October 1st, 1997 to October 7th, 1997

Radical adjustment to North Halsted plans rumored

'Gay' rainbow designation may be dropped

by Lori Weiner

A private meeting held Sept. 24 with the City of Chicago, DeStefano+Partners Architects, the Northalsted Area Merchants' Association, and several Lakeview neighborhood groups may result in drastic modifications to the original North Halsted renovation and streetscape plan, first unveiled at the Northalsted Market Days and then presented to area residents at two town hall meetings in September.

According to Northalsted Area Merchants' Association Vice President Ben Allen, the neighborhood and merchants are largely in accord on infrastructure improvements planned for North Halsted between Grace and Briar, including plans to widen sidewalks to 11 feet and to plant trees along the 3/4-mile thoroughfare. Where the two part company, according to Allen, is with regard to the decorative pylons and gateways originally intended to display the universally recognized "rainbow flag" symbol of gay and lesbian pride.

Though both Allen and representatives from the City of Chicago insist that no final decision has been made, an Outlines source reports that compromises agreed to at the Sept. 24 meeting would likely involve dropping the "rainbow flag" imagery completely from all gateways and pylons.

According to the same source, the proposed LED "rainbow lights" will also disappear.

In perhaps the most surprising development, Outlines has learned that if changes discussed Sept. 24 are implemented, the streetscape will not recognize gays and lesbians at all but instead becomes a more straightforward infrastructure improvement project, with the street being dubbed simply "North Halsted" upon the project's completion. "It will be a geographic designation, rather than one of sexual orientation," said the source.

Reportedly, it is also likely that the two 25' "gateways" originally intended to sit in the middle of Halsted Street at Briar and Grace will be repositioned to sit on the sidewalk instead of in the middle of the street.

The change was made in concession to resident concerns about traffic safety.

Also according to Outlines sources, it was tentatively agreed at the Sept. 24 meeting that the proposed pylons running the length of North Halsted Street will be "reduced in size and refined" from their original design. Additionally, the curb "bumpout" originally proposed for the intersection of Roscoe and Halsted has been eliminated, though planned "bumpouts" occurring at other side streets will probably remain.

A member of Central Lakeview Neighbors who attended the Sept. 24 meeting remarked on "homophobia" expressed by some representatives of the neighborhood groups, of which many were reportedly quite vocal in their disapproval of the rainbow flag imagery. At the two earlier September public meetings, residents' comments about the proposed rainbow imagery were frequently heated, reflecting a concern for polarization of a traditionally diverse neighborhood-and a fear of declining property values if the area is officially designated a "gay and lesbian" area.

Craig Wolf, public information officer for the City of Chicago, would not confirm any of the reported changes under consideration.

"We should be ready to announce something to the public in four to six weeks," Wolf told Outlines. He did, however, confirm that the "rainbow pylons" have generated the most public comment out of any aspect of the proposed streetscape plan.

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