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Referendum 'To Protect ... Character of Logan Square' Hits Ballot

By Paul Biasco | March 4, 2016 5:54am | Updated on March 4, 2016 10:53am
 32nd Ward voters will be presented with a referendum on their ballot this election regarding preservation policies in the ward.
32nd Ward voters will be presented with a referendum on their ballot this election regarding preservation policies in the ward.
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DNAinfo/Paul Biasco

LOGAN SQUARE — Residents of the 32nd Ward will have a chance to voice their opinion on preservation policies during this month's election.

Logan Square Preservation, a non-profit community organization, gathered enough signatures to put a referendum on the March 15 ballot for 32nd Ward voters that the group hopes will serve as a tool for the alderman, currently Scott Waguespack, in dissuading developers from tearing down buildings.

The referendum reads: “Shall the Alderman of the 32nd Ward pursue zoning policies to protect the historic buildings and character of Logan Square?”

"We've seen this huge slew of ... developers wanting to build up, and we think that contributes to teardowns and that changes everything in the community," said Andrew Schneider, president of Logan Square Preservation.

Schneider said the goal of the referendum is to gauge the neighborhood's interest on zoning policies, specifically those that would pave the way for demolitions. The referendum itself is nonbinding.

"The real concern we have is when [zoning changes are] allowed it does incentivize the demolition of historic structures," Schneider said.

There have been a number of referendums on recent ballots, including one in 2008 on whether free parking should be allowed on the boulevards and one in 2004 that focused on creating a historic district along the boulevards of the neighborhood.

"The referendum is essentially a public opinion poll and our hope is it's a resounding 'yes,'" Schneider said.

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