Chicago's youth poet laureate Nue, when asked what is your favorite place Out South, said,
"The Point. The Point. The Point, the Point, The Point. It's the place that I can go to and literally just sit at, and just be at peace. I have a lot of East Coast friends and they'll be like 'you never been to the beach, yada, yada, yada' -- I don't care what nobody says, Lake Michigan is an ocean. It's The Ocean, it's my ocean!" -- South Side Weekly interview, July, 28, 2022. p. 4
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On July 8th, the Hyde Park Herald reached out to the Mayor to get some clarity about the City's intentions for Promontory Point. The following are our questions and the Mayor's spokesperson’s responses:
Question 1) Following your tour of Promontory Point with the Conservancy group on July 4th, has your understanding changed of whether a preservation-approach to the repair and restoration is feasible or not? Response to Question 1) "The Park District, along with the Army Corps and Chicago Department of Transportation have a role in ensuring that Promontory Point continues to remain the community asset that it has always been. We are committed to working with the community on a design that properly addresses the historic nature of the Point. The Mayor was grateful for the opportunity to visit the Point with the Promontory Point Conservancy and hear their concerns directly. We are committed to a preservation-based approach and there will be extensive outreach to the community during the planning and design process." Question 2) It is the Herald's understanding that the Promontory Point Conservancy group is concerned that the GRR study will eclipse the independent third-party study requested by Kelly, in effect making the Kelly-requested study moot. Can you comment? Response to Question 2) "If funded, this independent study would not impact the timing or focus of the GRR. The purpose of the GRR is to evaluate the lakefront to determine the next priority locations for revetment/stabilization in partnership with the USACE and CDOT. The Park District and Department of Transportation support a preservation approach to Promontory Point, which the Kelly independent third-party study will help to advance. The GRR proceeding forward will not make any design decisions with respect to the Point. The GRR is a study conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers to re-evaluate the shoreline and consider potential Federal funding as well as local cost share of both the Point as well as new Chicago Shoreline lengths that were not included in the previous shoreline study." Question 3) Will the Park District, Department of Transportation and all other involved city agencies await the outcome of the proposed Kelly study — the independent third-party study to determine a preferred preservation approach for the design of the Promontory Point Shoreline Project — before making decisions about what approach will be taken to repair and restore Promontory Point? Response to Question 3) "Yes." Question 4) Is there going to be a community process that will result in a framework plan for Promontory Point, such as was done for the Morgan Shoal section of the lakefront? Response to Question 4) "Consistent with other significant capital projects, the City, and the Chicago Park District will engage the community before finalizing a plan to restore Promontory Point." |
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AuthorDebra Hammond is currently an officer of Promontory Point Conservancy. She has always been tall for her age |