CTA Releases List Of Buildings To Be Razed For 'Belmont Bypass'

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 26, 2014 3:00PM

A rendering of the proposed Belmont Overpass.(Chicago Transit Authority)

Chicago Transit Authority released a list of 19 properties it planned to acquire for its planned Red and Purple Line modernization, including 16 for a proposed bypass of the Brown Line at the Belmont station over the Red and Purple Line tracks that would reduce delays at the juncture. (View the full list as a PDF file here.)

CTA spokeswoman Tammy Chase said the targeted properties are not guaranteed to be acquired by the agency and that public hearings would be held to gauge community response.

The targeted properties include:

3240 N Wilton Ave.
3242 N Wilton Ave.
3244 N Wilton Ave.
3246 N Wilton Ave.
3252 N Wilton Ave.
3328 N Clark St. (rear building only)
3334 - 3344 N Clark St.
3346 - 3348 N Clark St.
3366 N Clark St.
947 W Roscoe St.
3406 N Sheffield Ave.
3401 - 3407 N Clark St.
3413 N Clark St.
3415 - 3419 N Clark St.
3421 N Clark St.
947 - 949 W Newport

That is a lot of retail and residential property that could possibly be razed for the bypass. Additionally, CTA is looking to acquire three properties for the modernization of the Red/Purple Line from Lawrence to Bryn Mawr. Several vacant lots bring the total number of targeted properties to 30. The Sun-Times notes a parking lot that is crucial to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proposed Uptown entertainment district was left off the list.

Chase told DNAInfo Chicago, "We did do our best to minimize the number of properties. We're working to make this process as easy as possible for affected property owners." CTA said they will work with business owners to help them stay open and relocate once construction on the $320 million project begins.