The lakefront revetment plans for the area south of Belmont to Diversey might include a circular garden of limestone rocks removed from the current construction along Lake Michigan.
That 'circular' could just as easily represent the discussions at a forum on the Belmont Rocks held at Ann Sather's March 6, hosted by new Ald. Tom Tunney and with representatives form the city's Department of Environment and Park District.
As construction equipment sits poised to break ground, many of the 75 or so people at the meeting seemed at the boiling point with city officials who have made promises to involve the community, but who are moving forward regardless of complaints, votes to delay the project, and a petition signed by 1,100 people last summer.
In fact, at every community meeting—including last week's—residents have voted to delay the Belmont Rocks construction, at least until a new study by engineers commissioned by Hyde Park residents is revealed within a few weeks.
The city, including head of the Dept. of Environment, Marcia Jimenez, continues to dismiss the Hyde Park plans as not workable, stating that new limestone is impossible to find. Activists from Hyde Park attended the Belmont meeting and countered that their people have found numerous limestone resources, including as close as Indiana. The limestone solution would be cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing, activists both north and south say.
Alternative Belmont plans were presented by Nancy Hamilton of the world-renowned Arup engineering firm. The beautiful designs were viewed with great support from residents, but with skepticism from the city—who had seen the drawings months ago. The next stage for the Arup plans would need $100,000 in funds—which residents said the city should support because if the plans were workable, they would be a cheaper and more pleasing solution.
But the city seems intent on bulldozing ahead. Jimenez insisted that they have 'incorporated' elements of a meeting held one year ago to appease concerns of residents. But while a few minor changes have occurred, the overwhelming problem—the basic design of using concrete—is still in place. Some 500 residents opposed that plan a year ago during a community vote.
Ald. Tunney would not commit one way or the other. He said his job is to communicate the community's wishes—which, based on every vote taken at every community meeting over the past two years, as well as the 1,100 petition signers, is against the city's plans.
The city claims they have to spend federal construction funds by 2005. They say they will look at Hyde Park's plans again, but it appeared last week that whatever neighborhood groups come up with, the city has little interest in changing the one major sticking point: concrete vs. limestone.
www.cityofchicago.org/Environment.
Tom Tunney: www.44thWard.org .