TIE PEOPLE South Street Journal News serving and for. Grand Boulevard (Bronzeville), Douglas, Oakland, Kenwood, Woodlawn, Washington Park, Hyde Park, Near South, Gap, Fuller Park, Armour Square Vokim#2 Number 23 SapUmbar7-0c{ob«4,1995 Park/Woodlawn met at the Washington Park Refectory to begin East 63rd Street the first of nine planning sessions for the Su- perstaion and the area surrounding within a nine mile radius. El Proposed for The recent release of a 45 page document prepared by the WPCC Development Corpo­ ration, with technical assistance from The Demolition Center for Neighborhood Tecluiology, en­ Woodlawn-63rd Street El once a major compasses the planning process from devel­ transportation port for the south side, its future is opment methodology to expected outcomes. in question among the Woodlawn leadership. As a One member of Washington Park expressed proposal to demolish the El east of Cottage Grove her dismay over the closed rank syndrome is moving ahead it is also picking up opposition. prevalent in the meeting. Betty Russell told The Freedom Now Center, located on 63rd and South Street Journal, "four of us from Perry Cottage Grove will be holding a community Ave. had heard about the meeting on the Su­ meeting Saturday September 15th to address the perstation, so we decided to attend to find out issue in opposing the what we could. People were there from trans­ closure. portation telling us about plans including the "We are holding this kind of restaurants they were going to have. meeting to get a fair assess­ At that time Ms. Butler interjected to re­ ment if this is the right mind them that there is already a McDonalds, tiling to demolish this El", Kentucky Fried Chicken, Popeyes Chicken said Dino McNeal, director and Checkers in the community. Alderman of the Freedom Now Troutman then called Butler a "monstrous Center. The Green Line El on 63rd Street is posposed for demolition by a group in Woodlawn, with the person" and told her repeatedly to get out. Various groups from backing of Bishop Authur Brazier. Citing another concern is Sam Zyyad of Top Value Foods, "I was greatly surprised at her (the alder­ Woodlawn have been which has suffered from the streets being cut off during construction . The El is also foucs in the Washington Park community at 55th Street for a Super Station. man's) behavior and at that time we left." said working to use a Ms. Russell, "I had wrote a letter to the Al­ Empowerment Zone waiver The process of what will be determined to derman This is the second experience I have Dino McNeal process for the CTA's go into this El station will be influenced by had, I had written a letter to her asking her to obligation to payback the Superstation at community input. While, the Alderman and come to a meeting and sent a copy to the U.S. government the funds obtained to repair the C.T.A. ensured the community that nothing Mayor she sent an acceptance letter and then Green Line station for the demolition cost. A cost would be implemented without the residents did not show up. When are we are going to quoted at $13 million. 55th Street El" input, preliminary plans for the station in­ Washington Park/Woodlawn— On September start treating each other with dignity and re­ The groups submitted a letter to Secretary Pena, clude a three level atrium affect with retail spect. of the Dept. off Transportation consisted of Aid. 9, a Town Hall meeting held at Harris YMCA stores, a day care center, and a police sub­ residents met to discuss the Super EL Station Troutman reminded the residents that, "The Arenda Troutman (20), Bishop Authur Brazier, station. very special tiling about tins project is that the Rev. Leon Finney, The Fund, United Business proposed at 55th Street El in Washington Although this is the first time it was intro­ Association of Woodlawn and Mount Carmel Park. Hie meeting was called by Alderman duced to the constituents of the 20th Ward. High School. Arenda Troutman (20 L These pipits are fai from new According to Maltie Butler of the WECAN opposing the de­ Along with an official from C.T A , and a Troutman's office, she and C.T.A. officials molition stated, "The powers to be aren't going to team from the Dept. m Planning led by Bill have been in discussion on this issue for tliree like this, but why don't they just say what it is, to Clark, Troutman and the department officials years. « move the present residents out." Butler suggested. were on hand to explain the plans for the one Because of the vacant land that is available "Next they will be building the Cu De Sac of a kind multimillion dollar station. in the Washington Park area, Alderman creating a separation of different classes of "I see the new El creating economic devel­ Troutman chose the 55 th street location op­ Aid.Troutman Cecila Butler people. I can think of a whole lot of good $13 opment for residents who have hung tough in posed to 51 st because of the extensive oppor­ million can be use for....The El is the heart of this community, and them being a part of the tunity to develop in the heart of Washington community has been offered control of this Woodlawn, I am oppose to it and have always building blocks for this-plan." Said Alderman Park where it is so desperately needed. project, which is so rarely seen in economi­ Troutman, "This plan is the cornerstone of cally disadvantaged communities." Troutman Continue on page 17 However, according to Cecilia Butler, the redevelopment that will attract investors, gov­ Washington Park Community Coalition added, "The process starts today, listen, think, Store Owner Balks at Street ernment money, and a logical process for re­ (WPCC)members testified before the Dept. of react, question, and suggest. Participate. You view of what may be developed on vacant Planning in May 1994, identifying 55 th Street will only get in the community that which you Closure due to El page 17 land." as a Superstation. hi May 1995 the Coalition demand, we will only get in the community Continue on page 4 In Me of Residents position Aid, Haithcock Opposes Indiana Gil de Sac Douglas-Alderman Haithcock (2), The college is seeking to create a after hearing testimony from area "Near South Activists" Organization is Formed campus environment for its students. residents and attending meetings on Alderman advised him i that at a presented to the Alderman by the ana Avenue. ICO recently completed During the meeting, residents of Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) community meeting on Wednesday, ICO, calling for a cul de sac be­ a two-hundred (200) bed student the Near South area discussed numer- proposal to cut 33rd and Indiana off to August 16, at the Hartzell United tween 32nd and 33rd streets on Indi­ resident building at that location. Continued on page 4 I traffic, the Methodist Church, the com­ alderman pre­ munity was overwhelmingly sented to over against the proposed cul de sac 150 residents on Indiana Avenue. at Pilgrim The letter went on to state Baptist Chur­ that because of this opposition, ch, on Sep­ the current plan will not have Mid-South residents tember 7, her her support and that the col­ peruse through the position op­ lege should seek other options remains of a burned out posing ICO to connect their buildings to­ food and liguor store at Cul de Sac. gether, such as an over-the- 51st & King Dr. The She made street pedestrian walkway. entire corner block was iher position Dr. Banwell, however, said burned beyond repair in known in a to South Street Journal (Aug. a suspicious fire several letter to the 16), the plan of ICO was in the weeks ago. Pekin president of making for a long time (over a Cleaner at 41 st & State ICO, Dr. year) and that "This is the is advising customers of Boyd Ban- Master Plan", they are going the cleaners located at well her op­ on with their plans. South the site of the fire to position. Street Journal, has made at­ contact the Better In her tempts to contact Dr. Banwell Business Bureau amid letter to Dr. since then without any avail. reports that customers Banwell, the The issue was a proposal are being sent to their location to be reimbursed. The owner State Rep. Lou Jones stated he sold that Rev. Dr. Floyd W. Davis statement on page 10 business eight years ago. Page 2 September 7 - October 4,1995 South Street Journal SSJ Writer M "V avid Dunlap oj'Woodlawn has signed on as the Host for the I / UnZip Affair, Community Feud Contest, tailored after the Running for Judge I yFamily Feud. He said Wood lawn will be well represented at the Attorney Karen Brazil-Breashears, a Hyde Affair on Nov. 4 And Peggy Cotton has been nominated for a Parker recently is a candidate for Judge of Community character Award.. the Circuit Court of Cook County in the March 19,1996 Primary Election. Alderman Dorothy Tillman is without a Chief of Staff, Angelo Rose's Backed by R. Eugene Pincham as her top community organizer comrade Andrea Smith is no longer top hat Chairman, Pincham said, "The essential Karen Brazil-Breashears R. Eugene Rncham Charles Hayes for Tillman. And no word for who will replace her... In addition, the premise of Karen's campaign is that every hereby petition the U.S.