Politics & Government

Neighbors Share Real Estate Woes Over New Target

With few details about the new Target available to neighbors, some are nervous, while others are already feeling the burn while attempting to sell their home.

Although Target Corp. officials can finally take a breath upon closing a long-anticipated deal, neighbors are feeling more anxious than ever.

Residents gathered at the recent West Lake View Neighbors meeting to discuss the new store slated for the corner of Ashland, Belmont and Lincoln avenues, many of them worried about what a store will do to the neighborhood.

Bridget Gross said her family put their home up for sale when Patch broke the story about Target coming. But when buyers hear the news, it’s tough to seal the deal.

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“I’m the test case for what’s going to happen here,” Gross said. “We put our house on the market in January and it sold in 5 days. But then they started hearing stuff about the approval, and in escrow, they pulled out. We put it back on the market and it sold in a day. They knew about the Target, but then they also got cold feet. So, yeah, we’re the test case here.”

Residents and the organization’s officials agreed a lot of information is still in the dark at this point, and it’s the unknown details that make them most nervous.

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“I think it’s just the unknowns,” Gross continued. “Once the plans come out, it may be different. But, you know, there’s a curb cut across the street from our house. Is that going to become (Target’s) loading dock? Because if it is, we’ll have to live here the next 20 years.”

WLVN President Will DeMille says whatever happens, the neighbors will have some say in the final Target. Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) told DeMille that the organization “has a seat at the table” when more talks with the retailer moves forward.

"Is that going to become Target’s loading dock? Because if it is, we’ll have to live here the next 20 years."

That being said, since Target purchased the former LaSalle Bank building, little has been leaked regarding the new Lake View storefront. DeMille says the company is now working on a a plan, meaning now’s the time to voice specific needs and requests.

Neighbors rattled off ideas like cutting off through-traffic to drivers on West Melrose Street in an attempt to minimize the expected influx of cars on the quiet residential street. Additional ideas like asking Target to invest in the community by making a donation to the upcoming School Street Park were added to the list.

The list is an attempt to alleviate what some consider a bad addition to their backyards.

“Yes, a Target is going in. The best we can do is figure out how to mitigate these circumstances,” DeMille said. “There isn’t a planned opening date. It’s really on their timeline, when they’re ready. I get the sense that it would be over the next few months that we see something.”

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But one thing’s for certain: rumors the retailer are attempting to dodge the community input process by staying within the parameters of the building or former approved planned development for the site are false.

“It would be such a major change from that (former) planned development that they couldn’t build from that,” said 32nd Ward Chief of Staff Paul Sajovec. “That planned development didn’t envision a Target, it envisioned a mixed residential building, so that planned development would have to be scrapped.”


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