DUNNING — A social club in the Belmont Heights neighborhood that drew dozens of complaints from neighbors about public drunkenness and fights won't be allowed to reopen under a measure expected to be approved Wednesday by the Chicago City Council.
The ordinance, introduced by Ald. Tim Cullerton (38th), would prevent the Hideout Social Club from reopening at 3205-07 N. Opal Ave. by changing the building’s zoning designation to residential.
Heather Cherone discusses the neighborhood's complaints on DNAinfo Radio:
Cullerton said he told the owner of the property he would be happy to change the zoning designation again if a legitimate commercial operation wanted to set up shop in the building near Belmont Avenue.
"She said she didn't know what was going on in the building," Cullerton said.
Neighbors complained about people leaving the club drunk, urinating on their lawns, taking up all of the permit-parking spots along Opal Avenue and fighting in the alley, Cullerton said.
"Zoning should be used as a tool to protect the community," Cullerton said.
Police saw alcohol being served without a license and ticketed the club for that and for failing to have a valid social club license, the alderman said.
Although the club is now in the 36th Ward — represented by Ald. Nicholas Sposato — it will be in Cullerton's 38th Ward when the new ward map takes effect after the 2015 aldermanic elections.
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