Quote:
Originally Posted by the urban politician
Eric Sedler and his cadre of NIMBY butt-slaves are going to rip a hole in that Redford Theater plan if it's higher than 10 stories. Prepare for another great development not to happen.
There is an article in today's Sun-Times about it, but I'm too lazy to go and fetch it.
Seriously, the city Govt needs to stop these numbskulls
|
I'll post it then...Uggh, how these people are able to dictate such shite is a travesty. Many live within easy walking distance of two rail lines and could bike to work due to spitting distance from downtown yet they insist on keeping their hood relatively low density more befitting of a hood five-eight miles away from the city center. Someone should talk to these people about selfish underutilization of resources.
Maybe they think an expresway gives them illusions that they are farther away and differant then the near north and south side and think of themselves exempt from the inner core.
http://www.suntimes.com/business/401...ford25.article
Redford cast as villain in cinema development plan?
NEAR W. SIDE | May pit neighbors vs. Sundance firm
May 25, 2007
BY DAVID ROEDER
droeder@suntimes.com
Actor Robert Redford, proponent of all things environmentally sensitive, could land in the middle of an old-fashioned battle over neighborhood development on the Near West Side.
Redford's Sundance Cinemas LLC, a chain that shows independent films and documentaries, said Thursday it plans to open in 2009 at 1137 W. Jackson. Developers intend to put up a building there to replace the old Fannie May Candy factory that closed in 2004.
But what kind of a building, and how tall, are open for conjecture. The developers have yet to request a zoning change and have not shown plans to neighbors, the standard way of building political support.
Los Angeles-based Sundance said it will open an eight-screen theater. It signed a lease to occupy 40,000 square feet, its space including an attached bar and restaurant.
Gary Pachucki, president of IBT Group LLC and one of the developers, said Sundance will take the third floor and a mezzanine. Other uses in the commercial space will include a health club, grocer, and parking he said.
But he and his co-investors want a mostly residential building on the nearly 4-acre site. Asked how tall he wants to go, Pachucki replied, "Don't go there."
The issue is sensitive because Near West residents have organized against what they see as an encroachment of high-rises into their midst. They gained political muscle in the last aldermanic election when a challenger, Robert Fioretti, defeated an incumbent in part by criticizing her for tuning out residents when development issues arose.
Eric Sedler, president of the West Loop Community Organization, said the developers a few months ago suggested a building of about 25 to 30 stories and were informed the idea "is a non-starter."
The Redford cinemas would be an asset to the area, he said. But he said he hopes the developers "aren't selectively floating out pieces of the project to give an inaccurate picture of what it is."
Pachucki said signing Sundance was "a terrific opportunity" to give the building a commercial tenant. He said the property has few residential neighbors nearby and that a high-rise could take advantage of visibility along the Eisenhower Expy.
Sundance executives were unavailable to discuss the zoning issue. Pachucki said the theater's lease contains customary clauses that let it out of the deal if the building cannot be delivered by a particular time. He declined to discuss those terms.
An aide to Fioretti, Hanah Jubeh, said the alderman is assembling a zoning advisory committee. Once the developers submit their plan, he will give it to the committee for its input, she said.
It would be the fourth location for Sundance. The company opened May 11 in Madison, Wis., and is renovating a location in San Francisco. It announced this week plans to open in Denver.
The company, with financial backing from Oaktree Capital Management, is part of Redford's Sundance brand that grew from the annual film festival he hosts. It uses plush seating and promises no ads before showtime.