CTA says just “Take It”
By Al Turco
Special to Inside
At a 90 percent design meeting Lincoln Park citizens accused the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) of rolling through Brown Line expansion at Fullerton Ave. without stopping to listen to neighborhood concerns.
Curses and lewd taunts rained down from the amphitheater seating of DePaul’s Schmitt Academic Center last Thursday. As trust goes so goes respect. Questions about the length of the canopy over the new platform, demolition of DePaul’s Hayes-Healy Gymnasium and the construction schedule highlight glaring differences of opinion not just about what will be done but also about how decisions have been made.
Originally the CTA talked with neighbors about a canopy extending the length of ten cars at the Fullerton stop. By the 60 percent design meeting, the CTA proposed a six-car-length canopy. Before the 90 percent meeting, Allan Mellis of the 1100 block of W. Montana St. sent a letter listing 27 areas of concern and possible solutions; point number three recommended an eight-car-length canopy compromise. At the 90 percent meeting, the CTA announced that the canopy would be four cars long, and that was final.
“I find it hard to choose between alternatives when the CTA provides just one,” someone shouted from the back of the room.
Mellis asked architect James Jankowski why his firm of Ross Barney & Jankowski had opted for the shorter canopy. “I don’t think I can answer that question,” Jankowski said.
Unanswered questions compounded as the meeting wore on. Hayes-Healy must be torn down because, according to CTA spokesman Alaaeldien Waziry, this is the most “feasible and prudent” option of 18 considered. These mysterious 18 options never saw the light of public discussion.
“You are being very flip, and it really makes me mad. Hayes-Healy has been there forever [since 1929]. If you take it down, DePaul will put up a piece of crap,” said citizen Jill Minetz.
A source inside DePaul said the university would be happy to see the Hayes-Healy building go along with the old power plant building and a garage. CTA Real Estate Manager Barry Mullen would not discuss dollars and cents under negotiation with DePaul, but by law these figures will be made public after the deal is done. The CTA is obtaining construction easements and air rights and leasing property from DePaul.
The CTA will also acquire property at 961 W. Montana St. and 936-8 W. Fullerton Ave. to complete the expansion of the Fullerton station. The CTA plans to retain three of the four existing walls of the historic station north of Fullerton Ave. and to construct a new larger section of the station across the street. Both sides will have exits and entrances, but the elevators will be part of the new southern section. And an emergency-only exit will be located near the southern end of the station along Belden Ave.
“If you remove the walls, we don’t have a historical structure anymore,” warned Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois President David Bahlman. But Bahlman will have to embrace the CTA slogan and “Take It.”
Citizens were also concerned about the construction process, especially the hours of work and the staging area for equipment. Brown Line Expansion Project Manager Dick Moewe said construction would last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays; then he corrected himself to say 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and then he corrected himself again to return to the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. He said there’s no weekend work scheduled yet, but there could be. And there will be at least two nights of work at every stop.
“At the other meeting [90 percent Armitage stop meeting] you said the Fullerton stop would be the staging area for Fullerton, Belmont and Armitage,” said citizen Fritz Biederman.
“No, we didn’t,” Waziry said, looking at Moewe.
They did say that at the Armitage meeting. Biederman was there, and so was Inside.
The CTA plans to return to the community with a 100 percent design plan in May and begin construction in the fall. CTA Public Relations Representative Alicia Obando said the lines of communication (brownlinecomments@ctacipm.com) remain open, but citizens are beginning to wonder if these lines are only running one way. |
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