We received numerous emails from readers yesterday about an indoor skate park potentially coming to the South Loop. The sun-times and myfoxchicago have stories on the topic:
Skateboarders wishing to gleam the cube any time of day regardless of the weather outside might soon have their chance.
Presiding over his final City Council meeting Wednesday, Mayor Daley introduced an ordinance that calls for selling — for $1 — four city-owned parcels from 1600 to 1752 S. Clark to the Chicago Park District. The properties include a building that will be transformed in to the city’s first indoor skate park.
“I’m very, very happy with that. It’s right on the corner of 16th and Clark. It’s gonna be an indoor park and it’s gonna be fabulous for skateboarders. Really,” the mayor said. “It’s gonna be open 24 hours-a-day. A lot of young people work at night. They get off at one or two o’clock in the morning. Of course, they want to skate around the city. So, this will be a great indoor facility. It’ll be the only one of its kind in the country. It’ll be a public park. It’s fabulous.”
It would be good for this area as it doesn't get much foot traffic currently. There seems to be issues with how this will be funded, but it would be a nice complement to the recently renovated soccer fields just to the west. We will see...TIF funds anyone?!?!?
(Hat tip: SC, MW, RAF!)
28 comments:
Any word on what would happen to the recycling center that's currently located there? It's a huge value to the South Loop. Much of the Southside also utilizes it because recycling centers are sparse around here.
so will we finally be able to have curbside recycling, if they are taking away the south loop's recycling facility?
I think the building involved is a Streets & Sanitation facility? Also, doesn't this land include where there's a recycling drop off center right now?
So will the South Loop get curbside recycling now, if they are taking away our drop off recycling facility?
Oh great more hipsters and riff raff in the area!
Haha, Im kidding but Im sure some of you others aren't.
This would be great for the area some needed energy and foot traffic. Can Rob Dyrdek design it?
Not sure I like the 24 hrs a day thing but... oh well!
Streets & Sanitation sounds right. I know the building used to have mounds of salt in it during the winter, and you'd see trucks filling up there. Didn't notice it this past winter though.
The skate park is an interesting idea. Might be an incentive to add an 18th street el stop.
I hate seeing that empty stretch and to give kids, young adults a place to hang is always good. Speaking of recycling..anyone know where I can drop off bags of old (really nice) clothes?
West Loop Goodwill is where I take mine to. Easy to park right in front of the store and then bins are just inside where you can drop your stuff. If you need a receipt, the cashier can give you one, then you just fill in what was donated.
Drop cloths off at Catholic Charities on Superior & LaSalle. They get it to other NFP's in the area.
Skate-Park - Nice idea but it would be better integrated into ping tom or somewhere were the kids actually live or can safely get to. Clark is dangerous.
Why not at 16th & Indiana?
Why not at 16th & Indiana is private land..not city owned. And there is no way I nor the other residents that live on the block would allow that to be built there
NIMBY alert!
This location seems to make sense - a city owned lot that probably would not otherwise be developed given its somewhat isolated location, and right across the street from the police station, which will hopefully ease any problems otherwise associated with a 24-hour location. I am excited for this development.
Could be a pretty sweet deal for someone- $1.
I heard the recycling faclity will be moved to the empty lot on Harrison and Wells.
" To Anonymous" at 12:36pm "...why not at 16th & Indiana is private land..not city owned. And there is no way I nor the other residents that live on the block would allow that to be built there"
Just curious, are you ok with the park (publicly accessible by law) becoming a parking lot for private use?
So I think a place for "young people" is always cool and anything open 24/7 is cool.
That being said... should the city be selling city-owned land for $1 (even if it's to the park district?) Not sure if it's particularly well thought out.
On a semi-unrelated note... who's excited about having an 18th street el stop and the circle line? (maybe in another 5 years?) (then people can get to the skate park without driving...)
@Coolbeans... Don't get me wrong, I'm all for expanded CTA rail service, but I'm wondering why you say people can't currently get to this area without driving. If you are going to skate, surely you could walk (or skate!) from one of the many existing nearby CTA stops.
"Just curious, are you ok with the park (publicly accessible by law) becoming a parking lot for private use?"
I'm not the original anonymous, but that "park" is privately owned and off limits to the public. The city has no interest in it and the proposal that has been tossed around would create parking on only a fraction of the lot and it's tastefully done. The rest would be landscaped and open to everybody. It's pretty much that or hoping that maybe one day the city will take it over...
(if you can't tell I'm in favor of the private redevelopment including the parking)
Park vs. Garbage Dump and Recycling Center
Are you people serious?
OF course this is better than what is there.
@Anonymous 9:37 AM
lol. You're right, young people can get there by skating or taking CTA today. For some reason, I was just imagining midnight in the winter and the long walk from either Roosevelt or Chinatown redline.
Spring is here! (still hoping for that 18th street el stop.)
I suggest to anyone interested in an 18th Street El stop: go sit at the Roosevelt station on a warm summer evening and take a look at the crowd that rolls through. Then, subtract the tourists that come through for the museum campus and Grant Park. Then tell me if you are in favor of a stop at 18th.
Re: 18th or Cermak Green/Red line -Can sloopin open a new thread on this topic bc I would love a new stop but is it a "be careful what you wish for" OR is it a situation bc Roosevelt is the road that plays the main connector for people who need to head WEST that even with an 18th stop, I still think they will get off on Roosevelt (?) Cermak may cause the same issue as Roosevelt, but maybe not 18th ?
The planned Walmart at 26th and Kolin and 83rd and Holland will improve the Roosevelt Stop. Currently this is a major shopping area for both the west and south sides of the city.
I am all for an 18th street stop. It is essential for the growth of this community. It has the potential to bring more businesses to the area and people.
To: " Anon May 6, 2011 10:31am"
You comment on your post on 16th & Indiana:
---------------------------------------
"I'm not the original anonymous, but that "park" is privately owned and off limits to the public. The city has no interest...."
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Where do you get your information, make it up?
All one has to do is go on-line and find out that, though privately owned, it is zoned with huge restrictions as a publically accessible open space as a park for the community, purchased with your tax dollars.
(http://www.chicityclerk.com/journals/2001/oct3/oct3_2001_Zoning.pdf (Go to pages starting at 68722
Do you have some letter to share with the rest of us that supports your claim the city does not want the property at 16th and Indiana?
The city is developing property left and right for parks and you want us to believe they won't take a park parcel 200 yards from Soldier Field? Just how dumb do you think the general public is?
"Then tell me if you are in favor of a stop at 18th."
Yes, fear of brown people isn't a valid excuse to not develop our infrastructure.
"Do you have some letter to share with the rest of us that supports your claim the city does not want the property at 16th and Indiana?"
I dont know what you are trying to say. Reality is that 10 years later this park still hasn't been developed.
There is no benefit to Prairie Pointe holding onto the land. Their president has claimed that CPD told him there's no immediate plans for the park.
Unless you get CPD on record saying otherwise I think I'll believe this version.
http://southloopconnection.blogspot.com/2010/09/prairie-pointe-park-plaza-plan.html
To Anon - May 9, 2011 10:33 AM
Your First Comment -- "I dont know what you are trying to say. Reality is that 10 years later this park still hasn't been developed."--
If you would read the actual zoning law for approval of this land, you would find that the park is complete per the original spec requirements to a 'T'. This is factual not made up. Claims that the park is not complete are basically a baseless disinformation campaign.
http://www.chicityclerk.com/journals/2001/oct3/oct3_2001_Zoning.pdf (Go to pages starting at 68722).
Your second comment --"There is no benefit to Prairie Pointe holding onto the land. Their president has claimed that CPD told him there's no immediate plans for the park.Unless you get CPD on record saying otherwise I think I'll believe this version." --
Exactly, the Park District will take it today, all that has to be done is initiate the transfer process. The claims of their president that CPD does not want it are pure fantasy so as to make the community think there are no other viable options. As most people know, a close friend of his is the author of the referenced blog.
"If you would read the actual zoning law for approval of this land, you would find that the park is complete per the original spec requirements to a 'T'."
I did read it. It's a fenced in poorly maintained dump that no one uses. If that was the original intent, then good job!
Here's a chicago journal article with more info http://pdnachicago.com/media%20articles/Updated%20versions/16ParkJournal1.pdf
"A spokesperson for the district did not return calls"
If "the Park District will take it today" then why aren't they saying so? If you got a source please share.
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