CITY HALL — As some community activists demanded more resident input on the city's plans to add a Whole Foods to Englewood, the Plan Commission approved a 12-year extension of a local development district Thursday.
The procedural matter didn't actually advance the planned Whole Foods, but some community activists used the opportunity to demand more resident involvement in the proposed Whole Foods at 63rd and Halsted streets.
"I'm concerned that there's not enough resident input," said Beatrice Jasper, a 40-year Englewood resident.
"We're not against redevelopment. We're not against change," added Keith Harris, of the Englewood Political Task Force. "But we're against being left out of the process."
Plan Commission Chairman Martin Cabrera Jr. emphasized that this specific proposal had nothing to do with the Whole Foods or the associated mall, but only extended the Tax Increment Financing district in that area to help enable the project financially down the road. He said the community would have ample chance to comment on actual project proposals.
Whole Foods plans to open the store in 2016.