Alderman, 5 Local Groups Say 'No' to DePaul's Kenmore Green

Five Lincoln Park neighborhood groups, along with representatives from 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack's office, are putting their feet down—at least for now—on a DePaul University plan to permanently close a section of Kenmore Avenue to make way for a campus green space.

Residents scrutinized architects' vision for the identified 1 block of Kenmore Avenue in October, while university officials argued that it would increase pedestrian safety around campus. "Kenmore Green," a park-like stretch outlined in DePaul's 10-year master plan, would take over North Kenmore between Fullerton and Belden avenues. 

READ: Residents Criticize DePaul's 'Bucolic' Kenmore Vision

The plan is at a stalemate, of sorts, as university representatives said on Friday that its status hasn't changed since that fall input meeting. They did not offer additional comments on the matter. But area officials did.

"The plan is not something that (Waguespack), at the current time, feels is in a place that's ready to be supported," said Paul Sajovec, Ald. Waguespack's chief of staff. 

The other component complicating the matter is that the specified block, which is currently in Waguespack's jurisdiction, falls under 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith once the city's new ward boundaries go into effect. 

"The 43rd ward is going to have to deal with the ramifications of any decisions that are made," Sajovec said. "That's not to say our office wouldn't stay involved, but it's fair to say that both aldermen would need to be (in agreement)."

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Waguespack's current stance stems, in part, from opposition voiced by those from the Lincoln Central, Sheffield Neighbors, Wrightwood Neighbors, Park West and Ranch Triangle associations, Sajovec confirmed. Representatives from all groups have drafted statements echoing each others' qualms.

"Since the current proposed closing of Kenmore has a minimal benefit to DePaul and a substantial negative impact on the community, Wrightwood Neighbors is asking DePaul to continue being a good neighbor and not to close Kenmore," resident Allan Mellis said, on behalf of the Wrightwood group.

Its members cited traffic concerns due to the closure, as well as an impact on parking. The Kenmore strip in question currently includes 47 free street parking spaces, according to data gathered in a traffic study conducted by DePaul at Waguespack's request.

"Being an urban campus, streets passing through the campus have long been part of the character of DePaul in Lincoln Park," Sheffield Neighbors' representatives said, in their written statement. " … In addition, as the (traffic) study documents, the traffic on Kenmore will be diverted to nearby streets, Sheffield in particular, where traffic is already a problem."

The Sheffield organization's letter also points to parking spaces and the lack of plan to replace those that would be lost by closing Kenmore.

Although aldermanic support isn't legally required in order for DePaul to proceed, it's the "generally accepted" process, Sajovec said.

"In order to vacate a public street, you'll be looking for (that) support," he said. "I'm not aware of any specific provision in the code that requires aldermanic approval, but certainly by practice, they're going to be looking for some sort of aldermanic support before proceeding with what's considered a permanent vacation of a street."

Although Waguespack doesn't stand behind the plan as is, that doesn't mean he never would, Sajovec stressed. The issue has shed light on already prevalent community concerns including parking and traffic—both vehicular and pedestrian—surrounding the DePaul campus, he said. 

"The best way to characterize it, from our perspective, is we certainly want to encourage additional dialogue between the university and the neighborhood organizations," Sajovec said. "DePaul has pretty much done everything asked of them … conducting the traffic study and a trial street closure … They've been cooperative in trying to work through various issues. They are to be commended, as far as that goes."

But so far, the kinks simply aren't ironed out, he continued.

"If conversations could find some middle ground and address the concerns of the people living in that area, we could possibly find something that would work out for all involved," Sajovec said. "We'd be interested in advocating a more holistic view for parking, in particular, in that area"