What could have been dueling protests over plans for new developments proposed for separate Chicago neighborhoods turned into a demonstration double feature Tuesday outside Mayor Richard Daley’s office.
Two groups arrived simultaneously to make their cases. But instead of competing for the attention of reporters and television news crews, they greeted one another and then took turns holding separate news conferences. Nevertheless, their messages to Daley were the same: “Don’t wipe out our businesses.”
A group of Lincoln Avenue motel owners whose establishments are targeted for extinction after charges by city officials that they harbor prostitution and drug dealing announced filing of a federal lawsuit seeking to bar the city from taking their properties.
Meanwhile, about 75 merchants and their supporters from the MegaMall in Rogers Park sought to derail plans to raze the building at 7212 N. Clark St. to make way for a new firehouse.
Nearly two years ago, Daley announced plans to acquire and demolish motels along the deteriorated “Lincoln Bend” stretch of North Lincoln Avenue in the Peterson Woods and Budlong Woods neighborhoods. The City Council subsequently established a special economic zone in the area, providing a source of funds for proposed redevelopment.
The lawsuit contends that the 11 motel owners listed as plaintiffs have been singled out unfairly for acquisition in violation of their constitutional rights. It also charges that the city has sought to revoke the business licenses of some of the motels in an attempt to drive down property values.
City officials have charged that prostitution has taken place at the establishments but haven’t filed criminal complaints against alleged perpetrators and they have harassed owners by seeking action against their licenses, asserted James Chapman, the owners’ attorney.
“They want to take licenses away so we don’t have [operating] businesses in order to reduce what [the city] will have to pay when they bring condemnation,” Chapman charged.
“We are beginning to treat these motel licenses like we treat bar licenses,” countered Ald. Patrick O’Connor (40th), a proponent of demolition and redevelopment. “When we have a bar with an inordinate amount of illegal activity we go after the license because it is clearly not an asset to the community.”
In a recent check of police reports, O’Connor said he found that officers made 942 arrests at or near the 11 motels over the last five years for prostitution, crack cocaine dealing, sexual assault and other offenses.
Meanwhile, the MegaMall supporters contended that if the former Zayre department store housing the mini-shopping center is razed, the 54 small and mostly minority merchants who operate there might not survive.
It is unlikely they could find affordable quarters elsewhere, asserted David Kim, a spokesman for the group.
The city should redesign “the monstrously large suburban-style” fire station that is planned so it can fit on a smaller site elsewhere in the area, Kim said.
The Public Building Commission has not made a decision on the location of the firehouse, and a public comment period has been extended so Ald. Joe Moore (49th) can get more input from local residents, said Terry Levin, a spokesman for the city agency. The recommendation of Moore, who has hinted his sympathies lie with the MegaMall merchants, “will carry lot of weight,” Levin said.
