Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Still #1 - Wilson Station Still The Grossest?

Oh, all those promises!  Renovation FAIL. 

From the Sun-Times on May 11, 2007:  "Holsten, the Wilson Yard developer, says plans are under way to remove the blight from the L stop. The architecturally significant structure will be completely restored on the outside and completely new on the inside.  "It will be brand, spanking new, so more people will use it," Holsten said. "The more people, the lesser the crime." That project is expected to be completed by early next year. he said."

And the reality from today's "Going Public" column:

"It's been about a year since readers voted the Wilson stop on the Red Line the winner of Going Public's first Crust Station contest to spotlight the grimiest CTA stop.  In February, the Chicago Transit Board approved the use of $3 million in TIF money ... to renovate the Wilson stationhouse and adjacent retail concession spaces.  The CTA said the project currently is in the design phase, and there's no timetable for construction, though retailers already have vacated their stores."
By -

7 comments:

  1. MikeJuly 27, 2010 at 2:22 PM

    that's incredibly frustrating that they vacated the buildings just so they could sit dormant.

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  2. uptownieJuly 27, 2010 at 4:42 PM

    Someone from the RedEye was interviewing people on the platform yesterday morning about what a dump the station and surrounding area still was and how residents thought it could be improved. Look out for the write-up.

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  3. AnonymousJuly 27, 2010 at 5:12 PM

    Brad, I think this article *is* the write-up. Click on "Going Public."

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  4. uptownieJuly 27, 2010 at 10:17 PM

    Ah - does appear you are correct gg. That's what I get for not reading the click-through article.

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  5. Starck MadJuly 27, 2010 at 10:26 PM

    Another irony, is I'm guessing our Alderman has never even used this L stop.

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  6. Tracy SwartzJuly 28, 2010 at 10:55 PM

    @Brad, yep, that was me interviewing on the platform Monday morning.

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  7. UnknownOctober 22, 2010 at 6:07 AM

    I could be wrong but 3 million sounds a little paltry for an "inside and out" renovation of this scale. This El stop has been a cancer on what should be the core of Uptown. Its more than just another neglected El stop by virtue of the retail blight (and lots of it) the CTA is perfectly fine with.
    I love Tracy Scwartz's column in the Red Eye, I wonder how far along she is on riding every busline.....? It would be nice if Tracy could ask (publicly) why the CTA uses the storefront closest to Truman as a carpentry shop.
    Is there anywhere else this can be located please....a business that serves residents and the hundreds of students that walk by daily would be an asset for Uptown, revenue for your cash-strapped colossus. And deeply appreciated.
    Also, the trains have been looking as dirty as the Wilson stop lately so its been less of a shock to disembark there as of late.

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