Ward Zoning and Planning Committee Meeting: 6/30/04

Greg Harris, Chief of Staff, gave the Ward Report. He noted that the Alderman is making good progress toward recovery, but that she soon faces a round of radiation treatment for her breast cancer.

WARD UPDATE:

4707-4715 N. Broadway: developer/owner Thaddeus Wong, intends to create a "jewel box" of a historical restoration. 1055 W. Bryn Mawr (the old Walgreen's building): As the plywood was pulled off, the underlying walls were found to be rotted. The building will be reconstructed according to the original designs. Tenant occupancy is still expected before Christmas. Goudy Campus Park: Drawings are being finalized and meetings are being held with neighborhood organizations to consider issues related to parking and the disposition of an alley. 1100 Bryn Mawr (to become Nookies): Remediation issues are being worked, necessitated by the seepage of chemicals into the ground from a previous dry-cleaning business. Building permits are ready for issue as soon as the clean up is complete. 5556 N. Sheridan (Atelier): development is proceeding. Work has been slowed due to negotiations first with Amoco then with BP. Nearby residents will receive notices of zoning variations; there is nothing new here - these are essentially a re-sending of notices from several years ago relating to the intention to have residents on the ground floor. Vietnamese Association Parking Lot (on Winthrop) owners and the VAI (Vietnamese Association of Illinois) continue to discuss how the space should be used. VAI has found consultants to advise them in this matter. Thorndale and Sheridan Park Construction: expected to be completed int the early Fall. Proposed Broadway Zoning Changes: A community meeting was held at the North Shore Baptist Church on June 24. There, zoning was discussed by Graham Grady of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, the former Zoning Administator for the City of Chicago. Also, developer Michael Chioros of Vranas & Chioros Inc. described the financial implications of possible zoning changes. Now the alderman's office will begin deciding the next steps. Issues may be brought back to the WZPC meeting.

NEW DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL:

Ian Halpin presented plans for his development project at 6260 N. Broadway (SW corner of Broadway and Rosemont, where Lucky's Kabab House is now). It is a 4 story brick building with 6 condominium units and 1 commercial space. Ian and his wife Gretchen and children will live there. Gretchen will operate a day spa on the entire first floor. She sells a line of aromatherapy products that have been well received across the U.S. through her business "Sooth Your Senses." Registered delegates at the meeting approved the plan, and granted alley access.

LIQUOR LICENSE MORATORIUM MAP:

Ingrid extends until July 11 the deadline for community input on the proposed 48th Ward liquor license moratorium map for taverns and packaged goods. As stated in the May meeting, a preliminary 48th Ward map proposal will be presented that is very similar to the existing map. Block clubs and community organizations are urged to take copies and suggest changes. The boundaries have been drawn in 2 block segments. This only affects commercial properties. The Alderman's office has requested that if the block clubs have changes or suggestions the protocol is to submit changes on block club letterhead and address it to Ingrid's attention.

OTHER ITEMS:

It was reported that the CTA is in dire financial straits, at least in terms of operating revenue. Operating revenue comes from sales taxes, but is computed by a formula that seems to leave the CTA with a shortfall. Metra and Pace are together smaller than the CTA, yet this formula gives them more money. There is likely to be an announcement about this situation soon, and a need for community action. Legislators in Springfield should hear that we would be unhappy with an arrangement that could produce higher fares and service cuts. Note that the operating revenue budget is different from the capital improvements budget; that explains how substantial capital improvements are still being made. There was an item of good news: after a multi-year attempt on the part of the alderman's office to get action, the CTA has somehow found money to fix the Thorndale Station roof which leaks badly in the rain.

"Formula Retailers": Some people in Andersonville are concerned about the possibility that chain stores (Chipotle was mentioned) could come in, changing the character of the downtown. San Francisco uses innovative zoning rules to help in cases like this, using a definition for "formula retailers." The San Francisco approach is being investigated. An underlying problem that tends to change local town character is rising rents and rapid land value appreciation. Smaller store owners are most likely to be economically squeezed by this state of affairs.