Chicagoist: Wrigleyville Development Up For Debate

Tower18

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:31:02 -0600

Game day traffic definitely stretches as far West as Western, due to "blocking the box" on Belmont, Addison, and Irving Park. Never did understand people that try to go cross-town on Addison. It will take hours.

Tower18

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:30:00 -0600

Navin

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:09:27 -0600

They might as well block off the immediate area around the park.

mike_thoms

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:53:59 -0600

I still don't get who's dumb enough to drive through the area during a game. although if you don't know there's a game then chances are you're the one driving through. still though, it just makes sense to do it. of course if you shut the streets down then is the next step turning it into a Bourbon Street-type area where open liquor is allowed during game time?

Navin

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:51:33 -0600

The fact that people are stupid enough to drive through the area on game day is always shocking to me and yet there's always awful traffic. so shut it down, reroute the traffic around it. it's not a gigantic area you're closing off, it's feasible. I'd reckon a good portion of those causing the traffic are people *going to the game*. Perhaps a London style city toll is what we need to encourage some of these people park and ride or something. Anyway the Wrigley game day traffic nightmare seems like it extends even further than Wrigleyville.

Ward Up

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:46:04 -0600

This new development sounds great. However, they should lower the amount of parking spaces in the buildings. More parking spaces equals more cars on the local streets and thus worse congestion. This is a place for transit oriented development, with bus lines and the Red Line nearby. Speaking of buildings with too many parking spaces, the Triangle building plan north of Addison thankfully has been scrapped for now. That plan was flawed by having a large parking garage, another traffic-drawing mistake. The next version of the Triangle Building, fortunately, will reportedly have less parking. Getting back to the Schultz project,the historic preservation impact of this project is minimal. The buildings targeted are almost all unremarkable, non-historic buildings. There is one decent three flat, but I suppose it can be sacrificed to make way for the new project.

Thunderbelly

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:07:43 -0600

I agree with mike_thoms on the shutting down the streets idea. They have done this around Fenway for a long time now, and it makes for a great atmosphere. Traffic is a nightmare, and people should be discouraged from driving anywhere near Wrigley. I do however think this site is perfect for development, maybe not quite as tall or dense as suggested, but something could go there. The proximity to the red line, Clark and Addison buses, make it perfect for Tranist Oriented Development. City's thrive on density, and a neighborhood such as Wrigleyville could benefit from further development.

Navin

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:43:16 -0600

What a weird picture, makes Wrigley look like a steamboat in a lake.

Spook

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:38:31 -0600

Wow, thanks for showing that picture and making me, Mr. Heat Miser, not miss summer. I thought we had sold them( Cubs) off to a Cuban to arrive in Cuba in time for Fidel's Birthday?

mike_thoms

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:16:26 -0600

While it makes sense to put a hotel near a major tourist attraction, that area is a mess already. add to the tourists more residence in the building and you have a fucking nightmare on top of a nightmare. What they really should be doing at this meeting is talking about closing off the entire area around the park on game days. The fact that people are stupid enough to drive through the area on game day is always shocking to me and yet there's always awful traffic. so shut it down, reroute the traffic around it. it's not a gigantic area you're closing off, it's feasible.