Finally, some progress on ending blight at 34th & Chicago

BY ED FELIEN

It looks like something may finally be happening with the blighted buildings at 3407, 3411 and 3413 Chicago Avenue South.

Neighborhood activists have long complained to the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association, past and present City Councilmembers and the Mayor, but nothing seemed to change. This was the block on which Tyesha Edwards was shot and killed in November 2002.
The commercial properties at the other end of her block and the neglected apartment buildings across the street gave that block the appearance of a slum for the past five years. Now, the apartment buildings are getting spruced up and are being rented and it looks like some progress is being made on rehabing the commercial properties.
At an April 20 meeting of the land use committee of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association, property owner representatives explained their proposal for development of the properties. On the recommendation of a structural engineer they hired to evaluate the properties, they are planning to tear down the two smaller buildings at 3411 and 3413 Chicago, and the larger building would be remodeled and expanded along existing front and side lot lines to include commercial space on the ground floor and apartments or studios on the second floor. They are proposing that both floors be included in condominium ownership.
Although the proposal does include full use of the frontage on Chicago, they are proposing to landscape the parking lot behind the structure. They will have to get approval of the Planning Commission for a site plan review. They will have to get conditional use permits for the six proposed living units, and they will have to get City Council approval for an exception and a variance on City requirements for a side yard.
Nothing has happened yet, but at least someone is talking about doing something