Veruca Salt
Developers must reduce condo project to build
"A developer seeking to construct four condominiums in Park Ridge's Executive Plaza will be allowed to do so -- as long as the project follows rules set in the city's new zoning ordinance." (emphasis added)
Full story: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/parkridge/news/522239,pr-execplaza-082307-s1.article
So, no golden goose egg for Norwood or any other partners in Norwood's Park Ridge 2004 LLC.
Several sources report that the developer is really pissed!
We would be pissed too if we'd made campaign contributions to Mayor Frimark, and the Citizens for Strong Schools committee headed by Mayoral friend and supporter, former 5th Ward Alderman Steve Huening, and all we got (so far) was a lousy zoning map amendment! We're willing to bet this will be a topic of discussion between Mr. Huening and his friend, current 5th Ward Alderman Robert Ryan, on one of their walks.
Norwood is purported to have fired their attorney, insider and zoning-guru, Mr. Jack Owens. We can't say for sure, but we suspect the "guru" part has something to do with the "insider" part.
Sources also tell us any revised plan presented to the city council will completely nix senior housing, underground parking, dedication of Touhy Ave. frontage, and the community park.
In other words, "Take that! Hmmph!"
That's known as throwing a temper tantrum...or as we like to call it, being a Veruca.
We won't belabor the issue but,
- The "senior housing" portion of the plan simply wasn't...
- The underground parking was a selling point for buyers, who are likely to be familiar with the delights of midwestern winters, as well as allowing the developer to "bury" one story of each of the buildings underground.
- The dedication of land along Touhy Ave. was moot, as the State can take whatever portion of property it deems necessary if Touhy is widened...
- While the "community park" was likely to be just the community of condo. residents' park.
But rest assured, we're pretty certain the 55-and-over set may make up a significant portion of buyers for units in a redevelopment of this nature; maybe as many as 50 out of the 160+/- units to be built? And the condo. association can always pass out brochures on behalf of Presbyterian Homes; the same brochures that the on-sight Presbyterian Homes sales office would have had if the plan were approved as, well, planned.
There's still one more council reading of the ordinance to go. We hope the council doesn't cave to the pressure that is probably being applied at this very moment. Though we think it's safe to assume nobody is dropping off any boxes of meat at city hall and saying "thank you for your time".
Oompa Loompa doompadee doo
I've got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa doompadah dee
If you are wise you will listen to me
Who do you blame when a project is slowed
Too dense and tall for the zoning code?
Blaming the council is a crying shame.
You know exactly who's to blame:
The greedy re-developer!
Oompa Loompa doompadee dah
You thought Jack was the variance czar
But now you know that it is not true
Like the Oompa Loompa doompadee do
3 comments:
It's about time the politicians stopped giving the town away to all these builders.
Where do you think the increased amount of tax revenue is going to come from if not from new people coming into our town? YOUR POCKET! This town is aging with that comes dwindling tax revenue that can't possibly keep up with our needs. We need to keep our town attractive and competitive with other towns doing the same! Developers/builders won't even look here if they get shit on all the time and put out of business by the city's old farts. Get real people.
Demanding that developers stay within the city's new and more lenient zoning code doesn't strike us as an attempt to "shit on" and "put out of business" the developers who want to build either single or multi-residential properties in Park Ridge.
But we understand your purpose in the use of hyperbole.
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