PRESS RELEASE (September 13th, 2013)
Rally Against the Lakefront Car Tower
7331 N. Sheridan Road (current state)
On Sunday, September 15 at 1:00 p.m., Rogers Park residents will march and rally against a proposed parking garage planned for construction at the corner of Sheridan Road and Sherwin Avenue. Organized by a group of neighbors concerned about the negative impact of the project on pedestrian safety, noise, pollution and the residential character of the area, the march will start at Loyola Park at Touhy and proceed up Sheridan Road past the mansion at 7331 N. Sheridan Road, currently occupied by the Shambhala Meditation Center.
Colonel J. N. Pritzker, through Tawani Development Corporation, purchased the property and plans to demolish the historic structure. The four-story parking garage required a zoning change and, despite receiving over 400 petition signatures opposing the change, Alderman Joe Moore recently approved the project.
On September 20th, 2013, the issue will come before the Zoning Board of Appeals, which will consider, among other criteria, whether the proposal is compatible with the character of the surrounding area in terms of site planning, building scale and project design; will not have a significant adverse impact on the general welfare of the neighborhood; and is designed to promote pedestrian safety and comfort.
Rogers Park residents have a history of fiercely protecting their lakefront, its beaches and the architectural integrity of Sheridan Road, resisting any attempts to extend Lake Shore Drive through unsightly landfills or creating a high-rise canyon down Sheridan Road similar to what was foisted upon the Edgewater community immediately to the South. Sheridan Road in Rogers Park has retained a low-rise, residential character because of those efforts over the past 50 years. This parking garage proposal is yet another attempt to change Sheridan Road and threaten its low-rise, residential character.WHAT: MARCH AND RALLY
WHERE: MEET AT TOUHY AVENUE AND SHERIDAN ROAD
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PRESS RELEASE (September 10th, 2013)
Rally Against the Lakefront Car Tower
There will be a rally against what many community residents are calling the "Lakefront Car Tower", which has been planned by James N. Pritzker's Tiwani Enterprises. The "Lakefront Car Tower" plan would demolish the current Holsman House (see History of the Holsman House below), the current parking lot on the 7331 N. Sheridan Road property and an even larger parking lot currently located at 7315-17 N. Sheridan Road.
7331 N. Sheridan Road in danger of being demolished
Long-time community activist Don Gordon states "Please attend a "RALLY AGAINST LAKEFRONT CAR TOWER" on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, at 1:00 PM starting at LEONE PARK. Please bring friends, family and signs to let your voice be heard to Save Our Lakefront, Save Sheridan Road and Promote Responsible Community Development not Lakefront Car Towers. Help stop this horrible precedent for development in Rogers Park. This is your chance to show your opposition to this massive lot-line to lot-line garage steps from the lake"!
Rogers Park resident Peg Wolfe stated on the Stop the Lakefront Car Town facebook page, "If the people of Evanston can unite to stop J Pritzker's irresponsible lakefront development, I'd sure hope that the RP can, too. What nonsense. Our alderman is willing to sell us down the river to anyone who waves a fistful of money at him. DON'T LET HIM DO IT, PEOPLE".
RALLY AGAINST LAKEFRONT CAR TOWER
Sunday, September 15th, 2013 at 1 PM
Starting at Leone Park (located near the intersection of Sheridan Road and Touhy Avenue), and marching to the Holsman House (also well-known as the Shambhala Meditation Center) at 7331 N. Sheridan Road.
History of the Holsman House:
http://nocartower.blogspot.com/2013/04/ahistory-of-7331-n.html
Rogers Park Chamber of Commerce's effort for landmark status and protection of 7331 N. Sheridan Road (with videos)
http://rogersparkchamberofcommerce.blogspot.com/2013/06/7331-n-sheridan-potential-landmark.html
