By Donna Zine,
Aurora, Ill. Ward resident
I am opposed to any zoning and ordinance changes that would allow the current out-of-state owners of the former Carson Pirie Scot property, 970 N. Lake Street in Aurora, to install a passive income model storage unit at that site, or a car wash, on the out-lot. I express my deepest disappointment in the city of Aurora government leaders, staff members, and commission appointees, following the June 8 Planning Commission meeting and the June 15 Building, Economic Development, and Zoning Committee meeting during which our commissioners and aldermanic committee members moved these projects forward against the wishes of the residential neighbors. These same City representatives relatively recently rejected two similar projects for the far West Side at the former Cub Foods and Lowe’s locations, but inexplicably, the residents of the near West Side were steamrolled by city staff members and elected officials with a plan that we had no input to and a project we rejected three years ago.
It is a blatant attempt to push through a project that does nothing good for our City, just fills space and plays politics at the expense of resident’s lifestyles, livelihoods, entrepreneurial, spirits. The project does not meet zoning or ordinance requirements, nor the standards of the Sustainability Plan or Master Plan for the City. It offers no sales tax relief for residents. It brings only one-to-three jobs into a 187,700 square-foot prime real estate commercial space, brings no patrons who would support adjacent businesses, and brings no refreshing gathering spots for neighbors to relax and chat. It creates a dead zone with no business or social activity, and creates more problems for our neighborhood when it should be alleviating them; problems such as traffic congestion through neighborhoods, and vagrancy issues, to name a few.
This project is so bad that it cannot stand alone. It needs a partner and has chosen a car wash company to fill that role. The car wash would bring only eight-to-10 low-paying jobs to the out-lot and the proposed layout would cut off any service road access between Ace Hardware and Northgate. Shoppers would have to exit to Lake Street and re-enter on the other side of the car wash to access other stores, or drive around the back side through the neighborhood right past the Palace Street playground. City representatives, state that “this is the best we can get”, that the traffic count on Lake Street cannot support retail businesses. The car wash spokes-person stated that the traffic count is much lower than its typical standard for choosing a location. If these two statements are true, how can a car wash survive there? The first car wash business slated to fill this spot, pulled out. They knew it is a bad idea. The reps. for the candidate think that our neighborhood residents will be their patrons. Former Paul and Bill’s, now 300 Galena Gas, a near West Side establishment, with a car wash, always has been adequate and we will continue to support our local businesses.
The petitioners have agreed to repurpose the east end of the former Carson’s building into three units, two for small office or small retail, and one for a fast-food establishment that will have no drive through, but will offer outdoor seating right next to a car wash and a thoroughfare. They touted under oath, as possibly a family restaurant, using deceptive language and avoidance until pressed for more details. A fast-food joint is not a family restaurant. There are no tenants secured for these units which the petitioners predict might bring an additional handful of low-paying jobs. They stated that one of their tenants at their other facilities is a dollar store. We have three of those close by on Lake Street.
The proposal on the table is bad for all Aurorans. If anyone has doubts, look at Tinseltown, flanked by two storage unit facilities, to see what the Carson’s property will become. The proposal is a bad idea in every way and it will sit on Lake Street, our gateway, the City’s front porch, for decades, if not in perpetuity, if it proceeds. Everyone in Aurora will have to live with it, but the neighbors will do so most intimately and without a voice. It is bad city management and it is unacceptable.
The neighbors do not believe that it is the best we can get and we do not want those who express that sentiment in city jobs or city leadership roles. We believe that there are much better options that have not been considered, or, pursued by City leaders. There are lucrative Federal and State grants and financing programs available for entrepreneurs’ businesses in most of Aurora, including the former Carson’s site, which offer opportunities for smaller owner-occupied ventures. The Carson’s site should have been bought by the city government, controlled, subdivided and sold as business condos. The owner-occupied spaces would qualify for these programs. The City leaders tell us there is no interest in the Carson’s site, but they do not put together a plan, or promote an avenue for access to anyone, so it is a self-fulfilling prophecy, foisted on residents by leaders who have no vision.
We don’t need and we are not asking for a big box store. We need vibrant active income businesses at the Carson’s location, designed to draw workers, or customers, or casual walkers just there to enjoy a small plaza, or a small dog park. We want businesses that will lift up a neighborhood, not hamstring it and bring it down; businesses such as call centers, or data entry centers, that would bring walk-to-work jobs with sustainable incomes to a working class neighborhood; shared kitchen culinary incubators whose users could stock a small retail store with specialty products while they grow secure enough to expand; green infrastructure supply outlets that can capitalize on the State programs and grants; medical facilities with researchers and draw professionals who will fall in love with Aurora and move here; private swimming facilities that offer year-round access to a pool for lessons; and countless other possibilities. If only someone in a leadership role could read the national trend toward lifestyle demands, recognize the validity of our neighborhood vision for our sector of Aurora, and hear our voices.
Don’t let these savvy, out-of-state, speculators and opportunists, plunk their passive income storage units at the former Carson’s site. They will perch on our prime real estate, depress our property values, and contribute nothing to our economy for decades. They will be the first to ask for TIF district tax benefits when they are ready to do a real development. Aurora should promote programs for local entrepreneurs and support neighborhood visions, not out-of -state speculators.