Ward Zoning and Planning Committee Meeting: 10/25/07

Marge Britton gave the ward update briefing, as Alderman Smith was attending another meeting.

The southside of the Bryn Mawr underpass bricolage planning has begun. If anyone has an interest in helping with this project please contact Ernie Constantino at: ernie@masmith48.org for details.

The old firehouse on Ridge is a city landmark and will be preserved for other activities when the engine company moves into its new space. So far most of the ideas presented have been centered on the idea of its use as an arts center.

A study of Argyle street is being undertaken by the Urban Land Institute for ideas on how to best enhance the area. The idea thus far is to NOT gentrify the street. All work is to be done in conjunction with Alderman Schiller’s office as the street is bounded by the 46th Ward and the 48th Ward.

There will NOT be a vote on the proposal for a 30/40/45 story condominium development on the site of St Andrews Greek Church at Hollywood and Sheridan. Beitler has not yet presented to all of the nearby neighborhood associations necessary information before it presents to the full Ward Zoning and Planning committee.

The only WZ&PC matter on the docket was for 5692-5694 N Ridge. The building is currently a rental property and the owner (Adrian Colak) is seeking to rezone the property from RM4 to RM4.5. The re-zoning is necessary in order to convert the existing building into 8 units rather than the current 6 units. There is parking available for 12 units. The idea is to keep the building a rental property at this time. The additional units will be built from the basement. These new units will not be duplexes but rather turned into legal garden apartments. They would be 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with parking. They will simply be using the existing space and not doing any add-ons or expansions. Additionally with the zoning change, they are required by city law to save a unit for a person that is in the city’s affordable housing program. This is a separate program from HUD and CHA. The program extends to individuals who are employed such as teachers, police, and firefighters that are eligible as renters. There will be a rental concession of a discounted rate to the individuals that are signed up for the program.

A motion was made to approve; it was seconded and passed unanimously. Although out of our area, Carmen Winona voted yes, as the project was viewed favorably by all of the community groups in its area and keeping the building as a rental is a positive for the Ward.