The University of Chicago is located in the South Side’s Hyde Park neighborhood, but its real estate interests in neighboring Washington Park alarm one alderman. Ald. Pat Dowell, a former U. of C. employee, and whose 3rd Ward includes portions of Wa
The University of Chicago is located in the South Side’s Hyde Park neighborhood, but its real estate interests in neighboring Washington Park alarm one alderman.
Alderman Pat Dowell, a former U of C employee and whose 3rd Ward includes portions of Washington Park, said the university has not extended common courtesy to her or the community when going after property in portions of her ward.
At issue is the private property, many adjacent to city-owned land, that the university has expressed deep interest in.
Developers can buy private property without approval from the alderman and the city, but since most of what the university has eyed–and has pending deals on–sits next to city-owned property, Dowell said they could have extended a simple phone call to her office.
“It would have been nice to have received a phone call to let me know what their plans are. Most of the property they want is right next to city land. In order for them to develop on the land, they will need the adjacent city-owned land too. It will be very hard for them to not need the land,” Dowell said, adding the university will have to eventually come to the aldermen whose wards are affected by the purchases.
Property subjected to acquisition by the University of Chicago is mostly along 55th Street, west of King Drive. Since the subjected properties are privately owned and the adjacent property is city-owned, no residents will be displaced once any or all deals are finalized. The university’s assistant vice president and director of community affairs, Sonya Malunda, said the university is in “negotiations” for parcels in the Washington Park community and declined to divulge exact locations.
Dowell said the university may be looking to build additional housing for its students. She said the university could also be grabbing land early, before development begins for the expected 2016 Olympics.
If Chicago wins the international bid to host the Olympics, the Olympic stadium where most of the games will be played will be built in Washington Park.
Malunda gave no indication of what the university has in store for the development once all deals are final.
Several parcels on the university’s radar include some in Alderman Willie Cochran’s (20th) portion of Washington Park.
Cochran did not return the Defender’s call seeking comment.
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