Dear Neighbor:
I am writing to update you on the status of Related Midwest's proposed development at 400 North Lake Shore Drive, commonly known as the "Spire Site."
As you know, I joined with SOAR to host a community meeting on May 15th to review the Developer's proposal. The meeting was very well attended and we received a tremendous amount of community feedback. My staff catalogued all of the community input from that meeting and we created a list of priority issues that needed to be addressed during my negotiation process with the Developer.
Over the summer, I convened numerous meetings between the Developer and nearby condominium associations to discuss their concerns with the proposal and to identify potential solutions. During that process, neighbors shared legitimate concerns regarding the hotel use; the tall podium base of the buildings; traffic concerns for East North Water Street; and security issues on the Riverwalk and at DuSable Park.
After sorting through community feedback, I sent a detailed memo to the Development Team on August 13th - detailing the priority issues that the Developer must address before their project could receive additional consideration for approval. Unfortunately, several weeks later, Related Midwest provided me with a response that did not adequately address any of the major concerns about their proposal.
I have informed Related Midwest that the 400 North Lake Shore Drive Proposal will not be moving forward in its current form and is therefore rejected.
I always strive to negotiate positive outcomes when considering development proposals. As with any project, my ultimate goal is to strike a fair balance and approve responsible projects that will be successful for the owners, while enhancing the character and vitality of the surrounding neighborhood.
That said, the Developer must address many issues related to this proposal before it may be further considered. Some (not all) of the outstanding neighborhood concerns include the following:
- Access to the site via East North Water Street must be significantly restricted
- Proposed hotel use should be eliminated
- Podium height and bulk must be reduced
- Make greater use of the Lake Shore Drive access ramp system and below grade parking system to manage deliveries, services vehicles and pick-up / drop-offs.
- Developer must assemble a security plan for the Riverwalk and DuSable Park
- Elimination of the proposed Ogden Slip Public Esplanade
As it stands, this project remains stalled and will not move forward. In the event the Developer chooses to address the legitimate concerns regarding their proposal, my office will be sure to provide all impacted neighbors with an update.
It is an honor to serve as your Alderman and I am committed to representing your interests throughout this review process. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office directly.
Sincerely,
Brendan Reilly
Alderman, 42nd Ward
