ROGERS PARK — An isolated, gravel lot at the end of Albion Avenue could be transformed into a community garden and dune restoration area, according to sources with knowledge of the plan.
While both Ald. Joe Moore's office and the Chicago Park District are expected to make an official announcement about the new park next week, representatives from Loyola University Chicago said the lot near Hartigan Beach and Park would be developed by the city.
The vacant parking lot, which has been owned by the city since 2007, had been nearly developed as part of a plan put together for 2012's participatory budgeting process, but the proposal came a few votes shy.
The 2012 ballot listed the project as the "Albion Lakeside Park," with the following description: "Transform an isolated, unused gravel parking lot at the Albion street-end on Lake Michigan into a dune restoration area and garden."
The estimated cost was listed as $150,000.
After the proposal didn't garner enough votes, neighbors turned to Loyola for help, said Jennifer Clark, Loyola's vice president of community planning.
Clark, who was presenting Loyola's neighborhood development plans at a Edgewater block club meeting Monday night, said the project was planned to reappear on this year's ballot.
But, she said, "it looks like the alderman and the park district found a completely different alternative source of funding that's going to make that project happen."
The alderman's office and park district didn't respond to requests for comment.
