As reported in recent issues of the Greater Southwest News-Herald, the fate of Ford City Mall was decided on May 15 when Cook County Circuit Court Judge Leonard Murray ordered the mall shut down at noon on June 22 due to safety concerns not addressed by the current owners, Nandar Realty Group.
The proposed warehouse plan for the site has met with strong community opposition as evidenced by the standing-room only crowd that attended last Saturday’s meeting at the West Lawn Library to address the situation.
The meeting was organized by the recently formed not-for-profit Southwest Action Network, which believes this land should be beneficial to the surrounding communities.
In preparation for the meeting, members of SWAN solicited community input by reaching out in person and on social media.
Andy Garcia, a teacher at Hubbard High School, set up a table at the Hubbard Farmer’s Market and started asking people what their thoughts were. Others stood outside Ford City asking patrons questions like “What are your concerns? What are your thoughts?”
After the initial canvassing and researching, the top five most popular thoughts for the footprint of the main mall at Ford City were:
- A Recreational Center;
- A Park and Green Space;
- Enhanced Retail and Dining;
- Something for Seniors and Families;
- and, based on the prior history of the site, a World War II Aircraft Museum.
Other ideas suggested at the meeting were a Ford City Plaza with a convention center, a hotel and parking garage, a skate park, an open-air mall completely redone similar to Evergreen Plaza or perhaps turning it into a farm through the Urban Land and Access Program as was done with a parcel in the 14th Ward.
Proponents of the warehouse plan have cited the opportunity for more jobs. However, Garcia, who attended a recent meeting concerning the new Amazon Distribution Center to be erected on the site of the former Central Steel and Wire in the 14th Ward, cautioned folks not to be taken in by that.
“Initial jobs are temporary, being completed as the buildings are completed. Facilities, more and more, are run in the dark by robots,” he said. “When asked about jobs with the human touch, we were told by Amazon ‘We believe in embracing the future.”
SWAN member Vanessa Ramirez added some of the main concerns are traffic congestion, noise pollution, air pollution, and loss of jobs due to automated downsizing.
“An important thing to remember,” said SWAN member Alfonso Castrejon, “is that in order for any type of warehouse or industrial plan to be implemented, first the area would have to be rezoned from a B3 – 2 Commercial Shopping District to a M2 – 2 Light Industrial District and this would have to start with Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th).”
There are certainly many more thoughts to be considered and plans to be discussed, but the most important step right now is making sure the alderman, the city, the zoning commission, do not think the Southwest Side of Chicago will be sitting back quietly.
“We need to stay vocal about what our communities want,” Ramirez said.
“You don’t have to live in the 18th Ward to be a part of the solution. Call Curtis at 773-284-5057 and let him know the proposed warehouse plan would be detrimental to the community. The message is simple – Find another investor.”
The next meeting will take place at the Scottsdale Library, 4101 W. 79th Street, on Tuesday, June 9, from 6 to 7 p.m. Everyone interested in the future of Ford City is invited.