From the Desk of Alderman Stone
Dear Resident,
I have recently proposed to down zone the area surrounding the Lincoln Village Theater in an effort to save those businesses. You may have noticed concrete blocks at the entrance of the parking lot to the Lincoln Village Theater along Devon Avenue. These concrete blocks block off the parking lot and leave the shopping center with only one entrance for egress and ingress.
However, the Water Reclamation District proposes to lease the land and under state law, the District must receive at least 10% of the current appraised value of $8 million for the lease. The current users of the parking lot, Lincoln Village Theater, Lincoln Village Car Wash and other businesses, who pay $40,000 in lease fees, can not afford to pay 20 times what they are currently paying for parking purposes.
Although I have pleaded with the District, the District contends they have no choice under state law to accept less than the minimum 10% for the lease. Unfortunately, their decision will lead to the destruction of many local businesses.
Therefore, on July 19th I introduced legislation that down-zoned the District property in the hope that the appraisal value of the property will be reduced, making the property more accessible and affordable to local Chicago businesses. I did not make this decision lightly, rather I thought of what was best for the residents, the businesses and the community before taking this action. If you have any questions about the down- zoning issue please feel free to call my office.
Sincerely,
Updates
Press Release
Contact: Phil Molfese, 312-541-1600
Ald. Stone Represents Chicago In China
(Chicago). Alderman and Vice Mayor Bernard L. Stone represented the City of Chicago at the Third High Level Forum of the World Mega Cities Development, September 20 – 22, in Nantong, Peoples Republic of China. The forum brought together leaders from more than twenty-two (22) cities and seventeen (17) countries to discuss the importance of cultural understanding and communication.
From the discussions and exchange of ideas emerged the Nantong Declaration which expressed the participants’ commitment to fostering cultural exchange and understanding as an important step toward collective economic progress. In the first speech by a delegate, Alderman Stone echoed the theme of the Forum when he asserted, “Each day the world grows smaller as communications and technology advance....It is my hope that, as we begin this 21st century, it will be a century of understanding between people and cultures which will benefit all mankind.”
Upon his return from the Forum, Alderman Stone reflected on the experience, “China represents perhaps the world’s most important emerging market,’ he stated, ‘understanding and appreciating our differences while embracing our similarities is the first step in positioning ourselves to take advantage of this economic and trading opportunity.”
Click image for High Resolution Picutre
Alderman Stone presenting the Mayor of Nantong,
China with a flag of the City of Chicago.
Not at Taxpayers Expense
Resolution
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has title to a great number of parcels of real estate throughout the Chicago area which are surplus and are not in use and are either vacant or improved and lying idle; and
WHEREAS, said parcels as a result of being owned by the City of Chicago are not currently on the tax rolls and therefore do not contribute in any way to the economy; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has currently a shortfall in excess of $217 million dollars; and
WHEREAS, there does not exist a current inventory of real estate owned by the City of Chicago; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that all departments of the City of Chicago, under the direction of the Department of General Services and the Department of Planning, are directed to inventory all vacant parcels and other parcels lying idle to create an inventory of real estate owned by the City of Chicago for the purpose of offering for sale to the general public at public auction these parcels which will in turn create a two-fold purpose of meeting not only the current budget shortfall, but in fact bring in additional funds and return many parcels of real estate to the tax rolls and benefit the economy of the City of Chicago, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this inventory shall be completed within 90 days from date of this resolution.
________________________
BERNARD L. STONE
Alderman, 50th Ward
Smart Growth Reduces Crime
A long time advocate of smart growth, Alderman Stone is actively reducing crime throughout our community by improving areas with new development and new business.
Read more...
Alderman Stone Fights for a New Grocery Store Chain to Replace Dominick’s
Against the wishes of Alderman Stone and the residents of the community, Safeway Corporation closed the store on Ridge Boulevard.
Read more...
