There's been some controversy over this project namely concerns that neighborhood residents weren't get jobs on this project or at least Blacks were getting jobs in a predominantly Black community. So it looks like residents have something to look forward too in the near future:
Owner Azam Kham plans to reopen his Shell gas station at 8659 S. State St. on March 16 after it closed two years ago. The renovated station will be open 24 hours a day and will have four additional pumps, bringing the total to 10. In addition, Kham has doubled the size of a convenience store at the site, to 2,000 square feet, and plans to sell more food as well as household items like soap, toilet tissue and paper plates.
"Customers can come inside to pay for their purchases and not stand outside as they did before," Kham said. "They can buy household products, snacks and other items."
But the convenience store will not be selling lottery tickets, he said.
"I do not plan on getting a lottery machine unless it is something the community later says it wants," Kham said. "I want to offer services the community needs."
Additionally, he plans to house two retail tenants at the site.
"I expect to have a restaurant and a bakery," added Kham, who also owns another Shell gas station in Bridgeport at 215 W. 31st St.
Kham said he had hoped to reopen the station last year, but was slowed by the permitting process and city inspections.
The station did not close until September 2012. There should have not been any controversy over jobs because in July 2011 the owner and Shell met with the Chatham community. The station did not close until September 2012. There should have not been any controversy over jobs because in July 2011. http://concernedcitizensofchatham.blogspot.com/2011/07/87th-state-street-will-we-see-turf-wars.html. The owner and Shell met with the Chatham community and discussed the saleof the station to Mr. Kham and the proposed renovation. The community brought up issues such as banking with a local institution(Seaway,Il service federal, urban partnership bank, etc), hiring clerks and other personnel from the community, looking at local restaurateurs to open at location and not building a car wash. Why Mr. Gardner and the other hustlers who followed him did not know about this is questionable. While the actions of the African American contractor are questionable, job creation was discussed and several African Americans were hired. It is also disappointing that none of the community organizations that were involved in these meetings spoke up.
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