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90_HR0513 LRB9012268MWpcA 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Joint public/private participation in 3 transit-based development, the concept of providing 4 commercial, retail, and residential development opportunities 5 (mixed-use development opportunities) adjacent to transit 6 stations both in suburban and inner city areas, has assumed 7 new importance in recent years as developers, architects, and 8 government transportation and city planners have recognized 9 the positive economic, community, and ridership benefits that 10 can be derived from development in close proximity to 11 transit; and 12 WHEREAS, Planners are heralding transit-based 13 developments as a critical tool in reducing sprawl, air 14 pollution, congestion, and urban disinvestment; in providing 15 increased mobility, especially to a transit dependent 16 population; in creating affordable housing; and in improving 17 livable communities located proximate to transit; and 18 WHEREAS, One of the primary missions of the Lawrence 19 Avenue Development Corporation/North River Commission 20 (LADCOR/NRC) is to develop viable urban communities by 21 providing decent housing and a suitable living environment 22 and to expand economic opportunities through the planning and 23 development department of the City of Chicago (City), a unit 24 of local government existing under the Constitution of the 25 State of Illinois; and 26 WHEREAS, LADCOR, in cooperation with the Chicago Transit 27 Authority (CTA), sponsored a community planning process and 28 request for proposals for a transit oriented mixed-use 29 development at the Kimball property at the terminus of the 30 CTA Ravenswood rapid transit line (the Brown Line); and 31 WHEREAS, In September of 1994, the development team of 32 Williams and Nichols (developer), McBride & Kelly -2- LRB9012268MWpcA 1 (architects), and Walker Parking (engineers and consultants) 2 was selected to work with LADCOR and the CTA in developing 3 the Kimball Station project; and 4 WHEREAS, The project, which was planned in conjunction 5 with the CTA and with the input of hundreds of citizens, 6 local organizations, and institutions, is designed to 7 accomplish many economic and social benefits, including but 8 not limited to the following: (i) to develop a highly visible 9 model project that will support neighborhood development, 10 transit use, and the integration of transit facilities into a 11 livable community, (ii) to preserve scarce transit resources, 12 increase ridership, and generate non-fare box revenue by 13 building residential, commercial, or institutional projects 14 to attract transit riders, (iii) to provide Park-N-Ride 15 facilities for commuters using the Brown Line and to 16 facilitate projects that encourage the use of mass transit to 17 reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled in Chicago, (iv) 18 to promote desirable uses adjacent to transit stations by 19 improving the aesthetics of the stations and thereby 20 encouraging increased ridership and the improvement of 21 adjacent properties, (v) to create new, economically feasible 22 investment opportunities to serve the immediate community by 23 creating jobs, affordable housing, new commercial 24 opportunities, and new tax revenue, (vi) to addresses the 25 transportation crisis that threatens to erode the quality of 26 life throughout the region, (vii) to encourage private 27 investment and development in Albany Park, (viii) to create 28 and retain jobs for the neighborhood residents and assist in 29 providing quality goods and services, and (ix) to promote 30 small business growth and to encourage activities that 31 support affordable housing, social services, and cultural 32 opportunities; therefore, be it 33 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE -3- LRB9012268MWpcA 1 NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 2 respectfully petition the City of Chicago, the City Council 3 of the City of Chicago, and the CTA to accelerate their 4 review, approval, and construction of the proposed Kimball 5 CTA project; and be it further 6 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 7 delivered to the City of Chicago, the City Council of the 8 City of Chicago, and the CTA.