November 2010 Newsletter

Posted on by Steven Stern

Read the print version of the newsletter.

A FEW WORDS FROM OUR PRESIDENT …

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

SLN is investigating email newsletters for those interested versus our current method of mailing. See the Article later in the newsletter.

MEMBERSHIP DUES

Please pay your dues and save us the expense of postage sending you a reminder. Membership Form in the Newsletter. Thanks to all.

Dear Neighbors,

You need only walk to your nearest Starbucks to see that this recession has been relentless and non-discriminatory in its effects.  Three years ago, homes turned over like hot-cakes, new business flourished and the Cubs made the playoffs. It’s different now.  Homes languish on the market, “For Rent” signs abound after October 1st and the Cubs are under new management.  Young and old have lost jobs (or never found them) and storefronts are shuttered.  This is not pessimism, but fact.  In my own profession, I know many lawyers who are out of work and others struggle. Yet some may be too proud to ask for help. This is where SLN’s food and clothing drive through the Lakeview Pantry comes in. For 40 years, Lakeview Pantry has provided the stuff of life to those in need. Those old enough to remember recessions of the 1970s and 80s know that we will come out of this one, but the toll in interrupted lives may be steep. Lakeview Pantry is there to close the gap. Continue reading →

November 2010 Meeting Preview

Posted on by Steven Stern

Lincoln, Southport, and Wellington

Our next meeting is Tuesday, November 9.
Location: Basement of St. Alphonsus Church
1429 W. Wellington

Agenda:
7:00 pm: Coffee & Cookies
7:30 pm: Meeting

  • Chicago Police Department – CAPS representative
  • 1325-41 W. Belmont – Office Building Proposal and Zoning Change Request Continue reading →

October 12 Meeting Preview

Posted on by Steven Stern

OCTOBER 2010 MEETING PREVIEW

Location: Basement of St. Alphonsus Church
1429 W. Wellington

Agenda:

  • 7:00 pm: Coffee & Cookies
  • 7:30 pm: Meeting

Alderman Scott Waguespack–State of the Ward
An annual event, SLN welcomes the Alderman for his State of the Ward speech. Considering the volatile environment of the City budget shortfall and the open Mayoral race, this appears to be an interesting evening. Get there early for a good seat.

1325-41 W. Belmont  –  presentation and discussion of potential zoning change
MedProperties, LLC will present its proposal for the Project at the above address. Those addresses are currently occupied by a mostly one-story medical building, the associated parking area and a Native American Art store.  The Project is a 62,000 square foot medical office building. The Project is a 4 story glass and brick building. The top cornice will be 70 ft. high. The parapet wall will be 68 ft. high. For comparison purposes, the Senior Housing at 1501 W. Belmont is 77 ft high and 3133 N. Lakewood is 75 ft. high.The Project will be lot-line to lot-line front to back and side-to-side. There will be no side yards (gangways) for the properties bordering the Project. The Project will be anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH). There will be an Urgent Care Center at street level with extended hours. 12,000 square feet of retail space will be available on the 1st floor. The 1st floor will include a NMH Imaging Center. It is unclear how many medical or business tenants will occupy the building or if the make-up of the tenants is known. There will be 74 indoor parking spaces that can also be used for restaurants and theater in the evening. The roof consists primarily of a green wellness garden. In order to achieve the desired office ratio, the Project will require a B2-5 zoning. This Project is developed as a Planned Development.

ISSUE : The NDRC committee is concerned that allowing that zoning to accommodate this project will set off an avalanche of similar requests on the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Belmont.

The immediate area surrounding the Project will be flyered. This will be a Voting Issue.

Posted in SLN

October 2010 Newsletter

Posted on by Steven Stern

View the newsletter in PDF format.

A few words from our president

Dear Neighbors,

Scott Waguespack was elected alderman of the 32nd Ward in 2007, beating two-term incumbent Ted Matlack in a run-off election after neither had won 50% of the vote in a primary. (A third candidate has been lost to history.) It was the first defeat for the vaunted Dan Rostenkowski political organization since Terry Gabinski was elected alderman in the 1960s. At his retirement in 1999, Gabinski was the dean of the 50 Chicago aldermen: Matlack was his chief aide.  You get the picture.  Without re-hashing ancient history, suffice it that Matlak’s zoning decisions did not endear him to many South Lakeview neighbors. The near-empty condo buildings along Lincoln and the “For Sale” signs on other streets stand as testament to the zoning decisions made more than four years ago, when sunshine and blue skies stretched to eternity. It was fun while it lasted. Continue reading →