If you have only seen the tiny, out-of-date Wilson Yard renderings on Ald. Shiller's website, check out these two views, captured from the poster frames outside Aldi. (click to enlarge)
But wait, there's more!
Check on yet a third rendering, from the UNC website (referenced in the comments), of a 12-story building for the housing! How much housing will there really be? It appears to be a crap shoot. (click to enlarge)
Confused? We suggest writing to Ald. Shiller's office for clarification on this project and asking how many stories the new housing will be. Please let us know what replies you get.
The number of stories on the housing is wrong.
ReplyDeleteHow many should it be?
ReplyDeleteMy first reaction is zero, but I'll let Uptown Refugee respond first.
ReplyDeleteTry doubling it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.uncchicago.org/images/wall-of-housing.jpg
There is a scale on the image I posted.
ReplyDeleteThe buildings are over 100 feet tall. That's at least 10 stories. The image clearly shows at least 10 stories of housing plus the ground level retail.
The make believe rendering used to sell you this POS shows only 5 or 6 stories. It's hard to tell.
These are evil wicked bad people who will say and do anything to suck you dry of your tax dollars and/or pad the voter rolls of sympathetic victims.
Looks like a ton of retail space to be filled. Based on what has come to the South end of Uptown lately, I'm wondering how many currency exchange type places will be the first tenants? I'm guessing a minimum of three.
ReplyDeleteIn general, I am excited for Target and excited to have something other than dirt in that area. So, I'm really trying to be optimistic.
Please please please someone put in a Panera Bread or Corner Bakery! As much as I love local sandwich shops, I think the area needs some bigger name restaurants.
The number of stories has changed several times, but Ald. Shiller announced that it was going to be 6 stories over 2 stories of retail at the Channel 11 aldermanic debate in February 2007. I recall it being 11 stories at one time. I don't remember the number of units changing when the number of stories changed.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, there continues to be several things wrong:
1. It's being built in a census tract that is labeled extremely high poverty, and this goes against CHA and HUD guidelines for new housing involving low-income residents. HUD suggests new low-income housing go in areas where the poverty rate is at least below 25%.
2. It's an elevator building, and this is also heavily discouraged for family subsidized housing.
3. There is still no ground level play area for the children. Ald. Shiller suggested the children cross N. Broadway Ave. to go to the new Stewart School playground.
4. The entrances into the housing are few, making it harder for residents to detect strangers going in and out of the building, which leads to more crime. At a very minimum, there needs to be a 24-hour door man for this reason in both buildings.
5. I understand Ald. Shiller still insists this is a mixed-income building, but mixed-income does not mean a mix of low-income.
6. Ald. Shiller does not have good history of working with the local community to address crime, including crime occurring in and around poorly managed properties. Actually, her involvement has been more of a hindrance than a help.
7. It continues to be very controversial that the area ever qualified for a TIF in the first place, thus the WY lawsuit.
8. What was identified as in need of improvement with the TIF is not adequately being addressed.
9. The results of the traffic study were ignored. We can fully expect W. Montrose to become a parking lot during peak hours.
10. The lack of transparency and community involvement is frightening. The community has asked to see the letter of intent from Target and it remains hidden. I mentioned this to Elizabeth Brackett after the Channel 11 debate in 2007, and I recall Ald. Shiller stating off camera that this document should remain confidential.
It continues to be disappointing and sad that over 2,000 area residents find themselves supporting a lawsuit in order to make their voices heard in the 46th Ward.
I have been wondering about that drawing for some time but was frankly afraid to ask as it looked like 10 stories rather than 6. What do you want to bet that there will be more than the number of units she constantly reports. She and the developer report that number so often it has made me suspicious for some time. I just get so mad every time I drive past there. Everyone, please practice for the next election and get two or three neighbors informed about what is going on at this site and why it is opposed by the majority of the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteA canyon of subsidized housing will stand where there should be thriving and tax generating retail corridor.
ReplyDeleteNot only will it drain revenue, it'll lock up that intersection.
Can't wait for a night Cubs game to get a firsthand look at gridlock.
Between WY and the Truman garage, is Helen trying to wall herself off from the rest of the world, or is it just me?
It simply boggles the mind as to how anyone could see this as a good idea.
Look...it's very simple...TIFs are for "blighted" communities and Peter/Helen want to make sure the community is blighted so they can be compliant.
ReplyDeleteHey at least there should be a green roof above Target.
ReplyDeleteSince the small, and beautifully rehabbed, office/retail building at the northeast corner of Leland and Broadway has been sitting empty for months (if not a year) now, I can't imagine that 2 full stories of retail space will fill up anytime soon after completion.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone noticed that the low-income housing portion of this development is moving like crazy, while the "Target" portion is completely dead? You'd think these two things would be going up simultaneously if a so-called "letter of intent" from Target really exists.
Personally I don't think any judge would stop any development using TIF funds in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteJudges are charged with upholding the law. The fact that a judge states the Fix Wilson Yard case has merit should be of grave concern to Helen and Peter. If I were Helen, I'd be sweating more than a prostitute in church.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that a judge states the Fix Wilson Yard case has merit should be of grave concern to Helen and Peter.
ReplyDeleteWhy? If the thing is built by the time of the hearing, what's for Helsten to fear?
Maybe she won't be able to fill all those luxury apartments with no-income voters.
ReplyDelete