BAD FOR BUSINESS
South Loop businesses were sold on new Wintrust Arena by the allure of increased customers. But a new special event parking ban has patrons and shop owners ticked off.
In selling the new, 10,000- seat Wintrust Arena to the South Loop community four years ago, the city called it a boon that would bring new customers to businesses in an area on the cusp of renaissance.
What the city didn’t mention was an accompanying special event parking ban — atop an existing Soldier Field events ban.
The result: lots of angry customers with $ 60 tickets. Businesses can get parking passes for their patrons from the alderman’s office — but they must chase down customers to get the passes back.
“Every one of my customers had parking tickets when they left recently, because apparently there was an event, and we didn’t know. And running back and forth to the alderman’s office for parking passes has created an extra burden,” said Racquel Fields, owner of the 14 Parish restaurant, 2333 S. Michigan.
“The arena may become popular in the long run, but right now, half of Chicago doesn’t know it exists, and this parking ban has proven a hindrance to small businesses in an area still struggling,” Fields added.
The city earlier this year ex- panded the 2010 ordinance banning parking on some streets during Chicago Bears games and other Soldier Field events. The revised ordinance added the arena, 200 E. Cermak, and enlarged the parking ban footprint to include blocks far from both venues.
The signs went up in mid- October. Enforcement began Nov. 11, when DePaul’s Blue Demons played Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish in their first home game in the arena.
Built and operated by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, Wintrust cost taxpayers some $ 164 million. Besides DePaul’s basketball teams, it also is home to the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, as well as an event center for McCormick Place. Critics had called it a vanity project, accusing Mayor Rahm Emanuel of misplaced priorities. Emanuel touted it as a Near South Side economic development accelerator. McPier hopes to book 50 events there this first year.
The ban covers an area bounded by Roosevelt Road, I- 55, Clark Street and Lake Shore Drive.
“Because of the way the arena was going to be used, we had the whole area covered by the [ revised] parking restriction,” said Ald. Pat Dowell ( 3rd).
Businesses say that decision threatens their livelihoods.
“We voiced our concern this parking ban would hinder businesses. If somebody comes into the neighborhood, how do they know to ask for a pass?” asked Bonnie Sanchez- Carlson, president and executive director of the Near South Planning Board, a coalition of South Loop businesses. “We have to find a better solution.”
Contacted about the complaints, the city said it is reviewing the ban.
“We are still studying the impact of Wintrust Arena on customers and residents, and we remain open to changes to the parking plan in the future,” said Molly Poppe, spokeswoman for the Office of Budget and Management.
Robbie Glick, owner of Reggie’s Music Joint and Reggie’s Rock Club, 21052109 S. State, said he hopes changes are forthcoming, as it’s tough operating with bans governing two venues.
“THE ARENA MAY BECOME POPULAR IN THE LONG RUN, BUT RIGHT NOW, HALF OF CHICAGO DOESN’T KNOW IT EXISTS, AND THIS PARKING BAN HAS PROVEN A HINDRANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN AN AREA STILL STRUGGLING.’’ RACQUEL FIELDS, owner of 14 Parish restaurant
“Our customers have to get a pass to put in their windows. We have to know if there’s an event and where they parked and get the passes back. And miles of parking are being held hostage, even during small events,” said Glick. “Wrigley Field is much bigger, and I’m allowed to park there as long as I feed the meters. This makes no sense.”
Dowell argues constituents had plenty of notice. Residents were issued new permits and guest passes this summer and businesses instructed to come to the alderman’s office whenever they need parking passes.
“We’ve been fielding these kinds of concerns the last three weeks,” Dowell said.
“This is a new arena in our community. We are not sure how this is going to pan out. I don’t know what changes we’re going to have to make for the business community until we have a better sense of how the Wintrust Arena is going to function over time,” Dowell said.
“The reason these restrictions apply to streets with businesses on them is because we’re trying to ensure they have parking available for their customers.”
But that reasoning has had the opposite effect, says Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance President Tina Feldstein. “There’s a saying: ‘ The road to hell is paved with good inten- tions.’ Businesses are saying, ‘ Whoa! Wait a minute. Our customers can’t park!’ ” Feldstein said.
“When the development was proposed, anyone paying attention understood the biggest traffic issue was going to be access, but the city, the departments of transportation and planning, and MPEA, were unwilling to address those issues early on,” she said. “We need a better understanding of what’s going to best serve the community, as opposed to just putting a blanket set of rules out there that turns out to not really be in everyone’s interest.”