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We oppose demolition, compiled facts showing that this outcome is unnecessary (2 of 3 finalists proposed adaptive reuse rather than demolition; including details of our proposal as well as of the CCLBA RFP process), and outline dire CCLBA policy implications. 

Message us for our Press Release, and response to CCLBA Press Release.
 Relevant Articles:
CCLBA / Rob Rose Alleged Misconduct:
Hyde Park Historical Society Letter

"The people who now live in Woodlawn will understand this message from the Land Bank - 'You and your community's history are disposable.' ... The community clearly chose re-use at the conclusion of the community planning process conducted last year by the Metropolitan Planning Council... The Land Bank chose the demolition/displacement" of this important piece of Woodlawn's history over its restoration/revitalization."
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Community Comments


March 19, 2019 Harold Lucas (Facebook)
We object!

March 19, 2019 Janaya (Twitter @janayagr)
"Of the three proposals considered finalists at Friday's meeting, only one plan included razing the building completely."

March 19, 2019 Tina Williams (Facebook)
It's a shame that this wonderful plan is just a broken dream. This project would have and still can be so much promise to our community.

March 19, 2019 Cyd Landston (Facebook)
:(

March 19, 2019 Kim Allen (Facebook)
Why they choose the one developer who wants to demolish the building out of the three proposals, defies reasoning. This is why Chicagoans need to be more active in saying no to developer's plans.

March 19, 2019 Stephen C. Hansen (Facebook)
:(

March 19, 2019 Gabriel Piemonte (Facebook)
Maybe you've not been following the process, which is not surprising, since a lot of it has been pretty hard to get access to. The land bank took it over and denied the people trying to restore it that opportunity. Before that, you have Leon Finney to thank for it sitting and being an eyesore.

March 19, 2019 Ben Anderson (Facebook)
What a mess

March 19, 2019 Paullena PattSpratt (Facebook)
A beautiful building

March 19, 2019 Myesha Wright (Facebook)
Gentrification

March 18, 2019 Gabriel Piemonte (Facebook)
The Cook County Land Bank is selling out Woodlawn's history to the most connected bidder. The first major bid on a building acquired by the Land Bank - the Washington Park Bank at 63rd and Cottage - is being awarded to a connected firm that will tear the property down, despite its connection to the history of the community and the consensus among hundreds of people convened for community meetings that is should be preserved. Jeanette has stated that she will not sign off on the demo permit. Nicole is defending the demolition. So my simple question is, if a historic property anchoring a critical commercial block can be wiped out and the voices of the community be ignored, how can we expect the rights of tenants to be respected? Jeanette has been fighting for regular folks, even putting her life on the line as a Dyett hunger striker, for years and years.

March 19, 2019 Oscar Worrill El (Facebook)
Check to see if TWO owned the building and then foreclosed on the property

March 19, 2019 Gabriel Piemonte (Facebook)
of course, understand exactly how this game is played and is absolutely right. It was TWO, and Apostolic was also an investor

March 19, 2019 Andrea Caldwell (Facebook)
this is why Toni Preckwinkle will not be good for the South and West side. "CCLBA (Cook County Land Bank) is the largest land bank by geography in the country and is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Board of Commissioners."

March 19, 2019 Oscar Worrill El (Facebook)
This is good information Andrea. Please expose this current situation as it relates to the sale of the bank. I am a Inspector for the Department of Water Management City of Chicago. This particular property had become a complaint with Department of Transportation because of water in the basement which was caused by a problem to a project for Transportation. This complaint was in the spring 2018. The owners at the time on record was TWO, Leon Finney being the principal officer. TWO never developed the property. Sounds like the land bank discharged TWO of any debt.

March 19, 2019 Nathan Thompson (Facebook)
if anything, the CTA staircase in front of it should be moved so you can see the damn thing, That building has been under appreciated. Probably because you can't see the damn thing.

March 18, 2019 Andrea Caldwell (Facebook)
I posted it because it mentioned attachment to giant real estate developers and the U of C expansionist and their gentrification efforts which may be problematic if she becomes mayor.

March 18, 2019 Karen Roothaan (Facebook)
Given the history of the University of Chicago in the Woodlawn neighborhood, and their financial resources, it would make more sense to re-use this building in a way that connects to the community.

March 16, 2019 Ben Anderson (Facebook)
There were community meetings that I attended where they solicited feedback and no one ever suggested tearing down the building.

March 16, 2019 Sheila Lewis (Facebook)
everyone who registered and commented publicly UNANIMOUSLY stated that they wanted adaptive reuse, not demolish. AND many of the public speakers were from the firms who were not selected as the developer.

unanimously.

March 16, 2019 Tiffany Williams (Facebook)
I have the amazing opportunity of being apart of the Woodlawn Works team. While respecting the process for selection I did not share much about it, but was ready to go as soon as we got the green flag. The RFP request from the Land Bank requested the building reused as it is historical (SIC) and should be a place of revitalization for the community. The winning proposal will condemn the building and build a new three story in this same space.

How many empty lots in Woodlawn could they have chosen to build this new structure????

#AStrongGroupInvested

March 17, 2019 James Gray (Facebook)
Congrats!!!

   March 18, 2019 Rachel Bernier-Green (Facebook)
   After all of that work and such a great alternative with this project you shared, they're going to knock it down? I was really hoping for a
   better outcome in that space

March 18, 2019 Tiffany Williams (Facebook)
we all hope the building would remain. I grew up in Woodlawn, I remember shopping there at Rainbow as a teen and visiting my friends church when it was there. I never saw the building as an eye sore and hoped that it would reopen as something geared directly to the community. When presented the opportunity to be on this team, developing the concept and bringing this to our neighborhood I was ecstatic. The proposal is change that the neighborhood can benefit from and be apart of, glad we can share the vision.

March 18, 2019 Rachel Bernier-Green (Facebook)
I still don't know how someone can look at that building and see an eyesore. It's truly heartbreaking that all that history will disappear. 

Hopefully the new alderman will use her aldermanic privilege to be more supportive of restoration and community led development.

March 18, 2019 Michelle E Lanaux Merritt (Facebook)
that will be interesting... they are gonna have to learn REAL quick!!

March 18, 2019 JaVon A Nicholas (Facebook)
Tiffany you all gave me the chills. I am so excited for Woodlawn and so proud of you all in the video!


March 16, 2019 James Johnai (Facebook)
Toni Preckwinkle controls the Land Bank?

March 16, 2019 Sheila Lewis (Facebook)
FYI there was a separate selection committee who vetted the 4 proposals - 3 of which were responsive and only one that included a demolish and rebuild instead of adapt and reuse.

March 16, 2019 Rachelle Lindsey (Facebook)
THE TAKE OVER HAS BEEN REAL!

March 17, 2019 Gabriel Piemonte (NextDoor)
A few comments here. First, how I heard the presentation and based on conversation afterward, the building will be three stories. It was presented as five during the process and shrunk. Also, this is an easy point of contrast between the two remaining aldermanic candidates. Nicole Johnson supports the demo plan and Jeanette Taylor has said she will not sign off on the demolition of this building, so if you are in favor of historic preservation and keeping our remaining historic buildings, Jeanette's your choice. Finally, there is an alternative proposal that was presented by an all-Woodlawn development team that is already fully financed and will preserve the building. They are not politically connected, so they did not win the bid. In this case, I think we need to insist that the best team wins and not just the most connected. There are large outside forces taking over this intersection, and how it goes down will determine how much of the rest of our community gets built. We need to be heard on this. Neighborhood people overwhelmingly supported restoration during the planning meetings. We are being ignored.

March 17, 2019 Johnnie Clanton (NextDoor)
I do not support them demoing building. Why do they think they can just come and tear down all of our history out south but keep the buildings in shape and just remodel inside up north. This is a historic building. This bank is reason why my grandparents went into business, they gave them their first business loan.

March 16, 2019 Cassandra Dennis-Chatman (Facebook)
It's a lot of history on 63rd and they are taking it step by step. I hated the fact that Daleys is moving out of that building. To me it's a part of 63rd street history. Next they'll be wanting to tear down the Grand Ballroom...smh

March 17, 2019 Robin Kaufman (Facebook) 
A common developer trick is to neglect repairs and let a building deteriorate, and then say it has to be torn down because it's too far gone.

March 16, 2019 Sheila Lewis (Facebook)
good to see you in the room today Gabriel Piemonte. 
it is sad that a reuse and adapt plan is not "currently" a part of the plan.
hopefully you and all of the public commentators impressed the importance of changing the plan.

   March 16, 2019 Gabriel Piemonte (Facebook)
Sheila Lewis thank you -- it was nice to see you too. I think they made a mistake with this one. I hope they are moved to reconsider.
And we need to think about what our response is if they don't. 

March 16, 2019 Sheila Lewis (Facebook)
yes, I was VERY surprised. would have commented myself if I wasn't on assignment. let's hope the unanimous disappointment 
will give CCLBA pause...

March 16, 2019 Gabriel Piemonte (Facebook)
I hope so. Also, we have a trick or two up our sleeves : ) People tend to underestimate us South Siders.

March 16, 2019 John Paul Jones (Facebook)
That is exactly what I am most concerned about; Chicagoans lack of oversight of intergovernmental affairs. City and County land bank decisions gets no public attention.

March 16, 2019 Andrea Caldwell (Facebook)
could it be because we don't demand it???

March 16, 2019 John Paul Jones (Facebook)
ALL must broaden their review of government. Like who even monitor cook county action?

March 16, 2019 Patrick Brutus (Facebook)
This just became a campaign issue not only for mayor, but for 20th ward alderman.... and the Network of Woodlawn. They've been mtg and this project always comes up as a redevelopment repurpose project. 

Not RIP and replace.

March 16, 2019 Patrick Brutus (Facebook)
WTF?

March 16, 2019 Dhilanthi Fermnando (Facebook)
Of course, U of C calls the shots around here. You'd think the rest of us would have a voice.

March 16, 2019 Nathan Thompson (Facebook)
U of C... The Beast that ate the Southside.