By: Laura Putre
Editor:
April 2004
A lot of people’s lives would be a lot simpler if Mayor
Richard M. Daley had never been to
For the most part, Daley’s efforts have been a welcome
change over the era when poured-concrete was king. His push for better aesthetics and
environmentally friendly construction brought about the world-class
Now, the push is on to beautify the city’s designated manufacturing districts as well, with new landscaping, planting, and fencing requirements for owners of sheet metal fabricating plants and purveyors. And that’s where the mayor’s greening campaign should ease up.
Business owners in the Kinzie Corridor, some of whose commitment to the neighborhood dates back to the Industrial Age, are being told they have to overhaul their properties and give up precious parking spaces to make room for hundreds of square feet of gardens. Estimates of the cost of these improvements run from $30,000 to upwards of $70,000 per business. Some say that if they’re forced to comply, they’ll have to lay off a worker or two to cut costs.
Give these guys a break; they’re the wrong folks to pick
on. They’re in
areas not heavily traveled by pedestrians and tourists, nor should they
be. They’re busy performing the nuts and
bolts work of the city that works. Every
city has such areas, set aside for hard-core industry. Sure, it’s nice to have some hedges and maybe
even some tulips and daffodils trimming the property lines of these places-and
heck, a little grassy area where workers can eat lunch is a good idea too-but
save the full-blown gardens for places where people actually were meant to
stroll and take in the view, like
The Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago suggests a compromise; unless the city can come up with funds for these improvements and business owners aren’t left holding the check, let’s install more greenery around the fringes of the district to make it more soothing. Cut down on the required landscaped setbacks and restrictions on ornamental fences.
The city would do well to listen to the concerns of industry, and keep in mind that a forklift plant doesn’t need extensive flowerbeds. Nor do flowerbeds need forklift plants. There are plenty of parks, residential neighborhoods and quaint shopping districts where the petunias and azaleas will be much happier.