Disputed projects win approval

Plan Commission gives OK to Rockwell, dorm

06/24/2009 10:00 PM

By IAN FULLERTON
Contributing Reporter

35 Comments - Add Your Comment


MICAH MAIDENBERG/Staff

In addition to giving the strike-enmeshed Congress Hotel permission to expand, members of the Chicago Plan Commission approved two disputed 2nd Ward development at their meeting last Thursday.

Phase II of the delayed Rockwell Gardens redevelopment got the go-ahead, as did a proposal for a 1,249-bed student dorm. The application would advance several zoning changes for developer East Lake Management, allowing the powerful firm to ultimately construct 553 units within the an area bordered roughly by Western, Monroe, Rockwell and Van Buren avenues.

Phase II focuses on the development of one- and two-story brick town houses in the area south of Adams Street.

Home sales from the first phase of the project were disappointing, with East Lake zoning lawyer Rolanda Acosta previously telling Chicago Journal just five homeownership units actually closed.

Some residents and advocates blamed the sales on shoddy construction but the developer attributed the numbers to the across-the-board market nosedive.

Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) promised that the second phase would be a different story.

“We’ve had to come up with a series of creative solutions,” said Fioretti, who commended new designs for the project at the commission meeting.

He noted that the developers were offering a 10 percent purchasing discount for teachers, firemen and police officers who move into the neighborhood, in an effort to “promote a safe community.”

“I fully endorse this project,” Fioretti said.

Acosta said one-third of the Phase II units would be for sale, with the rest going to affordable or CHA housing.

He acknowledged that some of the funding for the development, such as the children’s park, had not yet been worked out. Acosta cited tax increment financing dollars and CHA funding as possible sources.

“We need something more concrete than that,” said commissioner Patricia Scudiero.

Residents at the meeting appealed to the developers to bear in mind the shortcomings of the first phase.

“Homeownership is key,” stressed Clifton Cooper, head of the East Garfield Park Community Coalition.

The president of the public housing tenants’ group at Rockwell, Mary Baldwin, hoped the second and third phases would be a chance for the community to be fully involved.

“We want jobs out of it, and resident-owned businesses,” she said. “We want Rockwell to look good all the way.”

The Rockwell Gardens redevelopment is part of the Chicago Housing Authority’s Plan for Transformation, which seeks to create mixed-income neighborhoods split equally by public housing, affordable rental and market-rate units.

The commission also pushed through two applications for a proposed 37-floor dormitory at the southeast corner of Van Buren and Wabash.

The Buckingham Phase II development would offer 1,249 student beds, with 4,900 square feet of retail on the ground level and dining and student amenities on the third and fourth floors.

Fioretti cautioned the upsurge in the area’s student population could spell trouble for the neighborhood. He said there had already been a number of community complaints regarding graffiti in the area.

“We’ve had a series of problems ... and 1,200 beds will present some serious problems,” he said.

When asked if the dorm was affiliated with any Loop universities or colleges, John George, attorney for project, acknowledged developers Buckingham/Wabash LLC were still shopping for a partnering school.

He assured the commission that an affiliation would be made.

“Otherwise we wouldn’t be putting it up,” said George.

Fioretti said he would withhold his support for the project until further community input was gathered. He also warned that the project would be held up in the zoning committee if the developers did not find a leasing university.

Commissioner Lyneir Richard-son agreed that a school connection was crucial.

“If there’s no affiliate, then what’s the business model?” asked Richardson, who was the only commissioner to vote against the application.

The first phase of the development, an adjacent 450-bed dorm which opened last year, is leased entirely by Columbia College.

“I think we have satisfied all requirements and are ready to move forward,” George said.

He said the developers had met already with every group concerned with the project, adding that the plan had already been pending for a year. Business advocacy groups like the Chicago Loop Alliance and Near South Planning Board provided letters of support.

Printers Row resident Enrique Perez noted in his widely read e-newsletter that no community meeting had been held to discuss the project.

“If approved, this development will affect a swath of the South Loop on a range of logistical, demographic and infrastructure issues,” Perez wrote. “The local community deserves the opportunity to weigh in on these issues to city officials before this massive development is approved.”

Commission Chairman Linda Searl concurred that it was time for the project to advance.

The Buckingham Phase II development still requires approval from the Committee on Zoning and the full city council.


35 Comments - Add Your Comment



By Felony Frank from EGP
Posted: 08/18/2009 4:03 PM

Near West Side Alderman Bob Fioretti hosts an important community meeting regarding the property located at Madison and Western. This meeting is a follow-up to an earlier one about the grocery store development. 6 p.m. Thursday, August 20th Phoenix Military Academy , 145 S Campbell


By Marc from South Loop
Posted: 08/12/2009 3:42 PM

Chicago Loop Alliance and Near South Planning Board are Chamber of Commerce type groups. Of course these groups are going to agree with a project that offers new potential customers. These groups have their place, but what about neighborhood groups in the vein of South Loop Neighbors and Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance? Is there a neighborhood association for this area? Fioretti is on the right track, every dorm project needs a signed university affiliate agreement before plan approval.


By eastgarfield@hotmail.com from EGP
Posted: 07/11/2009 1:49 AM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-10-jul10,0,4491117.column good article about the grocery fiasco


By Fioretti won't help us from We are on our own
Posted: 07/08/2009 5:20 PM

Mr. Gates can do whatever he wants. He knows the Mayor.


By claudea from united center
Posted: 07/08/2009 12:01 PM

If Mr. Gates had no right to tear up the plants, wouldn't that be considered destruction of public property and shouldn't he be arrested or fined? Just my 2 cents worth.


By Dona Justice from United Center Park
Posted: 07/08/2009 11:28 AM

Sueanne--Ernest has no rights to that space--he just went in and tore up all the iris, day lillies, phlox and other plants under cover of the night. Looks like he didn't even know what was in there, because he tossed to good right with the bad. I hear the city isn't thrilled, as they're trying to sell off that land to developers (now that the ex-con coffee shop is moving to the Viceroy).


By Sueanne from near west side
Posted: 07/08/2009 7:57 AM

Someone needs to ask how Earnest Gates got his hands on the lot that used to be part of the city's formal neighborhood garden program at the SE corner of Hoyne and Madison. Does he now own it, or is he just ripping out the bushes for the 'good' of the community?


By WE WHO SUFFER from AT THE HANDS OF THE GREEDY AND POWERFUL
Posted: 07/08/2009 0:20 AM

Food desert, food desert, please go AWAY****Madeline Haithcock made you STAY****Pete's now wants us, so do WE****Fioretti is the spoiler to BE****Someone up there cut a deal****Without regard to how people FEEL****My health is failing, my food is BAD****Voted for Bobby, now I feel HAD****Food 4 Worthless has got to GO****Give me Pete's not a job of SNOW****Fioretti do you HEAR****Your people suffer, the election's NEAR****You gave us Elsie, you gave us FRANK****Someone took the money to the BANK


By Sonny from Chicago
Posted: 07/07/2009 11:30 PM

Pete's does not sell liquor, Food For Less does. If Food For Less opens up on Madison you will see homeless alcoholics milling around the parking lot for hours. Make sure you cash to give to them when they hit you up for some spare change on your way out.


By Fioretti wants to be Congressman from Ward littered with broken campaign promises
Posted: 07/06/2009 11:36 AM

That Fioretti has higher political ambitions has been a well-known "rumor" since he was running for alderman. Personally, I think it's true; but I am not alone. The MAN HIMSELF (Mayor Daley) thinks so as well. See the video link; in the last few seconds Daley essentially accuses Fioretti of as much. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ashM23pslk&feature=fvst


By sueanne from near west side
Posted: 07/06/2009 8:41 AM

Correction---Danny Davis is running for ?Cook County President. Sorry about that.


By sueanne from near west side
Posted: 07/06/2009 8:39 AM

Now that Danny Davis is going for cook county commissioner and everyone knows Fioretti has higher aspirations, I wonder what announcement is coming out next? If what is rumored to happen, happens, I'm voting for whatever Republican is running. God save the west side.


By Money corrupts from Fioretti took money from developers and their atto
Posted: 07/04/2009 3:06 PM

As noted in the post below, there is definitely a Fioretti - Acosta connection: Fioretti took campaign contributions from Acosta back in June and December of 2008, and a mere 6 months later, Fioretti supports the Rockwell Gardens development for which Acosta was the attorney. Sounds like a conflict of interest to me.


By Zemendides Bigger Connections? from South Loop
Posted: 07/04/2009 1:24 PM

Interesting to note who just showed up in article mentioned in the UNIVERSITY OF Illinois scandal, but none other than the attorneys for the project, including partner of Mr. Acosta, Mr. Zemenides, as behind the scenes http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-u-of-i-clout-04-jul03,0,6618041.story Makes one wonder about the rumors of Zemendides / Giannoulias / Cullerton connection. Don't underestimate the Northshore and Greek investor connections in many of these Chicago projects.


By ----- 12 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED ----- from ----- FOOD 4 LESS INCLUDED IN RECALL -----
Posted: 07/03/2009 12:22 PM

----- "12 hospitalized in connection with possible E. coli outbreak..." ----- "At least 12 people, two of them suffering kidney failure, have been hospitalized in connection with a possible E. coli outbreak..." ----- "...thousands of Americans have potentially been exposed to E. coli..." ----- "Kroger-owned Food 4 Less stores in the Chicago area... were also include in the recall." ----- www.chicagotribune.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-us-beef-recall,0,6995579.story


By ----- UPDATE ON FOOD 4 LESS RECALL ----- from ----- WE NEED PETE'S -----
Posted: 07/02/2009 11:06 PM

E. coli outbreak sickens at least 23 www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-tc-nw-briefs-0701-07020jul02,0,1544115.story Kroger Recalls Nut Topping Due to Possible Health Risk www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ArchiveRecalls/2009/ucm128699.htm Kroger Recalls Peanut Butter Cookies and Cakes Due to Possible Health Risk www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ArchiveRecalls/2009/ucm128700.htm Kroger Recalls Ice Cream Product Due to Possible Health Risk www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ArchiveRecalls/2009/ucm128698.htm


By Thrown under the bus from Near West Side
Posted: 07/02/2009 12:51 PM

Claudea. One small correction. Fioretti didn't "sell out." That implies he took money from Elzie. On the contrary, he ran like a coward when Elzie "rattled his sabre." When Elzie threatened to to run a candidate against afraid-of-his-own-shadow Bob, he abandoned his people when we needed him most. Fioretti threw us under the bus - the one driven by Elzie - to save his own skin. We knew he was greedy (i.e. he took money from other developers), now we know he's a coward as well.


By claudea from united center
Posted: 07/02/2009 11:29 AM

Dear Anti--At least I have backbone and use my name. I will change my mind when/if he proves himself. So far he sold out to Higginbottom and Rockwell Gardens as far as I and many old and new residents of the near west side are concerned. Haithcock was backing Aldi, the neighborhood shot it down. From comments he has made to others, it sounds like he is backing F4L, probably because of pressure from another "neighborhood helper" who wants to keep the neighborhood down. Anybody but F4L.


By Anti claudea from Mars
Posted: 07/02/2009 9:41 AM

Talk about not having a clue. When Pete's goes in will you take back your nonsense? Fioretti is one of the few alderman with a clue.


By claudea from united center
Posted: 07/02/2009 7:56 AM

To "Fioretti is my hero"---Do you even read what is posted on these blogs? Do you have a clue what the man is doing to the near west side? Do you have a clue what he promises he has gone back on to the residents of Dearborn Part II? Better yet, do you have a clue, period?


By BREAKING NEWS --- from --- FIORETTI, ARE YOU LISTENING - PART II
Posted: 07/01/2009 5:40 PM

What’s it going to take for you to realize we don’t want F4L. You are not listening to your people. We elected you, so be honest with us. Just as important, you need to protect us from F4L’s contaminated beef. If you don’t give us Pete’s, you will forever be known as Ald. Bob “dirty money/dirty beef” Fioretti. Do the right thing sir. Reject F4L, reject corruption, reject dirty money, and GIVE US PETE’S. --- www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-wed-beef-recall-0701-jul01,0,4554269.story


By BREAKING NEWS --- from --- FIORETTI, ARE YOU LISTENING - PART I
Posted: 07/01/2009 5:37 PM

KROGER RECALLS BEEF SOLD IN ILLINOIS --- "The Kroger Co. on Tuesday recalled ground beef sold in its Illinois grocery stores... Kroger-owned Food 4 Less stores in the Chicago area... are included in the recall." --- Alderman Fioretti. This is outrageous!! What are you going to do about this? We want Pete's, not Food 4 Worthless. You dine at nice restaurants, but we can't afford to do so because we live in a food desert. Now you want to shove contaminated beef down our throats.


By Fioretti is my hero from Haithcock oppressed me
Posted: 07/01/2009 12:19 PM

Leave Fioretti alone!!! He is just trying to do what is right for the people.


By Dona Justice from United Center Park
Posted: 07/01/2009 11:21 AM

Fioretti, you're really a piece of work. You're concerned about COLLEGE STUDENTS in the South Loop dorm, and won't support the project without an affiliated university. Yet just a few miles west you give the OK to the expansion of an already troubleed development that neighbors oppose? KNOWING that market-rate buyers can't currently get financing because of the high rate of rentals in the development? Get your head out of the sand and be prepared to be tossed from office.


By claudea from united center
Posted: 06/29/2009 0:26 AM

I don't know about the rest, but I was vocally against Haithcock when she was our Alderman. When I voted in the last election, it wasn't so much a vote for Fioretti, as it was a vote AGAINST Haithcock. So, that being said, I expected ALOT more from Fioretti, a lot more transparancy as promised and a lot less business as usual. It's sad to say that I guess my expectations were set too high.


By Dirty Advisor from South Loop
Posted: 06/28/2009 11:09 AM

Striving to be better than Haithcock is not a lofty goal. If I could give advice to the Alderman, I would tell him to fire the idiot who is advising him on some of these boneheaded development decisions that make no sense and contradicts every thing that comes out of his mouth. , yet are made quietly with no public discussion. Obama would be proud.


By Give Fioretti a chance from Haithcock was terrible!!!
Posted: 06/27/2009 6:25 PM

FIORETTI DESERVES A CHANCE AND OUR SUPPORT!!! Where were all of you Fioretti-haters when do-nothing Haithcock was supporting the status quo? Why werent you all making a big stink then? By my figuring, Ald. Fioretti has done much more in two years than the old lady did in two decades. How soon we forget when all we want to do is complain about little things. Just remember how bad things were when Haithcock was in charge.


By Where are the jobs Fioretti!!!!!!!!! from We are hungry, poor, lied to, and oppressed.
Posted: 06/26/2009 3:24 PM

In a past post, someone said the CDC doesn't want poverty in the area to go away because their city funding would go down. If this is true, then WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE CDC. That said, one way for the city to keep the area poor would be to keep out jobs. Choosing Food 4 Less would help accomplish that because they use less people. That's why we need Pete's. As for Fioretti, he promised local residents would be hired in developments in his ward. STAR COUNTDOWN: another broken promise!!!!


By Sueanne from near west side
Posted: 06/26/2009 3:06 PM

Mary from the public housing board wants jobs for the residents of CHA housing and resident owned businesses, or so she stated. Then they wouldn't be residents anymore. Sounds like a good idea to me, but there are reasons beyond grasp why a large percentage of CHA residents don't have jobs, or at least legitimate ones.


By Self-reliance means from We don't need Chicago politicians
Posted: 06/26/2009 1:20 PM

It looks like we the People of West Haven are going to have to take matters into our own hands. It's clear that our elected officials have abandoned us. We cannot count on them to put their greed aside even as we suffer in this food desert. Maybe we can take some inspriation from the lady in the article "Graffiti & Grub: The Hip-Hop Generation Gets Its Grocery Store" (link below). http://chicagoweekly.net/2009/06/24/graffiti-grub-the-hip-hop-generation-gets-its-grocery-store/


By Come Clean Fioretti from Money Corrupts!!! - Part 3
Posted: 06/26/2009 11:45 AM

As for Acosta, his list of campaign contributions reads like a directory of Chicago politicians. If I looked further into the connection between Acosta and these other politicians, I wonder if I would find more crooked deals like Rockwell Gardens, which was foisted upon us here on the West Side by Breaking-My-Promises Bob. This is disgusting to say the least. Come Clean Bob!!!


By Come Clean Fioretti from Money Corrupts!!! - Part 1
Posted: 06/26/2009 11:41 AM

Even this however is not the worst of it. The money he took from Acosta is a conflict of interest because Acosta's client (Higginbottom) had a pending zoning matter (Rockwell Gardens) before Fioretti. According to State of Illinois records, Fioretti took $1,000 from Acosta (through Acosta’s law firm) on 6/30/08 and $250 on 12/11/08. Fioretti’s cronies will argue that this is not a "ton of money" in the grand scheme of things and therefore no big deal. It still stinks to High Heaven.


By Come Clean Fioretti from Money Corrupts!!! - Part 1
Posted: 06/26/2009 11:39 AM

There is definitely a connection between Fioretti and Acosta! Flip-Flop Bob took campaign contributions from Acosta. While technically not a violation of his campaign promise to not take money from developers, as Acosta is not a developer but an attorney, Fioretti has been skirting this technicality since day one by taking money from zoning attorneys who do work for developers. Nonetheless, Fioretti has still broken his promise because he has taken money from developers on other occasions.


By daniel from printers row South Loop
Posted: 06/26/2009 8:20 AM

So for the West Loop project we need TIF money to build a park that the developer should be providing? You need to look more into the Acosta connection. As to the comment that the Near South Planning Board supported the other project. What project for their friends and members have they not supported. The question is if they got any TIF Money for this project, which would be a crock of shite if they did.


By West Sider from Chicago
Posted: 06/26/2009 2:20 AM

The developer builds crappy substandard buildings that have mold and structural problems and the city's solution is to allow him to build more?!!!Only in Chicago can you see such rampant corruption and disregard for the public good.