The proposed mixed-use development that would replace the parking lot next to the IHOP on the corner of Halsted and Bradley in Boystown has been put on hold, pending a 46th Ward Zoning and Development Committee vote on the issue in early 2012. There have been significant changes to the site plans over the course of the last month.
Answering to public outcry, a number of meetings and forums have been held to address the issue. On Dec. 1 a public forum was held at the request of Halsted Neighbors, who opposed the proposed building. Ald. James Cappleman of the 46th Ward, where the proposed building would be located, also attended. During that forum, JDL Development President Jim Letchinger presented a slideshow and 3-D model of the building plan. Letchinger revealed an alternative layout for the rental units that called for dropping the height of the north-facing facade and increasing the height of the west tower to 22 floors. Also, the proposal called for an additional entrance/exit for traffic on Halsted Street.
At that same meeting, Mark Usiak and Kallan Miller—co-founders of Halsted Neighbors—pointed out that local condo associations have signed resolutions against the proposed development, including the Gill Park Cooperative and several local condo associations. Also, during the meeting, Jim Ludwig, owner of the Boystown nightclub Roscoe's and representative for the North Halsted Merchants Associations, stated that its board met with the developer and decided to oppose the development in its current form.
When the 46th Ward town-hall meeting took place Dec. 5 at Temple Sholom, the issue resurfaced. Cappleman stressed the need for new development in the ward and said the project should go forward.
On Dec. 8, a 46th Ward Zoning and Development Committee meeting was held at Weiss Memorial Hospital. At that meeting, Letchinger unveiled a new site plan. In the new plan, the proposed structure would go from the original L-shaped design to a 32-story single building directly overlooking Halsted Street. The loading dock and residential ingress/egress would also be moved to the intersection of Halsted, Broadway and Grace.
Questions directed to Letchinger and his staff dealt with traffic, safety, density and design concerns. Another issue involved the zoning and development process itself, since the committee didn't receive information on the project nor did it receive any education or training on the voting process, despite assurances from the alderman's office that committee members would receive such materials prior to the Dec. 8 meeting. With no resolution on the proposed changes, lingering questions and the Zoning and Development Committee needing more time to make a decision, the committee voted 22-7 to table the discussion on the 3750 N. Halsted/818 W. Bradley development until the next meeting in January.
Following the Dec. 8 meeting, Letchinger said, "In response to the immediate neighbors as well as the community as a whole, we have made significant changes to every aspect of the project. Changes such as relocating the ingress and egress for parking and loading from Bradley to Halsted Street, modifying the position of the building, and creating a residential façade along the base on Bradley Street. We will continue to work with everybody over the coming weeks in preparation for the next public meeting."
"As I said throughout my campaign, I will involve the community in decisions about development," Cappleman told Windy City Times. "I remain committed to ensure that the Zoning & Development Committee members receive accurate information so that they can advise me based on the facts. I continue to work with various city departments, which offer stringent guidelines about planned developments, to make sure residents are offered balanced feedback that is based on evidence-based, best practice guidelines for economic development."
Halsted Neighbors has more than 750 signatures on a petition objecting to the proposed development. Also, about 180 people have joined the group's Facebook page.
Efforts to rush this project through have left the community dumbfounded, Usiak remarked, especially since "the alderman campaigned on the commitment to involve the community in the decisions that affect their homes and neighborhood. ... The process is flawed and needs more community input. We intend to fight this battle as long as necessary to ensure that this development as it stands today is not built." Miller added, "The zoning committee needs more time than 20 minutes to make a 20-year decision."
For more information on Halsted Neighbors, visit www.halstedneighbors.org or to join its Facebook page. To find out more about JDL Development, visit www.jdlcorp.com . Cappleman's office can be contacted at 773-878-4646 or www.james46.org .
