^ I have heard through the grapevine that the building at 850 N. LSD is being considered for demolition. I have no idea how serroius this consideration is. Although Related's (LR) projects as of late are good, I fear a disneyesque pomo building in 850's place. The contrast there now with the Mies masterpeices across the street is amazing, a bad Pomo Building there will look like utter shit.
I also attended the 2nd Ward Candidate Forum last night in Printers Row, the complaints about parking and density. God, I felt like I was in Naperville. Larry Doody is running on a platform of drafting an ordanance for 2 parking spaces for every residential unit, and even drafted an advisory referandom on the ballot for it. And yet they wonder why local businesses are under performing. Hmm, gee, could it be that nobody walks and they drive to places locted elsewhere with odles of free parking. Heithcock said "With more people in the neighborhood from all the new buildings, it will bring more people walking around and more poeple to buy things."
I was sitting up front with fellow forumer Latoso, making small chit-chat with Hiethcock. We actually made Heithcock laugh when Fioretti said the worst thing that could be built across from the Transportation Building is another Transortation Building, we both said why not, its "in context". Heithcock stressed existing zoing is in place and she will work with homeowners around the lot when a developer wants to build there. She said they will "likley have to come to a compromise, as people will not want a large building, just like I did with Library Tower. You wanted a shorter building a park, and you got a shorter building and a park".
I was astonished with Fioretti saying there is no "as of right" established in the zoing code. Heithcock and I both said out loud "Yes there is" at the same time. Its word for word in the code AS OF RIGHT. I am shocked Fioretti would deny that as a lawyer, because pulling that shit on a developer will bring a lawsiut to the city. He used Dubin's Tower at LSD and Banks as an example, but it is the wrong example, as that lot was illeagly downzoned, and that was the issue at hand after Dubin invested a lot of money on the project, only after the NIMBYs bitched. One of the other candidates mentioned how a agreement in the 48th ward states no building will be over six stories; well now that may be fine and dandy for the 48th ward, BUT THIS IS DOWNTOWN!
I do applaud Heithcock, Askew and Johnson for making clear the 2nd ward is bigger than the South Loop.
I think it was Askew that mentioned he would sit down with city planning officialls and south loop residents at the same time to draft a thought out plan for the area. Heithcock stressed the central area plan in place, an the others moaned about the Near South Plan and how its not being followed. The others wanted residents to control all developement in the ward, especially Foretti. I have a big problem with this, because as shown plenty of residents are suburban minded transplants who know nothing of architecture or urban planning. Let the departments of Planning and Zoning, people who devote thier lifes to planning in the city do thier jobs. Thier hands are already tied by too much invested power within the alderman of the city.
I really fear Doody, because if elected he will be a disaster for the Central Area. I don't think he has mutch of a chance, but he is a risk.
He actually said "the best use for the parking lot on Dearborn Street, is for it to stay a parking lot. Reducing parking is a mistake."
Heithcock's big mistakes are admiting to taking money from developers and leaving after the last printed question was answered. However, I think she knew most in the room do not like her, and she did not want to waste any more time there. Regaurdless, it was a stupid move.
I was able to convert a high-rise NIMBY to open mindedness by taking 5 minutes to explain the benifits of density, and that this is downtown. I just summed up: A downtown core must remian strong for the region to compete in the global economy. If constructed stops, supply is limited; demand won't stop magicly because supply drops. This will increase the prices of all residental units and business spaces to a point where people will just become fed up with cost of living and cost of conducting business and will move elsewhere. If you look at the cities with the most NIMBYism constraining new construction, Boston, San Franscisco, and parts of NYC, they have the highest real estate prices in the country. Developers given more density can build affordable housing and contribute to landscaping the streets because they can afford too.
Her response, "I never thought of it that way. More devierse housing means people who work here cleaning the luxury homes can live here, so they don't have to drive here and contribute to traffic as public transit has poor service on the fringes."
Its quite fullfilling to show a NIMBY the light.
Last edited by Chicago Shawn; Jan 10, 2007 at 6:06 PM.
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