A reader sent in some pics of Cornerstone Shelter's (run by Jesus People USA) infamous dumpster compactor on Clifton (between Broadway and Wilson), that is somehow allowed to be on the sidewalk and near playing children. These photos show the disgusting, rat-breeding condition that this dumpster is often in. Clifton seems to be a free-for-all for dumpster activity that would be illegal anywhere else BUT here. There are several dumpsters further south on Clifton that are on the sidewalk as well. The Silvia Center is also on this street. That's the organization that is not supposed to house active drug-users, but apparently does, since the needle-pickup truck is there once a week. We are working on getting the (a copy of the) past decision from the Zoning Board of Appeals stating that Silvia Center cannot house active drug users, but its sadly just another thing that isn't enforced in the 46th Ward.
We are working on getting the decision from the Zoning Board of Appeals stating that Silvia Center cannot house active drug users.
ReplyDeleteHow are you going about doing that? Is it a formal complaint and then a request for a hearing? What is the procedure---especially when it is not an aldermanic-sponsored initiative?
Maybe I should rephrase that. There are residents who have copies of the past decision of the ZBA that show the stipulations for this shelter to operate.
ReplyDeleteThat is why all these non-profits like to operate in the 46th Ward. When they are granted their 501(c) federal tax exempt status or their Illinois non-profit status or their city tax exempt status, the 46th Ward automatically grant to them an exemption from all city ordinances and criminal codes.
ReplyDeleteand that is why all social services should be licensed as other cities have done long ago. We license dog shelters; why can't we license people shelters?
ReplyDeleteHere's the info the Zoning Board of Appeals provided on restrictions given to Cornerstone if they were going to open up Sylvia Center. Please note that the area done in all caps was done by me to emphasize important pieces of it.
ReplyDeleteWhereas, that the proposed use is necessary for the public convenience at this location in that there are currently no shelters in the City where a homeless family may stay together as a family unit and that there is a documented increased need for such a facility in the area; that the proposed use will be so operated as to insure that the public health, safety and welfare will be adequately protected in that NO PERSONS WITH ANY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS WILL BE REFERRED TO OR ACCEPTED BY THE PROPOSED SHELTER FACILITY; THAT PERSONS ENGAGING IN UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN AT THE SHELTER; THAT A 9 P.M. CURFEW WILL BE ENFORCED FOR ALL PERSONS EXCEPT FOR THOSE PERSONS HAVING NIGHTTIME EMPLOYMENT; THAT SHELTER STAFF WILL CONTINOUSLY MONITOR THE AREA TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO LOITERING BY INDIVIDUALS IN THE VICINITY OF THE SHELTER PREMISES; THAT FLOOR MONITORS WILL OVERSEE THE ACTIVITIES OF ALL RESIDENTS TO INSURE THAT THE RESIDENTS ABIDE BY THE RULES, REMAIN ORDERLY AND ASSIST WITH ANY PROBLEMS THAT MAY OCCUR; that the proposed shelter will be located on one-way side street with little traffic in an area which is improved with similar social and public services uses and will not cause substantial injury to the value of other property in the area; it is therefore
Resolved, that the application for a special use be and it hereby is approved and the Zoning Administrator is authorized to permit the establishment of a transitional shelter and community center for homeless women and families in an existing 5-story brick commercial building, on premises at 4615 N. Clifton Avenue, upon CONDITION THAT THE BUILDING AT THE SUBJECT SITE SHALL NOT BE USED AS A TRANSITIONAL SHELTER AND COMMUNITY CENTER UNTIL THE BUILDING COMPLIES WITH ALL APPLICABLE BUILDING CODE REGULATIONS; THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF STAFF PERSONNEL, BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER, FOR BOTH THE SINGLE ADULT RESIDENTS AND THE FAMILY UNIT RESIDENTS 24 HOURS DAILY; AND THAT ALL APPLICABLE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO SHALL BE COMPLIED WITH BEFORE A PERMIT IS ISSUED; AND BE IT FURTHER
Resolved, THAT THE GRANTING OF THIS SPECIAL USE RUNS ONLY TO THE APPLICANT HEREIN AND IF SAID APPLICANT VACATES THE SUBJECT PROPERTY OR TRANSFERS THE TRANSITIONAL SHELTER AND COMMUNITY CENTER OPERATION TO ANOTHER GROUP OR ASSOCIATION, THE SPECIAL USE GRANTED HEREIN SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID; AND BE IT FURTHER
Resolved, THAT ANY DEVIATION FROM THE SPECIFIED USE OF THE SUBJECT PREMISES AS A TRANSITIONAL SHELTER AND COMMUNITY CENTER FOR HOMELESS WOMEN AND FAMILIES, LIMITED TO 230 PERSONS, OR ANY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, AS STATED BY THE APPLICANT AND DELINEATED HEREIN, SHALL CAUSE THE SPECIAL USE GRANTED TO IMMEDIATELY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
That thing is horrible! Doesn't any responsibility for the condition of the dumpster fall on the owners (renters), regardless of zoning? Perhaps the simplest route to take would be to take legal action against them for the poor conditions?
ReplyDeleteI agree that a family homeless shelter is a very worthy thing. However, I see why people are so pissed off now. This opinion seems to want to balance the need for family homeless shelters and the impact on the community. It looks like they were trying to make a compromise.
ReplyDeleteWho do you go back to in order to get enforcement on the "null and void" clause? Unless they were totally trying to pull one over on local residents, they seem to believe that the special use can be taken away.
I guess the problem is that to enforce it you have to get backing from someone who can make things happen in city government? Obviously, Shiller is out but I suspect that others don't want to appear to be against homeless families---even if they were working in the best interests of homeless families. Bad bad bad
There is no way on God's Green Earth that this shelter is good for families. I had a cop who frequently has to go in for calls for service compare the inside to the HBO prison series "Oz". If you ever drive down Clifton, you will see people sitting on the various "stoops" drinking booze & smoking. I call the police every time I see it, but I think they are tired of hearing from me.
ReplyDeleteIt is possible for a shelter, and even an abundance of shelters to exist in harmony with other residents and businesses while being responsible neighbors (cleaning up trash, reducing loitering). Evanston could be a perfect model for this.
ReplyDeletecan't the dumpster company that services the dumpster be somehow held responsible? or at least contacted to maintain their dumpster?
ReplyDeleteFamily shelters are a good thing, although there appears to be good reason to believe that this family shelter may not be a good thing. If this is the only one in Chicago---is this the best we can do for homeless families? Why are our standards so low??
ReplyDeleteWe should all be ashamed of ourselves. No kid deserves to grow up on the set of OZ just so that their family can stay together.
Actually, Salvation Army runs an incredible family shelter on the corner of Marine Drive and Lawrence. Not many people know about it because families are required to be working hard on getting their lives back together. They don't have time to do much loitering, and the staff there wouldn't allow it anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe difference is that this shelter is in the 48th Ward where standards are kept high. The Salvation Army day center on Sunnyside and Broadway is a mess with lots of loitering. They do it because standards are allowed to be kept low.