10/1/2008 10:00:00 PM
Provided: Solomon Cordwell Buenz
The Addison Park on Clark would stand nearly eye-to-eye with Wrigley Field.
Wrigleyville under debate
New plans for Addison—Clark complex strive to quell community criticism
By JESSICA PUPOVAC
Editor
Developers unveiled a revised plan last Thursday for a massive, mixed-use development that would sit directly across the street from Wrigley Field and include nearly 200 residential units, a Hyatt Place hotel, more than 500 parking spaces, multiple retailers and a health club.
If approved, the structure, dubbed Addison Park on Clark, would span the entire length of Addison Street, from Sheffield to Clark. It would be built around an existing souvenir shop on the corner of Clark and Addison and the hotel portion would stretch down Clark past Eddy.
John C. Lahey, chairman of Solomon Cordwell Buenz, design partner for the development team, led the presentation. He said that the structure had been modified to address community concerns aired in January, after another set of prints was presented to the public.
But many in attendance were unsatisfied.
"At the January meeting, a directive was sent back to these guys that it was too big, and they returned with something bigger," Greg Rohner of Triangle Neighbors told Booster after the meeting. "It's like, if you want to buy something, and it's too expensive, the merchant doesn't come back with a higher price."
The new plans call for a building that stands 105 feet at street level, which is exactly the same height as the previous design. The highest point, in the center of the building, would be 122 feet tall. However, the new complex would house more residential units (up from 150 to 196), hotel rooms (up from 137 to 165) and contain an extra 40,000 square feet in retail space. It would require a zoning upgrade from B3-2 and B3-3 to B3-5.
But, according to Lahey, "To make things work economically, we need this kind of density."
Developers argued that, they incorporated an additional lot along Clark, in order to move the building back along the street to allow green space at the street level, a move which reduced the impact of the structure on the local environment.
Rohner admitted that this was a nice touch. "I think they addressed a lot of the concerns on Clark," he said.
But a nonscientific survey conducted earlier this year by the Lake View Citizens Council suggested that the chief concerns in the local community are traffic congestion and the ability of small businesses to stay afloat.
According to property owner Steven Schultz, he has signed a letter of intent with CVS Pharmacy. Other big-name retailers including Dominick's, Best Buy and numerous clothing stores are also interested in setting up shop there.
As for traffic, Lahey said, the seemingly scant amount of parking spaces are intended to encourage retail workers and residents to take public transportation. "Density close to transit stops is a good thing in general," he said. "It's the way that cities are going to survive."
Bill Patrun of Bristol Chicago Development LLC, another partner in the Addison Park project, added that when the design team's traffic study, mandated by the Department of Transportation, is completed, they will share those findings with the community.
Residents gave ground on the potential economic advantages of the hotel itself.
"Obviously, a hotel is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood," said Rev. Jennifer Owen-O'Quill of the Second Unitarian Church of Chicago, "but it is important to think about what this is going to mean as far as whether this neighborhood will remain residential."
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) echoed her remarks. "This is a whole different scale then what we're used to in our neighborhood," he said. "The concerns are very important here, and we've asked them to continue to work with community groups and make it as good of a plan as possible."
But, ultimately, he said, something needs to happen.
"In my mind, people feel the site is underutilized and underdeveloped, and it's certainly not an asset to the community at large, so there needs to be development on this site. Let's make it the best development we can."
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