I read a couple posts on this subject earlier in the
week but got caught up in hearings at the capitol and
knowing not enough but interested i wanted to survey
the scene before i weighed in.
one of the problems for me ia i've been confused as to
what goes on in central. i know or have met a few of
the players and i have no desire to wade into that
morass with these comments. i know there is history
and bad blood all around. let me speak solely to the
issue of the proposed hotel.
First a disclaimer. I know Basim Sabri fairly well. I
want to say quite well but that might imply we have
socialized in the past, something i would not mind
doing, would even enjoy, doing in the future.
I first met Basim years ago and i'm sure even he does
not recall the circumstances. I was a waiter at The
Lotus rest. in Uptown and Basim and his brothers were
frequent patrons. They were wild; my first inclination
was to distance myself. More recently I have come to
embrace him.
Basim sometimes I think has played a little hard and
fast with the rules though never I believe in any
malicious or evil way. You have to understand the ways
of the Middle East I think to truly understand him and
especially the people who think of themselves as
Palestinians. It's always a little hard to keep up
with him and it's easy to get the feeling he might be
pulling one over on you. Believe me I've feared as
much myself.
But enough of Basim.
I walked this afternoon around the blocks from Lake to
32nd and from 2nd to 3rd avenues after running into
Basim at the 8th ward convention. I asked him "what's
up with this hotel?" He gave me his thumbnail sketch
and I took it from there.
There are no trees on the six lots where he proposes
to build save two, i recall, scrawny ones of little
aesthetic value. The Roundup building, though no great
shakes right now has potential but only if development
happens behind it. Across the alley from Basim's six
lots are three multiple dwelings in disrepair and with
unshoveled walks. One structure looks like it has been
worked on. South on third is a boarded apartment
building appearing to have eight units on two floors
and four at "garden level".
At the south end of the block on the alley lives a
nice man named Mansoor and his sister and
brother-in-law I believe. I talked a bit with him.
When I asked what he thougt about a hotel his first
reaction was to dislike the idea. Then as we talked he
began to wonder if the value of the house would
appreciate. I said yes but then so would property
taxes. I told him I thought a hotel may improve the
neighborhood/block.
On Second Av just south of the proposed development
are two or three houses, one in the process right now
of being rehabbed.
What can I say about the Healy Block that has not
already been said or written. I did happen to talk to
two men who recently purchased the house on the corner
of 2nd and 32nd. Street. One's name was Brian; the
other I sadly have forgotten. They are open to the
idea of a Hotel. Italked with them. I told them it
might be a good thing. I also talked about Basim from
my perspective.
It was their impression that the design of the hotel
would be nice looking. Now we can argue about what is
nice looking and people could say any motor hotel as
we use to call them is inherently ugly. This one will
have 67 units with first floor retail I'm told.
All in all I believe it might not be just a good thing
for that block and neighborhood but a great thing.
First off these people are talking about a minimum $6
million investment. Nobody investing that kind of
money wants to live in a declining neighborhood. They
will be a catalyst.
They need a zoning variance to go ahead with the
project. If I lived in Central and was a part of CNIA
you can bet your last dollar I would be talking to
them. I think as a part of the deal the neighborhood
ought to figure out a way to rehab some properties
including the boarded up apartment house and get some
good affordable housing run on a non-profit basis
There's a way to do something good here and I believe
it should be explored.
Enough for now. Running out of time at the library and
I want to post today.
Let's talk more
Tim Connolly
Ward 7
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