The first opposition to Cook County’s plan to move its domestic violence courthouse to Chicago’s riverfront has surfaced from a River North organization that plans to send letters Thursday to county commissioners outlining its objections.
Stressing that its members are sensitive to the needs of battered women, Grant DePorter of the River North Association said moving the court into the former Helene Curtis headquarters next to the Merchandise Mart would detract from the riverfront while inhibiting future growth in the booming area.
“From what I understand, there are some pretty hardened criminals involved with this and you’re going to put it right in the middle of everything,” said DePorter, chairman of the association’s planning and advocacy committee. “Using this site is going to have a negative effect. … I don’t know anyone who is going to want to develop right next to that.”
Supporters of the location accused the group of fear-peddling and said serious offenders who have been arrested will be transported to court by police.
Jennifer Welch, executive director of the Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network, said Chicago police statistics show that 85 domestic violence crimes were reported in May within one mile of the proposed court location.
“These people obviously misunderstand domestic violence and they think that domestic violence doesn’t happen in their neighborhood, but it does,” Welch said. “The women and children who are victims of domestic violence deserve a nice courthouse. The mere fact that they have been abused does not mean that they should be housed in some horrible, distant location.”
After surveying more than 20 possible sites, Cook County Board President John Stroger last month recommended the 10-story building. A staff report said the former corporate headquarters was the cheapest and quickest option that still met such needs as a central location with access to public transportation.
Though final negotiations are continuing, the county late last week signed a letter of intent to purchase the building at 325 N. Wells St.
Officials in Stroger’s office declined to comment on the River North opposition. However, Stroger met with Mayor Richard Daley Wednesday afternoon to discuss the matter.
The proposed courtrhouse is across from another landmark, the Merchandise Mart, run by the Kennedy family.
Tom Kennedy, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Merchandise Mart Properties, said they have raised questions about the Helene Curtis building, such as its suitability for use as a courthouse, in meetings with public officials.
Kennedy said they have not taken a position but instead are waiting for the county to complete its evaluation of the site.
“We want to respect the integrity of that process,” Kennedy said.
The county had originally planned to build a combined Domestic Violence and Traffic Court on the West Side but abandoned the plan after facing community resistance. Traffic Court was moved to the Daley Center. Commissioner Bobbie Steele, whose district includes the site, said she would like to meet with the River North Association.
“It’s regrettable that the community has taken a position against us coming there,” Steele said. “I think it’s a great deal for taxpayers.”
