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Posted on March 1, 2011 in LPCC

ABC 7 Chicago

Chicago Sun-Times

Lincoln Park residents criticize redevelopment of old hospital site
BY TINA SFONDELES
March 1, 2011

Dozens of Lincoln Park residents Monday night criticized a redevelopment plan of an old hospital site that was twice endorsed by city planners.

Long-time resident Ernie Gutmann said the plan was “like putting an elephant in the middle of a historic district.”

The Sandz Development Co. proposal — dubbed Webster Square — calls for a 20,000-square-foot Fresh Market store, medical office building and about 160 residences on a three-acre site at Halsted and Webster.

Gutmann said the community needed more time to work with developers on a consensus, although most residents rejected plans for more retail.

Some residents referred to a poll on last week’s ballot in the 31st precinct that showed 56.6 percent of voters were opposed to large retail, office and other commercial use in the lot.

But Kim Schilf, president and CEO of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, one of the supporters of the plan, noted the jobs it could bring, as well as its business opportunities for local merchants.

Schilf said the lack of support for the project could discourage future developers from choosing Lincoln Park as a business site and would “damage the neighborhood’s reputation.”

Ald. Vi Daley (43rd) said she called the meeting at Lincoln Park High School’s auditorium so residents could learn of changes made by both the Chicago Plan Commission and city departments.

Concessions include redesigning the loading areas for the Fresh Market so that trucks would not back in from Webster, a narrow street — and the reduction in height of new flats to 47 feet.

Daley said she plans to bring the project to the Zoning Committee on March 22. Daley has held community meetings on the plans — and its revisions — since October.