Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Will the city council allow for Chicago's 2nd Wal-Mart?

Sun-Times:
Whether the city should allow Wal-Mart to expand its presence here - a political donnybrook that gave birth to the big-box minimum wage ordinance that was snuffed out by Mayor Daley's only veto - is back before the City Council.

As promised, Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) introduced an amended redevelopment agreement at Wednesday's Council meeting that would allow Wal-Mart to build its second Chicago store - and first "supercenter'' that sells groceries - at a former Chatham industrial site at 83rd and Stewart.

Brookins said his hand was forced by the Daley administration.

Last year, then-Planning and Development Commissioner Arnold Randall rejected a request for administrative approval to build a 150,000 square-foot Wal-Mart supercenter on the site of the old Ryerson Steel plant at 83rd and Stewart. The developer responded by putting the property up for sale.

Brookins' proposal would strip the commissioner of the power to veto stores over 100,000 square feet.

"I'm doing it because I can't get any other movement any way else," he said.
A very bold move by Ald. Brookins. The next question will have to be will it pass? I'm very sure there are forces out there that want to see its defeat big time.

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