One day early last month some zoning lawyer sent Evie Camp a letter telling her that the county planned to build a jail across the street from her near-west-side home.
“So far, the people who support the jail have managed to scare the hell out of everyone around here,” says Camp, who has led local opposition. “Why should we trust any of them?”
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
“We are not talking about arsonists, rapists, or murderers,” says Curran. “We’re talking about breaking and entering, or stealing a car, or writing bad checks or marijuana charges–Mickey Mouse kinds of stuff.”
“This is not exactly a low-crime area, and to be honest some of Kinzie Street looks like a dump, there is so much trash,” says Curran. “With this facility, we would not only clean up the area but put sheriff’s police on the street. And studies show that crime drops with a strong police visibility. Plus, there are side businesses that would go in, like a dry cleaners to clean the detainees’ clothes and a restaurant for the visitors.”
“Dear Sir or Madam:” Houlihan’s letter begins. “Please be advised that, on or about September 1, 1993, the undersigned, as attorney for the applicant, will file an application with the Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Chicago for approval of a variation in the nature of a special use to allow the location and establishment upon the referenced premises of a correctional facility to serve minimum to low-medium security risk pre-trial detainees of the Cook County Department of Corrections.”
“I’m not like someone who buys a house next to the airport and then complains about the flights. They just sprung this on me without warning after I had spent the whole summer cleaning up this property. It’s like they’re penalizing me for making this an attractive place.”
For the moment the residents have the upper hand, since the Zoning Board of Appeals won’t likely overrule Watson’s opposition. Still, the property owners (including local factory owners) are taking no chances. They’ve hired their own high-priced zoning lawyer, and vow to press their cause at the board’s October 15 hearing.
