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Originally Posted by denizen467
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* The gas station on Wells has finally completed its World's Longest Gas Station Construction Project. It looks kind of the same as before, except very spiffy instead of very shabby.
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It doesn't actually look much of anything like the former building. The only reason it may is that they didn't touch the pumps or a canopy over the pumps.
The stationhouse, though, was concrete and steel before, now it's brick. Before it had a carwash integrated into it, now it does not. Before it had small windows facing the pumps, now they're much larger. It should have a lot more room for convenience items now. The last thing the area needs is another convenience store, but if it's gonna stay a gas station, I guess it might as well go all out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by denizen467
* Some kind of refurbishment or upgrades at Dearborn could be in the works:
http://www.suntimes.com/business/roe...son-house.html
YMCA picks preferred buyer for Lawson House
David Roeder
Last Modified: Oct 26, 2011 02:16AM
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Sources said the Y insisted that Lawson House be preserved for affordable housing and that commitment to the social mission, and not price, was the priority in its selection process.
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I really don't understand the philosophy of the Y on this building, nor in the City being ambivalent about it being there.
Between the residents intimidating pedestrians and the surrounding surface lot breaking up the street scene, it's really not good for the area. I'm not usually against economic diversity in an area, but this is such a large number of basically destitute men in one place.
I would think that if the Y sold it outright, it could fetch a nice dollar amount. If the surrounding parking lot were also redeveloped, that stretch of Chicago would help pull Michigan Avenue west, which would be good for the area. With money from the sale, the Y could build or renovate a better facility somewhere in a part of town that was still close to an "L" line and services, while not being in an expensive part of town. It seems like the only thing unique about that area for the residents is that it's an easy place for them to get to prime panhandling spots from.
How much more good could the Y do if it freed up cash from it's high-value real estate there?
I'll admit I've been particularly against that Y ever since I was almost killed outside of it by a resident who'd thrown a glass bottle out a high window that disintegrated next to me, showering my leg with what was basically glass dust - a few inches closer and I'd have been seriously injured, maybe killed.