Are they finally getting it?
10/31/2007 10:00:00 PM
Neighbors: More condos, please
Neighbors say Walgreens development should be transit oriented
By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER
Editor
It's like déjà vu all over again for East Village and Wicker Park residents who fought a commercial development at the corner or Ashland and Division more than 20 years ago.
Back then neighbors opposed the establishment of Pizza Hut at 1601 W. Division and Wendy's restaurant at 1623 W. Division. Now they're opposing the construction of a freestanding Walgreens drug store. The Walgreens would replace Pizza Hut, which closed down and has sat vacant since early 2007, but the Wendy's location is expected to stay.
Neighbors have opposed the proposal by developer Interra Vision, stating that the site, which many consider a gateway to Wicker Park and East Village, does not suffice in terms of scale to adjacent buildings. They argue that the building, located across the street from the historic MB Financial building, should balance the bank
and serve as a transit-oriented development.
Justin Schultz, an Interra Vision representative, did not return phone calls requesting an interview.
"It can have a Walgreens in it; we just don't want it to be just a Walgreens," said Scott Rappe, head of the East Village Association's zoning committee. "We object to that land being solely a single-tenant building and a parking lot."
"Imagine if you had a gym or professional offices and a mix of dwelling apartment types all concentrated there with access to the Blue Line and the busses. It could really be desirable for both residents and businesses."
Rappe and others have been garnering support for the initiative to persuade the developer to build a multi-story building. Last week, the East Village Association sent a request to Arnold J. Randall Jr., commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, asking that he work with the developer and neighbors to build a more substantial structure.
"Chicago-as it works to become a more environmentally responsible, 'green' city-must take advantage of opportunities to establish transit-oriented developments. The proximity of the site to public transit (the subway and three bus lines), three major thoroughfares, and the Kennedy Expressway, as well as prime shopping and service amenities, makes it the ideal location for such a development," the EVA letter reads.
More at link:
http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.a...00&TM=23997.12