September 16, 2015

City of Chicago
Zoning Board of Appeals
121 North La Salle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Re: Cal. No. 335-15S
Dear Zoning Board of Appeals Committee:
In September, 2014, the residents of the Chatham/Park Manor
community met with the developer of the proposed hotel to be built at
7621-39 South State Street in a meeting that was called by Alderman
Sawyer. At that time, the community voiced their opinions, questions,
and concerns about the hotel proposal; the prevailing rejection and
disapproval of this plan was reported in community blogs and
newspapers (The Next Door Neighbor, The Sixth Ward blog, GCA
newsletter and Michigan-Indiana Block Clubs Presidents report).
In subsequent conversations with the Aldermans office concerning the
procedures for this project to get the needed zoning changes, we were
informed that no vote would be taken without additional community
meetings taking place. To date , the residents have not been given the
courtesy and opportunity to have that community meeting. Yet, this
zoning hearing is going forward.
As residents of the Chatham/Park Manor community and specifically
the area immediately surrounding the proposed hotel, we would like to
voice our opposition to its construction. Our community has a long
history of working-class residents who strive hard to maintain a level of
stability in our community. We feel that the proposed hotel will
negatively impact that stability and our quality of life.
A list of our concerns and objections are attached.
Yours Truly,
75th,76th,77th,78th Wabash Block Club
77th and Michigan Block Club
Michigan Indiana Community Association
Chatham Avalon Park Community Council
Greater Chatham Alliance41
Park Manor Neighbors Community Council

Concerns and Objections

As a community, we are all in favor of economic development

along the State Street corridor. However, we feel that the nature
of this project has a footprint that is entirely too big for the space
it wants to occupy. This space could support other businesses
that are more compatible with our residential community.
The space that is designated is four city lots, or 32,000 square
feet. The proposed hotel boasts a 90-room, five-story structure,
complete with a dining/banquet area that will seat one hundred
people, as well as a 2,900 square feet community meeting room.
There are 43 parking spaces. Such a compacted area will
undoubtedly cause an overflow of hotel patrons into the
surrounding residential community. There will be an inordinate
amount of parking in front of our homes, as well as an unusual
amount of foot traffic from people going to and from the hotel.
Looking at a scenario where the hotel has 70% occupancy, any
type of meeting, and a banquet all at the same time, traffic and
parking will become a nightmare.
The community has not seen any type of traffic study. The traffic
pattern in this entire area consists of one-way streets, both on
residential and main streets. Does the traffic study (if there is
one) take into account this traffic pattern and its impact on the
immediate area? The 7600 block of Wabash and 77th Street are
one-way residential side streets that would be adjacent to the
hotel property. These streets will become unofficial main
thoroughfares, full of patrons trying to access the hotel entrance
on State Street, which is itself a one-way street.
The community has not been given any security plan, not just for
the building property, but also for the surrounding area. How
much will this further tax our 6th District police department?
The developer is associated with a motel in another aldermans
ward and concerns have been raised by those residents and the
alderman about the upkeep and maintenance of that property.
The community is concerned that a five story structure with hotel
rooms facing east will present privacy issues for home owners in
the 7600 block of Wabash.
The community is concerned about the increase in noise level
that can be expected from activities at the hotel.
The community is concerned that the addition of that many hotel
rooms with their own facilities will overload and tax our aging
infrastructure.

 The community has not been given a feasibility study that

addresses the economic feasibility of this venture. It is hard to

determine whether this hotel will be economically sustainable
and will remain a full-rate hotel and not transition into an
unstable part-time rate establishment in order to pay the bills.

75th,76th,77th,78th Wabash Block Club

77th and Michigan Block Club
Michigan Indiana
Community Association
Chatham Avalon Park Community Council
Greater Chatham Alliance Park Manor Neighbors
Community Council