MOUNT GREENWOOD — Residents living within 250 feet of Mount Greenwood's 111th Street business district will soon receive postcards regarding a change in zoning.
Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) is behind the change that he hopes will curb development of any new apartment or condominium buildings on 111th Street between Sacramento Avenue and Pulaski Road.
"In 4½ years as alderman, when people come to me about what they want to build on 111th Street, they want to do multi-unit. They want to do high density," O'Shea said on Friday.
O'Shea is opposed to such developments, saying there's too many vacant apartments and condos on 111th Street in Mount Greenwood already. In fact, the 19th Ward is saddled with high vacancy rates just about everywhere, O'Shea said.
The proposed zoning change wouldn't prohibit the addition of new commercial tenants, but it largely would prevent developers from building a structure with retail space on the first floor and multiple residential units above without approval, the Southwest Side alderman said.
If a developer was interested in such a building, he or she would have to present a plan to the alderman and surrounding neighbors under the proposed rule change. If the development is deemed acceptable, a change in zoning could be sought, O'Shea said.
"As a community, we would have more control over it," he said.
O'Shea submitted the ordinance to the City Council on Thursday. The proposed zoning changes would not impact the apartment and condo buildings already in the area, he said.
In O'Shea's experience, the apartments and condos on 111th Street in Mount Greenwood have struggled to find a place in the local market. Young people seem to prefer apartment buildings near the Metra stations in Beverly and Morgan Park or near the bars on Western Avenue.
Older residents looking to stay in the neighborhood but downsize their living space tend settle in three- or four-unit apartment or condo buildings tucked within the neighborhood — not on the busy commercial strip, O'Shea said.
Mary Gill is the executive director of the Mount Greenwood Community and Business Association. She agreed with the move, saying the neighborhood is mostly single-family homes and more apartments aren't needed.
Gill also believes the zoning change gives local residents a seat at the table when it comes to building any new project that might involve a high-density component.
If the commercial user is considered a good fit, neighbors would likely get behind the project and back a zoning change for apartments or condos above. If not, the residents could ask to reject the zoning change, potentially killing the undesirable deal, Gill said.
"I don't think we need a lot of developers that come in and put things in that we don't want," she said.
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