A flyer was circulated at a public meeting in Rogers Park tonight, asking people to tell 49th Ward Alder Joe Moore to reject a proposed mixed-use development near the corner of Sheridan Road and Devon Avenue, on a property owned by the Chicago Housing Authority. Thanks to Justin Haugens for sharing the flyer.
The proposal, called Concord at Sheridan, has a seven-story building with 111 apartments on a parking lot created by Three Corners Development. Approximately 60 percent of them would be public housing units, and the remainder would be market rate. They would consist of a mix of one and two-bedroom units.
There would be a 5,000 square foot community space for the seniors who live in an adjacent taller building called Hedger Apartments who would lose their community space in mobile buildings on the parking lot.
Target would build a small store here, taking up 23,000 square feet — the same as many Walgreens. There would be space for 2–3 more commercial units, totaling 6,400 square feet.
An underground parking garage with 133 spaces (we also heard 136) would replace all surface parking. The retail uses would have 60 spaces, while Hedger residents and staff would get 55 (an increase of 15 from what they have now), and new building residents would get 21. The low parking ratios, and the proximity to the Loyola station on the CTA’s Red Line, give this proposal TOD status.
The flyer lists three (not six) reasons why someone should be against the proposal, all of which are false.
- The development will add more residents — AKA shoppers — to the area, while also creating three new storefronts for rent. There are empty storefronts in the area, mostly on Devon Ave. to the west, but there is a history of affordable housing in Rogers Park and a good way to maintain that is to build as much housing as possible to reduce competition for land or buildings.
- The flyer is outdated and the seniors are getting a larger and permanent community space, also with a rooftop terrace.
- Target will pay rent, so the land isn’t being given away. CHA will retain ownership, and Three Corners would lease it for 99 years.
The flyer makes a strong but generic point: Property developers and elected officials are likely to gain support if they work with existing and future residents to design proposals.
This sounds like an ideal proposal: Affordable housing, more shopping options, better community space for the seniors next door, a more walkable Sheridan Road, and not a single visible car.
If only it had more residences.