South East Hyde Park Issues
Presented by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website hydepark.org. Join the Conference and its committees: engage in and help underwrite our work.
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South East Hyde Park Issues Presented by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website hydepark.org. Join the Conference and its committees: engage in and help underwrite our work. |
To Quality of Life Issues. Shoreland Hotel.
Here:
The section of Hyde Park between 54th Place and the north edge of Jackson Park at 56th/57th, Everett to the Lake has a densely built up area, about half high rises (including some early and modern 20th century masterpieces) and half 3- to 5-flats, all squeezed in adjacent to highly popular public parks and a federal highway-Lake Shore Drive. It was also developed at the start of the heavy automobile age but became behind the curve of auto and parking needs. Problems and conflicts are bound to arise, and are always either simmering or boiling over. And the history of problems, conflicts, and dislikes, some with racial overtones,goes back many decades. Some as recently defined are:
Needless to say, there are different resident viewpoints as to the problems, their severity, causes, and possible solutions. Sometimes it gets personal for a while.
Long monitoring and seeking solutions has been the East Hyde Park Committee led by George Kotnour (773 324-5454) and Mickey Conino of South East Chicago Commission (773 324-6926). Meeting most 3rd Wednesdays at 8 am at Montgomery Place east room, reps from city services, officeholders, organizations and buildings discuss issues.
The leading local
advocacy groups are: Lakefront Task Force for Hyde Park, led by Sharonjoy A.
Jackson, and a new Southeast Hyde Park Coalition led by Denise Halverson and
others.
Serving a larger area for many years is the East Hyde Park Committee, which
has open meetings monthly except in summer 3rd Wednesday mornings at 8 am at
Montgomery Place east room, 5550 South Shore Drive (entry on 56th St.). The
committee meetings hear reports and concerns from and hold discussion with representatives
from the two aldermanic and ward superintendent offices, Chicago Police, Chicago
Park District, University of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, Montgomery
Place, many of the realtors, high rise associations and businesses, South East
Chicago Commission (which takes a lead in the Committee), and other neighborhood
associations. Lead is George Kotnour, 773 324-5454.
This page will begin with some articles and letters starting in August 2007 setting out the lay of the land and different positions.
Hyde Park Herald August 15, 2007: Parking petition drive aimed at late night crowd
By Yvette Presberry
Inasmuch as there are problems with parking, late-night noise and littering in East Hyde Park, some residents believe visitors to Bar Louie, 5500 S. Lake Shore Dr., and other outsiders are the cause of much of it. East Hyde Park resident Denise Halverson and some others decided one solution is permit parking, though Halverson admits getting the residential-only spaces may be an uphill battle. "Hyde Parkers don't like change," said Halverson.
Among those Halverson will have to convince is Fifth ward Ald. Leslie Hairston. Although parking spaces may be rare near the lakefront, Hairston said parking permits are not the solution to relieve congestion. "It pushes the [problem] from one block to another," Hairston said.
Nevertheless, Halverson is gathering signatures to petition for parking permits along South Shore Drive from 53rd to 56th streets. Halverson points to an overflow of customers from Bar Louie, as well as loiterers visiting the local park at dusk, as justifying the need for permits.
Bar Louis General Manager Al Anderson said the restaurant is being used as a scapegoat. "[The problem] might not be just our customer," Anderson said.
He acknowledged that parking is an issue in the neighborhood, but Anderson also said he has noticed passersby from other areas walking late at night toward the park on South Shore Drive. Ultimately, Anderson said, the restaurant is a boon to the neighborhood. "I think we're helping the community grow economically," Anderson said.
Sharonjoy Jackson, president of the Lakefront Task Force for Hyde Park, sid Bar Louie attracts boisterous clientele who can be heard as late as 3 a.m. Bar Louis is open until 3 a.m. on Saturdays and 2 a.m. on other nights.
Resident Magdalen Luecke said that a parking lot near 55th street and South Shore Drive is also a source of difficulties. Luecke said that a parking lot near 55th Street and south Shore Drive is also a source of difficulties. Luecke said she sees people leaving dirty diapers and other refuse near garbage cans instead of dumping the debris into the cans. When she complained about it to one dumper, the person said, "Oh they've got people for that," according to Luecke.
Jackson agreed and said she recently spoke to 21st district commander Howard Lodding about loiterers in the park as well as the parking lot's late night access. Lodding said the Chicago Park District keeps the parking lot of 177 spaces open primarily because parking is limited. "Parking is hard to come by," Lodding said.
Halverson first introduced the parking petition las t month at a Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy meeting, where other residents voiced opinions condemning alleged lewd behavior in the park, late-night noise and safety concerns.
Halverson said that she has also spoken with Hairston's staff regarding the permits and hopes to meet with Hairston this month to find a parking solution. "We want to make the alderman part of the dialogue," Halverson said.
Hairston said, even if she backed permit parking, she still couldn't reserve spots on the street. South Shore Drive us a federal highway, she said, which would not allow permit parking. "It's not zoned for that," Hairston said. She acknowledged that there are not enough parking spaces for people, and said she would support the development of a parking facility. "But you have to deal with funding it," she added. *
Halverson said that she has more than 160 signatures from residents living near her in Hyde Park, and she said she wants to stimulate conversations toward a solution. "What it [comes] down to is that we need a compromise," Halverson said.
*Some other problems with
resident parking in this area pointed out to this website include: Basic zoning
of the land for some of the buildings for high density use precludes permit
parking under the current ordinance. Not all residents quality for a permit,
even if their street address is on the street they want to have the restriction.
What happens when there are more cars than spaces per block. (On the other hand,
there are permit systems at least in other cities that share by users and/or
time of day.) We have also been informed there is a move in Springfield to stop
or place a moratorium on further permit parking spaces or districts.
Note that Ms. Halverson and Willim Zieske have attempted to form a moderate group to work on improvements with the Alderman's office but have had little success organizing such. They deplore the rancor and publicity-hunt the say are mainstays of the Lakefront Task Force and new East Hyde Park groups
Michael and Pat Hoke have taken a close look at street and parking signage and conditions along the entire stretches of South Shore Drive and Everett between 53rd and 56th and have given the Alderman suggestions to improve stop and turning requirements, signage and enforcement, spacing and dedication of spaces, and management of the park district lot--such as using pay and display technology that could or could not be open all rather than giving keys to high rise doormen.
Denise Halverson calls for proactive solutions and compromises in a letter titled by the Herald (August 15 2007) "Hyde Park is not Mayberry."
(Note: Halverson is leader of the parking permit petition drive.)
In response to Sharonjoy Jackson's letter of Aug. 1, I say, "Yes, it is too much to ask that a neighborhood, in the middle of a large city, near parks and the lakefront, be a quiet, bucolic residential area." This is an unrealistic request and if this is what you are fighting to achieve, you will not be successful.
While we have t he good fortune of living near parks and the lake, those amenities are for the benefit of all Chicagoans. I love to see people responsibly enjoying picnics and family time together in the parks. Ms. Jackson's concern that the Park District does not monitor permit holders sounds reasonable until you look at the reality of doing that. How much parkland does Chicago have? How many permits are issued? How many people would it take to monitor the activity of the permit holders? The Park District is not a police force, and once the permits are obtained, it falls to resident to notify the proper authorities if the permit holders are being excessive. Pick up the phone and dial 911.
Ms. Jackson claims that the police patrol but have no effect when they do. Her exact words were, "The police can patrol areas, but not eliminate problems." I take exception to this statement. First, this is a city; once one problem is eliminated, another comes along to take its place. Second, 21st District Commander Howard Lodding and his officers listen to complaints and find solutions.
One example is the amazing job they have done at clearing out the parks along South Shore Drive between 53rd and 55th streets. After attending one CAPS meeting and voicing my concern, the police presence has increased and the parks are empty. I now sleep at night instead of calling 911. This may sound simple, but with a limited number of cars on the street, the large area to be covered, and the risks that officers on the streets encounter, this is a significant accomplishment. I am grateful to all the officer who have improved my quality of life, and I can't thank them enough.
In response to Ms. Jackson's
question, "Who really cares about our community?" I have two answers:
The officers on the streets doing their jobs to benefit us, and an alderman
willing to listen. The officers routinely work beyond their shifts to make our
streets safer--what more can we ask of these dedicated individuals? Alderman
Hairston listens to concerns and tries to find solutions. Finding solutions
demands compromise and a realization that, as an individual, you may not always
get exactly what you want. An alderman has to balance all concerns, find ways
to fund solutions and get the necessary votes to enable the solutions to go
forward. No small task--it can take years of work to make things happen. Just
because change doesn't happen overnight doesn't doesn't mean she doesn't care.
Chatting with Alderman Hairston after the CAPS picnic on Aug. 9, I fond her
to be very concerned and open to residents' comments. The alderman has agreed
to meet with a group of concerned citizens
Finally, Bar Louie is a favorite Lake Front Task Force topic. The taskforce repeatedly claims that gang activity, prostitution an drug dealing all stem from Bar Louie's presence in East Hyde Park. But there are no 911 calls from residents to back up this claim--if these things are happening, why isn't the taskforce calling 911?
It is unfair to our police officers to come to a CAPS meeting and yell at them without doing your part when the activity is supposedly happening. It is unfair to your neighbors to write to the Herald about rampant prostitution and drug dealing that there is no evidence of.
In closing, I would like to ask my fellow residents to be reasonable in your requests. Remember this is a large city and not Mayberry. Restaurants and bars bring benefits to our neighborhoods, as well as frustrations. We need to work with Bar Louie, the police and our alderman to find realistic solutions to the frustrations. We must also do our part and be good partners with the police and the alderman. Being a good partner means calling 911 if there is indeed a problem. Records are kept and this way it is verifiable. And finally, realizing that while these issues are frustrating, we are fortunate that we don't hear gunfire. Perspective is never a bad thing.
Ms. Jackson's
letter of August 1
Is it true you cannot fight city hall? Well, it seems true for East Hyde Park these days. How can the little guy fight entrenched and unresponsive bureaucracy? Who really cares about our community? Who is helping us retain a unique, more natural progressive, yet quiet, bucolic, residential area? Is this too much to ask?
The park district can issue permits, but does not monitor the permit holders.
The police can patrol areas, but not eliminate problems.
Aldermen listen to concerns, but do little else.
The East Hyde Park community has been asking, for at least three years, that he 55gh Street Chicago Park District parking lot be locked per past practice, and per exiting signage, in order to keep criminal activities toned down and provide parking or community residents.
No one was excluded from entering or leaving the lot at any time. When locked (from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.), keys were available at nearby buildings.
The perception has been, and continues to be, keeping this lot unlocked coincided with Bar Louie being established in the community. Crime, extreme loud noise, yelling, arguments, fights, music, illicit sexual activities and drug sale and use have increased now that the lot remains unlocked over night.
Scattered police patrols do nothing to curb these activities (which stop when a patrol car is visible and then resume) which can go on until 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.
According to a recent phone call to me by Police Officer Chew, assistant for the police unit dealing with parks, until the (5th Ward) Alderman changes her mind, this lot will remain unlocked.
And so, the beat goes on and on and on.
Sharonjoy Jackson (Lake Front Task Force) says in the same issue that
Problems in East Hyde Park are real.
It seems that after attending last week's CAPS meeting and cookout for Beat 132, there is yet another attempt to cast aspersions against my complaints as well as my immediate neighbors', nearby buildings staffs', or my, eye witness accounts of activities which negatively impact our quality of life.
Though we many live or work 24/7 in and around 55th Street and South Shore Drive, we are told whatever it is we have witnessed did not happen--as though we are lying, senile or just plain out of our minds. There has been no investigation or query on anyone's part to determine if what we encounter is based on fact or fiction. Normally, I believe what I am told by neighbor, building staff, and so on. I have gone so far as to investigate as much as possible so that I may truthfully say, yes, these situations actually occur.
For someone who does not live in Hyde Park, or may live several blocks away, to actually dispute what we truthfully complain about is not only insulting, it is unprincipled. To also say we must accept a business chain (which is disruptive and now seriously and negatively impacts the surrounding neighborhood) in order to attract other business chains to Hyde Park is an argument we have heard for the past several years. This has not panned out.
The only other chain that has entered the Hyde Park community is Borders, which, as predicted, is not doing well. Let us keep and nurture the small businesses, which are assets tot he community, rather than those large, commercial entities that add nothing positive to our community--and which show little, if any, interest in our community, our needs, and our uniqueness. And, yes, this is community. Top
Some of the neigbhbors met in February 2008. Citing alleged low-bar city services and infrastructure, they seek to form a new association. Here is Alderman Hairston's response in the February 27 Herald:
I was appalled by the lack of journalistic standards reflected in the Feb. 20 "East Hyde Parkers Voice Concerns." The unidentified "reporter" made no attempt to verify accusations about "the elected officials in this neighborhood," or to give my office an opportunity to provide a different perspective.
I am also disappointed that "half a dozen" constituents chose to share their concerns with the Herald. I offered to meet with east Hyde Park constituents months ago and my office has continued to inquire about the meeting and has been waiting for Howard Niden to say when. In th meatime, we have responded to isues individuals brought to our attention last summer.
One concern was about better lighting on South Shore Drive, a major project we may have funs to cover this year. We expedited tre timming as a temporary alleviation.Status reports from Streets and Sanitation suggest adequate leafsnow and tash removal. As to drugs, feedback at CAPS and ward meetings indicates residents believe they receive prompt reponse from our office, the 21st district police and the University of Chicago police.
Last May, we recorded a complaint form Magdale Nunn about sidewalk and sewer prooblms sthat reqauired th services of several city departments, including Water, Transportation, Electricity and Streets and Sanitation. My staff assisted contact with the appropriate program to assist ininstnces where owners have some financial responisbility (e.g. for private drains). A recent call to Nunn confirmed her condo association has not comleted the steps necsssary for further action, largely because of the frustration with the process.
I too am frustrated the Herald is once again publishing one-sided, hear-say "stories" that more rightly belong in Letters to the Editor or on the editorial page. In this case, yu do readers a disseervice by wrongly implying it is a waste of time contacting the word office to facilitate 311 services. A simple telephone call to verify the facts is allit takes for a newspaper to at least attempty to provide a balanced report.