ROSELAND — An effort to turn the site of a former gas station into a community garden suffered another setback when lumber donated for the effort was stolen, organizers say.
Proponents had hoped the garden, in its early stages of planning for the northeast corner of East 107th Street and King Drive, could be ready by the spring.
Meade Electric, a company that provides commercial and residential electrical services, donated about 150 pieces of lumber to build at least 20 raised garden beds, organizers said. The lumber was dropped off nearly three weeks ago.
But Sel Dunlap, a community activist who has been part of the effort to build the garden, said he was told last weekend that the lumber was now gone from the lot.
"It's devastating," said Dunlap. "We can't move forward. We don't have the money to buy the lumber ourselves."
Organizers had hoped to build raised beds on top of the vacant lot's weed-covered asphalt before winter.
The lumber theft is the latest challenge for supporters of the garden.
Horace Smith, vice president of the Greater Roseland Community Coalition, has been working for several years to improve the area around 107th and King Drive. This summer, Smith visited Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) and asked for help in getting city approval for the community garden.
The vacant lot was bought by the city in 2005, said Smith, who has also contacted various city and federal agencies for help. The city's Department of Housing and Economic Development told him that the garden cannot move forward until Beale officially backs the plan.
Beale spokeswoman Marilyn Katz said that before the vacant lot could be converted into a community garden, pollutants would need to be removed. Such an environmental remediation could cost millions of dollars, she said.
While the exact cost is a matter of dispute, Smith said government grants could cover the cleanup.
Dunlap, who has worked on a community garden in North Lawndale, said the garden would be a tremendous asset to the community.
"Introducing young folks to gardening encourages them to work together to maintain the garden but also understand the environment," he said. "And, it's going to eliminate [the vacant lot] that has been there for 12 or 15 years."
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