JUNE, 2000 EVENTS:

A meeting was held in the 33rd ward Alderman Mell’s office on June 6, 2000 to discuss development options for this site. This group included Alderman Mell, a small group of community members from IPN & GIPNA, representatives from the Inter-American Magnet School, and three representatives from the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development.

Alderman Mell first relayed to the group the history of the site, and his position on earlier development options for this site. This was largely understood by the group and has been documented in other areas on this website, but I will summarize this here.

The current dilemma in developing this site seems to revolve around the fair market value for the property. Since MPD #578 was put in place for the Builder’s Square development, & subsequent Home Depot, this site was scheduled to be sold for a value close to $20.00 / s.f. While this development was blocked due to the communities, and the Alderman’s objection, the offer for sale established the fair market value for the site. As explained by Mell, this value is inflated beyond what would normally be considered for a site zoned for industrial use. These sites generally are obtained for $6.00 / s.f. Because of this inflated price, the City and the current developer have had difficulty getting an industrial use to fill the site and be economically sound. Because of this, the City and the Alderman included this area in a T.I.F. district as a means of helping an industrial use develop the site through tax relief financing. But even with the T.I.F. money, the right industrial mix has not been found for this site. And, since the Mayor has insisted that this site remain industrial, other uses that might be able to pay for the cost of land acquisition have not been able to be explored, and the site has remained vacant.

But now it appears that the mayor and the planning department may be willing to consider other uses for this site. The Alderman is promoting some sort of mixed use that would retain at least a portion of the site for industrial use. As stated, it is this sort of compromise that might have the best chance of getting the Mayor and the Planning Department to relax the current zoning constraints. He announced at the meeting that two companies, Warner Candy and Summit Industries are interested in relocating to this site. Warner Candy is a candy packaging company, not a manufacturer, and Summit Industries is a company that manufactures x-ray equipment. (Click on the Links to find out more about these companies.)

It was also announced that Inter-American Magnet School was interested in relocating to this site. Marissa Hopkins explained to the group the school’s concept, program, and performance record. This school is highly regarded and one of the best academic elementary schools in the city. As a magnet school, it draws students from all around the city. There is a requirement, however that 30 percent of the students need to come from a 1.5 mile radius to the school. Currently over 30 percent of the students in this school come from the 33rd ward. This location would help meet the proximity requirement. (Click on the links to learn more about the Inter-American Magnet School)

While the mayor has previously rejected a school on this site, now there seems to be more pressure for this to change. The alderman said that Tim Martin, chief operating officer for the Chicago Public Schools expressed interest in this site for a development of two schools. It was presumed that Inter-American would be one of these schools, but details on this plan were not announced. An elementary school generally requires 3.5 acres; this site contains 10.5 acres of vacant land. (Link to CPS report on Inter-American Work in Place    Link to CPS report on Inter-American Budgeted future work)

It was questioned whether the school represented the communities’ interests based on the IPN survey results. There were some strong supporters of the school present and a few doubters. While the survey showed that other uses might receive stronger support, it still indicated that a majority of the residents questioned would support the development. Also, the survey did not make it clear that the school option was Inter-American Magnet elementary school, it only said "public school". Furthermore, the survey was only distributed to the residents in the immediate area. It was pointed out that residents further west who may have students enrolled in this school would likely support it. Also, the Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association, which represents an area further north and east has previously endorsed this development option. Finally, while other options in the IPN survey may have received stronger support, the school may have the best practical option of being realized.

Even so, this development would require a reversal in position from the mayor’s office and the Department of Planning, since this option has already been rejected in the past. The Alderman was proposing a mixed use development that would include the school, the Warner Candy company and Summit Industries, and perhaps some residential development. The exact position of these uses was not determined, but it is presumed that the school would be at the north end and the Manufacturing would be at the south along the tracks with leftover space perhaps devoted to housing in the middle.

It was questioned at the meeting whether or not the proper notification had been given for the zoning change brought about with MPD #578 for the Builder’s Square. Residents in the immediate area who were living there at the time did not remember receiving it. But, while this planned development described the Builder’s Square use on the property (which the community opposed), it also limited the total development of the site (which the community supports). The total floor area allowed for development for the Builder’s Square site, for instance, was reduced from 456,325 s.f. to 133,095 s.f. It is a matter of interpretation of the zoning ordinance whether a Builder’s Square or a Home Depot would have been allowed under the previously existing M1-1 Zoning. While retail stores are not listed as acceptable uses, there is a use described as "building material sales" that is allowed. In theory, under this provision, the Home Depot may have been allowed under the original M1-1 zoning. The exact determination of this would be up to the zoning board of appeals. (Any zoning attorney who may have further insight in this matter, please contact the author).

The meeting was left with the onus placed on the department of planning. Sheila O’Grady was to head up the planning departments investigation into the option of the school or schools on this site. She was to get together with Tim Martin and the Mayor’s office directly on this issue and report back to the community at the advisory council meeting on the 15th. Bill Trumble, who was contacted later, said that he is working on bringing Warner Candy and Summit Industries into the site.

ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING:

At the 33rd Ward advisory council meeting (public meeting held every third Thursday of the month at Horner Park) on the 15th, the meeting referenced above was reported on, but no new information was given. The Alderman reported that Tim Martin was still interested in using the site for two schools, but no details were announced. Sheila O’Grady was not present and no news was forwarded about the efforts to allow for a school on this site from the planning department or the mayor’s office. Discussion on this matter was cut short, and the Alderman announced that a separate full community meeting on this issue would be scheduled soon at a time TBD.

WHAT CAN I DO?

People interested in bringing the school to this site should contact the Alderman’s office and Sheila O’Grady at the Department of Planning (312-312-744-9220). Also, to understand the Chicago Public Schools’ exact interests in the property, we suggest contacting the office of Tim Martin.

IPN is schedule to have another meeting to discuss this issue on JULY 11, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. at the Abbey Pub. All are welcome. If possible, we will try to get some city representatives to attend.

The Alderman is trying to schedule a community meeting on this issue. When that takes place, the time and location will be posted on this website..