CANARYVILLE — A developer wants to build an upscale housing and retail development on stretches of vacant land in the neighborhood — but many local folks want nothing to do with it.
That much was clear Thursday night, when David L. Chase, a property buyer with BCG Enterprises, pitched his plans to a roomful of residents at a public meeting in Taylor-Lauridsen Park's field house and ran into a wall of disapproval.
“We don’t want ‘em!” Jeff Norris, a 71-year-old longtime Canaryville resident, yelled, as others cursed to themselves. “Take ‘em to the West Loop!”
Invited to the meeting by Ald. Patrick D. Thompson (12th), more than 50 people showed up to learn the details behind the project, which would include four buildings, 56 apartments and 10,000 square feet of retail space.
Ald. Thompson told the audience he has not made a decision on the project. Before he does that, he said it's important to collect input from the community.
Before a question-and-answer session revealed the neighborhood's reservations about allowing an unfamiliar developer to build on their turf, Chase laid out the basics.
The buildings would be constructed at four addresses along South Halsted Street: 4223, 4231, 4351 and 4361. The units would feature one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans.
Rent would run between $1,600 and $1,800 apiece.
None of the rentals would be subsidized, said Chase, who owns and manages a housing development at 720 W. 47th St. in Canaryville — a property some residents peg with a reputation for attracting seedy tenants.
To combat these rumors, Chase rattled off a sample of the kinds of people with leases at Ridgewood Court: a police officer, Chicago Public Schools teacher, bus driver, marketing clerk and an accountant.
Chase said his tenants make between $50,000 and $200,000 in combined family income and pay more than $1,500 a month in rent.
“I am not a Section 8 landlord,” he said.
Still, because of the City of Chicago’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance, developers have to list 10 percent of their rental spaces with affordable prices for tenants in lower income brackets.
That means some tenants must make no more than $32,000 a year. Those rentals would run as low as $925 a month for one-bedroom apartments on the first floor.
Chase said all potential tenants go through a strict screening process, requiring a rental application, background and criminal checks, copies of drivers licenses, four pay stubs, bank statements and references, including past landlords and friends.
On the ground floor of each of the buildings will be retail shops. The developer’s vision includes a bookstore, coffee shop, art gallery, dress shop, and chain restaurants like Domino’s, Subway or Five Guys.
Thompson assured the audience tattoo shops and massage parlors would not be allowed.
The goal, Chase said, is to bring life to a “blighted and disinvested strip of real estate” — and make money in a long-term investment.
“It’s a mess,” Chase said. “My experience is taking things like that and turning it around.”
When it came time for questions for the audience, Chase was bombarded with concerns about parking.
Residents said they had enough trouble finding spaces to park their own cars. With 56 new apartments in the neighborhood, it would be nearly impossible to find parking.
Thompson assured the crowd a parking plan would be a top priority if the project moves forward.
A woman pointed out one of development’s next-door neighbors: a junk yard at 43rd and Halsted. Who would rent an expensive apartment next to a junk yard?
Chase said he has been in negotiations with the scrap yard to buy the property.
“I expect to have a contract in a week,” Chase said.
Some residents clapped. Others remained skeptical of the news, saying the development is the wrong project for a close-knit community like Canaryville.
Going forward, there could be another community meeting to discuss any revisions made to Chase's pitch, but a date has not been set.
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