Evening of Q & A for Trader Joe's and Smithfield…and then?

LaSalle II Magnet Elementary School, 1148 N. Honore St. was the scene for rounds of questions and answers about putting a Trader Joe's (TJ) grocery store on Division St. across from the school. There were between 130 to 150 people in attendance Monday evening, Mar. 3.

Participants were the Local School Council (LSC); residents of East Village and Wicker Park; Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno; W. Harris "Bill" Smith of Smithfield Properties, LLC; Kevin Henning, President at Smithfield Construction Group, Inc.; a team of Trader Joe's people; architect Joseph Antunovich; Jim Banks, Law Offices of Samuel V. P. Banks; and Smithfield consultants including traffic consultant Michael A. Werthmann of KLOA as well as former Cook County Assessor James M. Houlihan of All-Circo. 

Chairing the meeting, Leonard Becker of the LSC, introduced the Parent Teacher Organization's (PTO) President Grant Drutchas who presented a list of concerns about increased traffic, traffic congestion, child safety, alcohol sales and garbage that would impact the school, the children and the area.

Smith then explained why the project under the approved zoning change from B3-2 to B3-3 Type 1 is being abandoned  and why the proposal for a Trader Joe's is now on the table for the former Miller Lumber site at 1811 to 1825 W. Division St. 

Moreno pointed out that as it stands now, the zoning of B3-3 Type 1 requires them to build what is in the Type 1 document, which is a 4-story mixed-use property. 

Joesph Antunovich, President of Antonovich Associates, showed the proposed site drawings for TJ's and two 1,980 square feet stores facing Division on the east side of the property. The Market is shown to be 14,900 square feet on the ground floor starting at the corner of Division and Honore Streets. The loading area is to be toward the end of the building on the Honore side with the parking ramp at the end of the site along the alley. The trash area is shown at the southeast corner of the building. 

The second floor would have space for 37 cars with elevators and stairs and the ramp up to the third floor roofless area that can accommodate 40 cars, elevators, stairs and building mechanicals.

Showing the front elevation, he pointed out that they believe adding banners would help to embellish the building, realizing that there would need to be approval for this addition. 

Traffic Volume and Direction
Addressing store deliveries, Henning explained that operationally they use consolidated trucks instead of trucks from each vendor. There would be approximately three trailers per week, smaller trucks twice a week and possibly small van-like deliveries for fresh bread etc. daily. 

Questioning later in the meeting brought out the fact that they would expect 15-19,000 transactions (purchases) a week, 2-3,000 a day. If half the patrons came in cars, that would increase daily traffic by 1-1,500 cars per day. 

While Henning indicated that their operations would be at times not affecting the school, some parents stated that school operations begin at 7:45 a.m. and often go on until 6 p.m. 

Original reports were that TJ's requested to change the one-way north bound Honore to two-way from Division to the alley. In the presented plans, they expanded the two-way to Thomas St. This would also indicate that delivery trucks would be coming up Honore, most likely coming from the highway via Augusta Blvd. 

It was pointed out that that would be a problem, particularly if the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) proposal goes through.

Safety, too, is of big concern to everyone. Having a two-way flow on Honore is considered by many to be a very bad idea for people crossing the street. That concern is for children as well as adult safety. One speaker said that even now with one-way traffic, it can be dangerous. "Two-way traffic would be a disaster waiting to happen." 

Another parent pointed out that car traffic is inevitable since students come from as far as 95th street on the south and Peterson Ave. on the north. 

Many in the audience expressed a series of traffic flow concerns, particularly if the BRT project on Ashland becomes a reality. That is already predicted to push more traffic on the residential side streets. 

One questioner asked about the possibility of having no parking and making all that space green. No one seemed to think that concession would be viable. 

Liquor Sales
Having packaged liquor sales runs into three issues: two liquor moratoriums and a State Law. The two liquor moratoriums would impact two blocks to the east and two blocks to the west. Such a lift would have to remain in place for an entire year. Secondly, State law prevents liquor from being sold within 100 feet of a school. 

In emphasizing that the lifting of the moratoriums would extend two blocks in both directions for a year, Moreno pointed out that a letter that was circulated about the State rule was not correct. "There has NOT been an agreement to wave that regulation and State Senator Willliam Delgado has said that he will defer that to the Alderman." 

Questions were raised about eliminating liquor sales. In Illinois, all TJ stores sell liquor. Though they said that they would "look at" that issue. No one seemed to think that concession would be viable either. 

Trash
While TJ's presentation emphasized garbage traffic would go to Wood, residents who are on the alley pointed out that that alley needs widening. One resident whose heavily used back deck faces the alley pointed out concerns about odors, rats and traffic. She was assured that all refuse is covered. It is expected that there will be discussions about the alley configuration. 

A Chain Store on Division Street
While probably most people in the audience would like having a TJ in the area, many said that it is not appropriate for that location. In addition there is concern about having residents involved in this dialogue, not just the school and public officials. Furthermore, there is concern about not following plans that were thoughtfully laid out for the area's development. One student expressed concern too. 

Suzanne Keers who is on the Wicker Park and Bucktown SSA #33 Guide Development and is on the Board of Local First Chicago, an organization dedicated to local businesses, emphatically stated, "This is NOT a food desert. this location is purely for your benefit. I'd like to know what you think about what is stated in the Master Plan about the development of Division Street which was supported by two aldermen and the community." She then read the statement about Division St. "I think that you should read the Plan and then find a new location." 

As a pedestrian designated street, Division St. is intended to be for local retailers, restaurants and entertainment, pointed out Scott Rappe, architect and Chair of the East Village Association's (EVA) Planning, Preservation and Development Committee. "Our organization has worked for two and a half decades to create a safe and stable productive-prone environment. We've encouraged local businesses through zoning initiatives and pedestrian designations along Division and Chicago Avenues.

"We are concerned that you are circumventing that designation by directing traffic to a side street. The three obstacles you are facing with this store on this site are things that the East Village Association has very conscientiously constructed through moratoriums and zoning to reflect the community's values for this site. Our success for supporting local businesses include supporting Do Division and the Renegade Craft Festivals to celebrate independent business. 

"Now, I and my family are Trader Joe's enthusiasts. There is no greater thrill to me than driving a standard transmission car up the ramp at the Clybourn store. I am certainly someone who would like to walk to Trader Joe's. But this is the wrong site. And I certainly don't believe that you are going to leave $30 million on the table and walk away from our neighborhood. So please work with the East Village Association and let's find you a more appropriate site because we want you in the neighborhood but we do not want you on Division St." 

Third grade student Gabrielle Drutchas expressed her concerns about the project too. With NWEA tests this spring, she is concerned that the noise of trucks will distract the students from the teachers which could effect their results on the tests. Grades on these tests determine whether kids have to go to summer school. "Kids in my grade would not like to go to summer school," she explained. 

Smithfield Commitment to the School
Becker asked Smith about their financial commitment to the school. Smith said that they would live up to their commitment of $10,000 to the school for each of 10 years. He explained that that did not occur to date because a specific procedure was to be initiated by the school but was not. According to  Smith, the principal had to initiate the process through Chicago Public Schools for them to give the money to the school and it was not made. 

Next Steps
Werthmann has committed to meet with Principal Albani, PTO President Drutchas and the LSC about traffic. Houlihan continually stated that various points would be considered. It is, therefore assumed that other concerns will be reviewed and there will be direct communications with community organizations and the Alderman's office.