New hot dog stand proposal dogs University Village/East Pilsen area
By Julie Sammarco
Residents and business owners from the University Village and East Pilsen communities met on August 18 for the third time this summer to discuss the proposed opening of a Maxwell St. Express Grill hot dog stand on the corner of Halsted and 18th Streets.
The meeting, held at Providence of God Church, gathered 25th Ward Alderman Daniel Solis; several City of Chicago representatives who answered questions and explained procedures; owner of the property Alex Lazarevski, who wants to build the hot dog stand; Lazarevski's attorney; and more than 100 residents and business owners, most of whom believe opening a Maxwell St. Express Grill in their neighborhood would decrease safety and sanitation while increasing traffic, crime, and unwanted odors. Opponents also believe the stand would create adverse economic effects in an up-and-coming area.
The proposed hot dog stand would be a duplicate of the 24-hour Maxwell St. Express Grill located on Union Avenue near Roosevelt Road, also owned by Lazarevski. Community members fear some of the same activities occurring at this restaurant will happen at the new one, if constructed. “I’ve seen stabbings there, I’ve seen people getting mugged, I’ve seen rats, garbage all over the streets, gangs…we don’t want any of that in our neighborhood,” said a community member who wished to remain anonymous.
Solis repeatedly has assured community members opposing the restaurant that he is on their side with this issue. He said, “I will not support his business because of the community’s strong position against it.” This position, he went on to explain, means Solis will not give the restaurant owner the licensing he needs to open shop.
Lazarevski is not giving up, however. With his attorney at his side, he refused to answer many questions posed by community members and remained silent for the majority of the meeting. As Lazarevski owns the property, and if he meets all legal requirements there may be no grounds for denying him a business license, and he may be able to do what he wants with his property. City representatives at the meeting confirmed that, if Lazarevski opens another hot dog stand at the Halsted and 18th location, it would not be illegal so long as the owner followed zoning and coding regulations.
Residents at the meeting articulated opposition based on several reasons.
Lack of parking and traffic congestion. The area around the proposed stand provides few places for Lazarevski’s potential customers to park. The corner in question holds two bus stops—one directly in front of the proposed site on Halsted and 18th for southbound buses and another across the street for northbound buses. Community members believe customers will be tempted to park illegally in the bus stops or to double park on Halsted, exacerbating already heavy traffic congestion.
Cyclist safety. Cyclists also are concerned because Halsted includes a bike lane. If customers double park, their cars will block the bike lane.
Criminal and gang activity. Concern over criminal activity at the new location comes from the illegal activity some have witnessed at or near the current stand location on Union. The two hot dog stands there are 24-hour walk-ups, which sometimes attract a rough element in the wee hours of the morning. Between May and August of this year, citizens reported 13 criminal acts happening less than one block away from the hot dog stands on Union, although none can be linked officially to Maxwell St. Express Grill patrons.
Community members feel their safety would be threatened if criminals or gang members loitered in front of the new location. Many said they would not feel safe walking in their own neighborhood.
Sanitation. Based on photos taken by locals and their first-hand observation of the current location, community members stated Union Avenue often is strewn with paper bags and other litter from the hot dog stands located there. They do not want increased litter on Halsted.
Unwanted odors. The strong smell of onions and grease emitted from the hot dog stands on Union also alarms community members, who do not want the same odors in their neighborhood.
Adverse economic effects. The University Village and East Pilsen areas have undergone tremendous development and improvement in the past few years as residential developments such as University Village, University Commons, and Union Row have attracted new life to a formerly hardscrabble area. The Pilsen East area has become Chicago’s most important and largest art district and has attracted new businesses. Community members fear a new Maxwell St. Express Grill would keep the area from continuing to grow and prosper in the future.
No future community meetings have been scheduled at this time. Solis promised to send an update to community members after he meets with Lazarevski and City officials to discuss the situation in its entirety.
