Quality of Life Hot and Continuing Topics including Parks

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The other Hot Topics Community Issues sections: Accessibility. Affordability. Development Projects. Schools. University of Chicago

Quality of life is a big and diffuse subject. Hyde Parkers love to complain, especially that Hyde Park as they knew it is going down the drain, while at the same time extolling the community as unique and certainly the best in the world. Best of worlds and worst of worlds. And they've been doing that since the 19th century, or at least the battle over annexation to Chicago and the evolution of many Hyde Parks. Of course, there is real basis for both views. And the emphasis partly depends on one's memories and one's vision of Hyde's future, and what would "fix" things. Short looks at quality issues can be found in Quality and in the Tracking Community Trends pages. Observation: Many of the things that become "news" then quickly dive off the radar are quality issues. So are many things that don't make the news but stand behind what happens or long term trends, like shadows lost in sun. And strongly voiced objection to changes or proposals are often based on expected or feared impact on quality of life or neighborhood or block character.

Some "quality" matters that are "hot" at least to parts of the community.

(Have you noticed.... Dog droppings has improved, partly due to enforcement?)

• Just the basics.... Snow and ice removal, for example. Committees (esp. Older Women's League) are moving on this and working with a revitalized city effort (despite the Mayor's reluctance to enforce ordinances.) The neighborhood did well during the early January 2010 storm. We will post a section on these matter. Meanwhile, see as linked from accessibility, below and from Accessibility Hot Topics. A new report on snow and ice, streets and bikes.
  Similar is condition of rail embankments and viaducts-- posing dangers to public safety and health.
  February 6, Saturday, 1 pm, program 1:30 pm. Older Women's League Hyde Park presents “PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO”, presented by Kiersten Grove and Jerad Weiner of the Chicago Department Transportation. Will include a follow up report from the Snow Removal Task Force. There will also be a report on the first meeting of the citywide Snow Removal Task Force. We hope to ask questions about traffic and condition of the streets and sidewalks as well as progress on our January 9 topics of bicycle safety, transportation, and snow and ice. All are welcome. More information at 773) 643-8403 or http://www.owlillinois.org/ch_hydepark.html. First Unitarian Chris Moore Parlor, 5650 S. Woodlawn (north building).
  
• 53rd Street/Lake Park. Views documented in 53rd Street page, May 2008 Vision workshop, November 2008 Vision workshop, Development homepage,

  Harper Court Sale homepage from which find reports of many HPKCC forums and the survey, HPKCC anniversary forum, HPKCC What's Right/Wrong forum, Business Climate page.

State of 53rd Street. Too many vacant properties; too chopped up by open or non retail space; too many one or two story buildings; too many really old and obsolete and not kept t up and unattractive; rent too high; some businesses don't make the looks and service appealing to customers; street scape etc. get fixed up but soon look ground down again; lots of homeless and visitors from other areas, too many franchise or non unique businesses, Lake Park and Harper Court with too low land uses and not used to take advantage of nearby transit as well as opportunities for height, density, larger businesses and (Lake Park) as an auto-oriented street (and in poor shape for drivers or walkers), limited parking.

But counterpoints are often cited--low scale and low pace (with just enough exceptions like HP Bank), local and unusual businesses and restaurants that really know how to niche or take advantage of a very diverse clientele, city designation as a pedestrian friendly and transit oriented neighborhood street. Many of the expenditures of the TIF such as on streetscape, business facade and improvement, and hiring CARA/Cleanslate were intended address concerns about quality.

Likewise demand for enforcement of general neighborhood quality standards were behind complaints by organizations and residents about scaffolding on the Harper Theater or the teardown lots at 53rd McMobil and 53rd Cornell or those that have led to various improvement efforts with the Metra stations, viaducts and raised right-of-way, and some parks They also spurred as various gardening projects around the neighborhood (53rd Lake Park being one). Likewise, some of the arguments to either save or get rid of Harper Court and Hyde Park Co-Op were really about what makes quality.

• Related: demand for more retail range and options. But people disagree strongly about whether increased retail should be in the form of mainly local and small or boutique shops or larger including chain outlets, and over what income levels and tastes the stores should serve and whether the sought customers should be mostly local or distant ("destination spots"). More subtle is the "look" and layout and what sets of customers these should appeal to (including that would make wealthy parents and prospective faculty more likely to choose the U of C?). Many also say at forums and in surveys that Hyde Park lacks enough entertainment, drinking and dining spots, and theaters (live and movie).
  
• Public Safety. Start with Latest (Safety homepage). There has been a steady year to year drop in crimes, especially violent ones (and likely helped by strong collaboration between city and UC Police), a low rate compared to the majority of Chicago neighborhoods-- but not near the bottom. But enough happens that keeps people wary. This issue is raised often, including what can be done, the suspicion that police resources have diminished and that Hyde Park is considered open for the pickings by people elsewhere. See also CAPS News and Tips, Safety Resources and Tips, and about the HPKCC WhistleStop program. Safety includes also issues with condition of rail embankments and viaducts.
  
• Property and building stewardship matters. Two measures are being steered to soon-successful conclusion in City Council by Ald. Hairston, Preckwinkle, Fioretti, and Dowell: One to make sure frequently-cited landlords are not also reaping the benefits of city contracts--sent by committee to final council vote, and the other making it easier and mandated to track down and serve owners and agents of vacant lots and properties when they need to be fixed or have safety violations from trash and abandoned cars to drinking and drugs. It is now in a working group to work out concerns such as more burden on Streets and San.
  
• Parks not being kept up and with insufficient programming for youth and adults; use of parks-- not just pocket ones-- for crime or undesired or illegal activities; homeless sleeping in parks. Charge for parking spaces in Lakefront parks. Insufficient tree replacement.
  
  The University of Chicago has indicated it seeks pathway and illumination changes for Nichols Park (53rd to 55th at Kenwood Ave.). Nichols is in the TIF district. This interest has been made known to the Chicago Park District. Nichols, like most of the parks in the area has a Framework Plan-- most framework plans have had few of their recommendations implemented. A continuing question re Nichols and TIF objectives is the height and suggestions for at least partial removal of "barrier" lilacs along 53rd St. Some pocket parks like Elm have been fingers as breeders of undesirable behaviors and changes or elimination suggested.
  Parks home (and individual parks pages from index there). park budget. park issues. HPKCC Parks Committee.
  
  Our gardens help make this community what it is--and nothing makes for "remarks" faster than yards or gardens or public spaces not kept up. Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee (a committee of HPKCC) seeks to bring the best practices and plants and bulbs to the community through lectures, two big sales a year, sharing plants, and beautification program and commitment to maintaining several gateway garden spots in the community.

  
  Promontory Point shoreline bounces off and on the radar. See Point Latest.
  
• Accessibility issues including poor sidewalks, lack of snow pickup. See Accessibility Hot. Seniors Perspectives.
  
• Perceived threats to diversity, especially income diversity. Feeling by some that there is a segment that, perhaps with the University would like to see this to be a more upscale, wealthy community. People disagree over whether there is more or less real interaction between various ethnic and race groups, income levels, geographic sections of the neighborhood, and whether an increasing proportion of residents, especially newer, are less engaged and active in neighborhood activities and affairs. Affordability Hot.
  
• Frequent lack of respect by businesses and others for the rights and accommodation (including with sidewalk cafes etc.) of the needs of persons with disabilities and seniors.
  Disabilities, Disabilities Business Packet.
  
• Sustainability.This of high importance to a segment, especially of UC students and administrative and academic sections, but has had trouble becoming a big thing in the neighborhood as a whole (OWL and Southside Solidarity Network are big on it). This is despite Hyde Park having once been ahead of the curve on the green and recycling movements. Green Hyde Park page. Sustainability Task Force (and documents-and-links page from there).
  Related: neighbors are banding together in equivalent of block clubs to take advantage of the new programs that give you points for the recyclable waste in your blue carts (single dwellings so far and in local pilot). The points can be convertible to coupons for stores et al-- or be donated to schools-- Ray School has done quite well from the program (schools have to apply). Visit http://www.recyclebank.com, for schools part add /greenschoolsprogram.

• Feeling by some that the neighborhood needs to revisit is values and goals, or even develop a Quality of Life Community Action Plan as several surrounding communities have.
  Neighborhood Goals. Feeling of loss of control, especially to the University or big owners like MAC property and to an overbearing and politicized city government.
  The 61st Street Community Garden and Doctors Hospital controversies seem partly of this sort.
  
• Divergent complaints about too much or not enough density are tied to the two preceding. See Density; High Rises and Condos; some of the proposals linked in Development homepage (especially 53rd Cornell, 53rd Kenwood (McMobil), Antheus (Solstice), Doctors Hospital), and sections in the Development Detail page.
  
• Healthcare services cutbacks, less access by locals, or placed more at distance, particularly by University of Chicago but also at city and county clinics and Hospitals; perception that overall the South Side is a healthcare desert and alternative clinics are largely substandard or overwhelmed. Meanwhile, Dr. Vokes and others have made astute steps to improve the emergency room and asuage the faculty, as with apointment of Conrad Gilliam a dean for research and graduate education.
  Health Delivery page. For perspective see the category in Helpline page section.
  
• Nonprofit and service agency failures and troubles in the economy and state holdback of funds; allegations that the community wants things but doesn't support them with their money. Some feel that agencies don't cooperate enough. Collaborers in the Community; for perspective: Community Nonprofit Organizations, Community Resources, Helpline, Good Neighbors and Volunteer Opportunities.
  
• The arts community; Hyde Park as a cultural as well as education destination. We had to throw in one that residents with the University have WON TO THE SATISFACTION OF ALL. (If we can find more spots with low rents, we might even add some galleries and art stores and become a "district."). Arts News. Culture Directory.Arts and Cultural Calendar. Now what about the service sector nonprofits?
  
• Preservation stances and opposition to them seem in large measure tied to perceptions of what makes for quality character and experience in our neighborhood and personally.
  Preservation Beat and other pages linked from there and from History and Preservation home.
  
  Schools is another topic whose discussion often touches on contribution or not to community quality and whether the "next generation" will keep up quality. Hence there still intergenerational tensions and echoes from time to time the eruption of 2005 over school youth and other youth attacks in the community. See Business, Community and Students.
  
• General complaints:
  Poor and aging infrastructure in sectors, especially sewers and streets (but griping about "constant construction" and surprises with street cleaning (despite new signage with schedule))
  Graffiti
  Waste cans not empty including in parks
  Dead trees not promptly removed and replaced (right)
  Motorcycle noise, chronic sources of noise (South Shore Drive 55th south)
  Waste blowing on streets, railroad right of way
  Lack of a true neighborhood center including good and cheap space for community and group meetings
  Not enough accommodation or amenities for pets (dog park, though strongly opposed by many)