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Judge blocks construction of Lincoln Elementary School 'annex' as community opposition to the unnecessary construction expands

George N. Schmidt - August 05, 2014

Michelle Villegas speaking at the February 26, 2014 meeting of the Board of Education. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.A Chicago judge continued to block the construction of the so-called "annex" to Lincoln Elementary School in the Lincoln Park community following protests and a legal complaint by neighborhood residents who have argued for months that the $20 million project was unnecessary (schools in adjacent areas are underutilized) and detrimental to the community (the construction would eliminate the only park in the area and add to congestion).

According to a press release:

From: Rosner PR [mailto:rosnerpr@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, August 04, 2014 4:33 PM

Subject: Lincoln School Annex Halted Temporary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Legal Victory For A Group Of Lincoln Parkers

CHICAGO, August 4, 2014 A group of Lincoln Park residents won a victory in circuit court today when Judge Sophia Hall continued their motion for a temporary restraining order to stop the controversial construction of massive $20M Annex to the Lincoln School, halt destruction of only neighborhood playground, and block unsafe use of street as a playground.

The stay remains in effect until at least August 18th when the hundreds of objectors formal appeal is heard and ruled on by the Zoning Board of Appeal. The neighborhood is challenging the Lincoln School Annex because it risks safety, wastes money and violates city zoning laws and CPS guidelines, according to Michelle Villegas, long time Lincoln Park resident, former Lincoln LSC member, and CPS parent.

The hypocrisy of allocating $20M to Lincoln Elementary School, surrounded by elementary schools which are 600 students below ideal capacity, at a time when CPS closed 50 schools in poor neighborhoods in this city for being under-utilized was too much for even Chicagoans to take. Better, safer, more fiscally responsible solutions are readily available, Villegas added.

Please see attachment.

Contact:

Robert A. Kaplan

T (312) 492-8866

C (312) 501-9705



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