New Dorm Plans Move Forward

By Michael Robinson

The Chicago Plan Commission has given a thumbs up to a new South Loop dormitory that could house 1,200 students.  If the plan receives approval from City Council, the 37-story dorm at the corner of East Van Buren Street and South Wasbash Avenue could be finished by 2012.

Despite the Plan Commission approval, Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) is not completely sold on the project because of  its impact on vandalism and other crimes in the neighborhood.

“I’ve talked with the police department, and we’ve been working on vandalism, and serial graffiti in the area,” said Fioretti at last month’s Plan Commission meeting. “We have proof that the crimes increase every fall and every spring, and every summer and winter they decrease,” he said.

And there is a second problem which Plan Commission member Lyneir Richardson raised – there is still not a college or university attached to the project.

“I don’t want the building to get built, and then sit there for months or years while you wait for someone to purchase the space,” said Richardson, the only commission member to vote against the project.

The dorm plans have been stalled for nearly a year, and according to Plan Commission Chair Linda Searl, it was finally time to “move forward.”

The dorm developer, Buckingham/Wabash LLC,  is confident the space will be leased.  The company constructed a 27-story building, Buckingham Phase I,  adjacent to the proposed dorm which Columbia College now leases for student housing.

The developers zoning lawyer, John J. George said there is nothing set in stone at the moment, but he is hopeful Columbia College will also lease Buckingham Phase II.

Columbia’s Residence Life office has heard nothing about the project and the college’s Campus Environment Office was unavailable for comment.

The architect plans for Buckingham Phase II  include common areas for residents on the first two floors, as well as restaurants and shops. The roof  would be eco-friendly with plants and flower to absorb the heat and to help cool the building .

There are other issues surrounding the project other than finding a tenant and crime. South Loop resident Enrique Perez shared his concerns in an e-newsletter.  Perez wrote that he was worried the people in the neighborhood were not included in the discussion before the proposal went to the Plan Commission.

“I am primarily opposed to the Wabash building because no community meeting has been held to discuss this development,” said Perez. “…The local community deserves the opportunity to weigh in on these issues with city officials before this massive development is approved.”

Ald. Fioretti told the commission that the plan for the building would be presented at neighborhood association meetings before anything was finalized, but Ald. Fioretti’s office had no community meeting scheduled at this time.