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PORTAGE PARK — Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) announced Friday evening he’s opposing the latest plans for The Point at Six Corners, a huge development proposed for the busy intersection of Cicero Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue and Irving Park Road.
Last Tuesday, the public got their first look at the updated plans for the Point at Six Corners development, which would include a 10-story complex with 103 independent living apartments, 148 assisted living and memory care apartment, 10 on-site affordable housing apartments and 215 off-street parking spaces.
Clark Street Real Estate and Ryan Companies have been trying to develop the vacant property since 2014. The developers are not asking for any tax-increment financing funds to complete the $130 million project.
“Based upon community feedback received through a multitude of forums over the course of several months, I am unable to support the current proposal,” Gardiner said in a Friday afternoon newsletter.
“Going forward, I am eager to work towards identifying compromises that bring in new investments to Six Corners and better resemble guidelines set forth by the Six Corners Economic Development Master Plan.”
Gardiner’s office did not immediately respond to follow up questions on his decision but his newsletter did include a link to the 2013 master plan for the commercial corridor.
At last week’s meeting, the alderman said he would announce whether he would support The Point project in two weeks. The Friday afternoon announcement came a week before that deadline.
Credit: Alex V. Hernandez/Block Club ChicagoCritics of the project have said it’s too tall, too expensive and not a good fit for the shopping district. Business owners near the project, however, say the vacant lot has taken a toll.
Clark Street Real Estate and Ryan Companies could not immediately be reached Friday evening.
The Six Corners Association has publicly supported the latest version of the project because it will bring private investment, jobs and tax revenue to the shopping district. After last week’s meeting, the association has urged people who support the project to reach out to the alderman explaining why they want the current version of the project to be built.
Credit: providedOn Friday, a representative with the Old Irving Park Neighborhood Association wrote that they were “very dissapointed” with Gardiner’s decision.
“We are very disappointed that the overwhelming public support for the Point project was for naught,” the statement on Facebook read. “Oldest PR tactic in the book: announce the news at 5 PM on a Friday.”
Gardiner sent the email announcing his decision at precisely 5 p.m. Friday.
Joe Angelastri, owner of City Newsstand at 4018 N. Cicero Ave. and a supporter of Gardiner, said he didn’t like The Point plan because it was taller than the recommended building heights outlined in the 2013 master plan.
“If it was five stories it would fit with what was agreed upon in that plan,” he said. “So I think Ald. Gardiner’s decision is a good thing.”
The project is projected to create more than 650 union construction jobs and more than 200 retail and senior living jobs. It would also generate $3.8 million for the shopping district’s Special Service Area, $40.6 million in property taxes and $10.2 million in sales tax revenue over a 20 year period, according to developers.
In August, Block Club reported that Gardiner had been hosting closed-door, invite-only meetings to collect feedback on the project. Last week’s meeting was the first time the public had the chance to review the project’s latest changes.
Credit: ProvidedThe history of the hole
In June 2014, developer Clark Street paid more than $10 million for the 140,000-square-foot triangular property at the corner, as well as a one-acre parking lot in the 3900 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, according to public records.
The corner has been a large hole in the ground since the Bank of America branch that once stood there was torn down in 2016.
At a June 2018 meeting about the project, developers said the senior living facility would be a “cruise ship on land” and defended the price of living there as on par with other assisted living facilities in the area.
Credit: alex v. hernandez/block club chicagoDuring last week’s meeting, the developers again defended the proposed rent by showing what will be included in the facility and comparing it to similar Chicago-area senior apartments.
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