The Webster Square development, on the site of the former Lincoln Park hospital had, after a lengthy tussle with neighboring residents, received the zoning changes and permits required to move forward without further impediment. Game over? In Chicago an alderman can toss rocks at anything with impunity, and it ain’t over until it’s over. If then.
That, in brief, was the history and status of the development until today when Mayor Emanuel, in an account confirmed by 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith, stated that a deal had been brokered to significantly change the office and residential composition of the development and delivery access to the new grocery store to be developed on the site.
You can read the details in reports from the Sun-Times and the Skyline.
The alderman said in an email that the deal is subject to numerous contingencies including “a settlement agreement with private plaintiffs who have sued the city and the developer”. That is a reference to her puppet master, el-alderman Marty Oberman. It remains to be revealed what kind of donation goes into his pocket.
On second thought , here’s what’s more disgusting. What kind of message does it send to the school kids when an alderman extorts a large public cash donation for a school? I can think of a few. There’s no rule of law. Might makes right. Cash is king. And real estate developers are evil. Zisook and Supera are sellouts.