McJunkinHousing2
Different day, same old "stuff"!
A different law firm (one located downtown that has contributed to Ald. Helen Shiller's campaign war chest) has sent out a notice -- another notice -- that the McJunkin Building is seeking to be rezoned for the purpose of "commercial housing."
This one mentions a more specific zoning change, from B1-5 to B3-3.
There is no indication what "commercial housing" is. As a commenter said earlier, "I recently asked the zoning department what "commercial housing" was and I was told that it is not a term that they have ever heard of. Plus, I went through all of sec 17 of the zoning code and the term "commercial housing" doesn't exist."
Yet here that very same phrase is again, in another zoning letter. The very phrase the original attorney, Brendan Shiller, said he wasn't aware of. Something is very, very strange about this whole thing.
Could it be that the alderman person behind the zoning change doesn't want the citizens of Uptown to know what's going on? Why would that be?
Nothing about this sounds good. I emailed the Alderman's office about this 2 weeks ago, and of course got no response.
ReplyDeleteWell at least the owners had the sense to hire an experienced attorney this time.
ReplyDeleteTime will tell. This smells like some kinda low income housing to me. Perhaps an extension to the lovely Wilson Men's Hotel? A second location?
I look forward to the chicken wire.
Over the years, Phillip H. Snelling has given Helen $2,500 in contributions. $1000 in January 2003, $1000 in February 2003, and $500 in November 2006.
ReplyDeleteHow does another SRO help our community? At least its in her building. She'll have to deal with the agressive pan-handling and step over the drunks sitting against the building (if she ever shows up to her own office)
ReplyDeleteI have 3 years experience working in new home development where I Was responsible for all zoning and building permits and I have NEVER heard of commerical housing. Sounds to me like it is going to be another haven for the freaks that have turned uptown into trash. I am just counting down the days until my lease ends so I can get out of this area.
ReplyDeleteAccording to this Chicago Zoning Code list, B3-3 is
ReplyDelete"Community shopping - destination
oriented, no limit on size of
commercial establishment. Allows
dwelling units above ground floor."
Looking at the current zoning map, nearby areas that are already B3-3 are the SE corner of Wilson and Broadway, and the NW corner of Wilson and Sheridan.
Ok...so...I've lived in the "hood" for over 10 years now and am not 100% sure what the youth hostel situation is at the social service building at Lawrence and Sheridan. Could the plan for the McJunkin bldg. be similar?
ReplyDeleteThe law firm of Johnson Jones Snelling Gilbert & Davis has done work for Shiller's campaign committee.
ReplyDeleteJohnson, Thomas
36 S Wabash
Suite 1310
Chicago, IL 60603
Occupation: attorney
Employer: Johnson Jones Snelling Gilbert & Davis
$1,000.00 1/18/2003 In-Kind Contribution to Citizens for Shiller "legal services"
$1,000.00 2/10/2003 In-Kind Contribution to Citizens for Shiller "legal assistance"
$500.00 11/20/2006 cash to Citizens for Shiller
JJSG&D is a CHA M/W/DBE subcontractor
ReplyDeleteIf you received this letter REPLY TO IT ASKING SNELLING TO DEFINE COMMERCIAL HOUSING because there is no legal definition in the zoning authority for commercial housing.
ReplyDeletethis is curious, especially if you lean toward the anonymous post that this is just Inspiration expanding
ReplyDeleteJJSG&G shares office space (addr identical to the suite #) with the Chicago Community Development Corporation
CCDC is a for profit corporation, a subsidized rental housing developer & mgmt firm, you may recall is the only developer other than Holsten to feed at the the WY trough. CCDC partnered with Voice of the People in Uptown on spending $2M from the WY TIF on 3 Uptown subsidized rental apt bldgs orphaned when William Higginson crashed & burned in 2006.
927 W. Wilson Avenue
PIN 14-17-220-005
900 W. Windsor Avenue
PIN 14-17-220-017
4431 N. Clifton Avenue
PIN 14-17-217-012
notes on CCDC incl. generous campaign contributions to Shiller
more recently
CCDC to Shiller
$1,000.00 6/5/2007
$1,000.00 8/10/2006
The Archer Courts project features on CCDC's website was also TIF subsidized.
by City law "Written notices must contain ... a description of the nature, scope and purpose of the application or proposal"
ReplyDeleteit could be argued that by choosing a phrase "commercial housing" that is not defined in our zoning codes, the applicant has failed to make a good faith effort to discharge their notification obligation (I am not a lawyer but this might be actionable)
but even more important than what the notice sez is what the application for the zoning change itself sez
I doubt the app sez "commercial housing" because if it did, I think our zoning dept. would have no choice but to kick it out.
JJSG&D is not registered as a lobbyist with the City as of 9/15/08
ReplyDeleteSo that raises the question, what can be done about it?
ReplyDeleteWhat can be done is hire a law firm on file a lawsuit challenging the rezoning and expose it for what it is.
ReplyDeleteUs Citizens in Uptown need to hire a law firm collectively to challenge everything our stupid corrupt Alderman and her cronies try to do.
ok, with your indulgence I will speculate here:
ReplyDeleteInspiration is expanding, but it ain't just more tables in the Cafe, it's beds upstairs
CCDC is a FOR-PROFIT corp which may in part explain the mysterious "commercial housing"
this one bares careful watching, dear neighbors