We've been following this story for several months on the East Village Association (EVA) blog, but haven't reported on it because their appeared to be so much back-and-forth and false starts. It seems like they've finally settled their differences - for the most part.
As a quick recap: 1601 W. Division (the old Pizza Hut site on the southeast corner of Ashland, which has been vacant for more than five years) was finally demoed this last July. Developer Robert Buono presented Alderman Moreno and community groups with plans for the new development -- a single-story drive-through bank. (Cue sad trombone on behalf of the EVA.)
Being a highly prominent location on the historic Polish Triangle of Division/Milwaukee/Ashland and directly across the street from the rather eye-catching former bank building, the community groups felt that they'd prefer this lot's development to have:
1) significant architectural presence befitting the character of the neighborhood
2) a number of affordable residential units
3) a mixed-use retail and office space
4) pedestrian/public-transit amentities
A single-story drive-through bank did not meet any of these community groups' four established principals, and they let people know about it.
On Monday night a new proposal was presented and while the East Village association did have some qualms about it, they were by and large much happier with the overall plans -- which do, by the way, include a PNC bank on the group floor. Considering there was some disagreement about whether or not the developers were even required to take into consideration the wishes of the neighborhood, it was encouraging to see this dialogue going on.
We'll be interested to see when construction shapes up what will go in the new space. What kind of retailers would you like to see in that site? And should neighbors flex their collective muscle when it comes to the type of developments planned for empty lots of should they be grateful that someone is willing to occupy a vacant patch of parking lot?
As a quick recap: 1601 W. Division (the old Pizza Hut site on the southeast corner of Ashland, which has been vacant for more than five years) was finally demoed this last July. Developer Robert Buono presented Alderman Moreno and community groups with plans for the new development -- a single-story drive-through bank. (Cue sad trombone on behalf of the EVA.)
Being a highly prominent location on the historic Polish Triangle of Division/Milwaukee/Ashland and directly across the street from the rather eye-catching former bank building, the community groups felt that they'd prefer this lot's development to have:
1) significant architectural presence befitting the character of the neighborhood
2) a number of affordable residential units
3) a mixed-use retail and office space
4) pedestrian/public-transit amentities
A single-story drive-through bank did not meet any of these community groups' four established principals, and they let people know about it.
Photo courtesy of East Village Neighborhood Association
We'll be interested to see when construction shapes up what will go in the new space. What kind of retailers would you like to see in that site? And should neighbors flex their collective muscle when it comes to the type of developments planned for empty lots of should they be grateful that someone is willing to occupy a vacant patch of parking lot?
That tough to get excited about
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