The business strips surrounding Edgewater Glen are a total embarrassment. Over the course of 11 years of meetings that I have attended I have asked numerous questions and proposed ideas about what can be done to improve Broadway, Devon, and Clark. The answers that I hear from the current alderman are laced with excuses, arrogance, hostility, and evasiveness. It is clear that Andersonville is being relied upon as a shining example of what has been accomplished in the 48th Ward while the much of the Edgewater business districts languish in a desparate condition. What can you do to bring the various forces together to actually get something done?
- David

I absolutely agree that while the commercial district of Andersonville has grown nicely and has been highly touted, Broadway, Devon, Granville, Thorndale and Bryn Mawr have languished, especially in comparison with other areas of the city. This is especially remarkable considering the natural assets of our community--the proximity to the lake, access to public transportation and the density and diversity of population.

As executive director of Inspiration Cafe over the past seven years, my organization has grown from a $415,000 neighborhood group to a $2.8 million city-wide agency. I have worked to build institutions that have made our community stronger and in doing so have learned to turn vision into reality and consensus into action. Furthermore, I hold myself accountable for the difficult decisions I am responsible for.

In a similar way, I will work with community leaders and residents within the 48th and adjacent Wards to create appropriate commercial development plans that focus on the assets of the community. Here are some of my ideas: At Granville, let’s build our community and commercial development around the university village, expanding on great places like Metropolis and creating cool places for all the young adults I see in the area. At Thorndale, let’s focus on the existing international flavor of the street and encourage more ethnic business to grow, on Bryn Mawr let’s rebuild it as the historic downtown of the Edgewater community focusing on the transportation nodes.

In doing this, I will establish a set of business development standards that will promote walk-ability, locally owned business, and discourage strip malls like the one at Berwyn and Broadway (Murrays Auto) paid for with TIF dollars. Under Alderman Smith’s leadership, First National Realty & Development received $1.1 million of locally collected tax dollars to turn the corner of Berwyn and Broadway into a strip mall. Under my leadership this will not happen again.

I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if there are other questions I can answer and please consider supporting me on February 27th.

Christopher Persons
Candidate for Alderman 48th Ward