The proposed 44-story apartment building in Old Town faces community pushback as traffic studies are reviewed by local officials
Old Town: There’s a big redevelopment plan in the works for a 44-story apartment building. It’s getting closer to a decision, but not without some serious community concerns.
Alderman Brian Hopkins is looking over a new traffic study and listening to local feedback. Many neighbors are still worried about how this project will impact traffic in the area.
At a recent meeting, traffic engineers from the Chicago Department of Transportation shared findings from a study commissioned by Fern Hill. They suggested that the new building could actually improve traffic flow.
They proposed changes like reconfigured intersections and new turn lanes to help ease congestion. But despite these suggestions, many locals feel the building is just too big and will make traffic worse.
Fern Hill has held several public meetings, and let’s just say, they’ve been pretty heated. The project would change several properties around North Avenue and LaSalle Drive, partnering with local businesses and churches.
Part of the plan includes removing gas stations to make way for new developments, which has raised eyebrows among residents. The project aims to offer 500 apartments, with 100 of them being affordable.
Nick Anderson, the founder of Fern Hill, mentioned that the building could bring in about $2.5 million in property taxes for the city. But many locals are still skeptical, fearing that the new residents will strain the already busy transportation system.
There’s been a lot of back-and-forth between Anderson and community members. Some groups, like the Old Town Friends for Responsible Development, want growth but in a way that makes sense for the neighborhood.
At the latest meeting, Ald. Hopkins and local associations discussed the traffic study and listened to more concerns. The city is looking closely at the proposed changes to see if they’ll actually help.
Traffic experts presented ideas to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, like dedicated lanes and shorter crossing distances. They believe these changes could significantly reduce congestion.
Hopkins is set to meet with a transportation expert soon to dive deeper into the traffic study. He’s keen on finding out if Fern Hill is willing to make adjustments based on community feedback.
He reassured residents that discussions with local groups will keep happening, and a final decision on the project is expected soon. It’s a tense situation, but there’s hope for a civil resolution.
