OLD TOWN — Plans to redevelop a significant part of Outdated City by eradicating two gasoline stations and including a 44-story condo tower won’t transfer ahead as proposed after the neighborhood’s alderman rejected the plan amid neighbor complaints.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) introduced Friday he won’t assist the most recent proposal from developer Fern Hill for the realm round North Avenue and LaSalle Drive.
“This week, I knowledgeable Fern Hill Firm that I cannot be supporting essentially the most lately introduced improvement proposal for property alongside the north aspect of North Avenue between Wells Avenue and LaSalle Drive,” Hopkins mentioned in a press release. “My workplace is presently awaiting a attainable compromise proposal from the developer, which is predicted very quickly. Updates will proceed to be offered to the neighborhood.”
The choice from Hopkins comes greater than a 12 months after Fern Hill first introduced plans for the mission in September 2023.
Because it was first launched, the event has been met with fierce resistance from some native residents. Many in the neighborhood have been involved the inflow of lots of of latest residents will exacerbate an already-strained transportation system, notably across the high-traffic intersections close to the location.
All through the neighborhood suggestions course of, Fern Hill’s founder and president Nick Anderson and essentially the most outspoken opponents of the mission have usually butted heads concerning the mission’s scale, visitors issues and the shortage of compromise on behalf of Fern Hill.
Fern Hill’s most up-to-date proposal included a 500-unit condo constructing on the nook of North Avenue and LaSalle Drive. It additionally included the removing of the BP and Shell gasoline stations on the nook of LaSalle Drive and North Avenue, an enlargement of the neighboring Moody Church campus at 1635 N. LaSalle Drive and the redevelopment of the Walgreens at 1601 N. Wells St.
“We’re grateful to Ald. Hopkins for listening to the neighborhood and spending a lot time understanding our issues,” Jordan Matyas, an legal professional representing Outdated City Buddies for Accountable Growth, mentioned in a press release to Block Membership.
“We’re dedicated to working with Fern Hill and different builders who will work with the neighborhood on any new developments within the space. We assist the event of this web site, nevertheless it have to be completed to boost the neighborhood and never hurt it.”
This can be a growing story.
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