Help us kill a proposed drive-thru that will cut the Halsted St. bike lane below Clybourn

There is a plan in my neighborhood to develop 1530-34 N. Halsted St. into a small banking facility with a drive-thru. Please help kill this threat to part of the Halsted St. bike lane.

The drive-thru as depicted in the most recent architectural plans would create 2 curb cuts, each wide enough for 2 lanes of traffic:
- 2 lanes entering the facility from Halsted and
- 2 more lanes exiting the facility onto Halsted.

These 4 lanes of traffic would cut the sidewalk and the bike lane on the west side of Halsted St and thus pose a danger to pedestrians (The Apple Store, REI, British School, a number of small storefront businesses, childcare, facilities, etc.) and especially to cyclists using the Halsted St. bike lane.

I am a year-round commuting and recreational cyclist as well as owner of a residential property adjacent to the proposed development. I am part of a group of local owners that opposes the drive-thru for many reasons, including the danger to the vulnerable groups mentioned above.

*** This drive-thru will require rezoning or a special use permit, so with enough pressure, we can stop this proposal. ***

==> Action Item for Persons with Clout:
The small group of local owners are to meet with 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith and Matt Rich from her staff on Feb. 16. At that meeting I would like to present among other evidence a letter from anyone with clout stating opposition to the drive-thru for any reason, but in particular from a heavyweight from one of the Chicago cycling advocacy organizations and/or from the Dept. of Transportation who opposes developments that would harm existing bicycling facilities and pose a danger to the vulnerable groups (pedestrians and cyclists).

==> Action Item for Individuals:
An email, telephone call and/or a letter to Alderman Smith's office from individuals and cyclists opposing the threat to pedestrian life and cycling on Halsted south of Clybourn would also be very useful:

==> Email:
Matt@ward43.org

==> Call:
773-348-9500 (Matt Rich or Alderman Michele Smith)

==> Mail:
Ward 43 Office, Alderman Michele Smith
2523 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60614-2539

Thank you!!!

Tags: advocacy, bike, development, drive-thru, estate, lanes, public, real, safety

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Charles Brasfort on February 3, 2012 at 11:08am

Yes, that's the one! The development would take down the 1-story building you mentioned as well as the 2-story building to the left, comprising about 60 feet of frontage. (The For Sale sign spans both of them).

Please contact the Ward43 office to express your opposition. See my orig. post for contact info. I have just learned that staff there includes a person responsible for public safety: Libby Prakel, Chief of Staff for Michele Smith. Matt Rich is the Ward 43 Director of Zoning and Development. I am meeting with him Monday 2/6 and with him and the alderman on 2/16.

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Permalink Reply by Melanie K on February 3, 2012 at 11:33am

Just an general opinion, but I really don't see the need of yet another bank or banking facility, and definitely not a drive-through one for that matter. Don't we have enough banks here in Chicago already? It seems every time I see something being developed in this city it has been a bank. I know it isn't much of a reason to give to the zoning board to protest another one being built, but really, another bank? Why?