“Turf War” Feature in Chicago Magazine
Chicago Magazine reporter Debra Pickett spent hours interviewing POP members and researching the series of events that led up to the Latin School Lincoln Park land grab. Her story is a fair account and asks the question we’ve been asking – who wins from a fight like this? Read the story
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I just read Vi Daley’s newsletter (volume 1 issue 5). She says that a developer has proposed to replace “the Grossinger buildings” on Wells near Goethe. Vi claims that nearby residents have given this plan a positive response. But Vi also said that about the original plan to give a big chunk of the park to the Latin School, so I don’t trust her. Does anyone know whether the buildings that she is now supporting destruction are the precious old 1920s, terra cotta sculptured buildings that now house a car dealership? Please tell me that Vi doesn’t intent to put a wrecking ball to that old treasure. I would hope that building is landmarked.
Eric
Eric -
This is a little out of our field of knowledge – but there was a huge neighborhood upset about Grossinger’s original plan to build a large car barn/garage/office on the site of its lot. The community protested and Alderman Daley reluctantly got into the controversy. Now Grossinger’s is moving 10 or so blocks to the west to the corner of Halsted and North and the city is forking over $8.5 million in subsidies to help them covert he old Home Depot Expo Center building. Alderman Daley testified for the subsidy, which comes out of the $800 million+ T.I.F.funds that are pulled out of taxpayer’s property taxes in 2007. Grossinger sold its old property to a private developer, as you note, and made a fortune. here was a public meeting and the developer made some concessions to local concerns, but you can kiss the old structures good bye. Why a prosperous private business gets a hand out of $8.5 million in public funds to move into the hottest retail and super-hgh traffic region of the city is a mystery to me.