The City Council's License Committee approved 13 new liquor licenses for lakefront restaurants, including Montrose Harbor, but there was a request for one more:
The ordinance originally proposed only 13 new licenses spread along the lakefront, but [Timothy] King said Ald. Helen Shiller, 46th, approached the park district with a request to add the Waveland Clock Tower building north of Addison Street to the list. "Ald. Shiller has identified that location as a building in need of a little tender loving care, and could possibly use the influx of a creative, economically viable restaurateur who could come in and really do some great things at that location," King said.
Read more at Clout Street.
I don't see what the big deal in promoting business along the lakeshore is. (If that's what truly is happening)
ReplyDeleteThe fear of bums and drunks in the bushes or out in the open is genuine, but no matter how many restrictions you make there will always be winos.
The common sense solution is targeted proactive enforcement by CPD. It's not hard to tell who is intoxicated in public and who is having a nice picnic with a glass of wine and some cheese.
Let's not make this something it's not. Don't get me wrong I love taking shots at Shiller as much as the next guy, but really guys this is a stretch.
I don't think it's her advocating for a booze dealer, I think it's the strikingly different advocacy she does for the South of Montrose and North of Montrose area residents. This is a good example.
ReplyDeleteWhat Nick said.
ReplyDeleteActually, the Clock Tower could be a cool place for a restaurant.
What strikes me as odd is that there are plenty of other places, a little closer to her office, which have been in dire need of tender loving care for years.
... and not just in an election year.
I guess this is an example of "the eyes of the beholder." I don't see it as bashing Shiller, just recapping something she introduced that affects our ward. Now, if you want to see bashing on her questionable decisions and actions, we've got it. But not here.
ReplyDeleteYo,
ReplyDeleteWell put.
This seems too blatantly capitalistic for her. I imagine she already has someone in mind. A developer's wife, or child perhaps? Or maybe she will TIF it up and turn it into an economically inefficient free-range chicken farm.
ReplyDeleteBelch, I like this idea.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I do.
The Clock Tower does need some work and a seasonal restaurant might work there.
Hell, perhaps it can be a year round place like Cafe Brauer in Lincoln Park near da Zoo.
That restaurant that goes up near Oak Street Beach(Beachstro) is a nice seasonal addition to that hood.
The one thing the 46th Ward and Uptown in particular have is spectacular lakefront parks. The other thing is ME, but I'm the shy type and don't like to toot my own horn. That's what I have crack whores for. When the damned folks at UU don't post stories about my ladies and their legal issues.
Trey,
ReplyDeleteWell put. It is a mystery to me why she neglects this part of the ward.
No one can say that Helen Shiller doesn't let Uptowners get their drink on.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is just the unifying platform that will work for her in the next election!
Hmmm. "could possibly use the influx of a creative, economically viable restaurateur." Isn't it interesting that Helen's "friend" and co-property owner, Sam Toia, a successful restauranteur (part of the Leona's family), just happens to live right across the street from the Waveland Clock Tower on Lake Shore Drive? Which has suddenly become a site with a pressing need for a restaurant? Which only Ald. Shiller has noticed?
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just a coincidence, but I'm thinking there's a good possibility we see a Leona's open there in a year or so. For the good of the community by the altruistic alderman, of course.
I worry about losing affordable concessions in the park that everyday people can use during the week to get water (because there are no water fountains) or sit around (because there are no picnic tables and very few benches) or just grab an affordable snack. It's not like one could afford to go to the upscale dining inside Lincoln Park for anything other than a special occassion.
ReplyDeleteThe Harbor Management took away the ice business to the boaters and that wiped out the concession stand east of the Harbor. Several other concession stand vendors have tried to operate there but all the special events in the Park have their own food service that wipes out the weekend business and they can't afford to stay open during the week for the business that remains with the boaters, fishermen, and birders.
In the end the Park District has jacked up the concession stand rents so high that they can't make it and taken away their most lucrative business to the boaters and weekend visitors.
So, locals who use the park during the week or on regular basis have no low cost place to go in the park. Business will be hurt more when drivers won't want to pay to park to get a hot dog or hamburger.
The City's "let-them-eat-cake" response it to tell people to bring their own water and food. But, its nearly 3/4 mile out to the beach and there is no bus service most of the year or only one-way service for a few summer months.