Parker Aims to Purchase Neighboring Condo Buildings

On Wednesday, July 31, the Chicago Tribune published an article voicing the concerns of residents living near the Francis Parker campus. The article claims that Parker recently made separate offers of $11.2 million and $9 million for neighboring condo buildings that sit on the same block as Parker. These offers were rejected by both condo associations.

Residents are worried that if Parker buys these condo buildings, they will be demolished to facilitate a large expansion of the school campus, resulting in families being forced from their homes and the spoiling of the local charm.

“Should we even get there, and this is a big if, we would make sure that the character and aesthetic tone would be in keeping with the neighborhood,” Principal Dan Frank said in an interview with the Tribune.

Although Parker’s efforts to buy whole residential buildings have been unsuccessful, Parker has bought two individual units in the 15-unit building of 327-335 W. Belden Ave. Fellow condo owners in the building are worried that Parker is amassing voting power within the condo association. This would allow Parker to eventually buy out the entire building with 75% membership approval from the association.

Some neighbors decided to take matters into their own hands by obtaining more than 600 signatures on a petition to maintain residential zoning in the areas surrounding Parker.“If Parker wants to grow, we’re not against growth, but we want to keep our neighborhood intact,” Heather Hoeppner, a local resident, said in an interview with the Tribune. “It’s a very special place to live and we feel lucky to live here. If neighbors are to lose their homes, that would be heartbreaking,” 

In response to these events, Parker released a statement to parents and neighbors on August 8, clarifying the intentions of the school. The letter listed a variety of commitments contingent on their acquisition of the buildings on Belden Ave. The list included promises of maintaining landscaping standards, not building a parking structure, and no access doors on Belden. The letter also mentioned that there would be no unreasonable increase in class size, only an increase in classroom space.

Frank is adamant that these purchases are for the long-term future of the school. He also assures that no specific plans have been made for a campus expansion.“This is a down-the-road thing, a significant period of time down the road,” Frank said to the Tribune.

To read the full Chicago Tribune article, click here.