Annex buy could signal a dorm in the works
Roosevelt University has signed a contract to buy what's called the Fine Arts Annex at 421 S. Wabash, an insignificant building behind the landmark. Roosevelt spokesman Thomas Karow said the school's use of the site is undecided and the deal won't close until September, an unusually long lead time.
Insiders wonder if Roosevelt wants to build a high-rise for student housing, following the precedent developers have established in building new towers behind the famous Boul Mich streetwall facing Grant Park. The extended period before closing would allow the school time to prepare its zoning case for the city.
Karow said the school is scouting sites downtown for student housing because of the success of the multi-school University Center at State and Congress. He declined to comment on any potential high-rise.
The seller of the property was a partnership run by Robert Berger, also the owner of the Fine Arts Building. Berger said he doubts Roosevelt plans new construction, and said it was just a case of the school needing space and him having some to sell. The annex covers about 20,000 square feet, he said. "That school is a wonderful neighbor, and I was glad I could help them out," he said.
GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT: There's a new "factory" coming to Chicago. Ordinarily, that would be cause to strike up the band and call a press conference, even though there's barely evidence of a mayoral election in two weeks. But this new business, The Factory, is in fact a "gentlemen's club" that will open at 12054 S. Doty, near Lake Calumet.
The city hasn't welcomed strip clubs for a long time, but this one got through the Zoning Board of Appeals in January because there isn't much around it that would object. John Pikarski Jr., the attorney for the club's owners, said it's about 10 blocks from any homes and the immediate neighbors are a sludge-drying pit, a washing facility for tractor-trailers, and the Bishop Ford Expy.
State Sen. James Meeks, pastor of Salem Baptist Church, and Ald. Anthony Beale of the adjoining 9th Ward registered objections to the business. But Pikarski said the application went through because, "We are governed by laws, and the law is very clear. The negative impact has to be proven by the objectors, and they couldn't do that."
In general, strip clubs are allowed only by permit in certain commercial districts that aren't within 1,000 feet of a church, school or homes. Partners in the business are listed as John Burys of Alsip and Bryan Foster of Henderson, Nev. Pikarski said they will take over an old factory empty for years, spiff it up and include a restaurant, but no liquor sales.
I can only think of when Mayor Daley, speaking to a group of developers about his use of city codes to combat cruddy buildings, said, "You wouldn't be allowed to build this where you live [i.e. the North Shore]. We won't let you build it here." I wonder how a strip club squares with his standards.
FAREWELL FARWELL? Scaffolding popped up last week around the Farwell Building, 664 N. Michigan. It is there to keep pedestrians from being hit by falling facade pieces, said Dave Bayless, spokesman for the owner, the Terra Museum of American Art.
You might remember the Farwell, a 1927 building that got an unexpected reprieve last month when the city landmarks commission said developers couldn't hollow it out to make it part of a condo project. The decision threw the project by Prism Development Co. into confusion. Without the Farwell part, Prism would have to drastically alter its plans next door for condos it is marketing under the Ritz-Carlton name.
If you know the way the game is played in Chicago, you might side with Michael Moran, vice president of the group Preservation Chicago, and call this a "scaffolding scam." Moran wrote: "This is a typical ploy to get a building demolished. 'See, it's decrepit,' owners claim. 'I even had to put scaffolding around it. Now don't you see why I have to demolish it?' "
Bayless replied, "The singular objective is safety and operating out of an abundance of caution." He said the museum was reacting to engineering reports. Prism has yet to say what it will do or propose next.
THREE PENNY BLUES: It's been nearly eight months since the city closed the Three Penny Cinema, 2424 N. Lincoln, for overdue amusement taxes. The former owner, Jim Burrows, has had a rough time of it since then. He said he's taken a part-time job as a messenger to make ends meet, but what he's earning won't help him pay a judgment of $126,000 he said the city obtained against him.
Despite all this, he's holding out hope of reopening. Burrows still has a valid lease with the building's owner, whose identity is hidden behind a Chase Bank trust. He said several offers have been made on the property, one of which contemplates using the theater for film festivals. Other potential buyers would turn it into a restaurant and pub or a pool hall, he said.
Burrows said he'd like to be part of the film festival group, but that would require a partner to help negotiate payments with the city and advance other funds. "If we repaid $20,000 to $25,000, we could probably reopen" if the city agreed to take more of the back taxes over time, he said. If the theater becomes something else, he'll at least be out from under the lease obligation.
DOING THE DEALS: BPG Properties Ltd. said it leased 69,000 square feet to Quebecor World Logistics Inc. at Tallgrass Corporate Center, 1000 Remington Blvd., Bolingbrook. . . . Opus North Corp. said JAS Forwarding (USA) Inc. leased 54,000 square feet at 601 Dempster in Mount Prospect.