Overcrowded Elementary at Heart of Children's Memorial Redevelopment Debate

It was unclear Tuesday whether a school overcrowding issue was going to hamper a developer's plans to build on the old Children's Memorial Hospital site in Lincoln Park.

A Sun-Times Media report indicates that several people involved with Lincoln Elementary School, 615 W. Kemper Place, want McCaffery Interests Inc. to provide space for a new school somewhere on the 6-acre Children's site.

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That's because the McCaffery plan—it's in conjunction with the property owner, Lurie Children's Hospital—would add about 900 apartments to the plot, possibly generating hundred of new students for the already overcrowded Lincoln Elementary.

The land is located just south of the Lincoln-Halsted-Fullerton intersection.

The Sun-Times Media story says:

In August, Ald. Michele Smith, whose 43rd Ward includes Lincoln Park, came out against the redevelopment, citing its impact on the school. She also said its 21- and 25-story buildings were too tall. Others are worried that by pressing for a school at Children’s, the developer will gain negotiating leverage to build a dense project.

Smith said he’s unwilling to get into bargaining with McCaffery over a school. She said the Lincoln school council, in advocating for a facility at the Children’s site, would be open to other solutions as well.

Some residents have proposed redrawing attendance boundaries to send children to nearby schools, while others have pushed for other revisions to the plan.

"Asked if the school issue is gumming up the approval process for his deal, McCaffery said it’s too soon to draw that conclusion," the story says.

For more on the issue, read the Sun-Times article.

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