It seems just like last year...oh wait, it was...when we saw folks hanging out for hours in the parking lot of "Dearborn Wholesale Grocers" near Sheridan and Montrose. Judging by this photo sent in to us today, it's deja-vu all over again. Let's hope Dearborn gets this under control. Just in case, you can give them a ring at 773-728-7500 and let them know the loiterers are back. Also, shouldn't this parking lot have a fence around it by now?
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Loiterer's Paradise Returns
It seems just like last year...oh wait, it was...when we saw folks hanging out for hours in the parking lot of "Dearborn Wholesale Grocers" near Sheridan and Montrose. Judging by this photo sent in to us today, it's deja-vu all over again. Let's hope Dearborn gets this under control. Just in case, you can give them a ring at 773-728-7500 and let them know the loiterers are back. Also, shouldn't this parking lot have a fence around it by now?
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Could it be time for a positive loitering event at Dearborn Grocers?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be nice if it had an ornamental fence as required by the city landscape ordinance?
ReplyDeleteI've submitted a 311 fence request 3 times for this property. Each request has taken over 1 year to be acted upon. The last request was marked "COMPLETED" February 28, 2008 by the Zoning Department with no explanation in the file.
I ask you. Does the fence around that property look complete to you???? Because, I can't even see one. What the heck is going on?
It must be that metal guard rail that the people are sitting on.
ReplyDeleteNaw, that metal guard has been there a long time. It was even in the photos that are almost a year old now.
ReplyDeleteAnd they won't move if you try to walk by them. Yesterday when I was walking home from Jewel on the other side of the street I saw two people trying to move a piece of furniture into the building next door and they had to walk around the people who stood in the middle of the sidewalk. That's the most irritating thing about all the loitering . . . the "what are you doing walking down my sidewalk" attitude.
ReplyDeleteAn event would be tough here. They are not here everyday, or at least there are plenty of times when I go shopping at the Jewel and don't see them. What good is an event if they don't even see it. I think a better idea would be to organize a letter writing campaign or petition to put pressure on Dearborn Wholesalers to put up the required fence.
ReplyDeleteAre they subject to any fines for not having a fence?
Wow.. I love this blog too. I work out at World Gym and when I am on the tred mill we look out at Dearborn Grocers. These folks hang out in this lot or the alley every day. They also camp out at the entrance of Dearborn Grocers on Sunday and hound passers by for spare change. Jewel has the same problem. Then there is that little guy who runs up and down Montrose looking for cigarette butts tossed in the gutters. Don't get me started. Hey buddy, just quit smoking.
ReplyDeleteI just drove past this lot tonight on my way home from Jewel, and there was quite a crowd hanging out with their suitcases and shopping carts in the Dearborn lot. It was about 10 at night.
ReplyDeleteI'm an empathetic person. I don't blame the people who sleep in shelters for hanging out wherever they can in Uptown during the day. It's a crappy system that leaves them without a place to go between the time the shelters kick them out in the early morning and when it's time to line up for a bed again at night.
Luckily, it's changing, but there're still quite a few shelters that operate this way. As long as the people behave themselves, I don't begrudge them a place to sit.
But -- aside from the system that was set up to facilitate this -- I do blame Dearborn Wholesale for not complying with the law regarding a proper fence, and also for not following through with their promise of security.
And, clearly, at 10 at night, the folks I saw tonight are going to be spending the night in the lot rather than avail themselves of the many, MANY shelter beds and social services that Uptown offers. (Talk about bad systems! If this is such a social services wonderland, why do we have so many homeless?!)
Truman Neighbor, you ask,""Why the Homeless in a community with 6000 affordable and shelter beds?" but, you really know the answer to that question.
ReplyDeleteShelter = Rules
Street = No Rules Enforce in this Neighborhood
Shelter = No Immediate Access to Substance Abuse
Street = Immediate Access to Drugs of Choice
Shelter = No Sex
Street = Every variety
HUD Study:
Homeless = Extremely Large Percentage of Substance Abusers (and Mentally Ill forced into "full freedom" to an underfunded community care system that does not function and can't even deliver a steady supply of meds but claims to be better than institutional care)
It's a crappy system that leaves them without a place to go between the time the shelters kick them out in the early morning and when it's time to line up for a bed again at night.
ReplyDeleteI know you probably know this, TSN, but REST Shelter has a warming center that people can go to during the day. It is a large room in their basement with one TV. The last time I was there was a relatively warm and sunny day but people were still sitting at the tables. A few watched the TV or played cards, but most just sat there. I have thought about that room many, many times. Why did so many people chose to stay there on a pleasant day? What more could be done in that space? A literacy program? An art program? Some kind of skills training? I don't know but I do think there is a place for the residents of the surrounding community to get more involved in new ways.
I am really glad to hear people mention some of the reasons that so many people remain homeless. As someone who has worked with this population it is a complicated problem and services could always be improved. But what the previous poster mentioned is very true. Many people remain on the street because they do not want to follow the rules of a structured living environment. Regardless if it is living a sober lifestyle, taking psychiatric medication or being held accountable for negative behavior some people would rather sit on the sidewalk and manipulate people who walk by to give them money. Please remember that if you ever feel the need to give money to a panhandler. You are reinforcing this type of lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to the mentally ill that are truly abuse under Illinois's health care system. And I'd like to put the ACLU and Equip for Equality folks on the street with them until they learn that all they are doing is porting them from mental health institutions to jail institutions, with brief stopovers in communities like Uptown.
ReplyDeleteBut, there is only so much we can do when surrounded with 6000 sad stories of sad lives transported by city and state policy to our Uptown open air institution.
There is an African Proverb that says, "When you live next to the cemetery, you cannot weep for everyone." In the U.S. we call it compassion fatigue.
They never really left. I moved out of Uptown a few years ago (I recently moved back) and have worked out at World Gym for awhile. Even during the winter, I would see some of them set up their tents, grocery carts and sleeping bags against the west wall late at night. Dearborn, I'm sure, has notice they are there during the day and night.
ReplyDeleteFYI I went to the Dearborn Wholesale store last summer for this very reason. I also work out at World Gym and would see any number of things in the morning. I spoke with a manager who stated he was aware of the problem and would contact the police about it. Since then the police regularly seem to make an effort to drive through the parking lot about 6am almost everyday. On Saturdays I have seen police filling out contact cards on people loitering there and making arrests when alcohol is visible. But I am not sure what else they can do. What would seem to be needed is private security hired by Dearborn. That way the lot could be to monitored all night long. However, the manager stated that the ownership would not pay for the expense; I guess at one time in the past it was available, but not now. But maybe if enough people stop by and request something be done we could get the message across that this behavior is not supported by people who live in the area. I can’t imagine living on the other side of the alley with that many people urinating on such a regular basis. I would be very motivated to get something done. What block club is in the area? How organized are they? We should ask them to request someone from the store come to a CAPS meeting to discuss all of these issues.
ReplyDeleteThat whole corner needs help. From Jakes tacky window decorations, to the empty store fronts - including the childrens daycare on Sheridan, to the loitering that occurs at Dearborn grocery and at the bus stop on Sheridan. That area can be somewhat daunting at times.
ReplyDeletePretty sure that's CPNA "turf." I agree with you, UV. Maybe some block club activity could do some difference. But based on your experience and the lack of response on the fence, I wonder if the owners really care unless their business is directly impacted in some tangible way (ie lost accounts, broken windows, etc.).
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything said so far except one thing. I LOVE the tacky window decorations on Jake's windows. Isn't one of the pictures of a fish imploring you to order chicken and a chicken saying no, you should get the fish special? That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteSince when does a private property owner get to get off saying, "I called the police to solve the problems on my own property and other than that I don't want to spend any money." BullSh##.
ReplyDeleteThe police are not to be used as his private security force and he has a responsiblity to abate crime nuisances on his property that affect the surrounding community. Get 3 arrests and haul him into court under the nuisance abatement program if he refuses to understand that.
Is this Slum Lord Lou Wolfe Jr. we are talking about?
There they were, back at it again this morning at 6:30. I didn't see any alcohol or illegal activity though, so I did not call the cops.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see one of my favorite Uptown spots is on the blog. I also workout at World Gym and shop at Jewel and this guard rail gang is a constant reminder of the work that needs to be done in this neighborhood. Just becasue you don't want to kick people out doesn't mean you are doing them any service. Someone please tell our fantastic alderwoman that. Keeping poverty, drug use and homelessness concentrated without doing ANYTHING to try and change the situation will not earn you a gold star. Wilson yard is another perfect example of how corrupt and full of feces she is. AGH!! Between the shootings, gang activity, lack of change and the spring weather loitering - the neighborhood feels just great right now! P.S. Does anyone know where Shiller lives? Maybe that's where we plan a positive loitering event and we can bring the guard rail gang with us!
ReplyDeleteHelen Shiller lives in a big 'ol single family home purchased with the assistance of her ward organization president, Sam Toia's $20,000 loan. (San Toia of Leona Pizza family wealth.) The home is located in Andersonville, at 1248 West Carmen, Chicago, Illinois 60640. The Alderbeast lives there with her now-divorced spawn, Brendon, the cop-suing lawyer.
ReplyDeleteFormerly, she graced our Sheridan Park presence by living for many years at 4443 North Malden,
Chicago, Illinois 60640.
"The Alderbeast lives there with her now-divorced spawn, Brendon, the cop-suing lawyer."
ReplyDeleteGet out! The lovely lady who turned the air blue at the Wilson Yard rally and at James's Election Day party is no longer party of the Family Shiller?
The AlderSpawn and Brenda have a child. There is no escape from the Family Shiller.
ReplyDeleteI take that bad. Shiller's husband managed to leave her and move to Evanston before he eventually succumbed to MS.
ReplyDelete