Whenever anyone in Uptown says "mixed use," we're reminded of The Princess Bride:"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
According to the original Wilson Yard Redevelopment Goals & Objectives, Wilson Yard was formed “to create a cohesive, mixed-use, mixed-income community." We all know how well that's played out.
Now the Truman College Parking Garage, which was pitched to the community a few months ago as a "parking garage," has suddenly been transformed into a "mixed-use 76,000-square-foot building." Golly gee! Magic!
And now it's not you and me, pal, paying for it through TIF funds, it's... THE CITY. Check out the Trib article below.
Uptown, where "mixed use" projects are bleeding the taxpayers dry, and bringing parking lots and low-income housing to our blighted community. Now that's economic development, Shiller and Mayor Daley style!
Truman College plan gets an assist
By Jeanette Almada Special to the Chicago Tribune, September 21, 2008
A mixed-use building planned for the Harry S. Truman College campus in Uptown will get city assistance. The City Council this month approved $10 million in tax-increment financing for the $54 million project. The seven-story building will be developed by City Colleges of Chicago on 9.8 acres at 4455 N. Racine Ave. That 76,000-square-foot building will have student services, including admissions and an advising center; financial-aid offices; placement testing; student clubs; and student government activities on the ground level. All are currently offered at the college's academic building.
As many as 200 of the project's parking spaces will serve CTA Red Line riders.
"that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
ReplyDeleteI would say not only has that government perished, but it's ancestors dug up the body, desecrated it, buried it back upside down, then built low income housing on top of it.
Ms. Almada doesn't work for the Chicago Tribune, but you'll find many of her "reports" published there.
ReplyDeleteShe isn't telling us anything we didn't already know, but it did make the Tribune and they did pay her for this report about nothing.
Another place you'll find Ms. Almada's special reports; some random resident on Carmen has them all over her website.