BUCKTOWN— After being flooded with calls and emails from residents who attended a community meeting Saturday, Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said Monday that he will not recommend a zoning change for a Citgo gas station in the area.
Developer Sedgwick Properties hoped to receive a zoning change from commercial classification to residential mixed-use in order to build a four-story, 30-unit apartment building at the site on the northeast corner of Hermitage and North avenues.
"Not at this time," Waguespack said. "The neighbors spoke very loudly about it, and until we can get a better understanding of what can be done at that corner, it's back to the drawing board."
Joanne Gross lives around the corner from the Citgo and said she was happy with the alderman's decision.
"Scott [Waguespack] ran on a platform that he was against large development and zoning changes, and he's made some good judgments and bad judgements as we all have, but he's stuck to it," Gross said.
Gross, who works in real estate, said developers "needed to show people something different" than just a big building that would create parking issues.
Waguespack's Chief of Staff Paul Sajovec confirmed that the alderman's decision would be a firm one, at least at the present time.
"The zoning stays as it is, unless we get a project that the alderman feels warrants a zoning change," Sajovec said.
Ari Topper from Jameson Realty who represents the Citgo station's owner was not immediately available for comment, nor were executives from Sedgwick Properties.
