April 12, 2010

48^th Ward Office
Alderman Mary Ann Smith
5533 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL. 60640

Greetings Alderman Smith:

On behalf of the Margate Park Block Club, and the neighbors who responded to our request for feedback on the preliminary visions for the Somerset building, there was an overwhelming & majority support for the restoration of the building to its original opulence and the desire to see retail/restaurants on the street level.

Most agreed that having affordable rentals for adults would work well in our community, especially if it’s well managed and secured. Having a minimum lease agreement for one year and no short term or month to month accommodations are desirable.

Several neighbors expressed the desire to have a limited number of floors set aside for a boutique hotel or B&B type of establishment along with the development of a community/banquet room.

Everyone who responded did not want any type of subsidized housing and some expressed that TIF money should not to be used for this project. Several expressed opposition to the developer being considered.

Parking and traffic raised a red flag, plus the issue of limited permit parking in the neighborhood would have to be addressed again.

Any consideration of having a green roof or taking advantage of some of the green initiatives to make this building more energy efficient is ideal for living in the now.

Thank you for your continued efforts to include us in the development and creation of what we would like to see in our community.

Peace…

P.C. Gooden-Smiley

773 784 4943

Block Club Liaisons: Teresa Frith …Teresa@aworldclassconconciergeservice.com

P.C. Gooden-Smiley…gudsmile2@yahoo.com