I'd like to know if anyone other me is concerned about the idea that Walgreens on the corner of Clark and Rogers has applied for a license to sell liquor.
The reasons I'm concerned are as follows:
1. The close proximity to both Pottawattamie and Touhy Parks
2. It is one block from the new charter school on Clark Street
3. There is already a proliferation of liquor selling establishments in the area
4. Last but certainly not least (in my book, anyway) it is right across the street from an A Safe Haven transitional living apartment building
O.K., O.K. I know. If you call A Safe Haven (or the Alderman's Office) and ask if the apartment building at 7419 - 27 N. Clark is a "transitional living" home for Safe Haven Residents, i.e. ex-drug and/or alcohol abusers, they would say no. BUT A Safe Haven owns the building and the people who live there (at least for the most part) are/were A Safe Haven residents. In the interest of full disclosure, technically an LLC owns the building but that LLC is a for-profit arm of A Safe Haven. I know, because mine was one of the families displaced by this organization when they took over the building five years ago. That said, I’m sure it’s obvious I don’t have a warm place in my heart for that particular 501c3 nevertheless, I still don’t think it’s a good idea to suddenly start selling liquor across the street.
Well, I got that off my chest. So thanks for reading and I’d be interested in knowing what any of you think about this new development at the Clark/Rogers Walgreens. Is it a good idea for them to sell liquor at that location?
- PEACE -
P.S. By the way, yes, I do know that that store sold liquor back in the early 90’s but that was before the new school and before A Safe Haven took over the building right across the street.
19 comments:
Yeah, seems like that last thing that that area needs is more liquor options.
Especially because that is kindof a nasty Walgreens.
And the area while it does have potential is pretty scary.
Maybe in 10 or 20 years it will be a good idea
but a quick liqour option close to pot park sound like an awful idea.
They already have that ratty liqour store at rogers and damen.
Isnt that enough?
I remember when that Walgreens used to sell liquor back in the 70s. It was bad news back then. They used to sell the little 2 oz bottles of hard liquor as well and you would see the empties scattered around their parking lot and Pottawotamie Park. Not to mention the smashed empty bottles of malt liquor. Walgreens is going back to selling liquor chainwide to try and bring in more foot traffic. But this is definitely the wrong store and wrong location for that. We need to vigorously fight this. Closing down that liquor store at Rogers and Damen would also be nice. When I was younger we actually tried to get a vote to vote the precinct dry but it did not succeed.
1. independent businesses are the ones that should be patronized, NOT WALGREENS.
2. NO MORE LIQUOR STORES.
If Walgreens wanted to generate more traffic, they could simply bring their prices more in line with the rest of the retail world. They charge a good 10-20% more for everything than anyone else.
1. The close proximity to both Pottawattamie and Touhy Parks.
This is a new Millennia and no longer see those as destination parks for drunks but a team sports fields and a new dog park. Plenty of new faces to call and report crime.
2. It is one block from the new charter school on Clark Street.
I trust a Walgreen's to properly screen for underage drinking.
3. There is already a proliferation of liquor selling establishments in the area.
I agree there is a mix of reputable and disreputable liquor establishments. I believe that Walgreen's will be reputable.
4. Last but certainly not least (in my book, anyway) it is right across the street from an A Safe Haven transitional living apartment building.
While I support such safe haven initiatives I also do not see a conflict.
Walgreens is going back to selling liquor chainwide? Excellent! Bring it on. They always had good prices on liquor. I hope they bring it to Western and Howard too. I get sick of always having to have cash at these mom and pop places. At Walgreens you can buy your beer and get cash back with your debit card. I hate having to go to the VERY overpriced Dominicks for anything.
I side with those who feel that this is the wrong store and wrong location. That pocket of Rogers Park has a lot of public safety problems, and anything that lures thugs and troublemakers is not a good idea.
I believe in freedom for business, but people have the right to limit a use that endangers the community, and more liquor on Clark near Howard would.
I wondering how a 501(c)(3)/social service org got the right to take over a building and displace the residents. Excuse me? And no, RP does NOT need another liquor outlet. There are too many here -- and elsewhere around the city -- as it is.
Tomboy, I will tell you a true Uptown story about the takeover of private property by a 501(c)3, at the height of the real estate rampage.
I'll leave out the names because these people are known to me personally, and one is my firm's client.
This man bought some prime frontage on Broadway between Wilson and Argyle, an old car lot he intended to develop into a mixed use retail-condo building. Would have been a nice looking place and a vast improvement for the street. He spent over $100K getting plans drawn and lining up the permits and getting legal work done and all the other stuff pursuant to building a large building.
A day care center run by a very well-known aid association decided it wanted that space. Well, the aldercreature decided she'd arrange that. I believe that the strip along Broadway clear down to Wilson is in the 48th (Smith) while the rest of the area south of Argyle and east of Broadway is Schiller (46) but I'm not dead certain so don't hold me to it. But is was one of these two women who blocked the guy's development and forced him to sell to the aid association. He took a very steep loss as the result of this forced sale.
Here was someone who only wanted to build a good-looking residential-retail building in a prime location zoned for that use, and who was spending his own money and taking risk on his own behalf only, with no tax funded TIF gimmes or any other assistance. He was not trying to open a "nuisance" business or get a variance or anything. Just a property owner and entrepreneur risking his own money and playing by the rules- which changed in the middle of the game.
We have NO property rights anymore. You can't depend upon the law to protect you when you buy a property and propose to develop it within the land use rules. If someone with more clout than you wants your property, he will get it and at the price he feels like paying for it, not what it happens to be worth in a free-market transaction.
I'm sure other people posting here can tell a thousand other similar stories of people whose rights were totally trampled because somebody bigger and better connected wanted what they have. This is the kind of country we live in now.
disturbing story northcoast
i know the stretch you are talking about.
and it sorely needs sprucing up.
Sounds like the same issue that is going on at Morse Avenue. The last thing Morse needs right now is another TAVERN. And that is what is being proposed at 1412 W. Morse (Glenwood and Morse) formerly the Top Hat Lounge location.
Drugs, alcohol, prostitution, murder, disturbances day and night have been a problem on Morse for over two decades.
Adding another tavern on Morse will not reduce crime and problems--only add to it.
The proposed tavern has been conveniently labled a "restaurant" yet they are asking for a tavern license. As a tavern you must be 21years of age to enter unless accompanied by a guardian.
And no, this proposed tavern will not have a wood burning pizza oven as reported. In fact, the tavern will not have a range (stove/oven), no griddle, no char-broiler grill and no deep fryer. Any type of equipment or hot food preparation/cooking that requires ventilation will not be used. This has been confirmed by blueprints presented to the Alderman.
Morse Ave is rapidly changing and with the Mayne Stage opening there will be guaranteed positive foot traffic on Morse. Mayne Stage will be selling real restaurant food and alcohol -- but does not have a tavern license. Mayne Stage has a Incidental Liquor License. Morseland has a Incidental Liquor License. Heartland's Buffalo Bar has a Incidental Liquor License.
What a bunch of idiots. If they can get a license, it will be perfectly legal for Walgreens to sell a legal product. You people are so stupid it is not even funny.
Do any of you have any respect for private sector business or do all of you suck off the government tit?
I'm as much a supporter of Free Enterprise as anyone, but your right to engage in a "nuisance" business ends where my rights begin.
This is a zoning issue, not a "rights" issue. Shall a sewage reclamation plant be opened here or a lead processing plant because they're business that should be allowed to operate just where they please? That is why we have zoning. There is a reason communities restrict and zone the sales of certain sensitive age-restricted products- because sales of these products tends to draw certain types of people and produce certain types of behavior.
Go out to certain heavily Republican suburbs like Lake Forest, Kenilworth, or Hinsdale, and try to open a tavern in those places. You will have to go through unbelievable bureaucracy, and, like here, anyone living within a certain distance will be able to block you.
Lincoln Park took many precincts dry about 20 years back because local bars generated so much bad behavior- noise, litter, urinating on nearby lawns by yuppie bar patrons. Incidental liquor licenses only in these precincts. Rogers Park definitely has more "bad behavior" problems than LP or even Wrigleyville, notorious for the behavior of bar patrons.
Morse Ave Group,
You seem to be making a lot of assumptions about the tavern, restaurant, bar, whatever that is going up on Morse.
For one, the owner of the building at 1412 W. Morse is Alex Samrdzija. Mr. Samrdzija also owns Xippo in Lincoln Square, a fancy restaurant/bar ($9 martini type place). And supposedly Mr. Samrdzija is going to model this new place off of Xippo.
I think you're reading into this too much and assuming only bad things will happen. A tavern/bar run properly will add to a neighborhood. Mr. Samrdzija has a good reputation in Lincoln Square. Why should we stop him from bringing more business to the neighborhood? There were a few who said the same thing about the Glenwood before it opened. I don't think anyone would argue The Glenwood has added the the neighborhood.
Right now I'm more concerned about the other side of the tracks. I really hope the opening of the Mayne Stage will help. I hope those areas across the street from the Mayne Stage eventually get cleaned up.
I disagree
I believe a tavern on Morse is needed. So we can drown our sorrows of Rogers Park.
Jk.
Why wouldnt there be more positive foot traffic?
Hasnt the new Glenwood Bar
helped with positive foot traffic?
I am for another bar on Morse
I've lived in the area for over 20 years.
I don't drink much, and when I want a decent bottle of wine, or six-pack of beer, it's nice to have a place around that offers a little nicer selection.
The issue isn't that Walgreens would be irresponsible. The issue is the irresponsible population in the area of the Walgreens.
Liquor at that particular store is a huge mistake. In spite of my self-interest, I oppose liquor sales from that location.
Sorry Rogerspark 60645. I just don't need the drink that badly. Quality of life/environment for the area children is a great thing to consider.
Last time I looked liquor was legal in this country.
I don't live near there but it would be nice to be able to buy liquor at Walgreens. There really aren't many decent places up here to buy liquor/wine which drives me crazy. Walgreens would sell little bottles???? Now, that would be wrong.
re: Morse issue
Alex Samrdzija owns a vacant bldg on my block. He's a lousy neighbor. He keeps switching ownership form of the building, delaying city fines. He neglects the building and only cleans up when we have police and city services contact him (and then not always). I would oppose any effort by him to get a liquor license or any license.
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