Friends of West Edgewater Park held a community meeting yesterday seeking resident feedback for their proposed idea of converting the Edgewater Medical Center site into a park. The site is an approximately 3 acre plot of land that is currently composed of empty buildings and a parking garage located on Ashland between Hollywood Ave and Edgewater Ave. Click the image below to see the space in more detail.
One question posed to residents was regarding the layout of a potential park, and various options were presented - from converting the entire space into a park to just a fraction such as only the land west of the alleyway. Residents were given a feedback form to fill out and select a layout, and were also asked if a portion of the site was developed, what type (office, condo, retail, etc.) and size of building would they be open to.
Both on the feedback form as well as on these posters along the wall, residents were asked what ammenities they would like the proposed park to feature. Each participant was given four blue dots which could be placed on the poster as a vote for that feature. Potential park features were broken down into four categories: Sports (basketball courts, softball fields, tennis courts), Community + Family (dog park, tot playlot, branch library??), Nature (tree grove, green garden space, prarie gardens), and Arts + Culture (outdoor theater, public art).
Finally, people were encouraged to share any thoughts or concerns they had that had not been previously addressed.
As a next step, a design charrette meeting will be held on the morning of July 9th incorporating the community feedback, and the results will be presented that afternoon.
What are your thoughts? Should the Edgewater Medical Center be converted to a park? If so, should the site be 100% dedicated to a park/open space, or should some combination of residential/retail development be included? If a park were built, what features/ammenities would you like to see there?
8 comments:
Thank you so much for posting this account of the meeting last night, including the photos. I couldn't attend, but am very interested in the process of what's going to happen to EMC.
Ideally, it would be great to have some buildings along Ashland, with at least half of the rest of the three acres devoted to a park for the community. My concern is adding density to our neighborhood.
Realistically, it will need to be paid for. Is this something you solve before you plan your vision for the space--or do you plan your vision, and figure out where the money comes from later?
I can see the attraction to getting people hooked into a dream, to get your way. But we also have to have our vision grounded in a financial foundation.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I appreciate all the Edgewater folks who are putting so much time into moving this forward. Thank you!
Great meeting...this project has momentum...lets git er done!
I attended and thought it was a great meeting. I like that the community is being granted so much input into the planning process. There were some great ideas presented and some unique options for the site that I had not thought about.
Regarding Emily's comment on the financials - my thought is that you first need a fairly flushed out plan in order to secure funding - I would think that most investors would not write a sizeable check without knowing exactly what they are funding.
I was out of town for work and could not attend but I am still very concerned about the issue of safety. Was safety and policing the proposed park brought up at the meeting? The coverage here seems very "pro park" and never brings up real concerns such as bringing more drugs and crime into our neighborhood and the safety of everyone who lives nearby.
I wonder if these same "park promoters" would like others in their neighborhood to decide the fate of their own property? Seems far fetched? Remember when the south side of Bryn Mawr just east of Clark had lots of nice greystones? The city made those people move and tore down their homes.
@Sally:
So, we shouldn't develop any more green space in the city because it *could* bring gangs and drugs?
You know what else *could* bring gangs and drugs? The apartment building that Waveland has proposed on the site, if they rent to the wrong people; The vacant hospital buildings that are sitting there now.
Eliminating green space seems like the wrong answer to the gang problem to me. I see more positives to having a park than negatives (including giving young people something positive do with their time).
Regarding your second point, I am not quite sure what you are referring to. The park promoters ARE property owners/renters on the blocks adjacent to the proposed park (myself being one of them). Yes, there are a few detractors, but by and large the immediate neighbors are supportive of a park. And the EMC site is currently vacant - there is no one living there to force to move.
Thank you for posting the photos! I was excited to "see" the majority of blue dots and possibility of a "real" park with a community garden, dog park, and play ground. What could be better for building a healthy safe community for everyone? Kudos to all those behind this endeavor!
@A Neighbor
Why so hostile? Hmmm?
Anyone who purchased a home adjacent to a vacant hospital and parking garage certainly should not be deciding how to spend other people's hard-earned tax dollars.
"Eliminating green space"??? Nobody is taking any green space away. Also, any responsible parent would not let their young children hang out in a park that will most likely be controlled by gang bangers and drug dealers. Be realistic and take your head out of the sand - Every park in Edgewater has a gang problem including the three playlots on Ashland and Bryn Mawr.
Want something positive for your young people to do with their time? Take them to the library, the lakefront, museums, etc. Try spending time with your kids.
Exactly why do you think you have the right to decide what somebody else can do with their own private property? Sounds to me like like you want the rest of us pay for your private agenda.
Sally - is right, as nice as it is to design and decide, it is private property, its cost 21million and the landowners have the final decision, depending on its zoning. Get the funding first. Not sure if it will become a gang cluster, that's a hard one to link.
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