This Just In: Developers More Powerful, Connected Than Average Residents

By Margaret Lyons in News on Aug 20, 2008 6:22PM

The 50th Ward is corrupt, Alderman Bernie Stone may or may not be in the pockets of developers rather than representing the wants of his constituents, according to a longass article in the Trib today. Zoning rules are widely flouted, with developers not notifying residents of new plans or putting up required signs.

The Tribune has found that zoning rules have been ignored or changed to make it easier for developers and harder for residents to have a meaningful say in what gets built on their streets.

Sadface. The story focuses on a proposed senior housing facility in West Rogers Park. The developer's lawyer? James Banks and Samuel Banks, nephew and brother of Alderman William Banks, who is the head of the zoning committee. Some "neighborhood activists" oppose the construction, saying the building will be far taller than everything around it and will lead to increased an unwanted traffic, and they went to the zoning committee meeting to have their complaints heard. Which...didn't work out like that.

[50th Ward resident Hugh Devlin]...told the committee that he wanted to note the multiple political donations to his alderman from the Banks law firm and from the project architect's. State records show more than $3,000 in donations to Stone from Samuel Banks.

[Alderman Gene] Schulter cut off Devlin: "That's totally, totally out of line. Totally out of line. We are talking about the project before the committee at this time . . . This is totally irrelevant."

The committee unanimously approved the construction. [Trib, photo by bowl rider]