AVONDALE — A zoning change that would allow developers to build a 7-unit residential building on a vacant Avondale lot was scrutinized at a community meeting Monday night.
The meeting, facilitated by Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) was attended by approximately 20 Avondale/Logan Square residents and representatives from community groups SOMOS Logan Square, Logan Square Preservation, and the Logan Square and Avondale neighborhood associations.
Developers Eileen O'Grady Newell and Martin Newell are requesting a zoning change on the lot, 3140 N. Kedzie Ave., from B-31 to B-23, a variance that allows a higher density of units.
Homeowners opposed to the development claimed the development would bring too many renters and potential "riff-raff" into the neighborhood.
"It looks nice, but I'm against it," said Aimee Revre, whose family has owned the house behind the development for more than 100 years. "We're a street of single-family homes and this will change the dynamic of our street."
The site is a 5,963-square-foot lot on the southwest corner of Avondale and Kedzie avenues, just south of the Kennedy Expressway. The proposal includes a duplex, four three-bedroom units, two garden units and seven parking spots.
Andy Gerber, who's lived next door to the lot for 17 years, was strongly in favor of the development.
"I couldn't be happier this is happening," he said. "I've been waiting 17 years for someone to develop that property. There's a lot of gangs, garbage, graffiti, a lot of homeless. I think it's high time somebody got in there."
The duplex would rent at $2,800 per month, the three bedroom units at less than $2,000 per month, and the garden units at $1,700 per month.
Natalie Heglund and Bhaskar Manda, both of SOMOS Logan Square and the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, asked the developers to consider more affordable housing options before moving forward.
"They plainly said it was unaccessible to families, which is directly supporting changing the face of the neighborhood," Heglund said.
"We're just trying to make the developer work with us to offer what's best for the community," Manda said. "We like density, we just want to pair it with affordability."
Newell countered that the unit rates were comparable, if not cheaper than those in the area, especially for new construction.
Ramirez-Rosa closed the meeting by inviting attendees to fill out a comment card.
"Unlike other wards where you go to the meetings and everything's already decided, tonight is really the determining factor for this zoning change," Ramirez-Rosa said.
The Alderman's office will review comments from the public and make a decision in the next two weeks. If approved, the Newells said the project would take approximately 10 months depending what time of year construction began.
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