Montrose CTA station re-opens; others to close

Story by Carlos Ardila

theastyanax@hotmail.com

The renovated Montrose train station is scheduled to open Nov. 26, a year after it was closed to the public. Before it shut down as part of the $530 million renovation project for the Brown line, the Montrose stop had a monthly rider ship of 55,000. Time will tell if all of those riders return – and if business will follow.

The renovation included new elevators and longer platforms to accommodate larger, eight-car trains. The new Sedgwick stop, which was partly closed for a year, was re-opened Nov. 12. The Montrose stop was a more significant renovation.

So far customers say they like the new look, according to the CTA tattler message board, a public transportation watchdog.

Margie’s Candies at 1813 W. Montrose Ave., just under the Brown line tracks, managed to stay open during the entire year of construction. But it has not been easy – or good for business.

“Candy sales are down; commuters used to come here for a quick snack in the morning,” said Christina Haddad, 21, the manager of Margie’s Candies, who said sales were down 20 percent.

As the CTA prepares to re-open the Montrose stop, another nearby stop on the Brown line is scheduled to close. The Irving Park stop will close Dec. 3 for station renovations that are expected to take almost one year, with a November 2008 completion.

For many businesses, the Irving Park closing poses a big challenge.

According to the CTA’s website, the Irving Park stop served approximately 77,000 commuters on average for 2007.

Nat Kleebmek, 44, the owner of Always Thai Restaurant, located a few feet from the Irving Park station, expects to lose 30 to 40 percent of his daily business because of the closed train station.

“I see people walking in front of my restaurant during rush hour all the time,” Kleebmek said. “So many customers call me when they are at work to order carryout orders. That is all going to go, I am afraid.”

Kleebmek has owned and managed the restaurant for eight years and expects to survive the station closing with all his current employees.

Sukur Aslan, 34, the manager OF I-Café, a wireless coffee shop almost underneath the Irving Park stop, said the station’s status won’t affect his shop as much because he does not depend as much on commuters. His coffee shop serves a regular stream of Turkish patrons who will come to the shop regardless of the closed train station, Aslan said.

“From a hundred customers I have a day, only fifteen are people that want a quick coffee before jumping on the train,” said Aslan.

For many area commuters, the opening and closing of train stations will require them to change their daily schedules.

Ashley Michelson, 21, is a Columbia College Chicago student who lives closer to the Montrose stop. For her, the opening of the station could not come at a better time.

“Now that winter is coming, I will really appreciate to walk less to get to the train,” said Michelson.

For the four months she has lived in the area, Michelson has walked about six blocks to get to the Irving Park stop. With the Montrose opening, she will only have to walk one and a half blocks.

But for other commuters who rely on the Irving Park stop, the alternative is not clear.

Dave Avery, a ceramic bowl crafter, has a studio less than a block from the Irving Park stop. Although he doesn’t use the CTA every day, the closed train station will prove an inconvenience.

“I don’t understand why is it that the CTA is able to spend millions of dollars in new train stations but seems to come up with a doomsday plan every month,” said Avery.

He hasn’t really thought about what will he do when he needs to get downtown and the nearest train stop is blocks away.

The CTA distributed flyers in the stations that will close that explain that adjacent stations will serve commuters. For the Damen stop, customers can use Western or Montrose. For the Irving Park stop, customers can use Montrose or Addison.

In addition, several bus routes cover the areas around the train stations.

Damen – • #78 Montrose • #50 Damen • #145 Wilson/Michigan Express • #80 Irving Park • #X80 Irving Park Express • #81 Lawrence • #148 Clarendon/Michigan Express (weekdays in peak direction only)

Irving Park – • #80 Irving Park • #80X Irving Park Express • #50 Damen • #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick • #9 Ashland • #X9 Ashland Express (weekdays only) • #78 Montrose • #152 Addison • #22 Clark