According to Eugene Fisher, executive director of the Diversey Harbor Lakeview Association (DHLA), "The pot has begun to boil again.” Fisher was referring to the ongoing struggle between his association of 26 and American Invsco Real Estate, which plans to construct a multi-unit condo complex on the site of Columbus Hospital at 2520 Lakeview Ave.
According to Fisher, Invsco has mounted a public relations campaign targeting audiences of individual buildings with a highly selective presentation. Invsco has also enlisted the support of the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC), a private body whose agenda includes a complete revision of the current zoning ordinances.
A recent article in the Chicago Tribune quoted extensively from an April 23 letter that was sent by the MPC to Mayor Richard M. Daley advocating the issuance of
zoning variations needed to complete the planned Columbus redevelopment. According to DHLA
sources, the density that these buildings would create is not consistent with the nature of the neighborhood and would cause serious congestion and traffic problems
along the narrow Lakeview Ave. that runs from Fullerton Ave. to Diversey Parkway.
Fisher’s impression of the MPC’s efforts to change the nature of the city’s zoning ordinances was the primary rason for MPCs letter to the Mayor, a copy of which was supplied to INSIDE. Peter Skosey, MPC's vice president for external relations, told the Mayor that “Aldermen, community organizations and developers alike have come to view zoning as a fluid set of regulations that can be altered on a whim and without cause. Developers have adapted to playing this game-without-clear-rules by submitting unreasonable initial proposals, hoping to gain the upper hand in negotiations.”
Fisher agrees with this statement pointing out that while his association is willing to discuss changes in the Invsco proposal, each successive set of proposals offered by Invsco has involved no substantive change in the density or size of the development. In other words, according to Fisher, “The concept of compromise and adaptability of a planning process has completely eluded Invsco.”
In a response to the Tribune article, Fisher has addressed a yet-unpublished letter to the Tribune's editor which states “...many find it to be of considerable interest that the Council (MPC) granted a private audience to the developer, and then rushed to publish its letter of endorsement without allowing community representatives any opportunity to input their views on the subject. A number of knowledgeable observers find this to be an unusual and questionable departure from the standards that should normally be applied to such a process. The result turned out to be little more than an Invsco Manifesto.”
Ald. Vi Daley (43rd) and the city’s deputy commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development, Jack Swenson, have been apprised of DHLAs concerns. Invsco filed for a Planned Unit Development variation, but, again according to Fisher, the time for holding hearings on this proposal has passed, thus tying Invsco’s efforts into a knot.
It is Fisher’s feeling that the current public relations efforts has one of two purposes. Either Invsco is attempting to revive the Planned Unit Development (PUD) proposal or they are preparing for a lawsuit in which the city will be sued for the damages Invsco will contend they have suffered as a result of the City’s downzoning of the property.
Fisher recognized the possibility that, “however unfounded they might be, Invsco’s efforts are more likely to be directed toward building a foundation for a legal action in a SLAPP lawsuit similar to an unsuccessful one that was filed by developer and broker, Albert Hanna, against another neighborhood association a few months ago.”
SLAPP is an acronym meaning Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. Responding to this, Fisher has indicated that he is already in possession of 600 letters from neighbors protesting the Invsco development and expects to receive several hundred more which will be presented to the Mayor and to the Alderman as a demonstration of the widespread and serious opposition to the Invsco proposal.
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