ways to begin, and carry on through, 2009.
One hope I express: Let us return to using COMMON SENSE. Let's no longer allow inappropriate conduct, whether by elected officials or ordinary citizens.
Let's not be afraid of the HARD WORK ahead to build a stronger, more viable sense of safety in our community.
Let's not emulate our current 49th Ward alderman by becoming CARE-less, but work to help each other to succeed in our endeavors.
There is great strength in UNITY, but that does not mean we should all be yellow, N0. 2 lead pencils, either.
Diversity cannot work without a common set of moral and ethical values. SEEK them out, ESTABLISH personal goals. Let's decide, for once and for all, to be CIVILIZED and move toward the future--only WE can create it for ourselves.
The area around my shop is so fully populated with all the appartment buildings around and no place to park, adding this kind of development is just TOO MUCH! We don't need this type of development here! People that try to patronize Quest are always finding it difficult to park on the street. Many time people will have to sit in the driveway with there flashers on praying that Lincoln Towing will not tow them away. What would work in this spot would be a nice 3-4 story building with a parking garage to house not only the residents of this building, but parking spots to accomidate the businesses and those that currently park there now. I would also like to give a warm THANK YOU to Alice Dan and David Stone for not supporting Rich Aronson's proposal. As you know this project would disrupt my business for who knows how long. My business has had its fair share of disruption including scafolding that sat in front for 2+ years! Again THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU
Hello neighbor Todd. You wrote, "...more tax dollars coming in would certainly help us..."
Unfortunately that's not how it works, neither in theory nor in practice. Certainly not in a city the size of Chicago. An increase in the general local real estate tax pool does not result in either more or better programs and services for the neighborhood where those taxes were generated.
Two tiny exceptions might be (1) Special Service Areas (we have a few in Rogers Park) where property owners pay a very small tax for local street cleaning and such, and (2) in the use of TIF district revenues (we have a few of these too), where major real estate taxes which are generated locally for local investments, but which can still end up in a city fund pool to be spent elsewhere. Neither of these applies to the Sheridan Road property in question.
We can't even count on seeing local merchants get a major financial boost when new condo owners move here. The documented fact is that most new and longtime residents spend whatever disposable income they have OUTSIDE of this neighborhood. The city of Evanston prospers from us everyday.
To best evaluate any new housing construction it would help to to know (a) the actual housing need or market being served and (b) the specific attributes of the proposed structure, the pros and cons of the site, and the impact on the neighboring area. We also need to consider local housing market conditions such as our actual condo glut and the dropping prices for existing condos, the need for investment to upgrade and save existing apartment housing, and the still serious need for affordable housing.
In essence, getting a green light from our community should hinge on more factors than merely "gut" feelings and a belief in the real estate industry's routine promotion of "growth" or "new investment" or "new taxes" as benefits to expect. It all sounds like a good thing, but is it really? That line of thinking has been sold to us for too long, and has failed to meet community needs.
Refresh my memory...is this the site of the old Oasis Center for Human Development that was a big deal back in the 80's?
In answer to your question, gayle,
yes it is: South East corner of Sheridan and Sherwin.
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