Illegal parking on Loop street to be cleared for pedestrians
March 7, 2007
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter
A South Loop street that has served as a haven for illegal parking will be converted into a pedestrian walkway, under a plan advanced Tuesday to create a security bubble around an expanded federal courthouse and office complex.
At the request of the U.S. General Services Administration, the City Council's Transportation Committee agreed to vacate West Quincy Street between State Street and the plaza that surrounds the Dirksen federal building. A T-shaped alley in the area bounded by Adams, Jackson, State and Dearborn will also be closed to traffic.
The GSA has unveiled a long-term plan to build up to 1.5 million square feet of new office space on newly acquired land in the 200 block of South State Street. The $550 million project -- the first expansion of the federal campus in nearly 15 years -- may include demolition of existing buildings, or a mix of new construction and remodeling.
Until the expansion plan is finalized and funding is secured, the GSA is looking to create a security buffer around the federal building complex. All of the property bounded by State, Adams, Dearborn and Jackson is owned by the federal government -- with the exception of Quincy Street, the T-shaped alley and the landmark Berghoff Restaurant.
Solar screening, seating
"Quincy . . . functions essentially as a place for illegal parking. At any time, there can be up to a dozen cars and trucks. They appear to be people who have found a little space to provide their own free parking. There appears to be very little enforcement," said J. David Hood, the GSA's assistant regional administrator.
"It's nonaesthetic. It interferes with pedestrian use of the space. It's unlawful and it's not secure. We prefer to have some notion of who is close to our buildings at all times."
Motorists' loss will be pedestrians' gain.
"We plan to put solar screening, shading, seating, lighting and new surface treatments to make it a much more friendly pedestrian space than it is today," Hood said.
Hood stressed the federal government plans to build around the Berghoff.
"We have no intention whatsoever to acquire the Berghoff Restaurant. We have entered into a formal memorandum of agreement with the Berghoff under which we will convey to them an easement in perpetuity for access to their property after the street and alley are vacated to federal control," he said.
Transportation Committee Chairman Tom Allen noted that private developers are required to compensate the city when streets and alleys are closed to traffic, but government agencies aren't.
"It's the federal government, so you can have whatever you want. No compensation," Allen said.
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http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/286041,CST-NWS-street07.article
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