tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post6620610948909096166..comments2023-04-01T06:34:38.141-05:00Comments on Hyde Park Progress: Word on 53rd: Don't be Jackchicago pophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17055796523227869734noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-24878743768421027092007-11-02T12:57:00.000-05:002007-11-02T12:57:00.000-05:00It's a relief to know Preckwinkle isn't buckling t...It's a relief to know Preckwinkle isn't buckling to the NIMBYs on this. Thanks for the update.SRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461264398590899010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-19922459523862680312007-11-01T14:51:00.000-05:002007-11-01T14:51:00.000-05:00I like the "Don't Be Jack" expression mostly on a ...I like the "Don't Be Jack" expression mostly on a metaphorical level: there are a lot of well-meaning, busy Hyde Parkers who take their political cues from people like Jack, whom they assume will represent their interests well. <BR/><BR/>But that's knee-jerk activism, not well-researched activism, and it has completely stalled progress at the Point, alienated the City and Park District, and (so far) junked a really great Compromise Plan.<BR/><BR/>I think Jack IS reading this blog. (Hi, Jack.)Elizabeth Famahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04931639156261179425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-51595102030467455152007-11-01T14:37:00.000-05:002007-11-01T14:37:00.000-05:00Rossi said "If Jack doesn't like it, let him campa...Rossi said "If Jack doesn't like it, let him campaign against her re-election."<BR/><BR/>Hopefully Spicer isn't reading this blog.<BR/><BR/>I still think it would be fun to find Spicer's gardening trucks and put "Weed the Point" bumper stickers on them.Famachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11117327917074489292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-52588224402834827922007-11-01T13:54:00.000-05:002007-11-01T13:54:00.000-05:00Zoning is not sacrosanct. In fact, zoning is what ...Zoning is not sacrosanct. In fact, zoning is what makes suburbia suburbia and what has done a lot to make cities more like suburbs. Zoning is only as good as the designs behind it.<BR/><BR/>What Spicer zeroes in on in the 2004 code are provisions -- many NIMBY-driven -- that were inserted into the code in reaction to the poorly planned and poorly managed building boom of the mid-90s. We all know what that looks like -- lots of tall skinny townhomes looming above their neighbors, buildings that don't fit with the others on the block, with no yards, street-facing driveways, blank walls, strip malls, etc. -- all basically because no one at City Planning was paying attention for some odd reason. <BR/><BR/>So now the code has added some pedestrian friendly design requirements, but is weak on TOD, parking, and well-designed density. There's no good reason -- certainly none other than Spicer's "our ancestors have said it should be thus" -- why that building can't go more than 4 stories. Hell, it's next to a mini-mall with an acre or so of parking -- does that define the character of the neighborhood? <BR/><BR/>That mall is not going to be there forever, and something taller on that corner would be good, and would give the 53rd St. commercial district some harmony from one end to the other.chicago pophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17055796523227869734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-60157216219061656592007-11-01T11:16:00.000-05:002007-11-01T11:16:00.000-05:00Mr.Spicer begins his letter with "I was honored to...Mr.Spicer begins his letter with "I was honored to be one of the thoughtful and articulate Hyde Parkers who" had a private closed-door meeting with the Alderman. <BR/><BR/>This is from the person who has been a vocal spokesman for transparency and community involvement. I guess he really is only in favor of his involvment. Don't you think?Peter Rossihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15610159670466039455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-22355856445689346482007-11-01T11:12:00.000-05:002007-11-01T11:12:00.000-05:00May I also point out the Mr. Spicer was one of man...May I also point out the Mr. Spicer was one of many who wanted the Hyde Park Theatre on Harper kept in tact. He wrote a letter to the editor of the Herald talking about how significant this building is. This is not a positive force for change.Peter Rossihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15610159670466039455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-8091237002239284592007-11-01T10:43:00.000-05:002007-11-01T10:43:00.000-05:00Note that Mr. Spicer does not actually explain why...Note that Mr. Spicer does not actually explain why this development is objectionable -- other than the process and that it is "tall." <BR/><BR/>If you oppose something, aren't you obligated to explain why you oppose it?<BR/><BR/>What is wrong with a 10 story building across from a public park (don't bring your "congestion" arguments here!)? <BR/><BR/>Don't you have to actually look at the building that is proposed before you oppose it?<BR/><BR/>The real reason he doesn't not tell us why he opposes it is the same reason why he is opposed to the Point plan. If you defined acceptable criteria for development, someone might meet those criteria. <BR/><BR/>By being vague, Mr. Spicer is trying to be the gatekeeper! <BR/><BR/>Toni has told to go soak his ego. She is the elected representative. If Jack doesn't like it, let him campaign against her re-election.Peter Rossihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15610159670466039455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-6314501016591160782007-11-01T10:36:00.000-05:002007-11-01T10:36:00.000-05:00curtys raises an interesting point.Jack DOES NOT s...curtys raises an interesting point.<BR/><BR/>Jack DOES NOT support those developments. If you read the letter, he actually doesn't come out to support them. He said "we need tall transit-oriented buildings ... LIKE" This is a throw-away -- his letter is another letter opposing change. It also gives him the option of backing away when convenient. <BR/><BR/>He has NEVER come out in support of ANY development in Hyde Park.<BR/><BR/>If Jack writes a letter or circulates a petition in exclusively in FAVOR of any positive progress in HP, I will go the corner of 55th and Lake Park and publically eat my old pair of fly-fishing waders!!Peter Rossihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15610159670466039455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-56571954629155582972007-11-01T10:23:00.000-05:002007-11-01T10:23:00.000-05:00...and the businesses that will benefit from the p......and the businesses that will benefit from the patronage of those new residents, and the tax dollars that this will send into the 53rd St. TIF, etc. etc. etc.chicago pophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17055796523227869734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-30328439497394616152007-11-01T10:18:00.000-05:002007-11-01T10:18:00.000-05:00I found Jack's letter rather encouraging for one r...I found Jack's letter rather encouraging for one reason: an Alderman actually told him to go stew!! Finally! <BR/><BR/>How anyone can oppose residential development on 53rd Street confounds me.<BR/><BR/>Jack is right that this project will benefit the seller of the property and the developer, but he forgot about all the people that will benefit from moving into a modern building in Hyde Park.Famachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11117327917074489292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-66819131535204250112007-11-01T09:33:00.000-05:002007-11-01T09:33:00.000-05:00So would I; but just wait. Some neighbors prefer s...So would I; but just wait. Some neighbors prefer surface parking lots.chicago pophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17055796523227869734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-51271893814711751462007-11-01T09:24:00.000-05:002007-11-01T09:24:00.000-05:00Has someone here already linked to the photos for ...Has someone here already linked to the photos for the 56th/Cornell "Solstice" building? If not, <A HREF="http://alwaysintransit.typepad.com/hyde_park_urbanist/2007/10/solstice-on-the.html" REL="nofollow">here they are</A>. I walk by this intersection every day and would love to see it built...J/tatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940946530955628307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-70716984390249157642007-11-01T08:24:00.000-05:002007-11-01T08:24:00.000-05:00I'm saving the "I Don't Know Jack" lead for when w...I'm saving the "I Don't Know Jack" lead for when we do a feature on your contributions to the issues, curtsy, because it that's when that phrase generally tends to apply. I really liked your insights on the Co-Op, the Medici, and parking, for example, where you really took a lead in the discussion.<BR/><BR/>Spicer doesn't have to oppose every development in HP to be the lead NIMBY (which he is, unless you'd like to replace him). That statement of support comes years after these projects became known. In fact, he opposes so much, for contradictory reasons, that he probably had to unload a few projects, and there are plenty of folks that will pick up the slack, as the good people at HPK-CC will tell you vis-a-vis Unger and 56th/Cornell.chicago pophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17055796523227869734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4186587935097536129.post-62930784567240168732007-11-01T07:58:00.000-05:002007-11-01T07:58:00.000-05:00And what of Jack's now stated support for the Anth...And what of Jack's now stated support for the Antheus projects (at 56th/Cornell and 51st/Lake Park) and the Leal development at 53rd/Cornell? I guess this doesn't fit your well-established "narrative" for Mr. Spice as lead NIMBY obstructionist. Perhaps if you were to have acknowledged that J-Spice was not, in fact, utterly opposed to development in HP, you then would have had to go with the lead "I Don't Know Jack"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com