RP Neighbors Oppose Devon/Rockwell Project
By Angela Caputo
Pioneer Press
Most everyone agrees that there is a serious need for parking along the bustling blocks of Devon Avenue, but an emerging West Rogers Park citizens group is calling into question the $16 million development--that includes public parking--slated for the corner of Rockwell and Devon.
After waking up to the reality that a six-story, 70-foot building is about to go up on nearby blocks, neighbors were recently galvanized to form Citizens for Responsible Development, which is calling on city officials to put the breaks on the project just as the developer is preparing to break ground.
"As people see it and realize what it is, there is growing opposition," said Greg Brewer who lives in a bungalow on Rockwell a couple blocks north of Devon.
Just this month the publicly subsidized project cleared a final hurdle when it won City Council approval. Two city-owned lots are being sold to Chicago-based developer Asat Inc. for $1 and $3.5 million is being pledged toward the project from the local Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, according to Planning Department documents.
In exchange for the public subsidies the garage will open up an estimated 115 additional public--but not free--parking spots, excluding the 57 spaces already there. And the project is expected to create jobs, both during the construction phase and the commercial and 30-unit condo development that is part of the project.
With increased density creeping down Rockwell as the parking garage and condos are scheduled to go up, in part, on a residential plot now home to a four-flat, Brewer said, "Any gain in parking would be insignificant compared with the impact of this massive structure in our neighborhood."
Others say they just want to take a step back and make sure the project isn't a missed opportunity to really fix the parking situation on Devon.
No doubt more parking will be a plus, West Ridge Chamber officer and businessman Sadruddin Noorani said. But considering that the city owns the property and can leverage spaces through the TIF subsidy, he thinks that the community should take a harder look at the project to make sure "that it benefits the community as well as the builder and the developer."
"We have a lot of shoppers who are coming from out of state out of town," Noorani added. "Even if we made 100 spots it would not be enough."
After years of planning and countless meetings around the site, Alderman Bernard Stone, D-50th, said, "After seven years you want to take a step back? I think we've waited too long. We're ready to put the shovel in the ground now."
As part of a planned development approved in 2004, the project has been through a series of City Council committees, including the Community Development Commission last August. While not widely advertised, notices of those meetings are posted on the city's Web site and are open to the public as an opportunity to weigh in.
"There were two opportunities at least where the public could testify," Planning Department spokeswoman Constance Buscemi said.
The city-owned parcels of land haven't changed hands yet, but with the full council approval it's all but a done deal, she added.
"What (neighbors) have got to understand," Stone said, "is that Devon Avenue is moving with the times and the times are changing."
It is that reality that that has prompted Brewer and others to start the citizens' group. Rather than let the 50th Ward become a place for unfettered development--like other area across the city that have been completely changed--Brewer said, "That's an attitude that doesn't work anymore...It needs to be done with an informed community and needs to be responsible."
Pioneer Press
Most everyone agrees that there is a serious need for parking along the bustling blocks of Devon Avenue, but an emerging West Rogers Park citizens group is calling into question the $16 million development--that includes public parking--slated for the corner of Rockwell and Devon.
After waking up to the reality that a six-story, 70-foot building is about to go up on nearby blocks, neighbors were recently galvanized to form Citizens for Responsible Development, which is calling on city officials to put the breaks on the project just as the developer is preparing to break ground.
"As people see it and realize what it is, there is growing opposition," said Greg Brewer who lives in a bungalow on Rockwell a couple blocks north of Devon.
Just this month the publicly subsidized project cleared a final hurdle when it won City Council approval. Two city-owned lots are being sold to Chicago-based developer Asat Inc. for $1 and $3.5 million is being pledged toward the project from the local Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, according to Planning Department documents.
In exchange for the public subsidies the garage will open up an estimated 115 additional public--but not free--parking spots, excluding the 57 spaces already there. And the project is expected to create jobs, both during the construction phase and the commercial and 30-unit condo development that is part of the project.
With increased density creeping down Rockwell as the parking garage and condos are scheduled to go up, in part, on a residential plot now home to a four-flat, Brewer said, "Any gain in parking would be insignificant compared with the impact of this massive structure in our neighborhood."
Others say they just want to take a step back and make sure the project isn't a missed opportunity to really fix the parking situation on Devon.
No doubt more parking will be a plus, West Ridge Chamber officer and businessman Sadruddin Noorani said. But considering that the city owns the property and can leverage spaces through the TIF subsidy, he thinks that the community should take a harder look at the project to make sure "that it benefits the community as well as the builder and the developer."
"We have a lot of shoppers who are coming from out of state out of town," Noorani added. "Even if we made 100 spots it would not be enough."
After years of planning and countless meetings around the site, Alderman Bernard Stone, D-50th, said, "After seven years you want to take a step back? I think we've waited too long. We're ready to put the shovel in the ground now."
As part of a planned development approved in 2004, the project has been through a series of City Council committees, including the Community Development Commission last August. While not widely advertised, notices of those meetings are posted on the city's Web site and are open to the public as an opportunity to weigh in.
"There were two opportunities at least where the public could testify," Planning Department spokeswoman Constance Buscemi said.
The city-owned parcels of land haven't changed hands yet, but with the full council approval it's all but a done deal, she added.
"What (neighbors) have got to understand," Stone said, "is that Devon Avenue is moving with the times and the times are changing."
It is that reality that that has prompted Brewer and others to start the citizens' group. Rather than let the 50th Ward become a place for unfettered development--like other area across the city that have been completely changed--Brewer said, "That's an attitude that doesn't work anymore...It needs to be done with an informed community and needs to be responsible."
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