Tunney wants MORE cars in Lakeview...

For those of us who live in Lakeview or end up there pretty often, the amount of car traffic there can be pretty awful. This was sent to me, and it seems like it's a pretty crappy deal by an alderman that I thought would be more in favor of reducing traffic in his turf:

Alderman Tom Tunney is negotiating with the Cubs, and he wants more parking -- as much as 20 percent of Wrigley Field's capacity.*  Many of us feel Lakeview has enough cars on our streets already, and we would rather see investments in bicycling, transit, shuttles and sidewalks instead to serve residents and visitors.  Do you agree?
Please sign the petition TODAY and send this message to Alderman Tunney and the Cubs.  The Cubs have set a deadline of Monday, April 1 for an agreement around renovations, parking, and more.  They need to hear our voice.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Nançois on April 4, 2013 at 9:34am

Remote parking also gives people some time to sober-up on the way to their vehicles after the game. Rather than driving intoxicated through the already-bottlenecked streets of Lakeview.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 4, 2013 at 10:01am

That's one big advantage to remote parking.

Nançois 8.5 said:

Remote parking also gives people some time to sober-up on the way to their vehicles after the game. Rather than driving intoxicated through the already-bottlenecked streets of Lakeview.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on April 4, 2013 at 10:02am

Not defending drunk driving, but it's tough to really do any damage if you are stuck in traffic for hours, not moving.

Nançois 8.5 said:

Remote parking also gives people some time to sober-up on the way to their vehicles after the game. Rather than driving intoxicated through the already-bottlenecked streets of Lakeview.

Permalink Reply by Davo on April 4, 2013 at 10:23am

I used to live at Addison and Lincoln. There is free parking there that hardly gets used because a 10 min walk from there is way to far for most people driving there. Instead they would rather circle round cramped streets with "easy out" lots. I've never understood that. 

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on April 4, 2013 at 10:26am

All of the major 'L' lines? I only count three out of a total eight lines.

David crZven 10.6 said:

As for the Steetcar, its something that they city cannot afford NOT to do.   This is a 4 mile line which connects all of the major El Lines, the Lakefront and a major civic site (Wrigley Field).   Its a 280 million dollar project if mismanaged and a 160 million dollar project if properly managed.   That's less than the proposed repairs to the ball park.  If you want to reduce cars and give bikes a better chance, you need to make sure that you make it convenient for people to use something other than the car.   O'Hare to Evanston by CTA?   That's an el ride all the way into the City and back out again (2+ hours) or an El ride to Irving, schlepping onto an overcrowded Irving Park Bus, a 40 minute trip with waiting time, to the Red Line.   A little faster, but a lot more troublesome.   The Street car option STARTS at the end of the blue line. 

Permalink Reply by Suzanne on April 4, 2013 at 10:36am

David,

I'll give it a try.  1.  Transportation choices are cheap, compared to parking.  Let's try investing in, and clearly marketing, these choices to get to Wrigley Field first.  If that takes care of the demand, the neighborhood and environment is better off, without a permanent, expensive concrete structure.

2.  Alderman Tunney's request for up to 8,000 new parking spaces is not for the hotel, it is for the 100-year old ball field.  He has requested stand-alone, multi-level parking for 20% of Wrigley Field current (not new) capacity, in response to neighbors' concerns that people park on our streets:

"...as a condition of allowing renovations at Wrigley Field, a strong majority of residents support requiring Wrigley Field to use neighboring land owned by the Cubs to provide parking for at least twenty percent of their capacity, such as building a multi-story parking garage.  The positions I have taken in my discussions with the Cubs closely mirror those of my constituents."  Alderman Tom Tunney, March 8, 2013 http://www.44thward.org/site/epage/142019_1026.htm  

A new parking garage will cost about $7 million, so the Cubs will charge to recover costs.  People who now park cheaply (sometimes illegally) on streets or in neighbors' spots will continue to do so.  Meanwhile, there's a new $10 million TIF-funded parking garage at Truman College that is underutilized.  It will not go away, so let's use this and existing lots first.  Internet apps can connect drivers to parking.

3.  Agreed, some people need wheelchair and special needs access.  Let's accommodate them, and not block their way with 8,000 cars trying to park next door.

4. Neighbors' parallel concern is traffic.  Transportation choices are a better solution to traffic.

David Barish said:

Seating capcity for Madison Square Garden is just under 20,000. http://www.thegarden.com/faq.html

Seating capacity for Wrigley Field is just over 41,000. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrigley_Field

I see apple and oranges here.

New York City can be viewed as a cyclists utopia as its simply crazy to own or operate a car.  Nowhere to drive, nowhere to park.  The cost of vehicle ownership is prohibitive. The millions of people who live there in a much more dense area have no choice but to cope. Chicago is not the same city, even at its most congested. 

We are on the same page in terms of wanting less motor vehicle traffic.  We differ insofar as my eyes are open and I see that vehicles will be there and feel that something has to be done about them. I am not on the side of either the Cubs or the alderman.  As a citizen, I think they ought to increase parking of all kinds if they are doing any significant renovation and expansion of the park.

I am willing to sign the petition if somebody can explain why this proposal is flawed outside of a general rant about why cars are bad and why nobody should ever drive. 

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on April 4, 2013 at 10:50am

No way! Have you even seen what the monorail did to North Haverbook?!


h' 1.0 said:

Monorail!

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on April 4, 2013 at 10:55am

+1

Suzanne said:

3.  Agreed, some people need wheelchair and special needs access.  Let's accommodate them, and not block their way with 8,000 cars trying to park next door.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on April 4, 2013 at 12:27pm
Permalink Reply by Carl on April 4, 2013 at 12:28pm

Because every new place to park, invites another car to drive into the city. Planners have known this for years. If there's just not enough spots, people are more likely to try a better way to get there.

Kevin C 4.1 mi said:

I'm with David. Why is a dedicated parking facility, which will presumably relieve some of the demands on available street parking a bad thing?

David Barish said:

I would like to hear more about why I should sign this. I am a little confused by the issues here and would love to read opinions.  My understanding (which may not be accurate) is that the Cubs want to add to the ballpark, perhaps close off a street and open a hotel.  My understanding is that the alderman, amongst other things wants the Cubs to increase parking if they do this. I am aware he has other issues as do the residents.

[snip]

Permalink Reply by Duppie on April 4, 2013 at 1:57pm

You may have spoken too soon.This article calls for a pedestrian bridge to be installed over Clark, from the hotel towards Wrigley.

And it also states that a parking garage on the green lot is indeed part of the Cubs plan.

David crZven 10.6 said:

And you clearly live in a dream world.  The Hotel is proposed for Clark and Addison.  The Red Line Station is several blocks down Addison from the Hotel.   Its not only not a conceivable expense, it is physically impossible.   It crosses at least two streets and they City would certainly not allow a skybridge to be built across the front of Wrigley.

Permalink Reply by Suzanne on April 5, 2013 at 2:09am

Yes!  Chair lifts from Truman College. And pedicabs.

h' 1.0 said:

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