Due to a technical error, the audio for the alderman’s opening remarks was not available to you.  We apologize for this inconvenience and have included a summary of his remarks in writing below.

 

A recording of the meeting, should it be of interest, is available at https://youtu.be/KqYkfxJzIjE, though we cut it to begin after the alderman’s opening remarks because of the lack of audio.

 

• The building we are in right now, Prentice Women’s Hospital, originally came before a community meeting very similar to this one about 20 years ago, and it was community feedback that led to certain important design features like the curved corner at the building’s Chicago and Fairbanks corners.  I say this to highlight the importance of community engagement processes, and I want to thank you for taking the time to come or listen in tonight and ask questions. 

 

• Thank you to the Streeterville Organization for Active Residents for co-hosting this meeting. Personal bias as a former president of it aside, SOAR is an amazingly effective neighborhood organization, and if you are not a member, you should become one.  It is well worth the cost.

 

• We are here today to talk about the long vacant parcel of land that housed the Lakeside Veteran Affairs Hospital until its demolition in 2009.

 

• For those of you in the room who have only lived in Streeterville for the past decade or less, it should be noted that we have always expected something to be built in this location since the demolition of the VA hospital; it just took longer than we all expected.

 

• As I say at the beginning of all community input processes regarding zoning decisions, no decision has been made.  In this case, I think you will see that Northwestern is very early in their process, and I asked that they include the community at this early juncture.

 

• I recently reviewed a couple of articles from back in 2008 that provide an interesting snapshot in time. It very much seemed like development was imminent and definite.  It turns out it was not imminent, but it is definite.  Something will be built on this lot eventually, regardless of the outcome of this process.

 

• I look forward to hearing your questions and the Northwestern team’s answers this evening.

 

• Please contact my office with your thoughts and/or any questions that do not get answered tonight.