LAKEVIEW — The CTA officially released a public list Friday of 19 buildings that will be impacted by the Red-Purple Line Modernization Project, including 16 for the Belmont bypass in Lakeview.
The agency has said that it may need to buy the existing buildings to increase train speeds, reduce delays and update the stations.
Property owners have already been contacted by certified mail, regular mail and in-person visits, CTA spokeswoman Tammy Chase said.
"We did do our best to minimize the number of properties," Chase said. "We're working to make this process as easy as possible for affected property owners."
Listen to Serena Dai discuss what some of the tenants of the targeted buildings are saying:
Five residential-only buildings on the west side of Wilton Avenue will be impacted, as previously reported.
Other properties were a mix of commercial buildings, mixed-use buildings and parking lots — including a commercial building halfway through a renovation and the building housing new business Big Cheese Poutinerie.
The agency said that it would help businesses with moving costs and allow them to stay open during construction, if possible.
The CTA may also be asking two property owners for partial air rights.
About 6 percent of air rights over the rear parking lot for Smokers Zone at 3326 N. Clark St. might be needed. About 1 percent of air rights over the home of Rockstar Hair salon at 3324 N. Clark St. might also be needed, the document said.
Farther north, the CTA said it may need to buy three buildings for the Lawrence-to-Bryn Mawr modernization project. It might also need air rights over a parking lot and several other lots for the project.
The three buildings are on Broadway, and include a Toyota Dealership, Sunlight Nail Supply and a Public Storage building.
A full list can be found here.
All property owners will receive, at minimum, the fair market value from the city, Chase said. If the fair market value is lower than the original purchase price, the city will pay property owners the purchase price, Chase said.
Again, she emphasized that the project details are not finalized.
"This is not a done deal," she said. "Everybody is going to have a voice in this project."
See here for previous coverage of impacted businesses and residents.
