Oh, the wonderful reviews Uptown's vibrant retail corridors get! Even from other aldermen.
The News-Star reports: "[Ald. Joe] Moore [49th Ward] spoke of his surprise visit to the Wilson Yard Aldi's in Uptown, describing it as being dark and crowded. "To say I was underwhelmed is an understatement," he said.
We're guessing Ald. Moore was too polite to add "backwards" to his critique.
Why does it have to be so dark in there? Its just dumb.
ReplyDeleteAnyone around WY have a spare bunk to house Joe Moore for a week?
ReplyDeleteWe deserve some more of this stand up routine, and perhaps we can develop a sympathetic voice about the Holsten Metal Warriors concert going next door.
Oh, no!
ReplyDeleteYou mean to say that when the developers were stumping for support for the zoning change they needed, neighbors were told it was for an office supply store, and now they got it they're swapping it out for an Aldi's with a liquor dept?
Can they do that???
the horror!
"I urge that whatever you do, to keep the windows free of shelving and signs," Moore said.
ReplyDeletea Chicago alderman has complete unchecked authority over zoning and land use
in alderman-speak, "urge" means "do whatever you want, of course, but just for the record to cover my ass and create a talking point for later I need to make some noise"
"We feel like we've been baited and switched."
ReplyDeletefasten your seatbelts, Uptown
Great. He makes his visit to an actual Aldi's AFTER he approves one for the new condo on the corner of Granville and Broadway which is in HIS ward.
ReplyDeleteGranted, it's supposed to be a "new concept" Aldi's but you'd think he'd do his homework before OKing one in his ward.
Moore is shocked, shockked
ReplyDeleteThis community meeting was a carefully orchestrated pageant
Moore and Platt are VERY good pals from WAY back
William Platt, current President, Access Realty Group, Inc.
William Platt & Associates
$2,500.00 12/23/2004 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$2,500.00 4/6/2006 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$2,500.00 12/7/2006 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$2,500.00 12/7/2006 to Citizens for Joe Moore
(not a typo - Moore reported 2-fer $2.5K on the same day 2 months before the last election)
$1,000.00 10/16/2006 to Democratic Party of the 49th Ward
$1,000.00 10/16/2006 to Democratic Party of the 49th Ward
William Platt, Partner
Mayer Brown & Platt
190 S. LaSalle St.
$500.00 3/13/2000 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$500.00 2/15/2001 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$2,500.00 7/23/2003 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$2,500.00 1/8/2004 to Citizens for Joe Moore
Thomas J. Murphy, lawyer, former President, Access Realty Group, Inc.
$500.00 11/3/99 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$500.00 7/24/2003 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$500.00 2/11/2005 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$500.00 6/29/2007 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$250.00 2/11/2008 to Citizens for Joe Moore
$350.00 12/22/2008 to Citizens for Joe Moore
Joe and Ricard "get the f*** out of my office" Munoz, and a handful of other aldermen must be hearing the angry footsteps of voters unhappy with the sad state of city government.
ReplyDeleteThey have recently(ish) been saying things that indicate a possible change of tune; but, alas .. as Hugh mentions, it may just be a lot of fluff.
Much like Helen's new found initiative to update her website.
Fluff.
Joe is best buddies with Helen. They and their supporters are strong believers of having the ends justify the means. Integrity? What's that?
ReplyDeleteI hate to disagree with the foie gras loving aldercritter from the 49th Ward, but with the exception of the lack of a street entrance that Aldi ain't bad.
ReplyDeleteOf course if you were going to build housing at Wilson Yard it would have been better to put the Aldi on the ground floor of a tower. With the luxury subsidized housing above. Kept the corner of Broadway and Montrose open for the potential Target.
BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
So the 49th is getting an Aldi's?
ReplyDeleteI thought Joe Moore was just jealous he didn't have one yet.
Any what's the big deal about the entrance NOT being on the street.
Jewel's doesn't have one either. The entrance is facing the parking lot, where customers will move the carts temporarily until they bring them back to the entrance. Do you really want to have rows of Aldi carts lining up Broadway?
As for IrishPirate's design suggestion...actually,that would have made a lot of sense...but i never heard that argument before. Would've been one worth fighting for (and possibly won).
ReplyDeleteJeeze Hughy, you really don't know zoning do you? Same zoning that will allow and office supply store will allow a grocery store. Yes Aldi's wanted a variance to sell liquor (actually their german wines and beers are not too bad), but they did not get their variance.
ReplyDeleteSo alderman's approval or not, they have the right to open a new or old concept store at Granville and Broadway. Platt's not getting any special deal for Aldi's because he made contributions.
I did hear tho, that Moore made quite an ass of himself at the meeting and that he looked as if he'd slept in in suit.
"I need to beat up on you at a community meeting a little, nothing serious, you'll get your Aldi's, and after a few years, your liquor dept. You know the game, you don't mind, do you?"
ReplyDeletethat's just the kind of thing good pals do for good pals in this crowd
Like the rows of carts along Halsted in front of Whole Foods and Home Depot JP?
ReplyDeleteNot for nothing, but he also critiqued an Aldi in the suburbs giving it low marks as well. I find his comments more about the condition of Aldi as a chain rather than the condition of only the WY Aldi.
ReplyDeleteWhat I did find truly puzzling is that his office doesn't seem to know that Trader Joe's and Aldi is the same company and spoke about them as though they were two separate entities. While I understand that they are very different in scope and, quite possibly, run using different corporate management, Aldi is still the parent company and the alderman's office should know this. But I didn't get that from the article.
Personaly, knowing this has put Aldi in a much better light for me, which is a good thing. And I have shopped at WY Aldi and didn't find it dark and excessively crowded at all. And in this economy isn't a crowded retail outlet a positive thing? Even if it is an Aldi?
(good morning Bradley)
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ReplyDeleteI was disturbed by Moore's veiled threat that Aldi should have met with him first. He also forgets he's a public servant. Would it be so hard to call Aldi and politely ask for details about the project rather than put them on the defensive at a public meeting?
ReplyDeleteJP, if you can find an independent urban planner who goes along with ignoring Chicago's current zoning guidelines that call for retail stores to have their front entrance facing the street, let me know.
Yeah. What about those doors? I'll bet that Aldi balked at having to secure two entrances. However, since they were getting government assistance and, presumably, more traffic because of the new WY development someone should have pushed back harder. Even a side door would have been a decent compromise. Too bad we couldn't have gotten one of these "new concept" stores.
ReplyDeleteI am really not sure I believe that Joe Moore wasn't fully informed by Bill Platt and Aldi of their arrival in the 49th Ward. In fact, I am completely unconvinced.
ReplyDeleteIf the promised follow up meeting ever occurs, I plan on inquiring when developer Bill Platt plans on moving his restaurant from Southport to this lovely development. I mean, this building will have an Aldi to attract diners. What more could a businessman ask for? Some people up this way are kind of scared that this Aldi will attract another Methadone Clinic as happened when the new Aldi opened in Uptown, but I am sure he has enough confidence in this vendor to make the plunge. So we look forward to hearing about when the restaurant will open.
We will go absolutely bat s*&% crazy if there is any move now or in the future to have package or beer/wine sales at this property as an Aldi. This street has already failed to be able to support low cost alcohol sales. If it is attempted, we will vote it dry.
I would hope that Aldi would not send any more lawyers to the follow up meeting who are partners of Jack Abramoff (Greenberg Traurig law firm). This is not particularly relevant but it is something very insulting.