Politics & Government

UPDATE: Residents Asked to Speak Up at New Lathrop Homes Meetings

The development team is moving forward with two community meetings to discuss their designs for Lathrop Homes, but community officials say they're not what neighbors want.

Although one neighborhood group unanimously voted against all three redevelopment designs for Lathrop Homes, officials are moving forward with two open house meetings to publically introduce the concepts for the first time and ask for changes.

The Chicago Housing Authority announced the meetings Tuesday afternoon, asking residents to attend a public open house either on Nov. 15 from 3 to 8 p.m., or on Nov. 17 from noon to 4 p.m. The meetings will be held at New Life Community Church, 2958 N. Damen Ave., and attendees will be able to review the concepts, ask questions and make suggestions for changes.

However, multiple neighborhood organizations surrounding the historic public housing development already know what they want: a completely new design. Residents came up with their own plan for the 32-acre site and have voted against the high-rise construction concepts developers are proposing.

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“My assumption is that they are intending to show the three scenarios that they worked on behind the scenes without community participation,” said John McDermott, the housing and land use director with North Center’s Logan Square Neighborhood Association.

“So, we feel that’s very unfortunate. The process that the community was promised was involvement and conversation to form a plan, but instead what we’re getting is a plan leading to conversation.”

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McDermott says the first and only meeting where neighbors were asked to contribute to the planned development was in November of 2011. However, the CHA is denying a lack of community involvement in the process, citing 200 one-on-one interviews and multiple public meetings.

“CHA is excited to continue the community engagement process that has been in place since November of 2011, when we began a series of community meetings and workshops,” said John Gerut, CHA interim executive vice president in a statement. “From the onset, our goal has been simple: to ensure that we create an open forum to gain public input in the creation of a vibrant revitalized Lathrop Homes community.”

“My assumption is that they are intending to show the three scenarios that they worked on behind the scenes without community participation...”

And now residents are asked to weigh in. While none of the concepts have changed to address concerns already voiced by the neighborhood organizations, officials at the CHA say this is the time for people to step forward and give their input on the concepts.

"The open house will look at various concepts, not plans, in which all attendees will have the opportunity to voice their input on the concepts," said CHA's Director of Communications Wendy Parks in an email. "For example, if there is a portion of a concept that someone likes of one of the three but doesn’t like something from the other, all participants will have a chance to write down what they like and don’t like. All input is welcomed."

Lathrop Homes, one of Chicago’s first public housing projects near the corner of Diversey Parkway and Clybourn Avenue, is situated directly between affluent neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lake View, Bucktown and Roscoe Village. Redevelopment at the site has been on the back-burner for more than 10 years, but signs point to it moving forward once again.

The three concepts that will be presented at November’s meetings include sticking points like a 28-story building and very little historic preservation. On the other hand, McDermott has been working with his team of neighbors and Lathrop residents for years to come up with what they think is a better plan for the public housing project.

Their vision includes things like just 850 units, almost half of what one development suggested, and keeping the 50 percent of the development public housing. In addition, the group proposes historic preservation of current buildings, keeping the units just three or four stories and offering some affordable home-ownership options.

The group plans to send a community-wide statement acknowledging their disapproval of the three proposals, and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) is working with other neighborhood groups in North Center, Lake View, Bucktown and Lincoln Park to do the same.  

The feedback gained during November’s meetings will be used by the development team to craft a final plan. More detailed information on the proposed buildings can be found on the 32nd Ward website, including building layouts, retail proposals and parking options. 

Editor's Note: This article was updated with new information at 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 23.


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