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But she does have control over curb cuts.
For better or worse, we have a system where aldermen exercise near-total control over their wards. Forgive me for cheering when an alderman's decisions align with my own values. |
Such a site plan shouldn't be acceptable for a tear down project across the street from rail transit in the first place. Really wish the city had gone a lot further with TOD and zoning in general around transit.
Walgreens has already screwed a number of other places in the city with terrible suburban designs that I'm not going to shed any tears if they lose this one. Would much rather see their store integrated into the ground floor of a 4-6 story residential building. |
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Sure, there have been a handful of damaging developments over the years, but no more so than any other pedestrian districts in Lincoln Park or Wicker/Bucktown. For the most part Lawrence is a very well intact 1920s commercial corridor. In fact, I'd argue that it might be the best preserved commercial district of that vintage in the entire city. Particularly west of the river, and then even more so west of Kimball. Lawrence West from Springfield https://maps.google.com/maps?q=lawre...279.93,,0,2.64 Lawrence East from Avers https://maps.google.com/maps?q=lawre...2,89.8,,0,0.59 Lawrence East from Lawndale https://maps.google.com/maps?q=lawre...2,79.81,,0,3.4 Lawrence East from Spaulding https://maps.google.com/maps?q=lawre...,93.29,,0,2.64 Yes, I chose these views specifically to showcase the area, but there is A LOT to chose from. Just because something is far from downtown doesn't mean it's a sea of strip malls. |
^ This situation brings to mind another reason why the worthless strip mall ordinance is so criminal. The language states (and I'm paraphrasing here) that "if the existing pattern of development around it is to have storefronts abutting the sidewalk" then the strip mall must do the same.
So in other words, if previous generations of developers defaced the street with strip malls, then the ordinance does not apply to you and you have license to do the same. Add that stipulation along with the fact that the strip mall ordinance is optional, and one can see why it still has no teeth. |
It's marvelous that you can choose places to stand where it's possible to pretend Lawrence is an intact, traditional pre-automotive street. But in the four blocks east of Kimball I count 10 curb cuts. It's a street already pockmarked with drive-in banks, auto repair shops, and fast-food restaurants. There are currently curb cuts on all four corners of this intersection, so to suddenly close and deny one puts you on thin ice legally.
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But you know very well that Lawrence was never a pre-automotive street. It was one of the earlier auto rows and there are very old auto-related buildings - dealerships, service stations, garages - still extant there. Auto-oriented retail is the issue here.
I wonder how much longer Albank will stick around. Now THERE is a suburban design. (Though even there they didn't put parking at the corner) What a marvelous TOD opportunity that lot is. |
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Most of these P streets are shorter stretches than the area I'm discussing on Lawrence - so it's actually easier to put together a few relatively untinterrupted blocks. For whatever reason, you are just not giving due credit to this stretch of Lawrence. It is among the most urban in the entire city, especially for a non-lakefront area this far from downtown. @BW, I'm not sure if you are trying to suggest that this means it ought to be OK to cater to the automobile today. I hardly think you can compare 1920's "auto oriented" to that of today. The issue here is that the VAST majority of this commercial corridor fronts the street. |
http://www.chicagomag.com/images/cac....4761904761905
This Old House Will Soon Be a Vacant Lot http://www.chicagomag.com/real-estat...-a-Vacant-Lot/ Quote:
Also, in more positive news: Sale of Congress Theater pending http://www.wbez.org/blogs/jim-deroga...pending-109543 Quote:
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Now, if only the Uptown Theater could be renovated. BTW, what the hell happened to the New Regal Theater in Avalon Park/South Shore with that supposed big secret investor? |
Based on the machinery and signage, it looks like work might be starting on the riverwalk at Clark. Can anyone confirm?
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Please say yes!
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Let's get this riverwalk construction underway! |
Noticed walking down Michigan AVe yesterday that Eddie Bauer is now closed. Wouldn't be surprised if that space gets filled fast. It's within that critical linear zone from Pearson to Illinois that is prime, always in demand space.
200 N. Michigan has started some light demolition on the exterior, mostly removing store canopies and such. |
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