Lincoln Park residents and preservationists still disagree with the CTA’s proposed design for a new station at the Fullerton elevated train stop. However, all seem to agree on the key facts: the need for a larger station to accommodate the growing crowds of riders, and the need to build in accessibility for the disabled.
The two sides presented dueling plans—and at times showed their frustration—during a public forum held the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the Cortelyou Commons building on DePaul University’s Lincoln Park campus. About 200 people gathered for the 2 1/2-hour meeting, the first time the CTA had presented its plans for Fullerton in an open-forum meeting. Present were a slew of CTA officials, including Chairwoman Valerie Jarrett and Frank Kruesi; members of at least seven community groups; DePaul students and officials; historic preservationists; and a good-sized contingent of disabled people.
The CTA plan, still in a rough draft stage, calls for a larger station house to the south and east of the existing station; longer, wider platforms to accommodate longer trains and more commuters, especially those in wheelchairs; and elevators, escalators or ramps for the disabled and elderly.
Also, the CTA says it would need to reroute the tracks to accommodate the larger platforms.
One of the most contentious issues at Wednesday’s meeting was the plan’s impact on surrounding buildings. The CTA originally planned to widen the platforms from their current 12 feet to 30 feet to allow for more passengers and more room for elevators and wheelchair maneuverability.
However, that plan put the CTA on a collision course with property owners and preservationists. Although the CTA has knocked down its proposed platform width from 30 feet to 24 feet—and then again to 22 feet on the inbound side and 20 feet on the outbound side—its opponents say it’s not enough.
The property owners say the CTA design would require some homes to be demolished; would bring train platforms, and commuters, too close to their rear windows; and would alter the character of the neighborhood.
The preservationists object because the CTA plan would require the demolition of DePaul’s historic Hayes-Healy Center, a 72-year-old Gothic-style gymnasium that sits just east of the train tracks. One of the oldest remaining buildings on the DePaul campus, Hayes-Healy lies within the Sheffield Neighborhood Historic District, a national historic area. Since federal funds are being used for the El renovation, demolition of the building would have to pass review with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Martin Oberman, a former alderman who lives near the proposed station, urged the CTA to accept his proposal, which would use slimmer platforms of 18 feet and would save Hayes-Healy, but would require shaving off its back end, as well as the back of the Deitzgen Building on the northeast corner of Fullerton and Sheffield streets.
Oberman accused the CTA of using “misleading” calculations to arrive at its conclusion that 20- and 22-foot platforms would be necessary to accommodate growth and disabled commuters. He said 18 feet would be just fine, allowing each commuter plenty of space “if you just use the right arithmetic.” But, he said CTA officials had “put on blinders” and refused to compromise any further.
However, CTA officials seemed to have little patience left for compromise. “There is not physically enough space for the new station and the Hayes-Healy building to coexist in a matter that meets operation, ADA, capacity and planning criteria,” said Kevin Thompson, the CTA’s general manager for government and community relations.
Executive Vice President Jack Hartman told the crowd the CTA plan must be approved “within weeks” or risk losing $245 million in federal funding—a good chunk of the $327 million the CTA needs for the rebuilding project.
Alan Mellis, head of Friends of the Fullerton “L” Stop, sided with the CTA, saying Oberman’s plan would only be more expensive, since Hayes-Healy would still be impacted enough to render it unusable, and so would the Dietzgen Building, forcing the CTA to purchase the entire building from DePaul. Mellis also said Oberman’s plan would destroy five private homes north of Fullerton and would increase construction costs.
DePaul officials see no need to hang onto Hayes-Healy. Tom Fuechtmann, executive director for community and government relations for DePaul, in March told Inside that the building may be historic, but it’s no longer a center of campus life, The university’s brand new athletic center has replaced Hayes-Healy’s athletic functions, he added.
The DePaulia, the student newspaper at DePaul, early this year quoted another university official who called the Hayes-Healy building a “piece of junk.”
According to CTA officials, more than 2.9 million rides originate from Fullerton every year, making it the sixth busiest station in the CTA system. Ridership on the Brown line overall has increased by 37 percent since the mid-80’s, to over 12.8 million rides per year. The increase this year alone has been 9 percent, said the CTA’s Kevin Thompson.
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