The 47th Ward has a streetscape plan. A real streetscape plan. 49th Ward alderman Joe Moore has been trying to convince us for years now that his ward has one too. I suppose it depends upon your definition of "streetscape." Apparently, Moore's definition is a new coffee shop and some residential development. Oh, and a theater that will open a year from now.
All of that is private development, which would have happened in one way or another with or without Moore or his alleged streetscape project. After years of telling us there is a streetscape coming to our neighborhood, we still do not have one.
Why is it so difficult for "progressives" like Joe Moore to believe that private business can develop a commercial corridor with only minimal government interference? Why does the Political Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Rogers Park love to take credit for private sector development, when their only involvement was signing papers, getting out of the way, and depositing the shakedown money?
It seems that the 47th Ward is ahead of us,S as Lorraine Swanson writes in the current News-Star:
"Alderman Eugene Schulter, 47th, announced an ambitious $5 million streetscape plan for what has historically been a wholesale district extending from Ainslie to Montrose along Clark Street. Plans include an all-new lighting system, benches, brickpaver sidewalks, and planters to be funded from the Clark-Lawrence Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District.
"Schulter said that installation of the Clark Streetscape will begin this fall and will be finished in spring 2008. There will be no traffic or sidewalk obstruction to business." FULL STORY at the NEWS-STAR
Meanwhile, over at rogerspark.com, we get this bit of pro-Moore propaganda. The website is Michael Glasser's. Michael is a Moore fan and a defender of fellow real estate developer Jay Johnson (see Michael's letter to the editor in the current paper edition of the News-Star). Glasser's website posted this "interview" with Joe Moore:
How would you go about attracting new business to the ward? Especially on Morse and Howard Streets? "While commercial corridor development has tended to lag behind residential development, this is beginning to change. The Morse Avenue streetscape continues to improve. I recently secured $3 million in streetscape improvements that will be constructed this summer, including new lighting, planters and community identifiers....A new coffee shop will soon be opening at Morse and Greenview and two new mixed-use retail-condominium developments promise to bring new businesses and vitality to the street."
Why doesn't Joe Moore ever brag about that beautiful Family Dollar Store on Morse Avenue?
DevCorp North, a private corporation that sucks a lot of our tax dollars for doing - something, we're told, although to most it's a mystery - is "working" with Moore on the alleged streetscape. "After many hours of exploring and identifying common needs and concerns of businesses on Clark, Morse and Glenwood, DevCorp North started working on the creation of a Special Service Area in the Spring of 2003." Read the whole damned thing...
It is now the Spring of 2007. By my math it has been four years and, according to Moore himself, all we have is the old promise of "new lighting, planters and community identifiers." Wow, planters! That will improve everyone's life. (That was sarcasm.)
Moore continued on: "Cobblers Mall...will soon be transformed into a restaurant and live acoustic music venue." Again, what did Moore have to do with this project except to sign the papers and get the hell out of the way? Would he have us believe that he helped with the floor plans? Is Joe Moore going to plan the menu? What the hell is he talking about? Of course, there is the "new coffee shop" that "will soon be opening at Morse and Greenview," along with "two new mixed-use retail-condominium developments." Same questions apply. What the hell is Joe Moore taking credit for here? So far, the 49th Ward has gotten nothing but talk and invoices from DevCorp North. Perhaps we could apply for annexation by the 47th Ward.
'I recently secured $3 million in streetscape improvements that will be constructed this summer, including new lighting, planters and community identifiers.'
ReplyDeleteAND, according to former DevCorp'er Amy Campbell, what Joe doesn't say or write, is that he moved what remained of the Howard Streetscape funds to Morse. The typical treatment of Howard and parts thereof.
But not telling the complete truth isn't a lie is it? That is unless one asks point blank for the truth.
Sigh, this must be how a kidergarten teacher feels by the end of the day!