A developer is hoping to have covenants (height restrictions) lifted by the Mayor/city/court in order to develop several properties near and on Arlington Ave. in the Redmont Park Neighborhood.  Redmont Park (and Highland Park because it is immediately adjacent to the proposed re-development site) saw presentations from the developers at several meetings.  After many hours of questions, answers, concerns, and attempts to reach a compromise, the majority of residents voted to oppose the re-zoning of the property that would allow the developers to proceed with their proposed plans.  

Residents were later notified of existing covenants that drastically limit the height of anything built on the proposed site.  The reasons for the covenants/restrictions was to maintain the historic character of the neighborhoods. They were not mentioned in any of the presentations. The discovery of the covenants further support the majority of residents in opposition to the re-zoning for re-development.  Some of the reasons for opposition are: the buildings are too tall and not in line with the character of a primarily residential area; the buildings will cause an increase in traffic that the area is not equipped to handle; and most importantly - there are covenants on the property that were agreed upon by the city and a different developer of the nearby Sirote Permutt building when it was constructed to specifically limit the height of what could ever be built on the nearby properties. The covenants run with the land (not the property owner), so when the properties proposed for re-development were sold the covenants stayed with it.  (The city's adopted Land Use Plan is more restrictive in height than the covenants that are in place.)  

Let's tell the Mayor and City Council that we want the covenants kept in place. The residents of the city have the right to be heard, and we oppose the lifting of the legally binding covenants!  We would also like the opportunity to participate in the city's framework plan for our area prior to the consideration of any proposed developments.