For this project, each person had to research a story based around their community. I decided to research the St.Anthony hospital expansion and how the perspectives of the two main characters in charge changed. I'm proud of the researched I produced and I struggle with receiving direct quotes from Alderman Rodriguez and Mr. Sifuentes.
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| St. Anthony Hospital ,Google,, bisnow.com, 2017, 2019 |
On August 21st, announcements of St. Anthony Hospital told of an expansion at a lot on 31st Street and Kedzie Avenue. However, Lucky Camargo and others opposed the expansions from the hospital for fear of gentrification during a community meeting in Little Village discussing the project. Even though there were 1,500 signatures from Little Village residents supporting the Hospital Expansion, new concerns have risen and Senior Vice President (of Mission and Community Development) Mr. Sifuentes and the 22nd Alderman both considered the concerns of residents.
Plans started in 2012 with the City of Chicago’s Community Development Commission (CCDC)voting in favor of construction for the new division of St. Anthony. Not only considered a branch to the hospital, but it would also include a student campus, several shops, fitness centers, and several community-oriented services-all totaling to a 600 million dollar project. Meanwhile, several people from the community opposed in hope for a new high school on that land since the was home to Washburne Trade School ten years earlier. There is also the film studio, Cineplex, bidding on the land for their own development plans. Several community members such as Lucky Camargo and Raoul Contreras believe that the city should sell the land to none.
On September 24th, Mr. Sifuentes was interviewed to see his thoughts after the conference. Though he understands the concerns, his position is on the belief that the majority considers the Hospital as a positive. When asked how the structure would try to lower the risk of gentrification, his response was the project was already preventing gentrification since the beginning. “The shops are already placed on the second floors rather than ground level, so it would be unlikely that the problem of gentrification would arise outside of that area if the extension is already contained” He also claims to have lower prices for citizens of little Village as another solution to prevent the problem. However, he states there hasn’t been many compromises for the rights to the lot nor will there be any as the project will follow through.“ This lot has been here for 20 years and nothing has been done about it…. There is little to no compromise to what’s going to happen in the land”.
On September 25th, Alderman Rodriguez was asked about what he thought about the community’s mindset. He promoted the claims of a majority vote by recalling the community conference in Little Village on August 21st. “There were 200 people that attended that meeting.. Over 180 responded to the survey… only four people responded that they didn’t want the hospital”. However, unlike Mr. Sifuentes who believes the project will come to full fruition, Mr. Rodriegez states that the project is still standing and being weighed over by the city. “There were to applicants that are being considered by Chicago Public Schools, St. Annothy and Cineplex...those are the only two applicants that are being considered by Chicago Schools...and that’s where it stands now.” During the interview, it seems that Alderman Rodriguez will be taking action in order to prevent gentrification during the construction of the hospital expansion.
Attempts have been made to reach the opposition of St. Anthony and there have been no connections as of right now. However, it seems the community is on hold for the expansion and Chicago Public Schools are still in the process of which private entity will take the lot: Cineplex or St. Anthony. There doesn’t seem much worry coming from the community, however, new events could always rise within the upcoming months.
On September 24th, Mr. Sifuentes was interviewed to see his thoughts after the conference. Though he understands the concerns, his position is on the belief that the majority considers the Hospital as a positive. When asked how the structure would try to lower the risk of gentrification, his response was the project was already preventing gentrification since the beginning. “The shops are already placed on the second floors rather than ground level, so it would be unlikely that the problem of gentrification would arise outside of that area if the extension is already contained” He also claims to have lower prices for citizens of little Village as another solution to prevent the problem. However, he states there hasn’t been many compromises for the rights to the lot nor will there be any as the project will follow through.“ This lot has been here for 20 years and nothing has been done about it…. There is little to no compromise to what’s going to happen in the land”.
On September 25th, Alderman Rodriguez was asked about what he thought about the community’s mindset. He promoted the claims of a majority vote by recalling the community conference in Little Village on August 21st. “There were 200 people that attended that meeting.. Over 180 responded to the survey… only four people responded that they didn’t want the hospital”. However, unlike Mr. Sifuentes who believes the project will come to full fruition, Mr. Rodriegez states that the project is still standing and being weighed over by the city. “There were to applicants that are being considered by Chicago Public Schools, St. Annothy and Cineplex...those are the only two applicants that are being considered by Chicago Schools...and that’s where it stands now.” During the interview, it seems that Alderman Rodriguez will be taking action in order to prevent gentrification during the construction of the hospital expansion.
Attempts have been made to reach the opposition of St. Anthony and there have been no connections as of right now. However, it seems the community is on hold for the expansion and Chicago Public Schools are still in the process of which private entity will take the lot: Cineplex or St. Anthony. There doesn’t seem much worry coming from the community, however, new events could always rise within the upcoming months.
