A reader writes in:"I was wondering if anything had been reported about the blocked sidewalks on Montrose.
It's because the Graceland Cemetery wall is leaning, but no work has started on fixing the wall in over a month."
Anyone out there know what is going on with this delayed project?
Graceland Cemetery
ReplyDeleteThis is what they have to say:
"A MESSAGE TO OUR NEIGHBORS
MONTROSE AVENUE SIDEWALK
Because of hazardous conditions and the need for wall repairs, we have fenced-off sections of the Montrose Avenue sidewalk. For your safety these sidewalks will be closed until further notice.
These are circumstances beyond our control and we appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience.
Graceland Cemetery"
That wall has been leaning in spots for years. The circumstances were not beyond their control. It should have been repaired years ago.
Now it will sit like that until Spring I imagine.
No, it will sit there until they decide to repair it. Funny, I wonder if they received any fines, or was the city too busy fining small independent businesses like Rob's to even notice?
ReplyDeleteThis is safety hazard for those of us walking to Challenger Park from north of Montrose. You cannot cross Montrose at the Broadway light because of Wilson Yard blocked sidewalks and you cannot cross Montrose at the light on Magnolia because of the Graceland blocked sidewalks. The only place to cross Montrose is under the El tracks - totally not safe because cars have a hard time seeing around the parked cars. I think a temporary pedestrian cross walk needs to be placed.
ReplyDelete*Funny, I wonder if they received any fines, or was the city too busy fining small independent businesses like Rob's to even notice?*
ReplyDeleteThat was the first thing I thought of! Keeping calling 311 and say the structure is dangerous and hazardous.
Is this courtesy message to our neighbors posted anywhere on the temporary fencing itself?
ReplyDeleteIf not, what is there to stop anyone from coming and taking possession of the fence? It's standing on public property.
I have talked to Alderman Shiller's office twice about this (before the holidays). Her staff told me they were aware of the problem and that they were working with their infrastructure person to come up with a solution. They also had a meeting planned with Graceland. Please, if you are concerned about this, call the office and make sure they know that more and more people have noticed the unsafe situation. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis fence isn't to repair the wall. Its their new boundary since they need to expand the cemetary to accomodate all of the people getting killed in Uptown.
ReplyDelete**I have talked to Alderman Shiller's office twice about this (before the holidays). Her staff told me they were aware of the problem and that they were working with their infrastructure person to come up with a solution. They also had a meeting planned with Graceland. Please, if you are concerned about this, call the office and make sure they know that more and more people have noticed the unsafe situation. Thanks.**
ReplyDeleteLOL.
Cowboy, that was a good one.
I would imagine there are also some permits involved in repairing the wall. Is it really that hard to cross the street for a few steps?
ReplyDeleteGood one cowboy! Got me laughing...
ReplyDelete"Is it really that hard to cross the street for a few steps?"
ReplyDeleteActually it is when there's no crosswalk. Montrose is a very busy street, and there have been a number of occasions where it took me a long time to safely cross. I can easily someone getting hit by a car in the evening.
Did the cemetary give Helen any money? If not, that might explain the delay in getting a permit. If so, that might explain the slow, unharassed by pesky citations, progress.
ReplyDeleteHelen may not have gotten money from the cemetery, but I'm sure she's gotten more than a few votes from it.
ReplyDeletelol, cowboy
ReplyDeletelol, yo
Good stuff.
While we're on the subject (of Challenger Park, that is), does anyone know why the lights along the park (just below track level) have been off lately?
ReplyDeleteDid we neighbors forget to pay the electric bill or something?
Our neighborhood is almost a war zone for walkers. The sidewalk on Montrose between Clifton and Broadway has been closed for months. The eastern sidewalk along Truman cut off walking access to the Wilson El station months ago, the Sunnyside sidewalk and street are a construction nightmare. And now with the sidewalk closing by Graceland, walking is extremely hazardous.
ReplyDeletePlus walking on Clifton and Sunnyside is 100% in the dark since the street lights have been out for 2 weeks.
Welcome to the 46 ward and residents' safety!
Call Graceland at 773-525-1105 and casually ask them. Maybe if they get tired of calls they will get working. If construction can continue at Wilson Yard in this weather, surely a simple wall can be worked on.
ReplyDelete"These are circumstances beyond our control ... "
ReplyDeletehow is their wall beyond their control?
There seem to be a TON of sidwalk and raod projects that have been going on forever in the city right now. I see sewer work going on in many locations that have gone on for months and I am not talking about the 'cave in' that happened on Montrose. Seems odd that most of them were started in the fall.
ReplyDeleteIf you're talking about projects going on for too long, how long will the scaffolding be on Wilson and Sheridan?
ReplyDeleteMolly's comments about the lack of safe pedestrian spaces on Montrose now, is right on. If this was in the loop, there would be a lighted pathway along the Wilson Yard area, instead of projecting so far into the street. I've seen many take the dare, and walk the long stretch that's sans a sidewalk.
ReplyDeleteAnd could a building, or business just block off a sidewalk, like Graceland has done?
Maybe we should protest by blocking traffic to take back the road for pedestrian use.
ReplyDeleteLet's just hope they have a goal of getting all this completed before Cubs season opens or we're going to have major traffic and pedestrian "jams" all over the area.
ReplyDelete" ... could a building, or business just block off a sidewalk ... "
ReplyDeletethey need a permit
"Dear ________,
ReplyDeleteWe have been working with the City regarding this matter and a public walkway will be provided soon.
At this time, we appreciate your understanding and we apologize to you and our neighbor for the inconvenience.
Graceland Cemetery.
"
I spoke with the park district manager for the area, and he is checking into getting the lights along Challenger Park fixed.
ReplyDelete