Community groups seek Grand Avenue revitalization
By Miriam Y. Cintron
Two local organizations are discussing the best ways to revitalize the stretch of Grand Avenue between Ashland and Western Avenues. The Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC) would like to restrict residential development on the south side of Grand and promote commercial and limited residential development on the north. The Chicago Grand Neighborhood Association (CGNA) has other ideas, suggesting that not restricting residential development will allow for better mixed-use development to attract residents and businesses and create a livelier neighborhood.
The CGNA believes the city’s industrial sector is in decline and that leaving the area as it is will make it a ghost town. “If we don’t do something, it’s going to be an eyesore,” said David Ramos, the association’s president. Ramos added that developing the unused empty lots also would keep crime down in the area.
Steve DeBretto, the ICNC’s director of outreach and member services, emphasized the council does not oppose all residential development; rather, it wants to limit new residential development. Nor does ICNC believe Grand will become the heavy manufacturing district it once was.
DeBretto explained that his organization suggests a B-2 zoning for the north side of Grand, which would permit structures with commercial development on the first floor and residential above. It proposes a C-3 zoning for the south side of the street, which would allow commercial and business development only.
The ICNC also wants to see the area beautified to make it more inviting for visitors, but it wants to preserve the area as a buffer between the Planned Manufacturing District to the south and increasing residential development to the north.
The office of Ald. Billy Ocasio (26th Ward) wants to avoid what happened to the Maxwell Street Market, where businesses got pushed out of the area because of residents’ complaints about the noise from early morning deliveries, said Hector Villagrana, Ocasio’s chief of staff. Some in the community fear residential development on Grand would create the same issue for manufacturing businesses on Grand. “We want to avoid potential conflict” between residents and industrial businesses, Villagrana explained.
He added that the alderman’s office wants to protect the jobs of people who work and live in the area. “This is their livelihood,” Villagrana said. “That’s why we want to strengthen and lift up” the area’s industrial sector. The alderman also wants to bring more businesses and restaurants into the area.
All involved said they are confident they can reach a compromise.
