Lincoln Park residents, angry about a proposed high-rise theyfear would shade a popular playlot, claim the developer donated$75,000 to a condo association to keep it from opposing the project.
The dispute, pitting north lakefront residents against adeveloper, is the second to surface in recent days. Neighbors on theGold Coast are carrying on a similar fight over a proposed high-riseat Goethe and Astor.
In the Lincoln Park battle, the condominium association of thePierre, 2100 Lincoln Park West, voted 5-4 Monday night to accept a$75,000 payment from the Baker Development Corporation. The12-story Pierre is directly south of the proposed site for an18-story high-rise. The project would be across the street from theCummings Playground, 2100 N. Lincoln Park West.
The payment, opponents said, followed an effort by Baker toinfluence the vote of a community group by stacking a meeting withreal estate agents.
The Chicago Park District playlot, thanks to $300,000 in privatefunds, boasts a jungle-themed play area with a bronze orangutan nearthe monkey bars and a Galapagos turtle in the sandbox. Animalfootprints and a bronze sundial rimmed by bricks bearing donors'names are other features.
The playlot faces the main Lincoln Park Zoo entrance andattracts thousands of children.
Critics say a high-rise on the site of three mansions at 2118-22N. Lincoln Park West would increase traffic and cast undesirable lateafternoon shadows on the playlot.
"In the fall and winter kids play in the sunshine. This wouldmake it a cold, dark place, and without the sun the equipment wouldbe chillingly painful to the touch," said Pierre resident ChristineOliver.
Opposing the project are Friends of the Parks, the Mid NorthAssociation, the Lincoln Park Advisory Council and other condoassociations. More than 1,200 area residents signed a petition sentto Ald. Charles Bernardini (43rd) and the city Planning Department.Chicago Park District officials also expressed concern.
"This structure would deny sunlight to a playlot which servesthe most diverse clientele in the city, because many children who goto the zoo stop there to play," said Edward Uhlir, Park Districtplanning director.
Baker senior vice president Stephen Anrod and Baker attorneyRolando Acosta, who is representing the developer, denied trying tobuy support from Pierre condo owners.
"It is not a payoff," Anrod said. "They approached us for helpin paying their legal fees."
Pierre president Mark Pollack said Baker agreed to protect thebuilding's roof and pool during construction, install flashing andcoping between the two buildings and reinforce the roof for possibleincreased snowload from wind tunnels created by the height of the newbuilding.
Anrod denied his company was attempting to influence the votewhen it bought memberships in the Mid North Association before a May5 meeting the association co-hosted with Bernardini.
The association rejected all but four of 62 new membershipsthe developer paid for, saying more than half listed their homeaddress as that of Koenig & Strey's Lincoln Park real estate office.
Anrod said the effort "was part of trying to get support for ourproject just like they are trying to rally opposition to it. Wedidn't do anything wrong."
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