The majority of the feedback (“Northerly, naturally,” Nov. 12) that I have received both at the public meeting at the Spertus Institute and from e-mails and phone calls points to people liking diagram two, of the four designs, the most. It is the one with the most green and nature, animal habitats, an island stream and a calm harbor on the east side, with fish reef habitats as well as new small islands. The islands would be unique for Chicago.

This is an opportunity like never before to create something amazing in Lake Michigan, right in downtown Chicago. No top global city in the world has a similar opportunity right now. It would be like being on a very accessible, low-cost and convenient vacation for a few minutes or hours right in Chicago — like being on the East or West Coast. It will be a respite from the hurried urban life and honor nature, which was here first before we came.

Chicago may be in an economic slump but whenever Chicago has been knocked down it gets back up. Some of Chicago’s best, creative and innovative ideas have come when Chicago was knocked down. This Northerly Island project will prove that. It will become a place to experience amazing nature out on the lake a few feet from one of the most dynamic and recognizable skylines in the world.

As a pedestrian who feels like a pedestrian light saying I may cross should come with the caveat — maybe — the story “Cross Carefully,” Nov. 12, hit home.

Try crossing S. Michigan just south of the Art Institute, from the northwest to northeast corner, at the same time that cars going west on Van Buren are allowed to turn right into the pedestrian crossing. Though there is a sign saying we have priority, tell that to a car racing up Michigan.

I have been nearly hit dozens of times — with and without my grandson in a stroller — to the point that I try to avoid the corner, knowing it is a killer.

Your headline photo caption (“A park for Printers Row,” Nov. 12) incorrectly stated residents “… prevented a developer from building a high-rise on the site.” Landmarks approved the development despite the strong public opposition to the development. The project was to be built “as of right” without need for further city approvals.

Our firm, D2 Realty Services, Inc. sold the property to the city for the park after we began initial underground work to prepare the site for the high-rise development. We were offered a fair price for the property and, given our long-term investment in the Printers Row neighborhood, we were delighted to able to contribute to the greening of Dearborn.

I read your article written on Nov. 4, 2009, regarding the city’s revisions to façade examinations of high-rise buildings (“New revisions to façade rules”). I know as a past treasurer/director for a condominium association that this is exciting news. Inspections that were required every four years are now required every eight years. These examinations required the use of scaffolding and now will require only visual examinations with binoculars. This will be a nice savings for associations across the city of Chicago. For our 24-story high-rise building that just had our inspection done October of 2008, we spent well over $40,000 for a façade inspection and repairs.

The inspection requires hiring an engineering company that sets up special scaffolding and surveys the exterior of the building for cracks and structural issues. The hammer pounding of the exterior is loud and the inspection is somewhat invasive as the high-risers sometimes get caught off guard. This process took our association approximately three weeks to inspect. For the three weeks of the inspection we also stored the scaffolding equipment on the premises.

For an association that has approximately a $2 million budget, this $40,000 savings would directly hit the bottom line. The savings could be reflected to the homeowner as a nice four to five percent reduction in homeowner assessments, a nice contribution to the reserves (set aside for future repairs) or an addition to a few sizable projects that would directly benefit the homeowners (e.g. some upgrades in security, lobby and common area upgrades, etc.)

With the impact that the economy has had on a number of households, a savings such as this is truly welcomed.