UNC E-News, October 28, 2008

Wilson Yard:  Desperate Times & Desperate Measures
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Wilson Yard has taken another drastic turn with the recent amended changes quickly shoved through by the Finance Committee and City Council in early October.  In an apparent  violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, Alderman Burke, head of the Finance Committee, snuck through another amendment to the Wilson Yard development.  Burke, who's law firm represents both Holsten Real Estate and Walsh Construction, recused himself from voting.

The major change in this amendment gives Peter Holsten, the lone developer and owner of the Wilson Yard low income housing, access to millions of taxpayers money with little accountability.  The City gives up the right to stop paying Holsten if he defaults on deadlines and construction.  In other words, the taxpayers assume the financial burden and Holsten is not held accountable.

The single, most critical, change is shifting the risk from the developer to the taxpayer.  This step transforms the Wilson Yard project into a $52 million public works project funded by taxpayers.  Visit www.uptownupdate.com for more detail.

Wilson Yard Lawsuit coming soon
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Fix Wilson Yard will be filing a lawsuit against the City within the next 30 days  for several violations surrounding the Wilson Yard TIF development.  The City has been notified of this pending lawsuit.   We believe that the recent activity by the City and Holsten is a response to the strength of our pending lawsuit and power shown by Uptown residents who believe we deserve a better plan that truly addresses our community's economic future.

UNC will continue to work for Uptown's sensible balanced economic development and support the Fix Wilson Yard organization lawsuit.

Fix Wilson Yard Petition--Sign & Forward Now!
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The original Wilson Yard petition was created by UNC in 2004.  It was huge success, garnering over 3,000 signatures.  A new petition has been written to reflect the current Wilson Yard development. Fix Wilson Yard has drafted a new petition and needs your signatures and those of your friends, family and neighbors throughout Chicago! Please click here, to sign the petition.  Please forward this petition to other concerned Chicagoans and help reach our goal of 5,000 signatures.

The Power of Your Vote in this Election
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The election ballot contains two obscure TIF referendums on pages 15-16.  The referendums appear in only few precincts that ironically mirror the Wilson Yard boundaries.  They appear under the heading Public Questions, read them very carefully and be sure to vote.

The first referendum is cleverly worded asking if 40% of TIF funds should be used for preserving, buying and adding more affordable housing.  Most people who live in Uptown understand we do an outstanding job of providing affordable housing and deserve more opportunities to shop and dine in our neighborhood, enjoy better park programs and facilities, and restore the Wilson El Station.

The second referendum asks if businesses receiving TIF money should be required to hire local residents and pay them a living wage.

Politicans & Your Political Power
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You will also be voting for three political offices whose districts include the Wilson Yard development.  Please take a few minutes to write to the current elected officials and ask them to support a better plan for Wilson Yard:

State Senator Heather Steans, heather@heathersteans.com
State Representative Greg Harris, greg@gregharris.org
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, www.house.gov/schakowsky/email.org
Join & Support Your Community Organizations

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Thanks to the immense grass-roots movement of organizations like Uptown Neighborhood Council and Fix Wilson Yard, Uptown's economic future looks brighter.   Please join and support our work. To learn more about the history and UNC's community efforts on behalf of Wilson Yard, visit www.uncchicago.org and click on the Wilson Yard link. Please visit www.fixwilsonyard.org to learn more about the lawsuit project and how you can get involved.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, that's all that ever has.

UNC thanks you for your support!

Wilson Yard--Citizens take legal action
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Will the 46th Ward's sliver of land called Wilson Yard break Uptown's gritty, poverty-ridden cycle?  Or will it suck Uptown deeper into the poverty vortex?

Thousands of Uptown resident are frustrated with the radically altered Wilson Yard Development plan that will drag Uptown down such a vortex. Taxpayers and residents alike, who would otherwise be left footing a $54 million tax bill for this development, are taking legal action NOW!

A newly formed citizens' group has started a campaign, Fix Wilson Yard. They have retained two leading law firms with expertise and backgrounds in successfully defeating municipalities in land-use and TIF litigation.  These lawyers are hard at work and have already identified a number of potential procedural and substantive grounds on which to sue.

The organization's efforts include, a website, www.fixwilsonyard.org, and grassroots community meetings and fundraisers, We believe that these efforts, when combined with the dedication and passion of the people of Uptown, will force our government to return the direction of the Wilson Yard project to the TIF's original Mission:  To create a vibrant and cohesive mixed-use, mixed-income development.

A quick snap-shot of the dramatic changes to the plan show:

If the new Aldi's is a sample of what's to come, the plan is in serious trouble and will create yet another dark and dangerous street in Uptown.

What we don't understand is how the City, Developer and Alderman would approve building the failed, segregated housing model in Uptown, a community that already is home to almost 6,000 subsidized units within one-mile of Wilson Yard.  The numbers below, are taken directly from Holsten's application for IHDA funding.

The housing is the largest portion of Wilson Yard. The rendering below, created by the developer, shows the massive size of these buildings as they wrap along Montrose and Broadway.

"The (Wilson Yard) development is a future slum for Uptown. The current design is deadly for neighborhood safety and building a vibrant retail area."

A reknowned ULI (Urban Land Institute) planner reviewed the plan.  His critique clearly states, "The (Wilson Yard) development is a future slum for Uptown.  The current design is deadly for neighborhood safety and building a vibrant retail area. There is no active street frontage and without it, the street becomes a place for crime."

Join the Fix Wilson Yard campaign today!

You can help build the momentum:

    * Visit www.fixwilsonyard.org
    * Donate today
    * Sign up for e-news at info@fixwilsonyard.org
    * Help spread the word, forward this email to all your neighbors
    * Host a Fix Wilson Yard meeting
    * Attend an upcoming Fix Wilson Yard meeting

Always remember:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world.
Indeed, that's all that ever has.

Thank you for your ongoing support and belief we can make a difference!
Uptown Neighborhood Council
www.uncchicago.org

UNC e-News - April, 2008

What's Up Uptown Event Packs the Kinetic Playground

A crowd of almost 200 packed the Kinetic Playground hungry to hear about new businesses and developments in the works for their neighborhood. Two modern market rate high-rises by top-notch architects, a new look for Clark St., the magnificent restoration of the Uptown Broadway building and another pub from the guys that brought us Crew Bar+Grill are breathing new life into Uptown. UNC was proud to host this March 19 event with Jimmy Gouskos, owner of the Kinetic Playground!

Lynn Hollenberg, the CDOT project manager, began with the facelift coming to Clark St. with a new streetscape plan from Montrose to Ainslie. New lighting, sidewalks, planters and seating will easily merge with the Andersonville portion for Clark St. The work is tentatively set to begin later this summer.

A stunning 21-story modern highrise will sit behind the Phase 1 building completed by the developer, Jimmy Gouskos, at Lawrence and Winthrop. This streamline modern structure is the work of world reknowned architect, Renee Steevensz. Gouskos, an Uptown resident, presented Phase 2 and Phase 3 of his Uptown projects. The high-rise shown above was to be the next phase for development, however Gouskos stated that Phase 3 may be pushed ahead to Phase 2.

Gouskos stated there's been a strong interest in building Phase 3 next. This innovative building will sit on the southeast corner of Lawrence and Winthrop. First floor retail, rumor has it this may be a highly regarded grocery store, a 500 car parking garage, movie theaters, and a creative roof top with a dramatic garden terrace linked to restaurant would be a huge punch to the Lawrence entertainment district.

Suzy Grossman with Sunrise Equity presented plans to bring another stunning modern 18-story highrise to Clarendon and Leland. The first floor will have retail space. When asked why Sunrise selected Uptown, Grossman replied, "It's a no-brainer. The lake views and the Uptown location make it a very desirable location." The sales office will be opening soon.

The Uptown Broadway building located at 4707 N. Broadway has been carefully restored to its former beauty thanks to Thad Wong, one of the founders of @ Properties. Anthony Campagni, with Baum Realty, is the leasing agent actively looking for new tenants. Seems the huge basement space with 7,633 square feet is ideal for a nightclub. The building should be ready for tenants early this summer.

The Wilde Pug is coming to Broadway thanks to the guys who brought us Crew Bar + Grill. Brian and Steve presented a concept for their newest establish that brings a "Modern English Pub" to the heart of the Uptown entertainment district. Work is progressing nicely and doors should be opening in the next month or two. Please go to the Uptown retailers section on the link below to sign up for the Grand Opening!!!!

Uptown is already home to a growing group of pioneering retailers and restaurants. Please support Uptown businesses and help them thrive and grow.

Please remember to visit and support our local retailers

Soggy Paws
Shake Rattle & Read
Green Mill Jazz Club
Unique So Chic
Magnolia Cafe
Kenetic Playground
Crew Bar + Grill
Wilde Pug, coming this spring
Fat Cat Bar
Tatoo Factory
Marigold Restaurant
Agami Restaurant
Annoyance Theater
Pegesus Theater
Black Ensemble Theater

Uptown is on the Upswing! What can you do to keep the positive momentum going?

Get informed... the UNC web site for Uptown news.
Subscribe to the News-Star newspaper.
Visit www.uptownupdate.com, rated as one of the TOP blogs by the Chicago Tribune, to find the latest news on what's happening in your neighborhood.
Join your block club.

Get involved....join UNC today. We need your support!

Always remember:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

UNC E-News, February 17, 2007

Wilson Yard--Good Urban Planning? Or Urban Nightmare?
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In the past two decades since Helen Shiller became the 46th ward alderman, she's been called many things...  A smart urban planner is not one of them.

The Wilson Yard TIF project, located on one of the most desolate stretches of Broadway, has amplified how Helen Shiller keeps the 46th ward retail streets dark, empty and dangerous, while every ward bordering the 46th has developed thriving retail areas.

With the aldermanic election right around the corner, Helen Shiller has pulled out her campaign check book to bamboozle voters with a glossy Wilson Yard mailing that promises to beguile residents hungry for some decent retail shopping within the ward.  The rendering shows an appealing tree-lined street with lots of brightly-lit store fronts, a Target store, plus an Aldi's with welcoming windows for shoppers.

What's really going into Wilson Yard?  Not much right now besides the low income housing and Aldi's.  No movie theaters.  No small retailers have signed leases. And now it is extremely questionable whether Target will ever be a part of the development.

If the new Aldi's, which is currently under construction, is a sample of what's to come, the plan is in serious trouble and will only further depress the 46th ward's retail corridor.  The glossy Wilson Yard rendering shows Aldi's with windows all along Broadway. What has actually been built is a solid 100-foot concrete and brick wall that closes off the interior of the store from Broadway, thus perpetuating the stark street environment that will be unwelcoming, forbidding and unsafe.

Compare this actual photo of the new Aldi fronting Broadway to the glossy campaign material sent to you by Helen Shiller.  You will never know the truth about Wilson Yard if you continue to buy what Alderman Shiller has been selling you...

Once promised to be a "thriving mixed-use, mixed-income development", Wilson Yard has fallen prey to Helen Shiller's personal agenda. First to fall was the mixed-income housing that suddenly became 100% subsidized housing for extremely low to very low income residents.  Helen Shiller has once again double-crossed low-income residents who were told they would be able to purchase their housing units after 15 years, thus giving them the chance to actually own their homes.  Click here to see the entire Illinois Housing Development Authority's Low Income Housing classification of Wilson Yard housing.

The housing is the largest portion of Wilson Yard. The rendering below, created by the developer, shows how massive this building will be along Montrose and Broadway.  This prominent corner, that should be gateway for vibrant retail, falls prey to Shiller's misguided planning.  Click the image below to see the full sized rendering.

Helen Shiller was also deceptive when she told residents that Wilson Yard would have a movie theater complex as a key component.  In reality, the theaters were never viable in the plan presented to the public.  Soon after the community meeting, the theaters were quietly killed in a backroom deal and the community was never informed.  Helen Shiller's response: "It's no big deal." Dave Roeder, Sun-Times reporter, covered a community meeting where hundreds of outraged community residents showed up expecting a long-overdue Wilson Yard update.  Helen Shiller and developer Peter Holsten ignored the community and blew the meeting off. Click here to read the entire Sun-Times article

And Target? According to Shiller and Holsten, Target is coming for sure, yet they have refused to produce any written documentation verifying this.  The date for Target's ground-breaking mysteriously keeps moving to the next year. Several residents and a reporter have made inquiries through various Target contacts; all have been told there is no Target in the building plans for the near future.

"The (Wilson Yard) development is a future slum for Uptown. The current design is deadly for neighborhood safety and building a vibrant retail area." 

A reknowned ULI (Urban Land Institute) planner reviewed the plan.  His critique clearly states, "The (Wilson Yard) development is a future slum for Uptown.  The current design is deadly for neighborhood safety and building a vibrant retail area. There is no active street frontage and without it, the street becomes a place for crime."

The poor planning doesn't stop there.  The soil in Wilson Yard is contaminated and requires a clean-up plan that has not been properly addressed by the developer since their initial Wilson Yard Site evaluation report was denied by the EPA in 2004.  Building cannot proceed without addressing the required toxic cleanup to assure residents'  and shoppers' health.

A savvy 46th ward resident obtained documents sent by the EPA chastising the City's Department of the Environment for their sloppy work on submitting required Wilson Yard Environmental Site Evaluation report.  Apparently the Wilson Yard site has lots of hazardous chemicals, like arsenic and lead, and how these toxins are going to be sampled and cleaned-up has yet to be defined. The EPA denied the 2004 evaluation and clean-up report submitted.  If you'd  like to read more on the toxic clean-up reports, click here and here.

The Wilson Yard plan, ten years in the making, gobbling up millions of property tax-supplied TIF dollars, seems to have lost its way in the convoluted world of developer greed, personal political agendas, and just bad urban planning.

Get informed! 
Vote smart on February 27!
Learn more by visiting www.uncchicago.org

UNC E-News, February 1, 2007
46th Ward Crime & Safety
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26 Days until the Aldermanic election

With the election so close, UNC will focus on the top community issues identified by 500 people from our recent survey:  Crime & Safety, Lack of retail, Wilson Yard.  Part 1...

Depending on who you listen to, the 46th ward is either the safest north side ward, or the most dangerous.  You decide. 

At last night's debate, Helen Shiller stated that the 23rd district's crime level is down.  And that's true.  What James Capplemen, the democratic candidate for alderman, pointed out, is the 23rd district includes Lakeview, Lincoln Park and Uptown.  When you spread the crime stats around, they don't look so bad.  What's really going on with crime in the 46th ward?

2006 was a dangerous year for Uptown.  There have been two murders, 2 major drug-ring busts with 27 people arrested.  One drug bust was at the Happy Wash Laundromat on Wilson, with moms and kids the front for the drug dealers, to read the Police Alert click here. The other took place at a CHA high-rise on Eastwood.  Multiple gang shootings, including one that sent a car crashing into a high-rise on Clarendon and Wilson, and so much gun-fire that several neighbors have moved after being caught in the cross-fire.

The current alderman's response to address all this violent crime?  Dead silence.  The picture of the police roll call shown above was held a few days after the last young male was murdered on December 2.  Where was Alderman Shiller?

Why has Helen Shiller refused to take a strong stand on crime in our community?  Seems that this question was asked by a tenacious Sun-Times Reporter, Ray Coffey, when he took a revealing look at aldermanic connections with the gangs in 1999.  To read Ray Coffey's article, click here.

If you'd like to learn more about crime in your immediate neighborhood, you have two on-line resources,  www.chicagocrime.org is one.  Take a look at the crimes listed below for Sheridan Road.  Watch the jump in the heart of the 46th ward, better known as Uptown.

Get informed! Vote Smart!

UNC
www.uncchicago.org

A freely browsable database of crimes reported in Chicago.
Browse by: Crime type • Street • Date • Police district • ZIP code • Ward • Location • Route • City map

Crimes by street / Sheridan Rd.

If a block isn't listed here, it hasn't had any reported crimes in the currently available date range.

2800 N	27 crimes
2900 N	13 crimes
3000 N	24 crimes
3100 N	21 crimes
3200 N	15 crimes
3900 N	55 crimes
4000 N	37 crimes
4100 N	21 crimes
4200 N	25 crimes
4300 N	9 crimes
4400 N	192 crimes
4500 N	155 crimes
4600 N	128 crimes
4700 N	61 crimes
4800 N	160 crimes
4900 N	32 crimes
5000 N	79 crimes
5100 N	47 crimes
5200 N	90 crimes
5300 N	34 crimes
5400 N	50 crimes
5500 N	28 crimes
5600 N	62 crimes
5700 N	75 crimes
5800 N	92 crimes
5900 N	24 crimes
6000 N	52 crimes
6100 N	17 crimes
6200 N	46 crimes
6300 N	35 crimes
6400 N	47 crimes
6500 N	34 crimes
6600 N	93 crimes
6700 N	47 crimes
6800 N	93 crimes
6900 N	31 crimes
7000 N	70 crimes
7100 N	53 crimes
7200 N	25 crimes
7300 N	27 crimes
7400 N	34 crimes
7500 N	40 crimes
7600 N	102 crimes
7700 N	53 crimes
7800 N	2 crimes
600 W	11 crimes
700 W	29 crimes
800 W	44 crimes
900 W	12 crimes
1000 W	9 crimes
1100 W	8 crimes

Important disclaimer: This site is not affiliated with the Chicago Police Department. This site uses crime data obtained from the CPD's Citizen ICAM Web site, which is a publicly available database of reported crime. Please read the Citizen ICAM disclaimer to understand the data fully.

About this site • RSS • Developer services • Search • Press • Donate • Powered by Django

20 People to Watch in 2007
#7 James Cappleman, 54, community contender

"I've always been a grassroots activist," says Uptown resident James Cappleman. No kidding: The social worker's resume is about a mile long and includes co-founding a homeless shelter, receiving the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, working with HIV service organizations and presiding over the Uptown Chicago Commission.

But his latest endeavor--running for alderman of the highly polarized 46th Ward--could lead to big changes in Uptown. That's because Cappleman is taking on Helen Shiller, the ward's alderman for the past 20 years.

Her supporters say she's a strong advocate for the poor, but critics say the neighborhood's high crime rate and large homeless population mean it's time for a change (check out www.whatthehelen.com for some of their complaints).

"This is a community that wants to have some say in how decisions are made," Cappleman says, "They feel left out.  There's a lot of anger."

Although Shiller has trounced challengers in the past, Cappleman feels confident.  "We're using the two areas where Shiller has always based a lot of her support: the poor and the gay community," he says." And here I am an advocate for the poor, and I'm an openly gay man."

On February 27, Cappleman and Shiller will face the fight of their political lives--and Uptown may never be the same.

Wilson Yard Rally makes local TV news!
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We hit a grand slam with the Wilson Yard Rally coveredon TV stations 2, 7, and 9 Saturday night news!

If you missed seeing the news, visit www.uncchicago.org to check out the rally TV coverage.

More than a 100 residents came out to show their support.  The rally held a New Orleans style funeral--complete with a casket--symbolizing the broken promises made by Shiller and city officials, and the death of a vibrant Wilson Yard plan. 

After a rousing eulogy, residents carried the Wilson Yard Casket to Alderman Shiller's office where people dropped their broken promises and dreams into the casket, before laying it to rest.  There was lots of cheering and chanting while "When the Saints Go Marching In" played on.

It's clear that Uptown is struggling to break free from the alderman's brick-wall-of-thinking that sees a sparkling rehabbed Wilson El station, a bustling new park field house, and a retail town center with outdoor cafes and new shops NOT worthy of receiving TIF money.

Here's what you can do for Uptown's future--take 5 minutes and forward this E-news on to 5 people who live in the 46 ward.  Write a personal note and remind them how important their vote will be on February 27, 2007.  If you care about our community's future, five minutes is a good place to start!

Visit www.uncchicago.org for lots more information on the truth about what's going on in the 46 ward. 

Thanks to everyone who came to the rally!

UNC
Uptown Neighborhood Council

Community Survey Results are in!
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What do 46th ward residents think about our community's future, retail development and political leadership?  More than 500 people who responded to the UNC Community Survey, told us what they think. 

Here are the highlights:   

Top Community Issues

Three top issues affecting Uptown's future, in order of importance...

• Local political leadership
• Crime & Public Safety
• Wilson Yard Development

Most important 46th ward issue...

• 70% think the February 2007 aldermanic election is the most important issue

Wilson Yard

Do you believe the alderman has kept the community informed on the major changes to Wilson Yard?

• 95% say no

Will the current Wilson Yard plan revitalize Uptown's retail offerings?

• 88% say no

Should Wilson Yard go back to the beginning for design and approval?

• 86% say yes

Has the community's input been fairly included in the Wilson Yard plan?

• 93% say no

Community Communications

How do you find out what's going on in the 46th ward?...

• 69% talk to neighbors for community information
• 67% read UNC E-News

Moving forward

Where should UNC put it's efforts?  What's most important?

• 70% say the February 2007 aldermanic campaign is most important
• 64% say pursuing legal action on Wilson Yard is important

Voting and voter registration

• 95% are registered voters
• 35% want to volunteer to help with voter registration

To see the complete survey results, click here.   

Thanks to everyone for helping define what's really important and where we should direct our efforts.  Many of you want to volunteer to help UNC and our community grow.  Your volunteering will be essential and we're looking at how to best use your help.  We are working on a volunteer program as we tackle these top issues.  Stay tuned....   

Annoyance Theater Fundraiser
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Your continued monetary support will help UNC tackle many of the top issues mentioned in your survey responses. 

Come join your neighbors for a hilarious evening at Uptown's newest theater, The Annoyance Theater, for a satirical look at our country's leader in, "President Bush is a Great Man."   Mark your planner for Friday, September 15.  Pre-party starts at 6:30, the show starts at 8:00. Tickets are $35 and include a cocktail, hors d'oeuvres, and lots of laughs.

Order your tickets on-line, or for more information, download an Adobe PDF flyer, suitable for posting in your buildings.   

Hurry, tickets are limited!   

Thanks for your continued support and contributions for revitalizing our community!   

UNC
Uptown Neighborhood Council

UNC E-News, July 14, 2006

Wilson Yard seems to be shrinking once again.  The Kerasotas Movie Theaters' pull-out earlier this year left a big hole in the Wilson Yard Plan and that hole seems to be getting even bigger.  Target Corporation is seriously re-thinking their expansion plans for new city stores, including coming to Wilson Yard.

No movie theaters, maybe no Target.  What's left?  Not much.  Only a new Aldi's and 200 units of low-income housing remain on the drawing board.  The alderman and developer are mum as usual, leaving the community in the lurch. 

For more detail, please read the article from Crain's Chicago Business below...
___________________________________________

Target halts expansion, citing wage measure
From the Crain's Chicago Business Newsroom
July 13 18:40:00, 2006
By Alby Gallun
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(Crain's) — Target Corp. is halting plans for new stores in Chicago in response to a proposed city law that would set minimum wage and benefit levels for employees of big-box retailers.

The decision by the Minneapolis-based discount chain represents a setback for at least two high-profile retail projects in the city that were to be anchored by a Target, one on the Wilson Yard site in Uptown and another next to Interstate 57 in Morgan Park. Target told the developers of both projects last week that it won’t open stores if the law passes.

If Target pulls out, “we’d be at ground zero,” says Arturo Sneider, a partner at California-based Primestor Development Inc., which is building the 443,000-square-foot Morgan Park project. “I don't even want to think about it.”

Target has largely avoided criticism of its wage and benefit policies in the debate over the big-box ordinance as supporters of the measure have focused their ire on Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Both chains aim to expand in cities like Chicago, but union and community activists have made an example of Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart, which will open its first store here this summer.

The city has been more welcoming to Target, which has six stores here and one under construction.
Target representatives didn’t return several phone calls for comment. A Wal-Mart executive has said the company would drop its plan to open as many as 20 stores in Chicago if the proposed ordinance passes.

The measure would require that retailers with stores of 90,000 square feet or more pay employees who work there at least $10 an hour and provide minimum benefits of $3 an hour. The city council’s finance committee passed the measure June 21 and the full council is expected to vote on it July 26.

Mayor Richard M. Daley has criticized the proposal, but sponsor Alderman Joe Moore (49th) says he has enough votes to pass it and, if necessary, override a mayoral veto. He dismissed Target’s decision to suspend new development in Chicago as an idle threat.

“They obviously couldn’t win the argument on the merits so now they’re resorting to threats and scare tactics,” the alderman says. “Chicken Little is alive and well in the city of Chicago.”

Yet if Target follows through with its threat, it could hamper retail development in neighborhoods that have been largely ignored by retailers. A shopping center is hard to pull off without a large anchor tenant to bring in traffic—and attract smaller retailers.
“If Target goes, the whole thing falls apart because a lot of these tenants are contingent upon Target,” Mr. Sneider says. “It’s kind of like a house of cards.”

For Target, added costs created by the measure “would be sufficient to where this project wouldn’t work out for them financially,” he says.

The city has approved $22 million in tax-increment financing (TIF) for the Primestor project at 119th Street and I-57. Called Marshfield Plaza, the shopping center also would include a Home Depot. The home-improvement chain plans to push ahead with new stores in Chicago despite the proposed wage ordinance, a spokesman says.

Losing Target would be a big blow to the Wilson Yard project, which was supposed to include a 12-screen movie theater until Kerasotes ShowPlace Theatres LLC pulled out earlier this year. The city approved $35 million in TIF subsidies for the project, which will sit next to the Wilson Avenue elevated train station and include an Aldi grocery store and 177 affordable apartments.

“We’re just hoping that some kind of compromise can be worked out,” says Peter Holsten, developer of the Wilson Yard project.

Looking for something fun to do to our neighborhood?  Enjoy these summer events in Uptown....

BUENA PARK NEIGHBORS (BPN) is pleased to announce the first of two summer concerts under the stars in Buena Circle Park.  For the third year in a row, Buena Park neighbors and their families will come together under the stars to listen to the smooth jazz sounds of the Sam Burckhardt Combo.  This free concert, held in conjunction with the Chicago Park District, takes place on:

Thursday, July 20, from 6:30 to  8:30 p.m. 
Buena Circle Park is located at the intersection of North Kenmore Ave and West Buena Ave (1000 block West and 4200 block North).

SUNNYSIDE MALL COMMITTEE will host its annual Ice Cream Social on:

Sunday, July 23, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The suggested $10 donation helps cover the Sunnyside Mall garden expenses.  The mall is located on Sunnyside, just north of Montrose, from Beacon to Magnolia.

You can register to vote at this event.  Please bring your I.D. to register to vote.

Hope to see you at these Uptown events!
UNC--Uptown Neighborhood Council
www.uncchicago.org

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Coming soon....

UNC community survey
Breaking news on CTA Wilson Yard land sale
Annoyance Theater event
BPN Block Club Party

To all UNC members and supporters:

Randy Lehner and Abby Sullivan met with Commissioner Lori Healey from the Dept. of Planning, Ald. Helen Shiller and Don Hoehnadel assigned to the Wilson Yard Project, this past Friday, for what was hoped to be an honest discussion about Wilson Yard and community concerns.

Randy and Abby reviewed the key concerns about the Wilson Yard Plan:

• Loss of the #1 requested tenent, the movie theaters
• Extreme density with a 140' sheer wall along Broadway
• Winter traffic study that doesn't reflect peak summer traffic grid-lock
• Further concentration of neighborhood poverty with 5,600 subsidized rentals by bringing more very low-income rentals - see the Illinois Housing Development Authority's rent structure breakdown for Wilson Yard here
• Lack of communication on these major changes

Did Shiller and Healey really want an honest dialog?  We don't think so. Their repeated responses sounded like a broken record, commenting that we were misinformed about the project, yet responded with silence when Randy asked them to provide information on how we were misinformed?

When asked why there has been no community meeting for almost two years, Shiller stated she didn't need to hold community meetings because she talked to the people in the community.  When the graphic was presented showing 10 Uptown block clubs, representing over 2,000 residents, who submitted letters opposing the housing -  see the block club opposition graphic here - Healey responded that the block club presidents were misinformed by UNC. Again, when asked how we were misinformed, the response was dead silence.

Randy and Abby asked that the entire WY plan be sent through the public reapproval process in light of these significant changes, especially since the last amended changes to the plan clearly state that Kerasotes would be an anchor tenant. Healey replied that the framework was in place, they were happy with it, and the plan would move ahead. Shiller stated that the movie theaters were never a major component of the plan--they were always just an after thought. 

Healey was silent again when asked why all the submitted questions on Wilson Yard had never been answered in writing.  Her second favorite response was to state that UNC had continually misinformed people and that's why so many people sent her letters.

UNC has always carefully taken its information from the numerous Wilson Yard amended changes, since the Alderman and Department of Planning don't care to keep us informed. Randy pointed this out to Healey and was once again met with dead silence.

The we-don't-care-about-the-community tone continued as Randy asked that a TIF oversight board be created and all the Wilson Yard block clubs' presidents  be invited to join. Shiller replied that she had formed a WY task force make up of the "stakeholders" in the community that include ONE, COURAJ, the Uptown Chamber and others.

It's crystal clear that Commissioner Healey and Ald. Shiller don't believe that Uptown residents deserve a real voice in what goes into Wilson Yard in the heart of our community.  They believe there's no need to keep us informed on the major changes to the plan, and they will not submit the WY plan to any reapproval process.  They have our TIF tax dollars and they'll spend them as they choose.

The meeting ended abuptly when Healey got up and walked out of the room without any comment.  So where does that leave us? It's clear how little our Alderman and City officials care about community participation in the TIF planning process.  They brushed off the #1 requested movie theaters, and continue to push for more subsidized housing.

What's next?  It's clear that Uptown citizens writing letters doesn't matter.  As we see it, here are some of the most obvious choices:

• Explore grounds for a lawsuit.  This will take money to hire a zoning attorney. Is this something you are willing to support? 
• Get serious about finding and electing a new alderman who truly listens, communicates and builds community consensus
• Target is not committed to Wilson Yard, no letter of intent.  Any community campaign to discourage Target from Wilson Yard would topple the entire plan.

A survey will go out next week for your ideas and input.  In the meantime--if you want to express your opinions, outrage, whatever, you can post a comment at www.uncchicago.org on the home page comments.  Or for a more active dialog, visit www.buenaparkneighbors.org message board under Wilson Yard.

And remember....Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, that is the only thing that ever has.

Uptown Neighborhood Council
P.O. Box 13324
Chicago, IL  60613
Email:  unc.chicago@gmail.com
Web:  www.uncchicago.org

Working for balanced economic development, cultural and arts enrichment, and sensible community planning in Uptown

Uptown's Hull House was stretched to capacity with a 200-plus crowd filling the main gallery for the Uptown Neighborhood Council (UNC) hosted, Wilson Yard Community meeting on Tuesday evening.

Invited guests Alderman Helen Shiller, developer Peter Holsten, and Commissioner Lori Healey were no-shows at this community meeting.

The Wilson Yard TIF Development remains the top-hot-topic in Uptown, as people gathered to hear Randy Lehner, UNC President, give an update on what's going on with this controversial development that sits in the heart of Uptown's decaying retail area.

This project started 10 years ago when the CTA bus barn burned to the ground at Montrose and Broadway.  In 2001 the Wilson Yard TIF was established to revitalize this blighted area by using property tax contributions collected from property owners in the TIF boundaries, see www.uncchicago.org, Wilson Yard for map and more details.

Lehner began with the written goals of the 2001 Redevelopment Plan that include: "Creating a vibrant and cohesive mixed-use, mixed-income development...Consistent with the McJunkin building (3 stories) in terms of height, style, and setbacks."  For more detail see the entire presentation at www.uncchicago.org, Wilson Yard Presentation.

In 2004, the Alderman and plan developer, Peter Holsten, stunned the community by unveiling a plan that veered from the original goals with:

• Two 10-story towers with only low-income housing in a neighborhood already struggling with a 40% poverty rate. (Source--Loyola CURL Study, 2000 Census)
• Movie theaters
• Target
• Aldi's
• Parking for 900+ cars

In 2006, the plan moves further away from the original goals by increasing the low-income housing to almost 200 units and the buildings grow to 13-stories.  The sidewalks are narrowed and the Broadway frontage becomes a sheer wall of masonry instead of the walkable, pedestrian-friendly retail area people wanted.

Lehner pointed out the housing and plan changes are gobbling up more TIF dollars, or taxpayer contributions, without any community input.  The taxpayer contributions increased from $27 million to $35 million as the project budget grows to $130 million.  Additional funding comes from the City issuing $30 million in loans and $28 million in bonds.  Who pays for these if the increased property taxes don't cover this amount when they come due?

In February 2006, the plan suffers a huge loss when Kerasotes Theaters pulls out of Wilson Yard.  They cited escalating costs associated with changing the theaters' location to accommodate housing, Target and parking needs.  Not only did the community lose the #1-requested tenant, but the project lost the projected $18 million for the property sale to Kerasotes.

The Wilson Yard "vibrant and cohesive plan" now consists of the 200-units of low-income housing, an Aldi's and a Target....maybe. 

Dave Roeder, in his Sun Times column dated March 29, 2006, see www.uncchicago.org for the article, shares his conversation with Peter Holsten on Target coming to Wilson Yard.  Seems that Target has not even signed a letter of intent at this time.  Target is the top retail request from the community.

So what's the "vibrant and cohesive" Wilson Yard development look like right now?  Lehner reviewed what's included today:  A new Aldi's, almost 200-units of low-income housing in two thirteen-story buildings, and a shaky commitment from Target.

But the story doesn't end there.  Seems that the Chicago Police have filed a report stating their concerns over the Wilson Yard development. The report outlines the existing problems with homelessness and crime in the surrounding area, and the increased traffic that would put a strain on police response to increased crime and accidents, and the seniors' safety issues.

The dubious traffic study was Lehner's next point. Why was a traffic study conducted in November 2003, instead of during the peak traffic period summer months when people are heading for the lakefront?

Lehner concluded by asking everyone to get involved and take action.  UNC continues to push for a return to the original goal of "creating a vibrant and cohesive mixed-use, mixed-income development".  Efforts will also continue for full disclosure of all the Wilson Yard development funding, documents, and plan changes.  We are also requesting the establishment of a TIF Oversight Committee with authority to direct and influence how TIF projects and money are allocated. And that's were the community can make a difference....

Action Items--Get Involved today

• Visit www.uncchicago.org and download the community letter to Lori Healey, sign, fax, or mail the letter to all the people listed on the website.  Do it today.
• Forward this email to your block club members and neighbors, get them informed about what's going on with Wilson Yard.
• Interested in volunteering with UNC? Contact us at unc.chicago@gmail.com and help support our work
• Visit www.uncchicago.org and join/make a donation to support UNC's work
• Register to vote.  We'll have more voter registration opportunities in the near future
• Contact UNC and send your ideas, suggestions, and letters to the Editor at unc.chicago@gmail.com.  Selected letters will be published on the Website

Thanks for your continued support...this is just the beginning!

Uptown Neighborhood Council

Revitalizing the Uptown Community through balanced economic development, arts & cultural enrichment, and sensible community planning

From David Roeder's Sun Times column today...

CALENDAR NOTE: Opinions are boiling again in Uptown over changes in the plan for Wilson Yard, the former CTA property at Wilson and Broadway. It's become a neighborhood version of the Block 37 debacle. Kerasotes Theaters and some senior housing providers have pulled out of the deal, leaving only low-income housing and an Aldi.

The Uptown Neighborhood Council is planning what it says is the first community meeting on the project in more than 18 months. It will be at 7 p.m. April 4 at Hull House, 1136 W. Wilson, and Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) and city planning officials have been invited.

This is from an interesting article in The Tribune regarding the transformation of many neighborhood pars throughout the city.  The theme that runs through the article is that each park project is the result of community input regarding what amenities their park should provide - a novel concept in Uptown. 

When West Loop residents in Chicago were asked what they wanted in their neighborhood park, baseball diamonds and basketball courts ranked rock-bottom.

Instead, they wanted a tranquil garden at Skinner Park with a magical fountain, beds of enticing flowers and benches where they could sit and reflect. They wanted a path so joggers and walkers would not have to pound the pavement of nearby sidewalks. And they wanted a play area for dogs.

Such oddities as the petting zoo at Indian Boundary Park and the pond for competitive casting in Lincoln Park have always dotted the city's parks. But Skinner Park is just one example of a new demand for specialty attractions that is changing the face of Chicago parks.

Diamonds and tennis courts are out; skateboard parks and batting cages are in.

At Burnham Park, a butterfly garden. At Marquette Park, tees for junior golfers. At Austin Water Park, fancier water displays.

"When you go to Lincoln Park or Grant Park, you see how beautiful it is," said May Toy, president of Skinner Park's community advisory council, which did the survey. "Then you come back to your neighborhood, and you want your neighborhood park to look as nice as the showcase parks."

The concept of entrepreneurial urban marketplaces is not new.  In fact, Chicago was once home to one of the most famous open air markets, the Maxwell Street Market.  The market saw its demise as the UIC campus expanded and land was re-claimed for real estate development.  But public markets are a good idea in this day and age of big box retailing and rock bottom pricing and the low wage labor that goes along with it.

Public markets, unlike more conventional economic development projects, must not only succeed as businesses but also meet community goals. Indeed, a market is much more likely to thrive economically if it has deep roots in the surrounding community. Whereas a big box retail development relies on cheap prices (and low-wage labor) to draw customers, a market must offer a public space experience and mix of products tailored to the people it serves in order to be economically competitive. Just as crucial, the economic opportunities it creates are more lasting and meaningful.

A marketplace where barriers to entry are attainable and local entreprenuership is encouraged provides the backbone of hope for lower and middle class business owners whose roots in the community run deeply and touch many others.  The Project for Public Spaces identifies three such marketplaces (Minneapolis' Midtown Global Market, New York City's La Marqueta in East Harlem, and The Athens Farmers Market in Athens, Ohio) where local entreprenuerism is the focus of major redevelopment.  The markets intend to encourage local artisans, musicians, food and clothing vendors to expand the local flavor and attraction of the marketplaces.

These projects appear to be wonderfully thought out and well financed projects that have the support of the communities they will serve.