The Pizza Hut Site (Letter from the Commercial Development Committee)
The Commercial Development Committee, Board of Directors, and over 180 members of the West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce are very concerned about the future re-development of the south-west corner of Division and Ashland Avenues. The WTCCC is concerned not only with the potential development of a one story stand alone Walgreen's franchise at that location, but also with the many other prime commercial corners in West Town being developed in the same manner with generic structures, chain stores, and satellite banks. The former Pizza Hut site on Division and Ashland is a prime example of a site that could be re-developed with more thought for the surrounding architecture and for the current and future needs of the community.
The corner of Division and Ashland Avenues is a gateway into the Wicker Park and East Village neighborhoods. The site is adjacent to the Polish Triangle, the CTA blue line Division stop, and across the street from the historic MB Bank building. The potential development on the south-west corner could become "historic" in the future if an architecturally significant, multi-storied mixed use building of the same scale as MB were erected as opposed to a generic one story concrete eye sore. Walgreen's could certainly be a tenant in a larger more aesthetically pleasing multi-use building.
The Chicago Department of Planning and Development should be made aware that the mass majority of the non-profits, chambers, residents, and community groups in the West Town area are ALL against a stand alone one-story development going in at Division and Ashland. The community at large is also concerned with the future of our commercial corridors for what seems to be a trend of major corners being developed with generic structures, chain franchises, and satellite banks. This spot planning, parcel by parcel approach does not seem to be working, and we need to be focusing on improving the bigger commercial development picture.
Please take the stance of the entire West Town Community into consideration in regards to this project and require the developer of the property at the south-west corner of Division and Ashland to build a more significant and appropriate multi-storied mixed-use structure, with more of a chance to have a positive impact on the community.
The above letter was sent on November 1st, 2007 to 1st Ward Alderman Manny Flores, Luis Monterubio City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Xochitl Flores City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development