Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Tribune: "Cop Shop Closing After a Century"

In today's Trib, there's a story about the 23rd District's Town Hall station closing after 103 years of service. Two officers who are familiar faces at our CAPS meetings are quoted in it: Sgt. Alex Silva and Lt. Robert Stasch.

Apparently the new station (just around the corner from Town Hall, on Addison) will be opening next month. The old station funtioned as the suburb of Lake View's actual Town Hall and Courthouse, and became Chicago's 42nd Precinct when Lake View annexed itself to the city.

Interestingly, Ald. Tunney is quoted as saying the old station's future is unclear, when the RFP we quoted a few months ago specified it would be used for senior housing.

There's a nifty slide show here, showing photos of the construction process from May 2009 through September 2010. The one below is taken from there; it's the station's new lobby, as of last month.

Update:
Check out Gay Chicago Magazine's coverage, "Police Gather For Group Photo Of Historic Town Hall Police Station

7 comments:

  1. Senior housing? What senior would want to live on one of the busiest, noisiest street corners in the city? There's Cubs traffic jams all summer, noise from the new police station next door, and noise from Halsted Street nightlife. It seems like a really bad location for senior housing to me.

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  2. As I drive by the station as well as the parking garage looks great. I only wish they would have made room for at least 2 courts for our area arrests.

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  3. Actually, the old police station is not the former Lakeview town hall - it merely sits on the site of the former town hall. A picture of the former (demolished) town hall can be seen here: http://tinyurl.com/lakeviewtownhall

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  4. The senior housing is not planned to be directly on the corner. It would be built on the land between the historic station and the Center on Halsted, with the historic station renovated and repurposed as a community amenity (e.g. social services center, seniors health clinic, etc.).

    @Dan: Actually, it's a very good location for senior housing.

    It's close to the EL and several major bus routes, close to two grocery stores and two pharmacies, a community center, and the lakefront.

    Not to mention it's in a vibrant neighborhood that seniors can partake in.

    It should also be noted that any senior housing in that location will likely be targeted toward seniors from the LGBT community. So that they do not have to be displaced from the Lakeview area.

    But since you think it's a bad location...where in Lakeview do you think they should build it?

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  5. QRBNST;
    Thanks for that link to the original town hall. Very cool to see!

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  6. @QRBNST

    I'm just imagining that seniors might prefer some site a little quieter, less busy and noisy. I'm not a senior and I'm not sure I'd opt for a place right on Halsted Street, myself. Yes it's close to two grocery stores - although Whole Foods would be rather pricey for anyone on a fixed income.

    And don't forget the Circuit nightclub would be right across the street, and we've already seen what happens when people move in near a nightclub and don't think about how much noise it brings late at night.

    Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to campaign to stop the project or anything. If they can find seniors looking to live right in a busy nightlife area, who preferably won't turn into a massive source of "damn kids get off my lawn" complaints - then go for it.

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  7. It seems like a great fit for senior housing, most Cubs fans are old people anyway....now they can continue the lifelong wait for a championship right in their backyard!

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