Saturday, February 7, 2009

Where's The Construction On The Parking Garage?


We can't help but notice all the trucks coming in and out of Wilson Yard these days, and that construction there carries on even in sub-zero temperatures. You'd almost think someone'd ordered a big rush on things, like a lawsuit had been filed or something.

Yet, just a block or two away, at the Truman Parking Structure/Administrative Building, there's plenty of nothing. The public was told at the March parking meeting that construction would be done over the winter. Well, it's February, and you can practically see the tumbleweeds blowing through the site.

Truman has already eliminated the student parking it previously offered, and as a result, the surrounding streets are packed with students' cars mornings, afternoons and evenings (and we hear the shuttle buses that run from Weiss Hospital parking to Truman are nearly empty). Residents who've paid for permit parking can't park on their own blocks anymore.

We sincerely hope the 46th Ward Aldermanic office's practice of issuing Truman students day passes for residential parking hasn't started up again. We also sincerely hope the "full speed ahead!" ruckus at Wilson Yard isn't coming at the expense of progress on the Truman parking structure.

In March, the News-Star editorialized: "When do residents who have already given up so much take priority? ... We hope that whatever plan Truman comes up with for its parking garage also considers those who are helping to foot the bill - the residents who live within the Wilson Yard TIF District."

So far, we're not impressed. What's going on, Truman?

13 comments:

  1. Perhaps we should engage in some conspiratorial activity and form a community group to oppose the garage.

    Then sue to stop the garage.

    That'll get construction started!

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  2. I went to alderman's office to pick up some day parking passes. They were strict about seeing proof of address. They told me it was because of Truman students trying to use them. I don't think they will be handing them out to Truman students.

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  3. ===So far, we're not impressed. What's going on, Truman?===

    Why don't you file a lawsuit and find out?

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  4. One of the reasons I moved here so long ago was because of easy parking.

    But really, since about July the parking has sucked everywhere! What is the deal? Are Truman students here at 10PM?

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  5. IP:

    That was pretty funny...

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  6. no but really... the wilson yard construction people are probably getting paid OT -- working weekends early morning?! that is ridiculous, especially in this economy.

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  7. "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." Declaration of Independance

    The next election can't come soon enough. This same document also states:

    "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"

    and I just don't see this coming from Helen. And if her argument is that she was elected by the majority, and if that said majority was, in fact, the homeless and the poor and less fortunate that livee on the streets or in homeless shelters by night, I still don't see how a parking garage that is not being built and no-income drug dens that are being built for people that currently don't live in Uptown are going to help them. So who is Helen "helping" here in Uptown?

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  8. Well they are very busy making another record breaking senior care apartment building. Nobody is even close to the amount that we have in uptown.
    Nursing Homes in Chicagoland

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  9. This garage got funds from the WY TIF. Maybe Truman is taking their time to see the results of the May court date? If FWY is successful, isn't it possible Truman will lose the 10 million is TIF funds as well? Just a guess.

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  10. I read that the garage is in part to sweeten the deal for whomever buys Wrigley Field...for additional parking. Another Helen-sanctioned deal. It could be hear say, but doesn't seem far-fetched.

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  11. Contrary to this post, the Truman construction has been moving full steam ahead to the disruption of residents.

    Those of us who live by Truman have had major disruptions that include having our water cut off, our street lights out for three weeks, no access to our alley without notification, no parking with no notice, 7 am start times that rattle our homes.

    We have asked repeatedly for a community meeting to address these problems and present the rendering for the back side of this huge building that will face our neighborhood.

    Since the first community meeting that was held last summer, we asked to see the rendering for the back of the building facing Sunnyside. We are concerned about yet another blank brick wall imprisoning our neighborhood and endangering residents since Truman prime drug dealing territory. Our repeated requests have been ignored.

    Truman has improved its communication process but continues to hide behind the alderman for scheduling a community meeting. In typical Shiller fashion, Mary Marystone set up a community meeting with one day's notice at 8 am on a weekday!!

    The Graceland Wilson Neighbors block club is pursuing community concerns. Please visit www.gwna.org if you'd like to join the block club.

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  12. As to the shuttle buses, yes, they are nearly empty. I've never seen more than 3 or 4 people in them yet they continue to run down Magnolia about every 10 minutes until about 10 pm every day. All while residents can't find anywhere to park!

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  13. My husband purchased visitor passes last week and was also asked to prove his residence. However, they are still walking towards Truman with their backpacks after posting their visitor pass in the window!

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