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Logan Square Community Members Block Traffic At Construction Site on Milwaukee Ave.


CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–April 9, 2016.  About 20 Logan Square tenants and homeowners are currently blocking traffic on Milwaukee Avenue in front of the Twin Towers luxury development construction site, 2293 N. Milwaukee Ave. They are joined by about 100 supporters from We Are / Somos Logan Square, Lifted Voices, Centro Autonomo, Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance and Grassroots Illinois Action.

Logan Square residents have been fighting for over a year to ensure that the new developments planned at 2211 and 2293 N. Milwaukee Avenue will be at least 30% affordable. But First Ward Ald. Joe Moreno has ignored their pleas, leading them to participate in a mass act of civil disobedience this morning organized by Somos Logan Square, Lifted Voices and Centro Autonomo of Albany Park.

“We are taking this step to support our neighbors in Logan Square who are facing evictions now, and the hundreds more who will be displaced if this luxury development continues as planned,” said Paul Donnelly, a member of We Are / Somos Logan Square who has successfully fought his eviction in the past with the help of the organization.

Residents have met with the developers of the luxury buildings, Rob Buono (2293 N. Milwaukee) and Property Markets Group (2211 N. Milwaukee). Both have rejected the idea of a community benefits agreement to guarantee more affordable housing at the site – despite residents’ fears that the megaprojects will increase the cost of rent and property taxes and drive further displacement from the neighborhood.

About We Are / Somos Logan Square: Somos has been fighting on the frontlines to prevent evictions and the displacement of Latino and long-term residents, as well as advocating for sustainable, responsible development and housing affordability.

About the Milwaukee Avenue Campaign:  For the last year, We Are / Somos Logan Square has organized hundreds of community members to advocate for the inclusion of more truly affordable housing in the Milwaukee Avenue luxury developments. The organization and its members are seeking a community benefits agreement to ensure that at least 30% of the units in the building are affordable and that they are within the reach of individuals and families earning 30% of the Area Median Income

The primary focus of the campaign is the community’s continued frustration with First Ward Ald. Joe Moreno for rezoning the Milwaukee Ave. corridor and his enthusiastic approval of developments that will increase neighborhood rental rates and property taxes.

A reported 374 new luxury units are being offset by just 33 so-called “affordable” units, the cost of which is still too high for the median income of the neighborhood’s working families.

Source: We Are/Somos Logan Square


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