Zoning advances for student dorm

02/25/2010 3:47 PM

By Micah Maidenberg
Editor

11 Comments - Add Your Comment

Members of the city council's zoning committee gave their seal of approval to a zoning change needed for a 37-story student dorm containing more than 1,220 beds at the the southeast corner of Wabash and Van Buren this morning.
The project, called the Buckingham Phase II, had been stalled in committee for months at the insistence of Ald. Robert Fioretti, whose ward includes the parcel.


View Buckingham II site in a larger map

At a Plan Commission meeting last summer, Fioretti objected to the fact that the development team didn't have a lease from a university or college to send their students there.
"We've had a series of problems ... and 1,200 beds will present some serious problems," he said at the time.
No lease has been secured, confirmed Gary Curciarello, one of the developers backing the project. But he said construction is a long way off.
"The financial markets have not improved," he said. "It'll be a couple of years before we start anything at this point."
Fioretti was unavailable for comment Thursday.
His chief of staff, Andy Pierce, said the office was "assured there'd be no movement forward until one or more universities were secured as tenants."
That point is reiterated in a letter of support for the project Fioretti sent to Ald. Danny Solis (25th), chair of the zoning committee.
The full city council would still need to ratify the new zoning. That move could come as soon as the March council meeting.
Check Chicago Journal's print edition next week for more about this story.


11 Comments - Add Your Comment



By For Good Development from in the South Loop
Posted: 03/05/2010 6:21 PM

I agree with FTM. Fioretti NEVER let the public attend CAC meetings. Secrecy breeds suspicion.


By PPBCU from Printers row South Loop
Posted: 03/05/2010 3:17 AM

So where is the roster again Marty? I would be interested to see if all community groups are equally represented on this committee as Dennis points out, and how many are "contributors" or volunteers for the Alderman.


By Marty from West Loop
Posted: 02/28/2010 2:47 PM

Say What?\"He has the CAC meet in secret\" - yet you know about it as do I and we know that he puts the meetings at RMU in his newsletter and website. Also if you want to participate you can ask. \"and its decisions are often not know by the public until after Fioretti gives his final approval to pending developments.\" - yet you could call his public service office and ask his policy and reasons as many do. so which one is it FTM? bad gov. or an opportunity to for you to engage your elected rep?


By Fioretti is NOT a transparent alderman!!! from Follow the Money!!!
Posted: 02/28/2010 12:03 PM

Marty. You are both right and wrong. I have met some of the CAC members and they are honest hard-working community volunteers whom I do believe are trying to do a good job. The problem is not with the CAC members but with Fioretti himself. The way he runs the CAC is NOT transparent by any means. He has the CAC meet in secret, the public is not welcome to attend, and its decisions are often not know by the public until after Fioretti gives his final approval to pending developments. Not good!


By PR from Printers Row
Posted: 02/28/2010 10:47 AM

I am not on the CAC but I have a good friend who is. I doubt you would call him a bootlicker to his face. As to the flip flop comment, within the approval documents there is an explicit provision that requires the building to only be used for student housing; if it was to change to rental or some other form they would have to go through the planning process again. So the Alderman raised the community concern, got it handled and the process moved on. As it should.


By Marty from West Loop
Posted: 02/28/2010 8:03 AM

To the prior two comments, The CAC is entirely transparent, as you can apply to join the body at your discretion as well as many of these issues are highlighted on his website and weekly email newsletter. Do you check them? And I highly doubt any of these people are bootlickers, they are 2nd Ward stakeholders of various professional and geographic backgrounds who wish to engage the civic process on their own terms, not a smoky backroom, top down management style like "da boss" on the 5th floor!!


By daniel from south Loop
Posted: 02/27/2010 8:51 PM

Marty, the problem with this so called Advisory Council of the Alderman's is that it is made up of handpicked bootlickers, and there are not other public presentations made beyond the meeting with the 6-8 people on this council.


By Here4ever from South Loop
Posted: 02/27/2010 4:13 PM

Yes, yes, and yes. You guys are right on! George has certainly made nice with Flip Flop Fioretti. So much for the independence!


By Marty from West Loop
Posted: 02/27/2010 3:44 PM

Its funny you mention that because the project was vetted by the community in many ways which goes against everything you are alluding to. First, and Micha can attest to this most likely, The 2nd Ward Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Development which has been in existence since Ald. Fioretti took office approved this proposal after taking its due dilligence looking at it from every angle. The final approval only happened recently. Please dont instigate that this was shady, thats untrue.


By Daniel from South Loop
Posted: 02/25/2010 9:39 PM

Is this the Giles / Kargil student housing development? Funny how, if I am a developer, I can default on millions of dollars in loans, get sued, but find a sucker to give me another loan on a different LLC and be qualified, while if you miss a credit card payment have your credit ruined. Makes you wonder if there are real silent partners on this project, and who are the money bags?


By Follow the money from It doesn't lead to you
Posted: 02/25/2010 5:30 PM

I wonder if the campaign contribution that Flip Flop Bob Fioretti got from John George, attorney for the developer, had anything to do with his suddenly allowing the project to go forward when he had previously held it up?