In an action long sought by the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce and Ald. Smith’s 48th Ward Parking Task Force, the CTA has terminated the leases for the Edgewater and Rogers Park elevated station commercial spaces. The commercial spaces are an eyesore and some are unusable. The 48th Ward Parking Task Force, subcommittee on public transportation, chaired by Coleson Hasty, determined that the main deterrent to new ridership on the trains was the appearance and condition of the CTA commercial spaces.
The CTA had granted a master lease for the Edgewater stations to the Edgewater Development Corporation which in turn sub-leased to Urban Property Management. Urban which has been through a couple of name changes, and has been charged with poor management by the Chamber. The current name is Property Solutions. The Granville Task Force and Loyola University Chicago have also expressed concern with public safety due to the collapse of a wall on the north side of Granville Station. Merchants are now on month to month leases while the CTA takes possession. Chamber President Tim Harrington welcomed the announcement and said that the Chamber is looking forward to working with the CTA, merchants, Loyola University Chicago, Ald. Mary Ann Smith, the Granville Task Force and local Realtors to decrease the number of vacancies by recruiting good businesses for the station. |
