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* My Crain’s Chicago Business column…
I was reading a newspaper story the other day about the usual politically connected folks lining up for contracts at Midway International Airport, and I remembered something I saw several weeks ago.
A state legislative candidate’s website is touting his ambitious plans to make the area around Midway more vibrant like the area around O’Hare International Airport. Midway’s “huge market of potential customers,” the candidate says, has the potential to “create many good-paying jobs for people living in our community.”
I used to live not far from Midway, and I couldn’t agree more. While some hotels have been built since I lived there, the development is pathetically small in comparison to what is near O’Hare.
O’Hare handles infinitely more fliers every day than Midway ever will, but that doesn’t mean Midway can’t be much better-utilized as a development anchor.
The candidate proposes beautifying 63rd Street as well as other streets in the area. He wants an entertainment center like Rosemont’s fabulous MB Financial Park. He wants to redevelop the derelict Ford City Mall, turning it into a top-quality outlet mall with shuttle bus service to Midway. Rosemont’s outlet mall is often packed to the gills with shoppers.
The House hopeful is dreaming big. He wants to build “an advanced manufacturing cluster and job training center” in the area and an overpass to “prevent freight trains from delaying traffic for long durations of time.”
There’s probably only one politician in Chicago with the power to pull off such massive projects. That pol, House Speaker Michael Madigan, also happens to represent Midway Airport.
But those aren’t Madigan’s ideas. Instead, they were developed by
Click here to read the rest before commenting, please. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:56 am
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Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:32 am
An admirable goal, but this seems a little pie-in-the-sky. The Midway terminal was completely torn down and rebuilt 15 years ago and it did spur some development. But comparing O’Hare and Midway as economic engines is unfair – kinda like wondering why a 7-11 can’t generate as much income as a Walmart.
And Midway is so landlocked within the city grid that any expansion or nearby development would mean bulldozing blocks and blocks of residential neighborhoods. That’s difficult for any pol to pull off even when they want to (and they usually don’t.) Besides, has anyone ever heard about big developers who wanted to do business around Midway but were rebuffed? I haven’t.
On the other hand, I have heard stories of restaurateurs and other developers who have been rebuffed in the past by the 11th Ward when they’ve looked at locations around the ballpark. (Although, if you’ve been in Bridgeport lately you’ve seen signs of hipster migration bleeding in from Pilsen and University Village.)
Still, the area around the Cell will never be Wrigleyville. Race-based perceptions of the neighborhood and the South Side, though totally unfounded, scare most Yuppies and developers away.
Comment by SoSider Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:35 am
Midway Is no where near the traffic generator of O’Hare. You cannot compare the two.
Rich you are an excellent journalist but you are not a real estate expert.
Stick to what you know
Comment by MOON Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:37 am
Neither of these places should have been built. New airport in the south burbs and a ballpark either downtown or in the wast burbs.
Comment by scott aster Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:41 am
As someone who only travels to that area to fly out of Midway, I will say that the hotel prices are always high because there aren’t enough hotels to satisfy the demand. There are definitely some properties in the area that could be developed that aren’t just residential. I’m not a a real estate expert, so I don’t know to what scale something is practical, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn express near Midway that is regularly higher priced than a hotel near O’Hare because there aren’t enough rooms around Midway. That I do know.
Comment by DC Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:44 am
===And Midway is so landlocked within the city grid that any expansion or nearby development would mean bulldozing blocks and blocks of residential neighborhoods===
Bogus.
I was just there again on Saturday. Plenty of space for developments.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:48 am
- scott aster - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:41 am:
Neither of these places should have been built. New airport in the south burbs and a ballpark either downtown or in the wast burbs.
Neither of what places?
Comment by Tone Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:54 am
Havong been pushed out of one neighborhood by gentrification, I would not be so sure of pushing it for another neighborhood. Could it be nicer? Sure, but at what cost?
Comment by A worker Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:56 am
Midway is utterly rife for development. Rich, you’re correct. An appropriate and measured approach could be huge there, especially for that local area and economy. They once housed the largest airport in the world. They lost it. They understood the loss, they got it back. No one moans about plane noise there anymore. They understand that huge assets come with some inconvenience and the neighborhoods accept it. I’m with you. Build some appropriate sized versions of what O’Hare has going on. Rosemont required vision. So does this area.
Comment by A guy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:19 pm
I’m all for developing the Midway and Cellular Park areas as long as the State is not footing any bills (like they do for the Sox in Cellular). Lets do it Ricketts-style.
Comment by No More Corporate Loopholes Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:26 pm
One big advantage Rosemont had and still has for developers is a lack of bureaucracy. That can’t be said for Chicago.
I do agree with you, Rich, there is no shortage of developable ground around MDW.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:30 pm
Very true about Cellular & Bridgeport. I was walking in the 33rd Ward yesterday (on my way to 3340 N. Kedzie) and started thinking something similar after seeing the endless profusion of Mell-Mell-Mell-Mell yard signs……
Comment by The Historian Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:30 pm
You could not name the legislative candidate in the blog post? Okay, the Crain’s column includes his name: it is Jason Gonzales.
Comment by Anon Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:36 pm
One of the limitations to development will be FAA height restrictions due to the proximity of the runways. Though that ought not be a deal killer if the developer goes into the project knowing that the FAA will have a say.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:13 pm
I’m a Hyde Parker and any comparisons about the Cell and Wrigley simply don’t wash. Same with O’Hare and Midway, very different demographics and surrounding economies. Both of which are going in completely different directions (which as a southsider is honestly depressing, but also a stark reality.) The loss of decent (union) manufacturing jobs on the southside and in NW Indiana has gutted these communities and admittedly these types of jobs are never coming back. The southside as a distribution / freight economy is more likely the long-term reality and it’s a much less “dense” employer than manufacturing.
Comment by marrs96 Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:24 pm
===very different demographics and surrounding economies===
The neighborhood around Wrigley used to be a horrible and even dangerous dump. The area around O’Hare used to be a field.
Things can change if you want it to change. Why have they closed almost all public housing projects in Chicago except the one next to Sox Park? 11th Ward votes!
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:28 pm
== Bogus ==
Rich, @A guy, and @Arthur Anderson, I’m sorry, you’re wrong.
Please take a moment to look at the Google maps satellite view of Midway and the surrounding area — you’ll see the residential gridlock I’m talking about.
The closest tract of developable land is south of 65th Street near Central Ave. That happens to be in Bedford Park, not the 13th Ward of Chicago. Bedford Park has a super-aggressive economic development program in place. (You can’t listen to radio broadcast of a Chicago professional sports team without hearing ads for Bedford Park and their friendly business climate.) I suspect if there were developers interested in the area but were somehow being discouraged by Madigan, they’d find a home across 65th Street in Bedford Park. But that hasn’t happened since several hotels built properties in Bedford Park near 65th and Cicero when the new Midway terminal was built 15 years ago.
Ford City Mall is a mile south and could really benefit from a new economic development plan, but it is in the 18th Ward, outside of Madigan’s aldermanic zoning prerogative. And redeveloping failing or closed urban malls ain’t easy. Just ask Evergreen Park, a town with a similar economic profile a couple miles away which struggled with the problem for years.
Don’t get me wrong. I like that Gonzalez has brought this issue up. It’s a common campaign issue used by challengers throughout the south side — and they should keep pushing it. (”Make no small plans.”) But I don’t think the problem is a lack of desire by the local elected officials to engage in development — in fact most are yearning for more development.
I watched an 11th Ward aldermanic forum last year where one of the candidates asked why they can’t get an Apple Store built at 35th and Halsted. I’ll tell you why: because Apple brings in an business consultant who draws a 2 or 3 mile circle on a map around any proposed site and conducts demographic survey within the radius. If there are too many poor black and brown people, they don’t build the store. That’s what Madigan and every South Side ward boss has to contend with.
Sorry to rant.
Comment by SoSider Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:43 pm
SoSider, you’re offering excuses. Rosemont, the last time I checked, isn’t in Chicago. The important thing is the development. The jobs. The new businesses, large and small. And some of those towns outside of Chicago are also represented by… Speaker Madigan.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:46 pm
Some great ideas here Rich. Rahm has done a very good job bringing jobs and economic development to downtown Chicago. Unfortunately we hear very little from the Speaker and the Senate President about public private partnerships or any economic development ideas. The fact it takes a challenger to propose job creating projects in the Speaker’s own backyard is really incredible.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:59 pm
Rich,
1) Wentworth Homes are no longer in the 11th Ward. Haven’t been in the last 2 maps.
2)Still waiting for you to point out the tract of land near the airport that wouldn’t require a UIC-sized displacement of homes for a significant development.
3) I don’t disagree with anything you said @1:46. In fact, I think you proved my point — that point being that Madigan and other office holders around Midway are NOT obstacles to development. (Maybe I’m explaining myself poorly.) I think Madigan wants development around Midway. He hasn’t blocked it in other parts of his district, as you point out. The developers just aren’t nuts about the area. Not having virgin land to build on isn’t an excuse, it’s a real obstacle. Not having a demographic profile that is attractive to retailers isn’t an excuse, it’s an obstacle.
Comment by SoSider Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:14 pm
As a hub for Southwest Airlines, we love flying in and out of Midway. But to be honest, the airport and the surrounding area has a different dynamic than O’Hare. Most users want in and out of that area as soon as possible…although the Giordano’s Pizza is nice. For freight and intermodal type businesses in the area, Midway is somewhat ill suited with its location and not-so-easy expressway access. There is some opportunity there, but not sure what the ceiling is. Ford City…needs to get rid of the reputation of a place where you might find your car broken into or missing after you are done shopping there.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:41 pm
I remember when my mom’s 78 Grand Prix was stolen from Ford City. The security guards treated it like the normal multiple-times-a-day occurrence that it was back then. They found the car parted out by the Cal Sag later that same day (I think they knew where to look). It was Orland Square from that point forward…
The outlet mall is a good idea. The 20-mile proximity to the Fashion Shops in Rosemont might be over-saturation for that type of business model, but the SW side is definitely under-served in that regard. There has been a planned Orange Line extension from Midway to Ford City that would help in redevelopment.
Comment by nixit71 Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:41 pm
Chicago doesn’t have any money and neither does the state so who will pay for the improvements, mall, etc.?
Comment by Mama Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:48 pm
nix, sorry about the Grand Prix, but that’s another excuse.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:13 pm
That area is rife with Madigan corruption. When that area was 13th Ward (not sure it still is), Madigans puppet Alderman Frank Olivo blocked all developement on the Chicago side of Cicero. W13 use to be a good place to live, now crime riddled. Frank may hold the record for most government pensions. Still at the trough. Thanks Mike and Frank!
Comment by Corner office Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:20 pm
A few points:
In your drive around the 13th Ward, what was the general condition of the neighborhood? It is my understanding that the neighborhood is very well kept and the residents are happy with the level of services.
To the extent that you saw opportunities for development, please explain. The Ward has a number of great restaurants if you care to know where to look. In the Bedford Park area, drive down 73rd Street to see all of the new construction and thriving industrial areas and after you are done with that, stop by the 5 Rabbit Brewery to have a couple of beers.
Ford City is a dump. The problem with Ford City is not the stores at the mall itself. The problem is that the mall draws patrons from areas that have higher levels of crime. Unfortunately, with the patrons, the crime follows. Unless you do something about the crime problem at Ford City, it doesn’t matter what you put there.
Comment by Anonymouth Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:29 pm
An issue regarding private capital for development of Midway is that for the last few decades Mayor Daley, Rep. Jackson and Gov. Quinn were trying to put it out of business chasing the a “third” airport.
There wasn’t going to be a “third” airport. There would be O’Hare and the new one.
–One big advantage Rosemont had and still has for developers is a lack of bureaucracy.–
Rosemont’s unique and colorful history is built on a governance model that is remarkably streamlined, to say the least.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 6:46 pm
Wordslinger 6:46 Right on both points.
We should applaud Gonzo for pushing for more development around Midway. But pointing out Rosemont as a less corrupt regime than Chicago is laughable. And Southern airport ain’t happening anytime soon.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 9:09 am