Chicago Journal
May 23, 2007
By Timothy Inklebarger
First Ward Alderman Manny Flores has put the brakes on a plan to build a 54-unit condo on the site of Leona's restaurant in East Village. Opponents of the proposal called the alderman's move to downzone the property at 1936 W. Augusta a compromise that aims to gratify both the developer and the neighbors.
Leona's owners put the property up for sale for $3.3 million in January, listing the parcel of land as ideal for an 80-foot-tall condo development. The listing, however, failed to state that the property falls within the East Village Landmark District.
Scott Rappe, an architect living in East Village, objected to the proposal that would have allowed for a five-story development. Neighbors argued that the building would have dwarfed the two- and three-flat buildings typical of the area.
Rappe said that more than 20 years ago the property was zoned C1-2, a commercial zoning classification that allows construction to equal two times the lot area. He said he is still trying to piece together what year the zoning changed, but by 1999 the zoning had more than doubled to a C1-5, giving owners the ability to build five times the lot area of 100 feet by 108 feet.
"We don't have another property zoned that high within a mile of Leona's," Rappe said. "There's no legitimate reason why that zoning was granted."
When the parcel of land was put up for sale in January, Rappe asked Flores to downzone the property to a more restrictive B3-2, which would essentially remove the commercial classification and return the parcel to its original zoning classification.
Flores, however, proposed to downzone the land to B2-3, allowing for a development three times the area of the lot. The City Zoning Committee approved the change, which now heads to the full City Council for approval.
Flores said he changed the zoning to B2-3 because reducing it any further could bring a legal challenge from the owners.
"I think that in the overall analysis of scope it was appropriate," Flores said, adding that the new zoning would guarantee the zoning is consistent with the surrounding residential properties. "It ensures that if there is a legal challenge, then we're in a much stronger position."
Although the new zoning requires any development to be significantly smaller, it also would allow the ground floor of the property to include residential units, rather than commercial space. But Flores said he anticipates that the ground floor will remain a Leona's restaurant.
"I think the best case scenario is that [Leona's] stays in the neighborhood," Flores said, noting that Leona's owners voiced support for the new zoning classification at the Zoning Committee meeting.
Leona's owners Sam and Leon Toia could not be reached for comment.
Rappe said he and other neighbors didn't get everything they wanted, but the new zoning classification is better than the alternative.
"It was a compromise," Rappe said. "I think the alderman took the concerns of the neighbors seriously or he wouldn't have acted."
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