Stop CDOT's move to demolish the revetment

This coming Friday, February 23, the Chicago Dept. of Transportation (CDOT) plans to sign the contract for the $5m design planning study of the Point and pave the way to demolition of the historic limestone revetment. If this goes through, it is the beginnning of the end of the Promontory Point we all love. Only Mayor Brandon Johnson and Alderman Desmon Yancy can stop this. They will act only if the community insists.

Here's what you can do. Two steps.

1. Cut and paste into the Office of the Mayor's form here. Select COMPLAINTS from the pull down menu.

CUT AND PASTE:
Dear Mayor Johnson:

I am writing to ask how the City (CDOT) can be selecting a contractor for a $5m design planning study of Promontory Point, Burnham Park, when the City faces serious budget shortfalls. The Chicago Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers costed this design study at $450,000. And Promontory Point Conservancy hired a large, national, well-respected coastal engineering firm to conduct its own preservation study of Promontory Point for $252,000. 

Where is the extra $4.5m going for this CDOT study?

CDOT will select its contractor this coming Friday, February 23. No one can reasonably endorse a grossly over-priced, over-engineered, overhaul of Promontory Point that ignores community input, the legitimate community preservation plan, the 24-year struggle to Save the Point! and the nearly unanimous community support for preservation.

Promontory Point Conservancy’s coastal engineers have completed a Condition Study of Promontory Point and are working on an Alternatives [to concrete] Design Plan for preservation. This Condition Study demonstrates that the historic, 86-year old limestone revetment functions right now, provides good storm damage and shoreline protection, and can be retained and repaired. Yes, the Army Corps and CDOT can destroy the revetment but they don’t have to. There are viable, cost-effective, preservation alternatives to concrete which provide strong storm damage and shoreline protection. A win-win for the City and the community.

I am asking that you bring a sense of scale and fiscal responsibility to this project for the City. Please use the power of the Office of Mayor to put a halt to this contract award immediately. Save the Point Again!

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME AND EMAIL
ORGANIZATION: SAVE THE POINT AGAIN!

2. Send Alderman Demon Yancy, 5th Ward, an email:

ADDRESSEES' EMAILS:
TO:  [email protected],[email protected]
CC: [email protected],[email protected]

CUT AND PASTE:
Dear Alderman Yancy:

I am writing to ask how the City (CDOT) can be selecting a contractor for a $5m design planning study of Promontory Point, Burnham Park, when the City faces serious budget shortfalls. The Chicago Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers costed this design study at $450,000. And Promontory Point Conservancy hired a large, national, well-respected coastal engineering firm to conduct its own preservation study of Promontory Point for $252,000. 

Where is the extra $4.5m going for this CDOT study?

CDOT will select its contractor this coming Friday, February 23. No one can reasonably endorse a grossly over-priced, over-engineered, overhaul of Promontory Point that ignores community input, the legitimate community preservation plan, the 24-year struggle to Save the Point! and the nearly unanimous community support for preservation.

Promontory Point Conservancy’s coastal engineers have completed a Condition Study of Promontory Point and are working on an Alternatives [to concrete] Design Plan for preservation. This Condition Study demonstrates that the historic, 86-year old limestone revetment functions right now, provides good storm damage and shoreline protection, and can be retained and repaired. Yes, the Army Corps and CDOT can destroy the revetment but they don’t have to. There are viable, cost-effective, preservation alternatives to concrete which provide strong storm damage and shoreline protection. A win-win for the City and the community.

I am asking that you bring a sense of scale and fiscal responsibility to this project for the City. Please use the power of your office to ask Mayor Johnson to halt this contract award immediately.  Save the Point Again!

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS]
 
OR MAKE A PHONE CALL:

• call 311 to leave your verbal message with the Office of the Mayor
• dial Alderman Yancy's office at 773.324.5555 and demand he act quickly