In case you missed this comment from Michael K.
Here is the note I sent to DevCorp about Gateway development and the rather sad response:
Good Afternoon,
I live near Fargo and Greenview and I pass through Gateway Center's bus terminal every day going to and from work.
Recently, I noticed that there has been a great deal of activity on the lower level in the southwest wing that faces the bus depot. I am quite interested to know what businesses are setting up shop. Any information you have would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I initially tried to send this note to info@devcorpnorth.org but it was returned accounting to the mailbox being full.
Sincerely,
Michael K
Dear Michael -
Thanks for the email and follow up. I'll make sure that the info account gets cleared so others don't get that error message in the future. Based on a recent email from the leasing agent for Gateway, this is what I know:
An ordinance approving the vertical subdivision of the 3-story commercial building at Gateway Centre Plaza was passed at the September 14 city council meeting. Upon obtaining a recordable document, the closing will be scheduled for the sale to Life Storage Centers. Life Storage Centers is an upscale operator of environmentally controlled public storage space that will occupy approximately 104,000 square feet on the Paulina level of Gateway with their main office and retail sales at 7524 N. Paulina facing the plaza. Anticipated opening is January 2006.
On September 2, 2005, Spirit Halloween Stores opened for business in the 10,000 square foot space between Marshalls and Dominick's. This is a temporary lease through November 15, 2005. The leasing company is trying to identify a permanent tenant for this space.
There are currently three (3) leases and one (1) letter of intent currently under negotiation for space at the Gateway Centre and Gateway Centre Plaza.
The construction of the pedestrian walkway which will connect to the new Howard Street Terminal with the Gateway Centre atrium will be coordinated with the CTA during construction of their new building. Depending on the CTA timeline, the leasing agents do not fore-see this construction beginning until 2007.
Hope this helps
Kimberly
Michael K.'s comment:
A storage facility? That's the best we can do? I thought we were trying to increase foot traffic and retail sales. Long term storage isn't the kind of bustling pedestrian business we need. If we're serious about attracting better business to this area we need to do far better than this.
No wonder there are no "Coming Soon" signs. No-one wants to be Evanston's closet. What a joke.
My comment's are:
1) Michael, at least you got a response. Ms. Bares hasn't answered one of my e-mails/phone calls/letters in over a year.
2) Did DevCorp North or Alderman Moore lobby for this ordinance approving the vertical subdivision of the 3-story commercial building at Gateway Centre Plaza?
3) Thank you Michael K. for sharing this with us.
Monday, October 3, 2005
Sunday, October 2, 2005
* Smiles from the United Church of Rogers Park
Something got over me this weekend. Sit down. Here is a good news story.
Members of the United Church of Rogers Park showed up in force at the Glenwood Avenue Art Festival ( GAAF ) to spread the news of the church's 100th Anniversary Celebration.
One Hundred Years Old !!!
Pictured are seven of the 23 member team. All the volunteers were recruited to meet neighbors and help chat up the church's Open House and Pancake Breakfast event on Sat., Oct. 15 at the church at Morse and Ashland. I will have a flyer posted for this event later.
FYI: For those who don't believe, for all those atheists, there is something at the church for you .... it's a Nuke Free Zone too.
* Renters Kicked Out
Stealth Condo Conversion on Lunt Avenue
These hard working cab drivers got a rude awakening the last few weeks. Let's not mention these cabbies are struggling with high gas prices for their vehicles. When they got home, it seemed worse. Water being shut off, electricity not working. Real poor living conditions.
And then, a thirty day notice to leave their home. 30 days. One asked, "How do we find a new place on such short notice? They didn't even help us find a new location." These folks didn't understand the renters laws for proper notice. Even if they did, they did not have enough money to fight being thrown out.
These cabbies had to move their stuff in their cab. As one said, "This is how they treat us poor, hard working people who come to America, what a shame!"
These hard working cab drivers got a rude awakening the last few weeks. Let's not mention these cabbies are struggling with high gas prices for their vehicles. When they got home, it seemed worse. Water being shut off, electricity not working. Real poor living conditions.
And then, a thirty day notice to leave their home. 30 days. One asked, "How do we find a new place on such short notice? They didn't even help us find a new location." These folks didn't understand the renters laws for proper notice. Even if they did, they did not have enough money to fight being thrown out.
These cabbies had to move their stuff in their cab. As one said, "This is how they treat us poor, hard working people who come to America, what a shame!"
* RPCAN Makes Ripple ( Not Waves )
Lately RPCAN has been real lame. Fran Tobin has the group spinning it's wheels. RPCAN has dropped the ball on the affordable housing for the 27th precient of the 49th ward. There was a non-binding referendum on the 2003 ballot to set a-side a portion of the housing in this area. The measure passed, but nothing was really accomplished.
The same goes for the Aronson Park/Greenleaf development across the street from Field School.
And the Loyola TIF.
Now we get this from the power-less people at RPCAN. Maybe they can do something this time:
"Preliminary reports suggest that, as some of us feared, the Park District's schemes to create "world class destinations" along the lakefront include ideas that voters here rejected overwhelmingly. Details are still coming in, but a recent presentation by consultants (the infamous JJR, who worked with RPCC and Loyola on some other behind-the-scenes schemes) included creating a "Loyola Harbor" (now, is that something different from a "marina"?). According to sketchy reports, the consultants said they had been working with local officials, but that was later denied.
Okay. We don't know the whole story, and we need to look into it further. But this seems like another example of secret planning -- perhaps with some deniability, because it has not yet been (publicly) adopted by an official- for development and construction along our cherished lakefront.
Jan Schakowsky and Harry Osterman keep telling us we should not be afraid of the conversation. But why are we not PART of the conversation?
Don't let this pick up any momentum. Let's send the message, NOW, that we don't want any behind the scenes plans, and we expect to be full partners in any "conversation" about our lakefront.'
Click the link to send an email to Congresswoman Schakowsky and Rep. Osterman.
Send the link to everyone you know. Stop this before it gets too far.
The same goes for the Aronson Park/Greenleaf development across the street from Field School.
And the Loyola TIF.
Now we get this from the power-less people at RPCAN. Maybe they can do something this time:
"Preliminary reports suggest that, as some of us feared, the Park District's schemes to create "world class destinations" along the lakefront include ideas that voters here rejected overwhelmingly. Details are still coming in, but a recent presentation by consultants (the infamous JJR, who worked with RPCC and Loyola on some other behind-the-scenes schemes) included creating a "Loyola Harbor" (now, is that something different from a "marina"?). According to sketchy reports, the consultants said they had been working with local officials, but that was later denied.
Okay. We don't know the whole story, and we need to look into it further. But this seems like another example of secret planning -- perhaps with some deniability, because it has not yet been (publicly) adopted by an official- for development and construction along our cherished lakefront.
Jan Schakowsky and Harry Osterman keep telling us we should not be afraid of the conversation. But why are we not PART of the conversation?
Don't let this pick up any momentum. Let's send the message, NOW, that we don't want any behind the scenes plans, and we expect to be full partners in any "conversation" about our lakefront.'
Click the link to send an email to Congresswoman Schakowsky and Rep. Osterman.
Send the link to everyone you know. Stop this before it gets too far.
Saturday, October 1, 2005
* Moore's Republican Attitude
by Hugh
"What would you rather have, vacancies or condos on the first floor?" asked Alderman Moore. "You can wish for whatever you want, you don't always get it. Let the market decide."
A surprisingly Republican attitude from a Democratic National Committee member. I wonder if his Washington crowd knows how he talks back in his ward? This from the the guy who wants to decide for us what foods we can buy.
"There will be no Wal-Mart in Rogers Park as long as I am Alderman," the ardent free-marketeer Alderman had boasted earlier. Our City Council is nominally 98% Democratic, but years of a steady diet of campaign contributions from real estate moguls has transformed them into University of Chicago style free market Republicans that would make Milton Freidman and Ronald Reagan proud. It seems you can literally pay them to say anything. Wal-Mart, take note.
"Let the market decide," aped Ms. Heather Campbell, an urban planner with the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), a group of Chicago's largest real estate developers promoting the density increases that affords them economies of scale. "If you want retail, add people," she posited, which held little solace to the 60,000 residents of Rogers Park who for decades have watched retail slide as the population grew. Depend on MPC to recommend density increases as the solution to everything on resident's wish lists. She went on to explained that the retail vacancies we see are due to the demise of the street car.
"The proposed B2 zoning classification, which is a new zoning classification in Chicago, would still permit commercial development, but leave open the possibility of first floor residential development,"wrote Alderman Moore. Moore's rhetoric tries to make it sound like the POSSIBILITY of retail is in response to community demand for retail, when he should really be explaining how he helped relax the requirement. Also, B2 is not a new zoning classification. See Article 8 Section 8.2-2 in the pre-2004 zoning law. Moore consistently shirks his responsibility to educate his constituents as to their rights and powers under the zoning laws, and instead chooses to take advantage of the public's lack of understanding of zoning to manipulate.
"Can't you do anything about the vacant store fronts?" Our Aldermen recognized the retail vacancies in our neighborhood as political liabilities, and bereft of ideas on how to deal with it, courageously changed our City's laws to absolve themselves from all responsibility. From now on, should we attempt to raise the issue of retail with our Aldermen, we will be told "That has nothing to do with zoning. That has nothing to do with me. It’s due to market forces. Sorry." Of course! Vibrant retail is ALWAYS a function of market forces, but last year we residents lost an important tool for encouraging retail and keeping our elected officials and real estate developers accountable to the public.
"Legally, there's nothing we can do," our Aldermen can now claim. "They can put condos (or a garage) on the first floor by rights." We may see fewer vacancies, but we will NOT see improved retail. The new zoning law does NOTHING to promote retail, and in fact deals retail a very significant blow.
Why have zoning at all? Why not get it over with and turn our City over to the developers? Let the market decide what our neighborhoods will look like.
"What would you rather have, vacancies or condos on the first floor?" asked Alderman Moore. "You can wish for whatever you want, you don't always get it. Let the market decide."
A surprisingly Republican attitude from a Democratic National Committee member. I wonder if his Washington crowd knows how he talks back in his ward? This from the the guy who wants to decide for us what foods we can buy.
"There will be no Wal-Mart in Rogers Park as long as I am Alderman," the ardent free-marketeer Alderman had boasted earlier. Our City Council is nominally 98% Democratic, but years of a steady diet of campaign contributions from real estate moguls has transformed them into University of Chicago style free market Republicans that would make Milton Freidman and Ronald Reagan proud. It seems you can literally pay them to say anything. Wal-Mart, take note.
"Let the market decide," aped Ms. Heather Campbell, an urban planner with the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), a group of Chicago's largest real estate developers promoting the density increases that affords them economies of scale. "If you want retail, add people," she posited, which held little solace to the 60,000 residents of Rogers Park who for decades have watched retail slide as the population grew. Depend on MPC to recommend density increases as the solution to everything on resident's wish lists. She went on to explained that the retail vacancies we see are due to the demise of the street car.
"The proposed B2 zoning classification, which is a new zoning classification in Chicago, would still permit commercial development, but leave open the possibility of first floor residential development,"wrote Alderman Moore. Moore's rhetoric tries to make it sound like the POSSIBILITY of retail is in response to community demand for retail, when he should really be explaining how he helped relax the requirement. Also, B2 is not a new zoning classification. See Article 8 Section 8.2-2 in the pre-2004 zoning law. Moore consistently shirks his responsibility to educate his constituents as to their rights and powers under the zoning laws, and instead chooses to take advantage of the public's lack of understanding of zoning to manipulate.
"Can't you do anything about the vacant store fronts?" Our Aldermen recognized the retail vacancies in our neighborhood as political liabilities, and bereft of ideas on how to deal with it, courageously changed our City's laws to absolve themselves from all responsibility. From now on, should we attempt to raise the issue of retail with our Aldermen, we will be told "That has nothing to do with zoning. That has nothing to do with me. It’s due to market forces. Sorry." Of course! Vibrant retail is ALWAYS a function of market forces, but last year we residents lost an important tool for encouraging retail and keeping our elected officials and real estate developers accountable to the public.
"Legally, there's nothing we can do," our Aldermen can now claim. "They can put condos (or a garage) on the first floor by rights." We may see fewer vacancies, but we will NOT see improved retail. The new zoning law does NOTHING to promote retail, and in fact deals retail a very significant blow.
Why have zoning at all? Why not get it over with and turn our City over to the developers? Let the market decide what our neighborhoods will look like.
* If Health is You're Concern....
Avoid this weekends Glenwood Avenue Art-Fest
Guess what kind of artwork we have near Glenwood Avenue today? Guess who the artist is? This art touches all the senses. The smell is wicked nasty. The look, well that's for you to decide. You can view this artwork today in the alley between Morse and Lunt on the west side of Glenwood Avenue.
Just in case you miss it. The sculpture art has appeared before, and should appear again!
Guess what kind of artwork we have near Glenwood Avenue today? Guess who the artist is? This art touches all the senses. The smell is wicked nasty. The look, well that's for you to decide. You can view this artwork today in the alley between Morse and Lunt on the west side of Glenwood Avenue.
Just in case you miss it. The sculpture art has appeared before, and should appear again!
Friday, September 30, 2005
* More on 1225 West Farwell Speaks
Retail History in RP
From Carol Goldman
In response to Nico's Mom's comments below:
Some elements of my working hypothesis are that.....
a. there is concentration of high density, low income residences nearest the shopping streets.
b. the weathier people live in lower density areas father from the shopping streets.
c. people have developed the habit of going out of the neighborhood for retail, restaurants, etc.
d. due to the fact that RP was originally a suburb, there was never that much retail space to begin with, and other than Clark street, retailers are not persuaded there is enough traffic, car or pedestrian, to make their business viable."
e. Some of the existing zoning has allowed too much commercial use on the high traffic streets (the autobody shops on Clark for example) displacing other kinds of businesses.
I think that people have become accustomed to shopping outside the community because Howard and Morse are not attractive places to shop at present. Most no longer even think about those retail areas because there are so few stores open.
This community did support retail in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Just read my husband Sandy's opinion column titled "The Way It Was"
It reprints the sponsoring ads from the Field School newspaper in 1970.
Also read "Howard Street - A Helluva Street" and "The Morse Avenue Card Players" for more descriptions of the character and the characters of these once vibrant retail streets. For instance, it was almost impossible to park at 10 p.m. almost any night on Morse Ave. because of the crowds, flocking to Ashkenaze Deli and the other delis on the 1400 block of Morse.
From Carol Goldman
In response to Nico's Mom's comments below:
Some elements of my working hypothesis are that.....
a. there is concentration of high density, low income residences nearest the shopping streets.
b. the weathier people live in lower density areas father from the shopping streets.
c. people have developed the habit of going out of the neighborhood for retail, restaurants, etc.
d. due to the fact that RP was originally a suburb, there was never that much retail space to begin with, and other than Clark street, retailers are not persuaded there is enough traffic, car or pedestrian, to make their business viable."
e. Some of the existing zoning has allowed too much commercial use on the high traffic streets (the autobody shops on Clark for example) displacing other kinds of businesses.
I think that people have become accustomed to shopping outside the community because Howard and Morse are not attractive places to shop at present. Most no longer even think about those retail areas because there are so few stores open.
This community did support retail in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Just read my husband Sandy's opinion column titled "The Way It Was"
It reprints the sponsoring ads from the Field School newspaper in 1970.
Also read "Howard Street - A Helluva Street" and "The Morse Avenue Card Players" for more descriptions of the character and the characters of these once vibrant retail streets. For instance, it was almost impossible to park at 10 p.m. almost any night on Morse Ave. because of the crowds, flocking to Ashkenaze Deli and the other delis on the 1400 block of Morse.
* "Ald. Moore was aware of the project"....
I have been included on this email list, so please do not take offense if I speak for myself on the matters at hand:
At the meeting, I stated that Ald. Moore was aware of the project and had asked for a north side meeting. If it has not yet been made clear, Ald. Moore has been shown the same proposals shown to the general public, but was not involved in their production.
The first community meeting was held on the central lakefront at Northerly Island. The second community meeting was held at the South Shore Cultural Center. Most of the ideas presented are on the south lakefront, and this seemed an appropriate venue. The third community meeting, with additional refinement of content, was to be held on the north side. However, the Alderman requested that we conduct a repeat of the second community meeting on the north side before progressing. I stated openly that a repeat of the second community meeting was in the making, at the prior request of the Alderman, and was targeted for October 20th at Loyola Park.
This meeting has been confirmed.
This project has been in the press several times, and information can be found on the parks and facilities section of the at the Park District web site.
The referendum in Rogers Park was well publicized, and we've been well aware of it's content since before its adoption. The project is responding to a wide variety of suggestions and prior design reports from various community organizations. At this early stage, we are attempting to be as inclusive as possible, and look forward to a productive discussion of all ideas. Harbors are the focus of this project, but discussion of overall lakefront enhancement is appropriate.
Park District web site information also includes a list of civic organizations on the working group who are helping to guide the community planning process and reach the larger public. I encourage you to contact these organizations for clarification of project scope, intent, and progress. Groups include the Chicago Parks and Open Space Committee, Jackson Park Advisory Council, Grant Park Advisory Council, Lincoln Park Advisory Council, Chicago Yachting Association, Friends of the Marine Community, Friends of the Parks, Alliance for the Great Lakes (formerly Lake Michigan Federation), Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, and the Chicago Central Area Committee.
Sincerely,
Rob Rejman
Director of Lakefront Construction
Chicago Park District
541 N. Fairbanks
Chicago, IL 60611
rob.rejman@chicagoparkdistrict.com
At the meeting, I stated that Ald. Moore was aware of the project and had asked for a north side meeting. If it has not yet been made clear, Ald. Moore has been shown the same proposals shown to the general public, but was not involved in their production.
The first community meeting was held on the central lakefront at Northerly Island. The second community meeting was held at the South Shore Cultural Center. Most of the ideas presented are on the south lakefront, and this seemed an appropriate venue. The third community meeting, with additional refinement of content, was to be held on the north side. However, the Alderman requested that we conduct a repeat of the second community meeting on the north side before progressing. I stated openly that a repeat of the second community meeting was in the making, at the prior request of the Alderman, and was targeted for October 20th at Loyola Park.
This meeting has been confirmed.
This project has been in the press several times, and information can be found on the parks and facilities section of the at the Park District web site.
The referendum in Rogers Park was well publicized, and we've been well aware of it's content since before its adoption. The project is responding to a wide variety of suggestions and prior design reports from various community organizations. At this early stage, we are attempting to be as inclusive as possible, and look forward to a productive discussion of all ideas. Harbors are the focus of this project, but discussion of overall lakefront enhancement is appropriate.
Park District web site information also includes a list of civic organizations on the working group who are helping to guide the community planning process and reach the larger public. I encourage you to contact these organizations for clarification of project scope, intent, and progress. Groups include the Chicago Parks and Open Space Committee, Jackson Park Advisory Council, Grant Park Advisory Council, Lincoln Park Advisory Council, Chicago Yachting Association, Friends of the Marine Community, Friends of the Parks, Alliance for the Great Lakes (formerly Lake Michigan Federation), Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, and the Chicago Central Area Committee.
Sincerely,
Rob Rejman
Director of Lakefront Construction
Chicago Park District
541 N. Fairbanks
Chicago, IL 60611
rob.rejman@chicagoparkdistrict.com
* Out of Control Car on Morse Avenue
Today at 1:20pm a car went out of control and rammed down a bus zone sign. The driver wedging the car between a parked car and tree, just feet from the bus stop on Lakewood and Morse. The driver was to have said to have a seizure causing this accident. This happened accross the street from the 1250 W. Morse Avenue Senior building. Right near the spot Mr. Choi was killed by the speeding car of Lawrence Williams Jr on September 6th.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
* The James Report
Hi All,
The Park District story is different today from what they said yesterday.
Here’s what I know – at the meeting at the South Shore Country Club last night, I was there and personally heard the presenter tell me, in no uncertain terms, that Alderman Moore was made aware of this proposal. If I need to bring south siders up from that meeting to tell Rogers Parkers what was said, I’ll do that. I asked the question three times at that meeting and got the same answer three times.
The answer was consistent and unambiguous – they worked with Alderman Moore on this harbor proposal.
Last night, these consultants were talking about their proposals to build harbors, not a menu of unrelated proposals. They barely touched on other ideas, and spent 95% of the time on building harbors.
Mr. Rejmon told 300 people at the South Shore County Club yesterday that the north side meeting was not yet scheduled. Then the James Report came out. As of today the Park District has a meeting scheduled in Rogers Park.
Now that my attendance at the meeting and the James Report this morning made them accountable, they’re trying to change the story.
Rejmon spinning this to protect his political bosses doesn’t wash. There was no meeting scheduled up here and we got no notice of the one happening 20 miles away. I was the only person to tell the planners about the referendum, and that only happened after the proposal was in the public review stage. I expected our alderman to support our overwhelming referendum by telling the Park District about it when they called. Now we have to take charge of things through the end of this harbor project.
There’s a proposal already drafted to put a harbor/marina for 400 boats at Loyola. Even though the Park District talked to the Alderman, our referendum didn’t get heard. This is not a time for a whole lot of patience, it’s time to stop the marina at Loyola.
James Ginderske
* 1225 West Farwell Speaks
Warning: Comments are not for the weak of heart!
We are the owners of 1225 Farwell. We want to thank all our neighbors for such insight, thoughtfulness and regard for our rights as a homeowner.
We have been here for 33 years, and I don't think that we know any of you who wrote to this website. Maybe it's because we never got to know each other while doing manual labor at the park sculpture, the Sheridan Road triangle, the Sheridan Road corner landscapes, or working numerous fundraisers to put all of these projects into being.
We are the silent minority - doing, not talking.
I resent the idea of defending our legal choice of sale. However, I am bristled most by your comments, so much so, that I now am writing.
We are on fixed income. Seems as though everyone is very concerned about affordable housing, but our group is left out. Did money play a part in our decision - yes. Money has a way of determining where you live now and in the future.
Please pay attention to this. NO ONE has gone through more anguish than the two of us for the decision to leave our roots and neighbors, and then to have our building torn down. NO ONE has gone through all available options that did not work out to save the building. Stop second-guessing us.
And to the Lonely Heart person, we are NOT feeble-minded seniors who "have had their heads filled with nonsense from the developers" and the "caved" in. My dear, you do not have to put your house on the market to know the anticipated outcome of the the sale -you contact several reputable realtors for qualified answers. AND, you have to know of any mitigating circumstances. It also seems that this person and others are experts in solid stone and brick buildings - WOW, I will refer you to my insurance company. The are solid, if they are maintained.
What is the cinder block issue? The newer building at 1235-37 has very attractive block. If that is cinder block, it's a thousand times nicer than the common brick that I see from one of my windows.
Our building is not historic! It does not have landmark status! Yes, it shows well. We took a dump and made something of it. It took, and still takes hard work and money to do so. What is ironic is that we are being penalized for having a well maintained building.
We interviewed developers and are confident of our choice. We looked at buildings he has developed. We actually were able to talk to residents who were coming and going. EVERYONE had high praise for his attention to detail, quality of construction, his willingness to correct any problems, and for just being an all-around nice guy. I think his tasteful construction will fit in beautifully.
I believe the most upsetting part of the teardown is the loss of the side yard. The yard is NOT considered green space when discussing city planning. Again, NO ONE is more upset than we are about losing our garden that we cultivated over the many years. Kind of reminds me though of a previous neighbor who always said, "You work, I enjoy." Years ago we were advised by our neighbors to blacktop our garden for parking - everyone always has an opinion. I believe that when emotions are really high, it makes way for exaggerations. I also believe that once the new building is here, most people now and in the future will have a favorable response.
We are not going to collect signatures to support our claim. We are not going to put our friends in an awkward position of signing and then living around people who seem to have become radical. I know that we have been good neighbors and have put a great deal of love and good will into Rogers Park. And now, we are hurt and feel unwelcome.
Thanks for reading our comments.
Leaving our Roots
We are the owners of 1225 Farwell. We want to thank all our neighbors for such insight, thoughtfulness and regard for our rights as a homeowner.
We have been here for 33 years, and I don't think that we know any of you who wrote to this website. Maybe it's because we never got to know each other while doing manual labor at the park sculpture, the Sheridan Road triangle, the Sheridan Road corner landscapes, or working numerous fundraisers to put all of these projects into being.
We are the silent minority - doing, not talking.
I resent the idea of defending our legal choice of sale. However, I am bristled most by your comments, so much so, that I now am writing.
We are on fixed income. Seems as though everyone is very concerned about affordable housing, but our group is left out. Did money play a part in our decision - yes. Money has a way of determining where you live now and in the future.
Please pay attention to this. NO ONE has gone through more anguish than the two of us for the decision to leave our roots and neighbors, and then to have our building torn down. NO ONE has gone through all available options that did not work out to save the building. Stop second-guessing us.
And to the Lonely Heart person, we are NOT feeble-minded seniors who "have had their heads filled with nonsense from the developers" and the "caved" in. My dear, you do not have to put your house on the market to know the anticipated outcome of the the sale -you contact several reputable realtors for qualified answers. AND, you have to know of any mitigating circumstances. It also seems that this person and others are experts in solid stone and brick buildings - WOW, I will refer you to my insurance company. The are solid, if they are maintained.
What is the cinder block issue? The newer building at 1235-37 has very attractive block. If that is cinder block, it's a thousand times nicer than the common brick that I see from one of my windows.
Our building is not historic! It does not have landmark status! Yes, it shows well. We took a dump and made something of it. It took, and still takes hard work and money to do so. What is ironic is that we are being penalized for having a well maintained building.
We interviewed developers and are confident of our choice. We looked at buildings he has developed. We actually were able to talk to residents who were coming and going. EVERYONE had high praise for his attention to detail, quality of construction, his willingness to correct any problems, and for just being an all-around nice guy. I think his tasteful construction will fit in beautifully.
I believe the most upsetting part of the teardown is the loss of the side yard. The yard is NOT considered green space when discussing city planning. Again, NO ONE is more upset than we are about losing our garden that we cultivated over the many years. Kind of reminds me though of a previous neighbor who always said, "You work, I enjoy." Years ago we were advised by our neighbors to blacktop our garden for parking - everyone always has an opinion. I believe that when emotions are really high, it makes way for exaggerations. I also believe that once the new building is here, most people now and in the future will have a favorable response.
We are not going to collect signatures to support our claim. We are not going to put our friends in an awkward position of signing and then living around people who seem to have become radical. I know that we have been good neighbors and have put a great deal of love and good will into Rogers Park. And now, we are hurt and feel unwelcome.
Thanks for reading our comments.
Leaving our Roots
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
* Lakefront Activism Gives Hope For Our Future
Dear Rogers Park Neighbors,
Let’s take a closer look at the facts surrounding the November 2004 Save Our Lakefront referendum, what Rogers Park residents did to make it happen, and the role of the alderman before and after the referendum’s success. Let’s also start talking about what we’ll do next.
Our community’s successful Save Our Lakefront campaign in 2004, for a referendum to oppose mega-development on the lakefront, entailed many months of work. It built upon the work already invested by many residents and local organizations. From the Rogers Park Conservancy to the Rogers Park Community Council, many of us had been working for over a year to prevent a marina from being built at the Chicago/Evanston border. Our Conservancy helped organize a strong coalition of Rogers Park and Evanston residents to participate in scores of meetings and seemingly round-the-clock work to support our goal. We held many large group and private one-on-one meetings with Evanston alderman to educate them on why a marina was a bad idea and we testified regularly at Evanston City Council meetings.
We finally won the battle when Evanston’s aldermen voted to stop plans for a marina. I credit tons of great neighbors for demonstrated leadership in that victory, especially Don Gordon, Rogers Park Conservancy’s Executive Director. While we fought AGAINST the marina, Don was a key thinker, planner, and leader in helping Rogers Park residents develop proposals outlining what we were FOR in terms of improving our lakefront. I am chair of the Conservancy’s board of directors. Details on our goals and advocacy work to improve city parks, services, and protecting our lakefront are available on our web site urbsinhorto.org.
Oddly, throughout all of this, our very own 49th Ward Alderman refused to support work against the marina, always with the claim that we were fighting ghosts that didn’t exist.
So, after stopping the Evanston marina, the next phase in citizen action to protect the lake was our 49th Ward Save Our Lakefront referendum proposal. It involved scores of volunteers and amazingly united people of all political stripes in our ward. The proposed referendum won endorsement and real support from many local groups, and was fueled by significant support from Rogers Park Community Action Network. More kudos especially go to Fran Tobin, Anne Sullivan, and dozens of other activists whom I apologize to for overlooking here. Signatures were collected to get the referendum on the ballot in each of our ward’s 10 lakefront precincts. After that we flyered, sent information to every email address we had, held public meetings, and spent months informing those voters that it would be on the ballot and educating them about what it meant. A lot of us were out at the polls on Election Day in November 2004 handing Save Our Lakefront referendum info to voters. We won!
From start to finish our Save Our Lakefront campaign opposed the possibility of major lakefront development, but it had no support from the alderman. What we got from him was just the opposite. Whenever Joe discussed it in public he ridiculed our work, saying there was no city plan for us to object to AND “no threat” existed. Yep, just like the earlier Evanston Marina proposal, no real threat. We thought Joe’s position was puzzling. It prompted concern that there was indeed something afoot, something that residents didn’t know about, and something our elected representatives weren’t about to share with us. True, back then we didn’t have or know specifics about any plans. We weren’t privy to the secret lakefront dealmaking going on. We did have some clues, including Congresswoman Schakowsky’s authorship of a $1 million funding plan for a Chicago study of “Lakefront Path Development.” Two dozen of us met with her to express our concerns about that $1 million would be used to plan for a Lake Shore Drive extension. It was an interesting meeting and I thank the congresswoman for agreeing to listen. But at the end of the meeting she said although a marina was off the table, she wasn’t going to close the door to the possibility of development on the lakefront.
Well, it is all coming to light now, thanks to the news media and Rogers Park neighbor James Ginderske getting some eye-popping information about a Loyola “harbor” proposal unveiled at last night’s south side park district meeting. We are smart enough to connect the dots and always have been. Nope, we didn’t have any documents from Evanston or Chicago city hall whistleblowers when we successfully stopped the Evanston Marina and then launched the Save Our Lakefront Campaign referendum.
What we did have was faith in our community and belief that we could work together for something better. We wanted to protect the lakefront on behalf of our community and all the families of Chicago who enjoy this amazing natural treasure. We organized to support a principle and for the concept of serving the common good. I’m sorry that organizing for a “principle” isn’t good enough for our local elected official.
So, what do you think was stranger than Joe’s ongoing disapproval of our work BEFORE the lakefront referendum vote? It was this - reading his unchanged attitude and tone in the news media the day AFTER the vote, essentially it ridiculed referendum voters. Here are the relevant portions of news articles on the day after our referendum won:
On November 4, 2004, from Chicago Tribune reporter Hal Dardick:
Of 4,124 residents in 10 lakefront precincts who voted on the advisory referendum, 88 percent said any new landfill north of Hollywood Avenue should not include roads, marinas or commercial buildings . . .
Mayor Richard Daley two years ago mentioned the idea of extending the city's lakefront park system north to Evanston. Park District officials then said they would consider the idea. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) has requested $1 million in funds to study the concept.
City transportation officials said they have no current plans to extend Lake Shore Drive. But Rogers Park activists, who recently helped defeat a marina study in Evanston, wanted to make clear that they want their 1 1/2-mile stretch of easily accessible public lakefront to retain its character.
Ald. Joe Moore (49th) said he would oppose an extension of Lake Shore Drive but is keeping his mind open to marina or commercial building proposals. "I would want to see if it would benefit my community," he said.
On November 4, 2004, from Daily Northwestern reporter Breanne Gilpatrick:
Chicago Ald. Joe Moore (49th), who represents the area including the 10 precincts that voted on the referendum, said the result of Tuesday's vote was not surprising.
But Moore said so far he only has heard a few off-the-cuff remarks from Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and discussion about funding requests for a feasibility study. As a result, he said he doesn't know how much of an influence the vote will have. "I suppose (the referendum) would have some influence," Moore said. "It's hard to say how much influence it would have unless you are reacting to a specific plan."
My final thought about all this is that there are many things that threaten and hurt the quality of life we expect in Rogers Park. They are not ghostly apparitions from a child’s nightmare. We see them in the news media and on the streets of Rogers Park everyday. Our heads are not in the sand. We want no more neglect or euphemisms about the hard realities here. We need no happy-talk to help us pretend that we feel all warm and cozy inside. What we actually feel is a real disappointment with the status quo. What is also real is our hope for something better, for improvements in so many of areas of life in Rogers Park. Neighbors, it looks like we have to stay organized, and become even more so. Organizing is hard work, but there are many large and small ways each of us can help win the campaign . . . and rewards for getting involved. We’ve worked together and won many times before, and we can win yet again. Who here is up for it? I pledge to you that I am. I’ve got a family and a home here, and lots of good neighbors who want to protect and defend theirs too.
Peace, Michael J. Harrington
MJH123@aol.com
* Alderman Moore is Fully Aware of these Plans
Hi All,
I attended the meeting at South Shore Country Club last night. Here’s the deal:
The Chicago Park District wants to build between 2700 and 4000 more harbor slips, depending on boat sizes and in response to increased demand. There are 5100 now. As presenter Brad Winick said, Chicago is “a missing link in the mega-yacht itinerary.”
They intend to construct the new facilities in several locations, and this phase of public comment is to help them select the best spots. They propose, among others, over a thousand moorings at Jackson Park, between 450-580 at Navy Pier, 350-500 at 31st Street, and 300-400 at Loyola University. They’re calling it “Edgewater Harbor”.
Now, didn’t we vote on this and reject it a couple years back? By a huge margin no less? They let people use the microphone for comments. I couldn’t resist.
I spoke first about having to drive from 7000 north to 7000 south at 6:00 p.m. for a meeting I read about that day in the paper, and invited them to present these proposals to my neighbors at say, Loyola Park. Then I talked about our diversity, about how we speak so many languages and rarely agree on anything. I told them about our Marina Referendum. I explained the results, wherein some 88% of our diverse interests voted against it. I asked if they had heard about this before. Then I inquired if they had worked with Devcorp North, Rogers Park Conservancy, or Alderman Joe Moore. I asked if this were connected in any way to Congressperson Jan Schakowsky’s newly- funded study regarding other lakefront changes.
Finally, I said that on behalf of my fellow 88%, I had a hard time seeing how this proposal would be received any differently than the last one. I asked very politely if perhaps they wouldn’t mind taking no for an answer on this one component.
Apparently I struck a nerve because the whole crowd clapped when I was finished. An odd reaction from a group that for the most part didn’t oppose the overall plan. The Jackson Park crew actually seemed quite excited about it. But they were surprised that it was proposed for an area that already rejected it so democratically and so clearly.
The presenters very competently answered all of my questions. They were not aware of the referendum. They said Devcorp was not consulted. They said that Rogers Park Conservancy had made some suggestions about smaller scale uses, “paddle boats and such”, and that the problem with building those facilities without the major construction was that they don’t generate enough revenue to pay for themselves. But apparently they never told RPC about the new “harbor” project. They simply read some suggestions, packaged it up and assumed that we’d like it.
They agreed to come up to Rogers Park and see us, and in fact claimed they were planning to head up north at some point anyway. Pressed for a date, they conferred and said most likely October 20th, but that they were going to call Joe Moore to be sure. They said that their plan wasn’t linked to any other, including Schakowsky’s study, which they appeared to know all about.
They said they had indeed worked with Joe Moore on this proposal. I asked three times to make sure I was clear on this:
Question: “So Alderman Joe Moore is fully aware of these plans?” Answer: “Yes, we worked with him on it.”
So here’s the deal: We got a meeting coming up soon, probably Oct 20th. I talked with the Park District reps, Rob Rejmon and Brad Winick, and they said the Loyola development would be the most expensive infrastructure out of all the proposals to build. I also talked to some folks from the Jackson Park Yacht Club, and they are very interested in getting as many of these slips as possible, their situation being completely different from ours. At our meeting, assuming it happens, the Park District representatives said they wanted to hear our thoughts on the whole plan, not just on our part of it. (I promised them I’d pass that on, so there it is.) I warned them that a chilly reception likely awaits them.
We have some leverage here. The Park District doesn’t need all these slips, ours are the most expensive to construct, and other areas are organized and want them badly. I say we work together and build consensus across the city to support a plan that makes sense for everyone.
My concern now is that this meeting happens. Call your alderman. He already knows all about it, or so I was told three times in front of two or three hundred south siders.
James Ginderske
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
* Save the Lakefront
This is always dangerous to have a paid consultant float a harbor idea at Loyola. Where have we heard this possible harbor plan before? Sneeky officials doing sneeky things. Never-mind you, over 90 % of the voters said no to this wacky idea.
* Save the Adelphi Theater
Bill Morton has started the Citizens for saving the Adelphi Theater. Bill will be at the final two political cheering meetings the Alderman is holding this week with petitions and information.
September 26th at 7:00 p.m.
St. Scholastica
7416 N Ridge Blvd
September 29th at 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Public Library Rogers Park Branch
6907 N. Clark St.
To reach Bill by e-mail: adelphitheater@yahoo.com
* Written Notice of Public Hearings Eliminated
From the 49-Forum Hugh.
The revised zoning laws passed in 2004 by our City Council revamped the notification requirements for zoning changes, greatly in favor of developers.
A zoning change (a.k.a. a "map amendment" or "re-zoning") requires a public hearing before the City Council's Committee on Zoning. Approval of a "special use" requires a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The hearing is still required, but the written notification of the hearing by mail was eliminated. Under the old law, a developer seeking a zoning change, zoning variation, or special use was required to notify property owners within a certain radius of the date and time of the required public hearing. Under the new law the developer is only required to notify neighboring property owners of his filing an APPLICATION for the zoning change, but NOT of the hearing!
In fact, the new laws insists that the City not schedule the hearing until the "notice" of the application is sent out. Then it's up to the neighbors to keep calling downtown until the hearing is scheduled. If you call as soon as you get the notice, you will be told the hearing has not been scehduled yet, and asked to call back again. Our Aldermen and the developers who fund their campaigns made life easier for developers and made it harder for neighbors in order to discourage public participation. The elimination of the notification by mail to nearby neighbors of the date, time, and place of the public hearing of a zoning change is a great step backwards for encouraging citizen participation in government, empowering residents to take ownership of their neighborhoods, and controlling development. It is a serious blow to those sympathetic with preservation.
Of course, playing hide-and-seek with the date of a zoning hearing is a time-honored tradition for the Zoning Committee. If you got one of the old letters, a "notice of a public hearing before the Zoning Committee", and you and a few of your neighbors agreed to take time off work to go downtown, you could pretty much count on the hearing being mysteriously postponed.
You'd get downtown, find the room, maybe sit patiently through a few hours of other stuff, and then there's no hearing. The Alderman monitor their phone calls, letters, e-mails, and the press, and if they suspect even a few citizens might show to testify against, they juggle the agenda, the lot in question goes last, and they don't seem to get to it in time. This simple trick reliably reduces the testimony against by half, at least.
Not too many people will actually take off work to attend a zoning hearing, and precious few will take two, or three.
And the postponing trick didn't cost the Aldermen anything, because while the old zoning law legally required the developer to notify nearby property owners of the hearing, there was no requirement under law to provide notification of re-scheduled hearings. So they never sent out notices except for the first, cancelled hearing. They didn't have to.
Some of us hoped that this little loophole might have been closed in the new zoning law, but our esteemed Aldermen took the opposite tack: they got themselves out of the notification-by-mail business all together. A legal requirement on alderman, administrators, and developers, that they communicate with the community, was dropped.
It's exactly as if the Aldermen said to the public, "Look, we can always cancel the hearing, you know it, we know it. Why don't you just take it as read that the first scheduled hearing will be cancelled? This useless notifying by mail is a waste of everyone's time and money."
The revised zoning laws passed in 2004 by our City Council revamped the notification requirements for zoning changes, greatly in favor of developers.
A zoning change (a.k.a. a "map amendment" or "re-zoning") requires a public hearing before the City Council's Committee on Zoning. Approval of a "special use" requires a public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The hearing is still required, but the written notification of the hearing by mail was eliminated. Under the old law, a developer seeking a zoning change, zoning variation, or special use was required to notify property owners within a certain radius of the date and time of the required public hearing. Under the new law the developer is only required to notify neighboring property owners of his filing an APPLICATION for the zoning change, but NOT of the hearing!
In fact, the new laws insists that the City not schedule the hearing until the "notice" of the application is sent out. Then it's up to the neighbors to keep calling downtown until the hearing is scheduled. If you call as soon as you get the notice, you will be told the hearing has not been scehduled yet, and asked to call back again. Our Aldermen and the developers who fund their campaigns made life easier for developers and made it harder for neighbors in order to discourage public participation. The elimination of the notification by mail to nearby neighbors of the date, time, and place of the public hearing of a zoning change is a great step backwards for encouraging citizen participation in government, empowering residents to take ownership of their neighborhoods, and controlling development. It is a serious blow to those sympathetic with preservation.
Of course, playing hide-and-seek with the date of a zoning hearing is a time-honored tradition for the Zoning Committee. If you got one of the old letters, a "notice of a public hearing before the Zoning Committee", and you and a few of your neighbors agreed to take time off work to go downtown, you could pretty much count on the hearing being mysteriously postponed.
You'd get downtown, find the room, maybe sit patiently through a few hours of other stuff, and then there's no hearing. The Alderman monitor their phone calls, letters, e-mails, and the press, and if they suspect even a few citizens might show to testify against, they juggle the agenda, the lot in question goes last, and they don't seem to get to it in time. This simple trick reliably reduces the testimony against by half, at least.
Not too many people will actually take off work to attend a zoning hearing, and precious few will take two, or three.
And the postponing trick didn't cost the Aldermen anything, because while the old zoning law legally required the developer to notify nearby property owners of the hearing, there was no requirement under law to provide notification of re-scheduled hearings. So they never sent out notices except for the first, cancelled hearing. They didn't have to.
Some of us hoped that this little loophole might have been closed in the new zoning law, but our esteemed Aldermen took the opposite tack: they got themselves out of the notification-by-mail business all together. A legal requirement on alderman, administrators, and developers, that they communicate with the community, was dropped.
It's exactly as if the Aldermen said to the public, "Look, we can always cancel the hearing, you know it, we know it. Why don't you just take it as read that the first scheduled hearing will be cancelled? This useless notifying by mail is a waste of everyone's time and money."
Monday, September 26, 2005
*The James Report
Hi All,
After last month’s chaotic 2431 CAPS meeting it was clear we had to rethink our role in the process. The meetings have become unproductive and the police refer to them as “bitch sessions”. Most people we know share that view. Instead of making a list of crime problems, some friends and I made a list of CAPS problems.
CAPS is supposed to be the forum for us and the police to discuss problems and address concerns. Citizens are supposed to run the meeting, not the police and no subject is considered off- limits. If the police cannot assist directly, they are to connect people with the resources needed to solve the problem. It resembles in theory the old “cop on the beat” who once helped with whatever was needed.
One major gap in our meeting has been the absence of Problem Solving. The most telling evidence of this is the attitude amongst newcomers and regulars that CAPS is a waste of time. The climate is further denigrated by the fact that there is so much criminal activity in this beat that people find non- solutions infuriating. Those feelings give way to rage or utter hopelessness almost immediately and that is where progress usually ends.
The mechanism provided by the police for Problem Solving is a chain called the “crime triangle” It’s linked to a series of questions that are standard for any Problem Solving scenario. We brought our own, in poster form and kind of insisted on using it. Going through the process cannot help but conclude in a solution.
That’s where it will be sticky going forward. It is relatively easy to plug in a problem and get an answer. It is going to be a lot more difficult when the solutions begin taxing police attitude and resources. At that time it will be clear, I think that Rogers Park has greater needs that its current level of police resources can provide. Over time we can use the system to pressure the City into supporting our efforts to reduce crime and just as importantly, the fear of crime.
CAPS, whether one likes it or thinks it ridiculous, is the interface between us and the Chicago Police. The only other option is dialing 911. There is no way to consistently go around this process and get far enough to make lasting change.
That can feel unfortunate. A person ought to be able to walk into the station house, explain a problem, and receive resolution. Sometimes it used to be that simple. It just isn’t now. CAPS isn’t a perfect community policing program. It has received consistently low marks on the very Problem Solving that is supposed to be at its core. But not only do other systems also have failings, this is the only one available to us at this time.
Another failing is the mandatory one hour length of CAPS meetings. Due to overtime constraints, I’ve heard the City ordered all meetings to end after one hour. You may have ten times more crime and complexity in your beat, but you still receive the same one hour to resolve your issues that the quietest beat in the city gets. That is an outrage, and needs to change right now. On our end, we will do a better job packaging our concerns, when possible in advance to help save time in the formal meetings.
The next thing is the ultimate resolution of problems. On the issue of kids severely beating each other on the way home from schools, we assembled a plan to extend the supervision offered at school to the surrounding streets by combining police and citizen presence after school. This may appear to mean the police are forcing us to do their jobs for them. However with entrenched poverty, gangs and drug sales all around us our role is greater than simply calling 911 after we have lost control.
All kids have disagreements and sometimes fights occur. However one result of our kids living in environments that tolerate violence is that they have a greater threshold for violence themselves. This results in grievous injuries in fights that under normal circumstances would be briefly bruising encounters. A child having the right to an education includes the right to obtain it in safety.
I often hear it said that the parents should just handle this stuff. That isn’t happening, and we can’t afford to trade more children hoping for what ought to be. The police certainly have a role, and part of this process is tracking results to use them more effectively as well. We should not hesitate to be demanding of our police as long as we are fair.
Back to the beat meeting. Our goal was to begin aggressively solving problems. We succeeded in beginning that process. Going forward, we need all the help we can get to solve 2431’s issues. The crime triangle process should take about ten-fifteen minutes. That means we deal effectively with two or three major issues every month. That’s considerable. Some, like the 1345 Lunt building, will require monthly checkups for a long time to come. The bottom line is this: It’s our beat, our meeting, and our responsibility.
One final note. I’m compiling a list of all the graffiti locations in 2431. That includes Morse, Lunt, Farwell and Pratt from Clark Street to the lake. I’m going to call 311 and give them the list every single day until it gets cleaned up. If you all want to help, call 311 every day and give them the same list. If they start getting 20-30 calls a day, maybe we can stop the gangs from using the neighborhood as a billboard. I’m no longer going to see that everywhere I go in our neighborhood.
Friday, September 23, 2005
* Glenwood Avenue Art Fest - PREVIEW
GD or Nothin' Art-Work on Mr. Blocks Building... And Beyond
Say what you want, I say Morze Avenue still has Open Air Drug Market Salesman! Here is one of their markings at the 1340 West Morse property. Or is it part of the Special Service Area #24 funded Art fest?
Say what you want, I say the Morze Avenue Open Air Drug Market Salesman still own the corner of Greenleaf Avenue and Glenwood too. Or is this part of the Glenwood Art festival?
Say what you want, I say the Morse Avenue Open Air Drug Market Salesman/Artist spell worse than me. Is it Morze or Morse Avenue? Maybe this is the Moore/Morse/Morze Gang?
Whatever it is, it needs to be removed, and fast. Speaking of fast....
...I'll be finishing up the motorcycle racing season this weekend in Baraboo. It is wonderful up in the hills of Wisconsin this time of year. If the 4 hour drive isn't too much, come up and watch me compete. For all others out there who sit on your duff ... I'll see you Monday.
Say what you want, I say Morze Avenue still has Open Air Drug Market Salesman! Here is one of their markings at the 1340 West Morse property. Or is it part of the Special Service Area #24 funded Art fest?
Say what you want, I say the Morze Avenue Open Air Drug Market Salesman still own the corner of Greenleaf Avenue and Glenwood too. Or is this part of the Glenwood Art festival?
Say what you want, I say the Morse Avenue Open Air Drug Market Salesman/Artist spell worse than me. Is it Morze or Morse Avenue? Maybe this is the Moore/Morse/Morze Gang?
Whatever it is, it needs to be removed, and fast. Speaking of fast....
...I'll be finishing up the motorcycle racing season this weekend in Baraboo. It is wonderful up in the hills of Wisconsin this time of year. If the 4 hour drive isn't too much, come up and watch me compete. For all others out there who sit on your duff ... I'll see you Monday.
* Renters Kicked Out
Stealth Condo Building
You have seen these units go vacant on Greenleaf and Estes for the last year. Someone buys one of these courtyard affordable rent buildings. Then, the water is shut and out go the renters.
The new owner adds new lights, drywalls, paints, he puts in new doors & windows. He works the system to add 30 new PIN numbers and poof, instant condos.
" As you know, what the Alderman wants - the Alderman gets." said Alderman Moore at last nights map zoning meeting at Loyola fieldhouse.
When asked why this is happening at a meeting, Alderman Moore blames it on the republicans. Was that right Alderman Moore? Somehow I don't believe the republicans knew about this building and you didn't know anything about these stealth condo units.
You said you know the ward like the back of your hand. Couldn't you have warned us about these stealth condos with a infomercial?
You have seen these units go vacant on Greenleaf and Estes for the last year. Someone buys one of these courtyard affordable rent buildings. Then, the water is shut and out go the renters.
The new owner adds new lights, drywalls, paints, he puts in new doors & windows. He works the system to add 30 new PIN numbers and poof, instant condos.
" As you know, what the Alderman wants - the Alderman gets." said Alderman Moore at last nights map zoning meeting at Loyola fieldhouse.
When asked why this is happening at a meeting, Alderman Moore blames it on the republicans. Was that right Alderman Moore? Somehow I don't believe the republicans knew about this building and you didn't know anything about these stealth condo units.
You said you know the ward like the back of your hand. Couldn't you have warned us about these stealth condos with a infomercial?
* Alderman Makes Whisper About Jaywalker Tax
"I would sure hate to have this be viewed as another source of revenue for the city. They're ticketing cars. Now, they're going to start ticketing people. I see the potential for this to get a little out of hand," said Alderman Joe Moore (49th).
From the Alderman that brought the Foie Gras issue to City Council comes this quote. Please Alderman Moore with the Special Service Area taxes (19 and 24) you approved, you are going to complain about this?
Have some backbone Alderman Moore. Show some courage Alderman Moore. Abolish Special Service Area tax 19 and 24. That will save the taxpayers close to a 1/2 million dollars a year.
From the Alderman that brought the Foie Gras issue to City Council comes this quote. Please Alderman Moore with the Special Service Area taxes (19 and 24) you approved, you are going to complain about this?
Have some backbone Alderman Moore. Show some courage Alderman Moore. Abolish Special Service Area tax 19 and 24. That will save the taxpayers close to a 1/2 million dollars a year.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
* Terrifying Two-Flat Teardown
Reader Submitted "Broken Heart" Story
Hi Craig,
I was really upset on Saturday to find out that 1225 West Farwell, a beautifully maintained greystone 2-flat has been sold to a developer and they are planning to tear it down.
The only reason these developers are sharpening their knives for this property is because it has the misfortune of being on a double lot and they can put the magically-million-dollar-making 6 condos on the land.
The same people have owned and maintained the building for over 30 years. I am attaching photos showing how well-maintained it is. I talked to them on Saturday as I was taking photos and they sounded like a developer had gotten into their heads and filled it with nonsense.
I don't think they even bothered to try and list the property before caving in. It is just so sad.
I myself, don't oppose teardowns of "blighted" properties. But a solid stone and brick building? It makes me sick to my stomach and God knows we don't need what happened in Lakeview, to happen here?
A cinderblock city over is down there, with no character (and no parking)!
Anyway, in case you're interested I am sending this. I already emailed Michael Land. I really don't want to see this happen to our neighborhood.
Signed,
Terrified of this Teardown
Hi Craig,
I was really upset on Saturday to find out that 1225 West Farwell, a beautifully maintained greystone 2-flat has been sold to a developer and they are planning to tear it down.
The only reason these developers are sharpening their knives for this property is because it has the misfortune of being on a double lot and they can put the magically-million-dollar-making 6 condos on the land.
The same people have owned and maintained the building for over 30 years. I am attaching photos showing how well-maintained it is. I talked to them on Saturday as I was taking photos and they sounded like a developer had gotten into their heads and filled it with nonsense.
I don't think they even bothered to try and list the property before caving in. It is just so sad.
I myself, don't oppose teardowns of "blighted" properties. But a solid stone and brick building? It makes me sick to my stomach and God knows we don't need what happened in Lakeview, to happen here?
A cinderblock city over is down there, with no character (and no parking)!
Anyway, in case you're interested I am sending this. I already emailed Michael Land. I really don't want to see this happen to our neighborhood.
Signed,
Terrified of this Teardown
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
* Who's TIF is It? Part 3
Loyola University Begins $400M Tax Incremented Project
September 20, 2005
By Colleen Corley, News Writer
Loyola University-Chicago's $400 million undertaking to revitalize its Lake Shore campus in Rogers Park began this week with a sealed-bid marketing process. Phase one of the mixed-use development includes building 400,000 square feet of space built around the university's eponymous elevated train station there.
The university has acquired properties surrounding its Rogers Park-located campus for decades, but the plans for a transportation-oriented development, including 40,000 square feet of retail space and about 400 residential units, has only been incubating for a couple years, Newcastle Ltd. president Mike Haney told CPN. Newcastle, a local real estate advisory and development firm, acts as a market consultant for the university's real estate ventures.
Using 50- to 100-year leases, Loyola allows developers to build residential and retail properties while retaining ownership. The plan's economic viability depends on the use of tax increments, including one $20.4 million chunk approved by the city this week for the renovation of the 14-story Mundelein Center.
Haney noted that over the next 22 years (the tax increment period lasts 23 years and was established last year), the residential and retail developments will fill Loyola's pockets with about $46 million.
September 20, 2005
By Colleen Corley, News Writer
Loyola University-Chicago's $400 million undertaking to revitalize its Lake Shore campus in Rogers Park began this week with a sealed-bid marketing process. Phase one of the mixed-use development includes building 400,000 square feet of space built around the university's eponymous elevated train station there.
The university has acquired properties surrounding its Rogers Park-located campus for decades, but the plans for a transportation-oriented development, including 40,000 square feet of retail space and about 400 residential units, has only been incubating for a couple years, Newcastle Ltd. president Mike Haney told CPN. Newcastle, a local real estate advisory and development firm, acts as a market consultant for the university's real estate ventures.
Using 50- to 100-year leases, Loyola allows developers to build residential and retail properties while retaining ownership. The plan's economic viability depends on the use of tax increments, including one $20.4 million chunk approved by the city this week for the renovation of the 14-story Mundelein Center.
Haney noted that over the next 22 years (the tax increment period lasts 23 years and was established last year), the residential and retail developments will fill Loyola's pockets with about $46 million.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
* Alderman Moore's Puppet Speaks
Craig, at the beat meeting last night:
1. You attacked the police with what they say were false charges you made about them not doing their job.
2. You attacked your own neighbor Jim Ginderske for passing a signup sheet.
3. You yell and scream over top of other neighbors when they are are trying to have their chance to say something at the beat meeting, including Jim and Tom Wesgard and others of your neighbors from Lunt who were trying to complete the CAPS problem solving model.
4. You are generally rude and obnoxious at just about every public meeting that we have both attended, to the point where other people (not just me) are yelling at you to sit down and give others a chance to talk.
5. Here in this email you confront Katy and Steve about their own whereabouts when you were outside "looking" for them for 15 minutes. You imply that since you couldn't find them in that short period of time, they are slouches who can't be trusted to keep a promise.
6. Then while you are out looking for them, you get in the face of the DevCorp workers,calling them lazy, and saying who knows what in intimidating and attacking words to them.
And you're surprised that they called the police?
If you recall at the beat meeting last night, Sgt. Kulp said if a person is in some fear of imminent danger, they can sign a complaint for assault. Now, I wasn't there and thus don't know what happened, but based on my past experience with you detailed above, I have every reason to believe they did fear for their safety, and thus called police.
Instead of griping about it to me and others in this email, I think you should be saying thankful prayers to whatever God you might worship that you indeed were not arrested.
Kevin O'Neil
Beat 2431 CAPS facilitator
1. You attacked the police with what they say were false charges you made about them not doing their job.
2. You attacked your own neighbor Jim Ginderske for passing a signup sheet.
3. You yell and scream over top of other neighbors when they are are trying to have their chance to say something at the beat meeting, including Jim and Tom Wesgard and others of your neighbors from Lunt who were trying to complete the CAPS problem solving model.
4. You are generally rude and obnoxious at just about every public meeting that we have both attended, to the point where other people (not just me) are yelling at you to sit down and give others a chance to talk.
5. Here in this email you confront Katy and Steve about their own whereabouts when you were outside "looking" for them for 15 minutes. You imply that since you couldn't find them in that short period of time, they are slouches who can't be trusted to keep a promise.
6. Then while you are out looking for them, you get in the face of the DevCorp workers,calling them lazy, and saying who knows what in intimidating and attacking words to them.
And you're surprised that they called the police?
If you recall at the beat meeting last night, Sgt. Kulp said if a person is in some fear of imminent danger, they can sign a complaint for assault. Now, I wasn't there and thus don't know what happened, but based on my past experience with you detailed above, I have every reason to believe they did fear for their safety, and thus called police.
Instead of griping about it to me and others in this email, I think you should be saying thankful prayers to whatever God you might worship that you indeed were not arrested.
Kevin O'Neil
Beat 2431 CAPS facilitator
* Want the Police to Check ID's ???
Take a Photo of a SSA Worker!
See the guy holding up the tree doing nothing.
No, not the one sitting on his ass doing nothing. The guy holding up a tree, DOING NOTHING. Let me tell you about the lazy, do nothing Special Service Area Janitor.
He tried to get me arrested. Yes, for taking his photograph.
So, two officers today took about 10 minutes of their and mine time to do the following:
1.) Check my ID.
2.) Write up a white index card on my information.
3.) Ask why I took the guys photo?
4.) Asked where I lived, if the information on my ID was correct. Then Sergeant Jones arrived. He verified who I was.
This incident happened while I was volunteering my time to monitor the students leaving the Sullivan High School. A volunteer duty that was brought up at the CAPS meeting last night. I was out there about 10 minutes to 15 minutes before I got the third degree by the police at Morse and Ashland.
See, two police officers were summoned by the above janitor, because I took his picture in public.
I took a picture of him doing nothing.
Funny thing, Mark Semon, his boss, was encouraging him to press charges. He tried to pad the problem by claiming I was intimidating the janitors by taking their photos.
See...one of me with a camera intimidates the ex-felons DevCorp North hires.
Afterward the janitor wanted to get even and fight me. He tossed his janitors vest on the ground and challenged me. As you can see by the look on his face, he was giving me the OOOOHHH, you're so tough" routine.. As he said, two can play that game, come on". As to show me he meant business.
I guess not doing any work all day,... this guy was full of energy?
I told him to wait until he was off the taxpayers time clock.
See the guy holding up the tree doing nothing.
No, not the one sitting on his ass doing nothing. The guy holding up a tree, DOING NOTHING. Let me tell you about the lazy, do nothing Special Service Area Janitor.
He tried to get me arrested. Yes, for taking his photograph.
So, two officers today took about 10 minutes of their and mine time to do the following:
1.) Check my ID.
2.) Write up a white index card on my information.
3.) Ask why I took the guys photo?
4.) Asked where I lived, if the information on my ID was correct. Then Sergeant Jones arrived. He verified who I was.
This incident happened while I was volunteering my time to monitor the students leaving the Sullivan High School. A volunteer duty that was brought up at the CAPS meeting last night. I was out there about 10 minutes to 15 minutes before I got the third degree by the police at Morse and Ashland.
See, two police officers were summoned by the above janitor, because I took his picture in public.
I took a picture of him doing nothing.
Funny thing, Mark Semon, his boss, was encouraging him to press charges. He tried to pad the problem by claiming I was intimidating the janitors by taking their photos.
See...one of me with a camera intimidates the ex-felons DevCorp North hires.
Afterward the janitor wanted to get even and fight me. He tossed his janitors vest on the ground and challenged me. As you can see by the look on his face, he was giving me the OOOOHHH, you're so tough" routine.. As he said, two can play that game, come on". As to show me he meant business.
I guess not doing any work all day,... this guy was full of energy?
I told him to wait until he was off the taxpayers time clock.
* It's A Political Flier
Done Deal Meeting - Really Political Rally
Not again. Another downed flier. This time for a so-called zoning meeting. But this isn't true. The plan is a done deal. We are all just being hood-winked. Bam-boozled. We the community are being taken for a ride.
What this flier is really for is to promote Alderman Moore as a candidate. That's right. These fliers are for a political rally.
How do I know?
This lady told me so.
Christine, who claims to have got her marching orders from the ward office on the fliering, later told me that wasn't really the case. She doesn't work for the ward office. She is a cheerleader for the Aldermans campaign, posing as a community helper.
So, in reality, these fliers are nothing more than posters promoting the Alderman, well, as the Alderman.
She is part of the 49th ward democrats. She got her orders to flier last night at the monthly democratic meeting held at the Champeche Restaurant. The headquarters for all 49th ward democratic meetings according to Christine. This came straight from Christines mouth. This is the meeting she went for these fliers. Not the ward office. She didn't know much about any of the zoning issues. Heck, from the first photo, she doesn't know much on fliering either. They always fall on the ground, creating political litter.
Her friend on the other hand waved and said, " I'm goin' be famous.... I'm goin' to be on that Hell Hole"!
You bet you are! But why do we have to pick up the mess you two leave behind?
Not again. Another downed flier. This time for a so-called zoning meeting. But this isn't true. The plan is a done deal. We are all just being hood-winked. Bam-boozled. We the community are being taken for a ride.
What this flier is really for is to promote Alderman Moore as a candidate. That's right. These fliers are for a political rally.
How do I know?
This lady told me so.
Christine, who claims to have got her marching orders from the ward office on the fliering, later told me that wasn't really the case. She doesn't work for the ward office. She is a cheerleader for the Aldermans campaign, posing as a community helper.
So, in reality, these fliers are nothing more than posters promoting the Alderman, well, as the Alderman.
She is part of the 49th ward democrats. She got her orders to flier last night at the monthly democratic meeting held at the Champeche Restaurant. The headquarters for all 49th ward democratic meetings according to Christine. This came straight from Christines mouth. This is the meeting she went for these fliers. Not the ward office. She didn't know much about any of the zoning issues. Heck, from the first photo, she doesn't know much on fliering either. They always fall on the ground, creating political litter.
Her friend on the other hand waved and said, " I'm goin' be famous.... I'm goin' to be on that Hell Hole"!
You bet you are! But why do we have to pick up the mess you two leave behind?
* Special Service Area #19-24 Scandal
Pressure Washer Doesn't Squirt Hard Enough
Last week I reported about the power washer cleaning machine. The special favor a Special Service Area #24 commissioner was getting. Or shall I say got. From the photo above, it looks as if the taxpayers got screwed. Look at the gum that the power pressure washer couldn't remove. All the time wasted. We paid man hours for someone to watch this lousy job. Only at DevCorp North. Only under Kimberly Bares can you get away with this poor job.
From another angle, the finished job photo above. It looks as if the taxpayers got taken for a ride. Look at the pigeon poop, gum and rubber tire marks that didn't get removed by the super heavy duty, power pressure washer. Talk about a piss poor job.
How in the world do these executives at DevCorp North still have jobs? If I did my job this bad, I would be out of business!
Last week I reported about the power washer cleaning machine. The special favor a Special Service Area #24 commissioner was getting. Or shall I say got. From the photo above, it looks as if the taxpayers got screwed. Look at the gum that the power pressure washer couldn't remove. All the time wasted. We paid man hours for someone to watch this lousy job. Only at DevCorp North. Only under Kimberly Bares can you get away with this poor job.
From another angle, the finished job photo above. It looks as if the taxpayers got taken for a ride. Look at the pigeon poop, gum and rubber tire marks that didn't get removed by the super heavy duty, power pressure washer. Talk about a piss poor job.
How in the world do these executives at DevCorp North still have jobs? If I did my job this bad, I would be out of business!
Monday, September 19, 2005
* CAPS Beat 2431- Meeting Tonight
500 fliers for 20 to 30 People
As you can see by this already torn, official CAPS beat 2431 flier, a flier that has already fallen off a building and is now littering the ground, tonight at 7pm, Beat 2431 is holding a CAPS meeting at 1530 West Morse Avenue. That's right, a CAPS meeting.
Ever wonder why the same 20 or 30 people show up to CAPS beat 2431 meetings every month? I did. I went to my buddy Kevin O'Neil to find out.
Did you know, "500 fliers" are printed and distributed by Sharon according to Kevin O'Neil, the CAPS beat 2431 facilitator. "500 fliers". Wow that's a lot for such a small beat. Thank you very much Sharon and Kevin for doing this. But still, "500 fliers" and the same 20 to 30 people showing up.
Something must be wrong with this method of communication Kevin O'Neil uses if that's all that is showing up? The same old 20 to 30 people. It is almost like he doesn't want people to show up? So, I made 100 more fliers and passed them out for the meeting tonight. Let's see if that can add a few new faces to the crowd?
Kevin O'Neil said of my fliering, "It's great to know that none of your fliers will ever find their way to the street or sidewalks! You work magic with that tape, don't you buddy!"
No Kevin, I do miracles. Magic is for witches and warlocks.
Plus, if by chance, one of my "Broken Heart" of Rogers Park fliers did get tossed to the ground, you caught this on film, you logged it on your personal tattle tale website? That would be admitting you actually follow this content of this site. You don't want anyone to know that. Do you Kevin?
As you can see by this already torn, official CAPS beat 2431 flier, a flier that has already fallen off a building and is now littering the ground, tonight at 7pm, Beat 2431 is holding a CAPS meeting at 1530 West Morse Avenue. That's right, a CAPS meeting.
Ever wonder why the same 20 or 30 people show up to CAPS beat 2431 meetings every month? I did. I went to my buddy Kevin O'Neil to find out.
Did you know, "500 fliers" are printed and distributed by Sharon according to Kevin O'Neil, the CAPS beat 2431 facilitator. "500 fliers". Wow that's a lot for such a small beat. Thank you very much Sharon and Kevin for doing this. But still, "500 fliers" and the same 20 to 30 people showing up.
Something must be wrong with this method of communication Kevin O'Neil uses if that's all that is showing up? The same old 20 to 30 people. It is almost like he doesn't want people to show up? So, I made 100 more fliers and passed them out for the meeting tonight. Let's see if that can add a few new faces to the crowd?
Kevin O'Neil said of my fliering, "It's great to know that none of your fliers will ever find their way to the street or sidewalks! You work magic with that tape, don't you buddy!"
No Kevin, I do miracles. Magic is for witches and warlocks.
Plus, if by chance, one of my "Broken Heart" of Rogers Park fliers did get tossed to the ground, you caught this on film, you logged it on your personal tattle tale website? That would be admitting you actually follow this content of this site. You don't want anyone to know that. Do you Kevin?
Sunday, September 18, 2005
* GD Tagging or Art?
Do you know what street in Rogers Park this blue gd tag/art is located on? Extra points if you can name the hundred block it's in.
Hint, It's in Beat 2431.
* Who's TIF is It? Part 2
A $400 million, mixed-use commercial project next to Loyola’s lakefront campus? A separate $20.4 million public subsidy for the renovation of Loyola’s Mundelein Center?
So, a local developer boils down his motivation, strategy, and expected outcomes in a short quip to a reporter, "Gentrification occurs, the yuppies move in, and all of a sudden you have Starbucks and Trader Joe's."
That statement represents a mindset full of assumptions, all reduced to such simplicity. Well, its not news to us, but we are glad to know how investing in Rogers Park makes sense to “some” developers. I bet, in fact, I know of the existence of other developers who have higher motivations and goals that are more in tune with the needs of our entire community.
There’s some history behind this TIF project.
In our 49th ward’s 2003 aldermanic election, the issues of TIF’s and the need to plan for community development to benefit residents were debated. A few months after the election, on July 30, Alderman Moore convened a large public meeting at Loyola University on the planned Sheridan/Devon TIF. RPCAN did tons of great research on this particular TIF proposal and turned out scores of Rogers Park residents for the meeting.
At the time, I wrote, “While the 3-page TIF Redevelopment Plan contained many generalities and grand ideals about development goals, the major points of contention focused on its vagueness and lack of specificity in areas that really matter. Among its many oversights, for instance, was the lack of specifics about how the plan will support existing small businesses in the area and how the community will benefit.”
I wrote (on progressiverogerspark @ yahoogroups.com) that entirely missing from the document or only vaguely referenced were goals and objectives (1) to prevent displacement, (2) preserve/create affordable housing, (3) mandates for employment of current residents by TIF developers, (4) or even exactly what kind of new businesses the TIF planners hope to attract. Other major cities in America do planning with these objectives in mind. Why not here?
Additional criticism at the Loyola meeting was fueled by the shady nature of the "TIF Task Force" oversight body. After a while, with the alderman sidestepping questions and ignoring criticism of the proposal, there was a not-so-surprising revelation.
Residents in the audience at the meeting noted that Blacks and Latinos comprise 2/3 of Rogers Park’s citizens. Several asked repeatedly about the composition of the alderman’s 17-member Sheridan/Devon TIF Oversight Task Force. Joe and DevCorp North Executive Director Kimberly Bares finally admitted that there were no Blacks, no Latinos, and no renters appointed to Joe’s “task force.”
Another fundamental concern in this episode for me was the tremendous deployment of aldermanic and city government staff, energy, and financial resources to support what was essentially a TIF to benefit private interests – important public assets leveraged at taxpayers' expense.
As a candidate in the 2003 aldermanic election, I pledged to lead and aggressively support inclusive, comprehensive, and accountable community planning and action that benefits the greatest number of residents possible.
We all know there is a critical need for sound development and economic investment in Rogers Park. Loyola University, rightfully, is a major player in that. There is also a great deal of boasting here as well about our open and honest democratic processes, and about honoring our diversity. I’d expect Loyola to be more sensitive to the issues I outline here.
On the evening of July 30, 2003 – a few months after an election where our alderman should have learned to care about our demand for accountability – we were permitted only a very brief glimpse of a very big government project aimed at meeting private needs. What we discovered, yet again, was that none of the principles we hold as sacred are truly operative here.
Peace, Michael J. Harrington
MJH123@aol.com
So, a local developer boils down his motivation, strategy, and expected outcomes in a short quip to a reporter, "Gentrification occurs, the yuppies move in, and all of a sudden you have Starbucks and Trader Joe's."
That statement represents a mindset full of assumptions, all reduced to such simplicity. Well, its not news to us, but we are glad to know how investing in Rogers Park makes sense to “some” developers. I bet, in fact, I know of the existence of other developers who have higher motivations and goals that are more in tune with the needs of our entire community.
There’s some history behind this TIF project.
In our 49th ward’s 2003 aldermanic election, the issues of TIF’s and the need to plan for community development to benefit residents were debated. A few months after the election, on July 30, Alderman Moore convened a large public meeting at Loyola University on the planned Sheridan/Devon TIF. RPCAN did tons of great research on this particular TIF proposal and turned out scores of Rogers Park residents for the meeting.
At the time, I wrote, “While the 3-page TIF Redevelopment Plan contained many generalities and grand ideals about development goals, the major points of contention focused on its vagueness and lack of specificity in areas that really matter. Among its many oversights, for instance, was the lack of specifics about how the plan will support existing small businesses in the area and how the community will benefit.”
I wrote (on progressiverogerspark @ yahoogroups.com) that entirely missing from the document or only vaguely referenced were goals and objectives (1) to prevent displacement, (2) preserve/create affordable housing, (3) mandates for employment of current residents by TIF developers, (4) or even exactly what kind of new businesses the TIF planners hope to attract. Other major cities in America do planning with these objectives in mind. Why not here?
Additional criticism at the Loyola meeting was fueled by the shady nature of the "TIF Task Force" oversight body. After a while, with the alderman sidestepping questions and ignoring criticism of the proposal, there was a not-so-surprising revelation.
Residents in the audience at the meeting noted that Blacks and Latinos comprise 2/3 of Rogers Park’s citizens. Several asked repeatedly about the composition of the alderman’s 17-member Sheridan/Devon TIF Oversight Task Force. Joe and DevCorp North Executive Director Kimberly Bares finally admitted that there were no Blacks, no Latinos, and no renters appointed to Joe’s “task force.”
Another fundamental concern in this episode for me was the tremendous deployment of aldermanic and city government staff, energy, and financial resources to support what was essentially a TIF to benefit private interests – important public assets leveraged at taxpayers' expense.
As a candidate in the 2003 aldermanic election, I pledged to lead and aggressively support inclusive, comprehensive, and accountable community planning and action that benefits the greatest number of residents possible.
We all know there is a critical need for sound development and economic investment in Rogers Park. Loyola University, rightfully, is a major player in that. There is also a great deal of boasting here as well about our open and honest democratic processes, and about honoring our diversity. I’d expect Loyola to be more sensitive to the issues I outline here.
On the evening of July 30, 2003 – a few months after an election where our alderman should have learned to care about our demand for accountability – we were permitted only a very brief glimpse of a very big government project aimed at meeting private needs. What we discovered, yet again, was that none of the principles we hold as sacred are truly operative here.
Peace, Michael J. Harrington
MJH123@aol.com
Saturday, September 17, 2005
* Who's TIF is It? Part 1
So now that the TIF dust has settled and there's not much we can do about it, the truth finally comes out.
Too bad.
There goes all the land for the much needed park space in the southeast corner of Rogers Park, the most park poor area of the community!
AND we're going to add 400 more residential units (that could be close to a thousand people) who also will be without park space or lakefront access (Hartigan Beach is looking smaller all the time)...
Guess all that talk at the TIF meetings, that Loyola has no plans and that they weren't funding the TIF study for their own benefit, was so much smoke screen.
Well pray tell!
Of course, I'm sure they'll say this development proposal came out of meetings soliciting community input.
If you consider the approximately 30 people (some of which were Loyola employees/students), who attended the so-called charette, as representative of the community.
Donald Gordon
Executive Director, Rogers Park Conservancy
Too bad.
There goes all the land for the much needed park space in the southeast corner of Rogers Park, the most park poor area of the community!
AND we're going to add 400 more residential units (that could be close to a thousand people) who also will be without park space or lakefront access (Hartigan Beach is looking smaller all the time)...
Guess all that talk at the TIF meetings, that Loyola has no plans and that they weren't funding the TIF study for their own benefit, was so much smoke screen.
Well pray tell!
Of course, I'm sure they'll say this development proposal came out of meetings soliciting community input.
If you consider the approximately 30 people (some of which were Loyola employees/students), who attended the so-called charette, as representative of the community.
Donald Gordon
Executive Director, Rogers Park Conservancy
* Loyola Cashes in on TIF Money... Right Away, in the First Year
Again, I told you so. Our Alderman and DevCorp North sold out the neighborhood to a university that doesn't pay taxes but owns alot of land. The rich get richer, the poor get kicked out of the neighborhood. This is Alderman Moore and DevCorp North's game plan. Make no mistake about it.
"Gentrification occurs, the yuppies move in....." said John Figlioli, a principal with Garrett Realty & Development Inc.
With a freshman class pushing 2100 students this year, and the largest enrollment ever...
Q.) How many students are of color? A.) Not many at all.
Q.) What is the campus make-up ( Household Income status) ? A.) Mostly white, well to do kids from the burbs and other states.
Q.) Is the student body filled with Sullivan High School or Howard Area graduates from Rogers Park? A.) I think not. They couldn't afford the tuition.
Q.) So this is the make-up of a diverse Rogers Park? A.) You decide.
Chicago Tribune story.
"Gentrification occurs, the yuppies move in....." said John Figlioli, a principal with Garrett Realty & Development Inc.
With a freshman class pushing 2100 students this year, and the largest enrollment ever...
Q.) How many students are of color? A.) Not many at all.
Q.) What is the campus make-up ( Household Income status) ? A.) Mostly white, well to do kids from the burbs and other states.
Q.) Is the student body filled with Sullivan High School or Howard Area graduates from Rogers Park? A.) I think not. They couldn't afford the tuition.
Q.) So this is the make-up of a diverse Rogers Park? A.) You decide.
Chicago Tribune story.
* The James Report
On tap this week: A new bar, a new fund-raiser and the new “Adelphi Plan”
Hi all!
Want to give a shout out to the new upscale pub at Jarvis and Greenview. Congrats on finally opening the doors. These folks very courageously offered a couple hours of open bar to start things off right. They took over the old Charmers space, and although that spot is gone as we knew it, they kept most of the old art deco bar. It’s nice to see new friends not cut away all remnants of our past as they join us for hopefully many good years to come.
This Tuesday is a HUGE Hurricane Benefit at Double Door. Most everyone involved is from Rogers Park, and Robbie Fulks, MWC, Sexfist, and Outlaw Family Band are going to donate the profits of a truly great show to the local Red Cross. We’ll throw up a flier here as a reminder in a day or so. (Thanks Craig!)
I attended that Adelphi Theater meeting. Everyone has an opinion, and here’s mine:
Development is good. Part of the reason its shocking is because so little has been planned well here for so long. Also, building means change, and change is stressful, and sometimes it feels like we’re losing the reliable ambiance we call home. At times that does make me feel unsettled.
That said I have some specific concerns about this proposal. First, the old theater is clearly in need of demolition. Almost no single-screen venue continues to operate very profitably, and thus no new owner could likely afford the extensive renovation coupled with the steep price of Hollywood films and sell enough tickets to make it work. We can argue about it, but that’s how it is in the age of the multiplex. As for other uses, the renovation costs are manageable only if a viable business can recoup them afterward, and without a truly ambitious and visionary business plan, along with a healthy appetite for risk, that isn’t going to happen.
So it’s torn down and replaced with yet another condo. Is that bad?
Not necessarily. I’m not going through the whole meeting, but the crux of the zoning change is this: We allow a much larger structure, and the builder will “give” us a total of 10% “affordable” housing, which would be three units. His assurance not to offer any affordable unit if he fails to receive the desired change makes his priorities clear. He’s here to maximize profits, which is good, and is not concerned about what happens after he’s gone, which is troubling.
The thing is this: I don’t like the idea of treating affordable housing as a bargaining chip for developments that radically alter streetscapes. They are separate issues, and ought not to be linked. Affordable housing is critical, but at least as important is establishing a cohesive plan for Clark Street. There is a stretch of Clark in Evanston that is built in the fashion of the proposed change. If you care about this, go and look at that. In my opinion it is a towering edifice, and thus feels like walking in a canyon alongside speeding cars.
For that reason alone, the five-story “Adelphi Plan” is fatally flawed. I would love to see a new three-story condo building in that space, storefronts and all. Twenty years from now a hometown/village look will serve us far better than the canyon that Clark Street will become if a taller precedent takes hold. We have an opportunity now to build in ways that most other communities in Chicago missed or sold off to the highest bidder. Squandering this juncture would be as tragic as trading our lakefront for a marina could have been.
The twenty-three allowable units in that building would yield roughly over eight million dollars in proceeds for the builder. Folks, believe me that would include a substantial profit. An extra two floors gives our children a towering trend setter and our builder an additional three million or so in revenue.
That’s the deal. You decide.
One other thing: The architect for this project told us they were “getting the undesirables out”. It was all I could do to remain calm and remind him that it was MY neighbors he was referring to as “undesirables”.
This was a Barbara Bush- style slip that gave us insight into the belief system of this contractor. It was also a giant red flag that says if we don’t help them factor in what we want our neighborhood to look like, we will have no one but ourselves to blame when it is not to our liking.
Until next Saturday,
James Ginderske
Hi all!
Want to give a shout out to the new upscale pub at Jarvis and Greenview. Congrats on finally opening the doors. These folks very courageously offered a couple hours of open bar to start things off right. They took over the old Charmers space, and although that spot is gone as we knew it, they kept most of the old art deco bar. It’s nice to see new friends not cut away all remnants of our past as they join us for hopefully many good years to come.
This Tuesday is a HUGE Hurricane Benefit at Double Door. Most everyone involved is from Rogers Park, and Robbie Fulks, MWC, Sexfist, and Outlaw Family Band are going to donate the profits of a truly great show to the local Red Cross. We’ll throw up a flier here as a reminder in a day or so. (Thanks Craig!)
I attended that Adelphi Theater meeting. Everyone has an opinion, and here’s mine:
Development is good. Part of the reason its shocking is because so little has been planned well here for so long. Also, building means change, and change is stressful, and sometimes it feels like we’re losing the reliable ambiance we call home. At times that does make me feel unsettled.
That said I have some specific concerns about this proposal. First, the old theater is clearly in need of demolition. Almost no single-screen venue continues to operate very profitably, and thus no new owner could likely afford the extensive renovation coupled with the steep price of Hollywood films and sell enough tickets to make it work. We can argue about it, but that’s how it is in the age of the multiplex. As for other uses, the renovation costs are manageable only if a viable business can recoup them afterward, and without a truly ambitious and visionary business plan, along with a healthy appetite for risk, that isn’t going to happen.
So it’s torn down and replaced with yet another condo. Is that bad?
Not necessarily. I’m not going through the whole meeting, but the crux of the zoning change is this: We allow a much larger structure, and the builder will “give” us a total of 10% “affordable” housing, which would be three units. His assurance not to offer any affordable unit if he fails to receive the desired change makes his priorities clear. He’s here to maximize profits, which is good, and is not concerned about what happens after he’s gone, which is troubling.
The thing is this: I don’t like the idea of treating affordable housing as a bargaining chip for developments that radically alter streetscapes. They are separate issues, and ought not to be linked. Affordable housing is critical, but at least as important is establishing a cohesive plan for Clark Street. There is a stretch of Clark in Evanston that is built in the fashion of the proposed change. If you care about this, go and look at that. In my opinion it is a towering edifice, and thus feels like walking in a canyon alongside speeding cars.
For that reason alone, the five-story “Adelphi Plan” is fatally flawed. I would love to see a new three-story condo building in that space, storefronts and all. Twenty years from now a hometown/village look will serve us far better than the canyon that Clark Street will become if a taller precedent takes hold. We have an opportunity now to build in ways that most other communities in Chicago missed or sold off to the highest bidder. Squandering this juncture would be as tragic as trading our lakefront for a marina could have been.
The twenty-three allowable units in that building would yield roughly over eight million dollars in proceeds for the builder. Folks, believe me that would include a substantial profit. An extra two floors gives our children a towering trend setter and our builder an additional three million or so in revenue.
That’s the deal. You decide.
One other thing: The architect for this project told us they were “getting the undesirables out”. It was all I could do to remain calm and remind him that it was MY neighbors he was referring to as “undesirables”.
This was a Barbara Bush- style slip that gave us insight into the belief system of this contractor. It was also a giant red flag that says if we don’t help them factor in what we want our neighborhood to look like, we will have no one but ourselves to blame when it is not to our liking.
Until next Saturday,
James Ginderske
Friday, September 16, 2005
* Special Service Area #19-24 Scandal
Power Washing The Commissioners Property Only
When it comes to service for the Special Service Area properties, this property gets the (Royal) - (Treatment).
Windows get washed at the taxpayers expense, snow gets shoveled. While all other businesses don't get this same special treatment, this building does.
Today the Special Service Area janitors office/Special Service Area commissioner property was blocked to foot traffic so the sidewalk could be power washed. More special work for a special person with clout.
I asked Mark Semon if all the other properties along the Special Service Area 19 and 24 were going to be power/pressure washed also. Mark Semon said "No...Just this one"!
Asked if he got a permit from the City of Chicago to block the sidewalk, Mark Semon said, " No Comment!"
I asked if the Special Service Area commisioners voted on this power washing activity? Mark Semon said, "Talk to the boss"!
But the so-called boss wasn't talking, except on the phone. When I asked for her to speak, she went inside quickly, running for cover.
Here is the bad boy power washer. The owner didn't want to give me a demo on how it worked. He had "no comment" either.
As some seniors from 1250 W. Morse, Morningside Senior building walked west, they were forced into the street of Morse Avenue because of this big monster. This nearly exact location is where a week earlier, one of their own seniors got hit by car and died. Walking in the street. Not one of the DevCorp workers helped direct them around the sidewalk barricade or explained why the sidewalk was blocked off.
The seniors were not happy having to cross into the dangerous street of Morse Avenue. As the community mourns the death of one, DevCorp North jeopardizes the lifes of others.
Here is the tight lipped Mark Semon along with the PSI Pressure washer man. A suburban business no less. Couldn't DevCorp North find a City of Chicago Pressure Washing Company? And speaking of Pressure Washers, didn't DevCorp North claim to already own one? Check the garage next to the expensive tractor and sidewalk sweeper that are collecting dust. Let me know what you find?
When it comes to service for the Special Service Area properties, this property gets the (Royal) - (Treatment).
Windows get washed at the taxpayers expense, snow gets shoveled. While all other businesses don't get this same special treatment, this building does.
Today the Special Service Area janitors office/Special Service Area commissioner property was blocked to foot traffic so the sidewalk could be power washed. More special work for a special person with clout.
I asked Mark Semon if all the other properties along the Special Service Area 19 and 24 were going to be power/pressure washed also. Mark Semon said "No...Just this one"!
Asked if he got a permit from the City of Chicago to block the sidewalk, Mark Semon said, " No Comment!"
I asked if the Special Service Area commisioners voted on this power washing activity? Mark Semon said, "Talk to the boss"!
But the so-called boss wasn't talking, except on the phone. When I asked for her to speak, she went inside quickly, running for cover.
Here is the bad boy power washer. The owner didn't want to give me a demo on how it worked. He had "no comment" either.
As some seniors from 1250 W. Morse, Morningside Senior building walked west, they were forced into the street of Morse Avenue because of this big monster. This nearly exact location is where a week earlier, one of their own seniors got hit by car and died. Walking in the street. Not one of the DevCorp workers helped direct them around the sidewalk barricade or explained why the sidewalk was blocked off.
The seniors were not happy having to cross into the dangerous street of Morse Avenue. As the community mourns the death of one, DevCorp North jeopardizes the lifes of others.
Here is the tight lipped Mark Semon along with the PSI Pressure washer man. A suburban business no less. Couldn't DevCorp North find a City of Chicago Pressure Washing Company? And speaking of Pressure Washers, didn't DevCorp North claim to already own one? Check the garage next to the expensive tractor and sidewalk sweeper that are collecting dust. Let me know what you find?
* The Idiot Jokes Keep Coming - Updated
"If he (Alderman Moore) really wanted to address the culinary concerns of the 49th Ward, he wouldn't be struggling to ban foie gras but would propose an ordinance requiring Dumpsters to be equipped with salt and pepper shakers.
Neil Steinberg
Chicago Sun-Times
Thanks to a loyal reader for this one.
Update: David Fagus caught wind of the post and added his two cents.
Neil Steinberg
Chicago Sun-Times
Thanks to a loyal reader for this one.
Update: David Fagus caught wind of the post and added his two cents.
* Friday Squatter Blogging
Rogers Park Refugees Still Have No Home
6:00 am, September 14, 2005. Another week in Rogers Park. Where is our world Mr. Fix it leader Alderman Moore? When she wakes up, she will be hungry enough to eat a goose liver. This refugee camp was set up on Lunt Avenue and the lake front. The beanie baby guards the tennis shoes.
6:00 am, September 14, 2005. Another week in Rogers Park. Where is our world Mr. Fix it leader Alderman Moore? When she wakes up, she will be hungry enough to eat a goose liver. This refugee camp was set up on Lunt Avenue and the lake front. The beanie baby guards the tennis shoes.
* News Idiot of the Week - Updated
Alderman Moore Garners Award as Cities Biggest Goof-ball
Alderman Moore got tar and feathered by the mainstream media this week. Raked over the coals. So now the City of Chicago (and beyond) residents that follow the "news of the day" found out in the past few days, what I've been telling you all the past 3 years. Alderman Moore is a "quack."
You gotta feel sorry for those who "waddle" behind this elected official. Alderman Moore "Ducks" the tough issues and "Fowls" up the easy ones.
A sample taste of 100 voters in The "Broken Heart" Poll shows 8% of my readers think Alderman Moore still has brain cells left. The other 92% think Alderman Moore has lost his mind. I not ashamed to admit this fact. I truly enjoyed Alderman Moore get roasted in public view.
The above photo and below comments are the final nail to the kooky incident. The Chicago Tribune Editorial yesterday was the topping on the whole foie gras. Here are a couple of the colorful writings from others before the main course editorial.
* A Chicago aldermen is flapping his wings to ban foie gras in the city. Headline, Chicago Tribune.
* Of the seven aldermen who showed up Tuesday for the hearing before the Committee on Health, three said they were certain they had never eaten it. In fact, some weren't sure what it was. "Is this from grass or something?" Text from Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. in the Chicago Tribune.
No Walter, it's not grass. Come to think about it, are we banning grass too? All this development, our front and back yards of Chicago are vanishing at an alarming rate.
* The Chicago Sun-Times Carol Marin called Alderman Moore " a lily livered polititian."
Tell us how you really feel Carol? But really, you let Moore off the hook. Do you know how many times Alderman Moore used his courage and actually went against the Mayor in the last 10 years when it came to voting on the corrupt budget that was submitted to city council? How many times did he ask why the city needed so many hired (to do-nothing) truck drivers?
As promised, the Tribune editorial in full.
Duck, duck, goose
Tribune editorial, September 15, 2005
The old adage about not wanting to watch sausage being made is especially true of legislative bodies, where aldermen, state lawmakers or congressmen are often clueless about details of the bills they pass--even those that spend millions or billions of dollars.
So it may seem a little ironic that a Chicago City Council committee this week began debate on a ban on, not exactly sausage, but an upscale culinary cousin: foie gras, a delicacy most aldermen have never tried and many can't even pronounce.
For the record, don't say "foy grass" or "foo grass." It's "fwah grah," which is French for fat liver. The way it's made is pretty grisly and cruel, especially if you're a duck or goose selected for the honor. Tubes are jammed down the birds' gullets, and they are force-fed repeatedly until their insides swell and turn to a buttery goo.
This process does not take place in Chicago. Foie gras isn't made anywhere in the U.S. except New York and California.
No argument here that any gastronome who wants to chow down on this artery-clogging concoction, which can go for $100 a pound and is on menus at only the most exclusive eateries, may deserve whatever medical emergency ensues.
But why in the world does the City Council feel the need to meddle in something so small and so personal and so ... inconsequential ... as what a restaurant chooses to put on its menu?
Politicians like to see themselves as problem-solvers, and Ald. Joe Moore, the sponsor of the ordinance, is hardly the first to try to get government to step in to solve a problem before it exists.
Last year, Illinois lawmakers voted to clamp down on tongue-splitting in the state, even though no one believes the bizarre cosmetic procedure has ever been performed here. Bills in the Springfield hopper this year sought to take on other discomforting practices yet to afflict us, including alcohol huffing, eyeball piercing--and foie gras making.
If all of this seems a little silly, well, it is. As for foie gras, if Chicago diners think its production is indecent, they can simply refuse to patronize restaurants that serve it.
Say this much, though, for the idea of a ban: Moore's proposal, coupled with a 1986 ordinance, would make Chicago a combined nuclear-weapon/foie-gras free zone. Probably, dare we say, the first in the nation.
Copyright (c) 2005, Chicago Tribune
Update: This was sent to me from the New York Times. "I think we both (Charlie Trotter and Rick Tramonto) regretted sort of getting dragged into the mud, the real story is to eat or not to eat foie gras." Mr. Charlie Trotter said.
As Mayor Daley said yesterday,"the Govenment should not be telling citizens what to wear".. in regards to the cab driver uniform.
So why should the Government tell a chef what to put on his menu?
Alderman Moore got tar and feathered by the mainstream media this week. Raked over the coals. So now the City of Chicago (and beyond) residents that follow the "news of the day" found out in the past few days, what I've been telling you all the past 3 years. Alderman Moore is a "quack."
You gotta feel sorry for those who "waddle" behind this elected official. Alderman Moore "Ducks" the tough issues and "Fowls" up the easy ones.
A sample taste of 100 voters in The "Broken Heart" Poll shows 8% of my readers think Alderman Moore still has brain cells left. The other 92% think Alderman Moore has lost his mind. I not ashamed to admit this fact. I truly enjoyed Alderman Moore get roasted in public view.
The above photo and below comments are the final nail to the kooky incident. The Chicago Tribune Editorial yesterday was the topping on the whole foie gras. Here are a couple of the colorful writings from others before the main course editorial.
* A Chicago aldermen is flapping his wings to ban foie gras in the city. Headline, Chicago Tribune.
* Of the seven aldermen who showed up Tuesday for the hearing before the Committee on Health, three said they were certain they had never eaten it. In fact, some weren't sure what it was. "Is this from grass or something?" Text from Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. in the Chicago Tribune.
No Walter, it's not grass. Come to think about it, are we banning grass too? All this development, our front and back yards of Chicago are vanishing at an alarming rate.
* The Chicago Sun-Times Carol Marin called Alderman Moore " a lily livered polititian."
Tell us how you really feel Carol? But really, you let Moore off the hook. Do you know how many times Alderman Moore used his courage and actually went against the Mayor in the last 10 years when it came to voting on the corrupt budget that was submitted to city council? How many times did he ask why the city needed so many hired (to do-nothing) truck drivers?
As promised, the Tribune editorial in full.
Duck, duck, goose
Tribune editorial, September 15, 2005
The old adage about not wanting to watch sausage being made is especially true of legislative bodies, where aldermen, state lawmakers or congressmen are often clueless about details of the bills they pass--even those that spend millions or billions of dollars.
So it may seem a little ironic that a Chicago City Council committee this week began debate on a ban on, not exactly sausage, but an upscale culinary cousin: foie gras, a delicacy most aldermen have never tried and many can't even pronounce.
For the record, don't say "foy grass" or "foo grass." It's "fwah grah," which is French for fat liver. The way it's made is pretty grisly and cruel, especially if you're a duck or goose selected for the honor. Tubes are jammed down the birds' gullets, and they are force-fed repeatedly until their insides swell and turn to a buttery goo.
This process does not take place in Chicago. Foie gras isn't made anywhere in the U.S. except New York and California.
No argument here that any gastronome who wants to chow down on this artery-clogging concoction, which can go for $100 a pound and is on menus at only the most exclusive eateries, may deserve whatever medical emergency ensues.
But why in the world does the City Council feel the need to meddle in something so small and so personal and so ... inconsequential ... as what a restaurant chooses to put on its menu?
Politicians like to see themselves as problem-solvers, and Ald. Joe Moore, the sponsor of the ordinance, is hardly the first to try to get government to step in to solve a problem before it exists.
Last year, Illinois lawmakers voted to clamp down on tongue-splitting in the state, even though no one believes the bizarre cosmetic procedure has ever been performed here. Bills in the Springfield hopper this year sought to take on other discomforting practices yet to afflict us, including alcohol huffing, eyeball piercing--and foie gras making.
If all of this seems a little silly, well, it is. As for foie gras, if Chicago diners think its production is indecent, they can simply refuse to patronize restaurants that serve it.
Say this much, though, for the idea of a ban: Moore's proposal, coupled with a 1986 ordinance, would make Chicago a combined nuclear-weapon/foie-gras free zone. Probably, dare we say, the first in the nation.
Copyright (c) 2005, Chicago Tribune
Update: This was sent to me from the New York Times. "I think we both (Charlie Trotter and Rick Tramonto) regretted sort of getting dragged into the mud, the real story is to eat or not to eat foie gras." Mr. Charlie Trotter said.
As Mayor Daley said yesterday,"the Govenment should not be telling citizens what to wear".. in regards to the cab driver uniform.
So why should the Government tell a chef what to put on his menu?
Thursday, September 15, 2005
* Demolition of the ADELPHI Theatre
When the Alderman says, "It's not a done deal".
He really means, "It's a done deal"!
I thought Pioneer News Star was going to cover this event. By Rogers Park standards this was huge. Mind you, it wasn't one of the huge Chicago Tribune or Channel 7 world news issues. This was Rogers Park news.
The meeting was regarding the future of ADELPHI THEATRE. Or as the Alderman put it, "The tear-down of the ADELPHI on North Clark".
Everyone I know found out about this at the last minute of course. What else is new? I got wind from a email that was sent by Sandi Price at DevCorp North. No, not directly, I got the e-mail from a third party. Even with the last minute notice, the crowd flowed in. Ten rows of chairs filled up quickly. In most of the ten rows, there were 7 chairs to a row. Thats over 70 people for the math challenged. Katy Hogan and Kevin O'Neil had to open the room divider to hold the overflow crowd of 85 plus neighbors and a few Alderman clingers.
Hogan and O'Neil along with Rene Carmago and Gregory Altman were part of Alderman Moore's puppet, cheerleading team on this night. They were responsible to clap, nod along and agree with Alderman Moore when he gives them the cue. They had their hands full on this night.
The Alderman arrived seven minutes late. The meeting started shortly after. After a political speech by DNC member Moore we got down to neighborhood business of a private redevelopment scheme calling for the demolition of the ADELPHI and the construction of a residential condominium building with three commercial units.
We also had the annual threat of NO zoning change, NO set-a-sides. This is getting tiring to hear. Lets hear about the current property.
The ADELPHI opened in 1917 and was designed by Edgewater resident and architect J.E.O. Pridmore. Seating 1,300 people, the ADELPHI has seen decades of use. In fact, the still-single-screen was most recently showing Bollywood extravaganzas and other Indian films before going dark.
The "Grand Re-Opening Coming Soon" has been promised on the marquee for some time.
Clearly, this stinks with the hint-of-possible-influence. According to the News Star, the developer gave $1000 to the Alderman.
Here we have developers wanting to tear a smaller, possibly historic property and build something the neighbors disapprove of. Yes, many didn't like this project. Sound familiar? In this case a five story building full of expensive condos even the Alderman said he couldn't afford.
I have a hour of tape on this meeting so I am going to do this meeting in parts. There are a lot of great qoutes by Alderman Moore and Kevin O'Neil. Not to mention the developer. The crowd had questions too. Many didn't get answered.
Kevin O'Neil told the developer to " Just say YES", to one of my few questions. This one about warning potential buyers of the Special Service Area tax. This would being including in the marketing, with the"YES" urging of Mr. O'Neil the new marketing director?
The Alderman wouldn't answer any questions regarding the Special Service Area tax. The developer didn't have a clue what an SSA was. More to come. Anyone wanting to add their two cents?
Oh by the way, how many high end, property tax raising condo units are being built? With the zoning change, up to 53 dwelling units could be built and less than 40 parking spots were displayed on the drawings.
He really means, "It's a done deal"!
I thought Pioneer News Star was going to cover this event. By Rogers Park standards this was huge. Mind you, it wasn't one of the huge Chicago Tribune or Channel 7 world news issues. This was Rogers Park news.
The meeting was regarding the future of ADELPHI THEATRE. Or as the Alderman put it, "The tear-down of the ADELPHI on North Clark".
Everyone I know found out about this at the last minute of course. What else is new? I got wind from a email that was sent by Sandi Price at DevCorp North. No, not directly, I got the e-mail from a third party. Even with the last minute notice, the crowd flowed in. Ten rows of chairs filled up quickly. In most of the ten rows, there were 7 chairs to a row. Thats over 70 people for the math challenged. Katy Hogan and Kevin O'Neil had to open the room divider to hold the overflow crowd of 85 plus neighbors and a few Alderman clingers.
Hogan and O'Neil along with Rene Carmago and Gregory Altman were part of Alderman Moore's puppet, cheerleading team on this night. They were responsible to clap, nod along and agree with Alderman Moore when he gives them the cue. They had their hands full on this night.
The Alderman arrived seven minutes late. The meeting started shortly after. After a political speech by DNC member Moore we got down to neighborhood business of a private redevelopment scheme calling for the demolition of the ADELPHI and the construction of a residential condominium building with three commercial units.
We also had the annual threat of NO zoning change, NO set-a-sides. This is getting tiring to hear. Lets hear about the current property.
The ADELPHI opened in 1917 and was designed by Edgewater resident and architect J.E.O. Pridmore. Seating 1,300 people, the ADELPHI has seen decades of use. In fact, the still-single-screen was most recently showing Bollywood extravaganzas and other Indian films before going dark.
The "Grand Re-Opening Coming Soon" has been promised on the marquee for some time.
Clearly, this stinks with the hint-of-possible-influence. According to the News Star, the developer gave $1000 to the Alderman.
Here we have developers wanting to tear a smaller, possibly historic property and build something the neighbors disapprove of. Yes, many didn't like this project. Sound familiar? In this case a five story building full of expensive condos even the Alderman said he couldn't afford.
I have a hour of tape on this meeting so I am going to do this meeting in parts. There are a lot of great qoutes by Alderman Moore and Kevin O'Neil. Not to mention the developer. The crowd had questions too. Many didn't get answered.
Kevin O'Neil told the developer to " Just say YES", to one of my few questions. This one about warning potential buyers of the Special Service Area tax. This would being including in the marketing, with the"YES" urging of Mr. O'Neil the new marketing director?
The Alderman wouldn't answer any questions regarding the Special Service Area tax. The developer didn't have a clue what an SSA was. More to come. Anyone wanting to add their two cents?
Oh by the way, how many high end, property tax raising condo units are being built? With the zoning change, up to 53 dwelling units could be built and less than 40 parking spots were displayed on the drawings.
* Trouble Moves Out
The lady in the number 80 football uniform was crazy. Wacko crazy. She was on something strong. Some medication, for sure. She screamed at me to, " Not ask so damn many questions".
Me, ask too many questions? No, not me.
As she said," they was movin' out, water was shut off and didn't have time to talk to no honky!"
As I tried to take a close up photo, she wacked my camera and her brute movers, moved in on me. I picked up the camera and backed off, snapping this as I fled.
See, these were gangbangers and they were living next door to me. Until today.
I've featured this building before. My neighbors tell me horror stories on this property. I've seen the horror stories. Pure trouble.
Now they are gone! They don't have to live next to this nosey honky no more.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
* Let There Be Lights... The Lights Are On Now... Lights Work
With all the debate over Foie Gras going on, I forgot to mention, this Hell Hole Issue was fixed. We have lights again tonight!
Things look bright on Lunt Avenue. Thanks to Dan for submitting the letter. Thanks to Tom Westgard for catching the past headline error. Won't catch me this time.
Things look bright on Lunt Avenue. Thanks to Dan for submitting the letter. Thanks to Tom Westgard for catching the past headline error. Won't catch me this time.
* Dead Man Has Name
His name is Byung Hwan Choi. Mr. Choi lived to be 94 years old, then he was clobbered by a speeding car driven by Lawrence Williams Jr. He died last week. No criminal charges were filed.
RIP Mr. Choi, RIP.
RIP Mr. Choi, RIP.
* Anyone Going Tonight?
If anyone does go to this event , could they send me a head count, how much money was raised and some photos?
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
* To Foie Gras or Not to Foie Gras
"Of course no foie gras farms exist within the city limits of Chicago."
Alderman (cough... cough) Joe Moore
Chicago Tribune
September 13, 2005
Alderman (cough... cough) Joe Moore
Chicago Tribune
September 13, 2005
Monday, September 12, 2005
* Respect ??? - No Respect at All !!!
Exclusive Look @ Hypocrisy
If you have ever been by the Alderman's office, I'm sure you have seen the promotion. If not, here it is. It's been rammed down our throat. Now it's litter on the ground like the old, washed up, posters from Alderman Moore.
Rogers Park Respect. A anti-litter campaign.Three word of hype. That's what it should be called. What we have here is another example of waste and mismanagement!
This is what's called "the first phase." We don't need two more phases of this mess. That's what the litter says. Three phases. This is just another way to make money selling t-shirts. What a scam!
What we have here is DevCorp North, who already is stealing the taxpayers money for cleaning services, looking to recruit volunteers. They are asking us to sign a pledge form?
Asking for volunteers to help. Help what? Help litter? Nevermind the fact we need volunteers for many other pressing issues and worthy causes like the Red Cross and Hurricane Katrina. What really stinks is DevCorp North, who claims being for cleanliness, and all the while, littering the neighborhood themselves.
Look at this litter. How hypocritical. Rogers Park Respect....No Respect at all.
I say Sandi Price from DevCorp North, come out and clean up your mess, your name is on it.
If you have ever been by the Alderman's office, I'm sure you have seen the promotion. If not, here it is. It's been rammed down our throat. Now it's litter on the ground like the old, washed up, posters from Alderman Moore.
Rogers Park Respect. A anti-litter campaign.Three word of hype. That's what it should be called. What we have here is another example of waste and mismanagement!
This is what's called "the first phase." We don't need two more phases of this mess. That's what the litter says. Three phases. This is just another way to make money selling t-shirts. What a scam!
What we have here is DevCorp North, who already is stealing the taxpayers money for cleaning services, looking to recruit volunteers. They are asking us to sign a pledge form?
Asking for volunteers to help. Help what? Help litter? Nevermind the fact we need volunteers for many other pressing issues and worthy causes like the Red Cross and Hurricane Katrina. What really stinks is DevCorp North, who claims being for cleanliness, and all the while, littering the neighborhood themselves.
Look at this litter. How hypocritical. Rogers Park Respect....No Respect at all.
I say Sandi Price from DevCorp North, come out and clean up your mess, your name is on it.
* Light's Out on Lunt Avenue
Reader Needs Help
Craig,
Each of the brand new street lights are out at 1345 and 1243 W Lunt, respectively. These are the brand new lights that light up the other parts of the street so well. Now our friends from these buildings are in the dark. Of course my immediate thought is one of sympathy for all those being denied their fair share of light. Isn't this unfair to them?
On a moment more of reflection, though......
"Maybe these street lights did not just burn out surprisingly soon after being installed."
"Maybe it is not just a wild coincidence that these two brand new expensive street lights were put out in front of the two buildings that have been identified as drug and gang havens recently."
"Maybe, just maybe these new street lights were disabled on purpose."
"Maybe somebody wants to be in the dark because the lights make them uneasy, like the blood-sucking vampires made infamous in horror movies."
"Maybe somebody willfully damaged these street lights for their own selfish and inconsiderate reasons."
"Maybe somebody does not want the cameras to take clear pictures as easily."
"Maybe there was more than one someone who participated or supported the somebody who disabled these new street lights."
"Maybe somebody in those buildings knows who did it."
"Maybe lots more of us should call 311 to make sure repairing these street lights is a high priority for our good and conscientious City work crews."
I have called and asked for repairs. Will you call too? Please pass the word.
Dan
Blogmaster notes: This photo was taken when the light actually worked. Also, I believe my readers are starting to pick up the satire of the Hell Hole. Letters like this are always accepted. Not all may be published.
Craig,
Each of the brand new street lights are out at 1345 and 1243 W Lunt, respectively. These are the brand new lights that light up the other parts of the street so well. Now our friends from these buildings are in the dark. Of course my immediate thought is one of sympathy for all those being denied their fair share of light. Isn't this unfair to them?
On a moment more of reflection, though......
"Maybe these street lights did not just burn out surprisingly soon after being installed."
"Maybe it is not just a wild coincidence that these two brand new expensive street lights were put out in front of the two buildings that have been identified as drug and gang havens recently."
"Maybe, just maybe these new street lights were disabled on purpose."
"Maybe somebody wants to be in the dark because the lights make them uneasy, like the blood-sucking vampires made infamous in horror movies."
"Maybe somebody willfully damaged these street lights for their own selfish and inconsiderate reasons."
"Maybe somebody does not want the cameras to take clear pictures as easily."
"Maybe there was more than one someone who participated or supported the somebody who disabled these new street lights."
"Maybe somebody in those buildings knows who did it."
"Maybe lots more of us should call 311 to make sure repairing these street lights is a high priority for our good and conscientious City work crews."
I have called and asked for repairs. Will you call too? Please pass the word.
Dan
Blogmaster notes: This photo was taken when the light actually worked. Also, I believe my readers are starting to pick up the satire of the Hell Hole. Letters like this are always accepted. Not all may be published.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
* Robert Creamer Fundraiser
Exclusive invitation
Alderman Moore has done something very stupid again. But here's a twist, Alderman Moore and David Orr fundraising for possible prison bound Robert Creamer. Foie gras is not listed on the menu, but asking for big bucks is. What in the world is going on here? I will just let this document speak for itself.
This is sickening that any of these politicians would help Creamer. Some serious explaining is in order. Is this what we want our public officials to do, raise money for a soon to be jailbird? With our country struggling to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, our Alderman is choosing to help raise funds for a convicted criminal. $10,000 dollar co-chairs? Give me a chair at his sentencing.
Alderman Moore has done something very stupid again. But here's a twist, Alderman Moore and David Orr fundraising for possible prison bound Robert Creamer. Foie gras is not listed on the menu, but asking for big bucks is. What in the world is going on here? I will just let this document speak for itself.
This is sickening that any of these politicians would help Creamer. Some serious explaining is in order. Is this what we want our public officials to do, raise money for a soon to be jailbird? With our country struggling to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, our Alderman is choosing to help raise funds for a convicted criminal. $10,000 dollar co-chairs? Give me a chair at his sentencing.
* Alderman's Messy Ward
Alder-littering the Neighborhood
The August Political flier, littering our community. Two weeks after his annual political rally in the park, Alderman Moore shows no respect for his ward with this litter-advertising on the curb. Trash, garbage, rubbish. What-ever the word, it's still UGLY to look at. Should we call Sandi Price at DevCorp North? Maybe she can help with getting the Alderman to respect the ward? This story will be continued on Monday.
The August Political flier, littering our community. Two weeks after his annual political rally in the park, Alderman Moore shows no respect for his ward with this litter-advertising on the curb. Trash, garbage, rubbish. What-ever the word, it's still UGLY to look at. Should we call Sandi Price at DevCorp North? Maybe she can help with getting the Alderman to respect the ward? This story will be continued on Monday.
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