New EMC proposal unvieled, includes large donated parcel for park

Friday, June 8, 2012

: Residents await Waveland Partners presentation. Credit: Jeremy Bressman

Residents packed the St. Gregory bingo hall last night for 40th Ward Alderman O’Connor’s community meeting related to the future of the Edgewater Medical Center site.

Tags: 40th Ward, Alderman O'Connor, community meeting, Edgewater Medical Center, Friends of West Edgewater Park, WEAR

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Jenna Karvunidis

As the treasurer of Friends of West Edgewater park, obviously I’m all for a park but really, the *ideal* solution is a structure that serves the community (not residential, maybe incorporating retail) from the alley to Ashland, then the rest of it a park. No SFHs, just a park from the alley to Hermitage.One thing that bothered me at the meeting last night was when the Alderman said “even if the money was there, the city doesn’t think it’s a good place for a park”. That bothered me. I tried to raise my hand for clarification – like if we got the money ourselves, would they fight us anyway? – but he wouldn’t call on me. My hand got tired of being in the air and eventually it was 8:00 and I had to go home to put the kiss the kids goodnight.As I said, the ideal situation is to have some kind of community-serving structure (NOT residential) between the alley & Ashland and have everything west of the alley green space. I wish there could be an arts school or a library or something there. **DREAMS**Something this neighborhood really needs is a play place, like Cafe Jumping Bean etc. Having that on Ashland right there would be a real dream come true. I know people interested in starting that type of business (maybe even me!)In short, this Waveland plan isn’t there yet. It’s not what the neighborhood wants.
Realistic

Jenna – so do you plan to purchase the lot and pay for demolision?
- Jon
  
  The land owner still owes $9million in back taxes. That should be enough.
JD

Here is the details:
http://theresidencesatedgewaterpark.com/
I agree with realistic, there should be a mix of both not two city blocks of park that would in the end probably turn into a hangout for teenagers and such since it also costs money to pay for upkeep and security. I hope the do something soon since anything is better than what has been
- MaryW
  
  I agree this is
  - JD
    
    I’m talking about at night, I lived right next to the vacant parking lots and they were nothing but party spots until they were developed.
Concerned Neighbor

Some thing needs to be done soon. This has been dragging on for way too many years. The opportunity to have a park,
retail and residential space should be considered. It seems to be a win win situation for the developers and the current
residents. There are a lot of long time residents that are very bitter over the fact that this has dragged on for so long.

Back taxes will never be recouped. Time to move on.

This hospital, during its heyday used to employ 1800 people, many of whom lived in the neighborhood. The structure as it stands is a bitter reminder of the difficult time many went thru when the demise of the hospital occurred. If the neighborhood was able to deal with the density that was here when it was a viable hospital, surely it could deal with
JW

I agree. The mix of park, residential and retail that is described in the article sounds like a fair compromise.
Pursuejustice1

Absolutely, any development should be serving the community. After all it is replacing an enterprise that did. Alderman O’Connor is always big on private residential development, perhaps because his wife is in real estate. I believe she exclusively sold all the single family homes on the original phase of the development. And, if it is not for a public purpose it should not, FOR SURE, get TIF funds. A park would be terrific, maybe community gardens too.
- Grannybswitek
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New EMC proposal unvieled, includes large donated parcel for park