Objection to Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Rezoning Proposal for Fort Sheridan
Objection to Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Rezoning Proposal for Fort Sheridan
The Issue
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Friends of Historic Fort Sheridan (FHFS) is a passionate community-driven organization dedicated to preserving the integrity of Fort Sheridan’s National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) residential neighborhood, and protecting our nearby at-risk neighbors in Highwood, Highland Park and Lake Forest. We are standing firm against a proposed zoning change that threatens to commercialize a cherished national landmark designated neighborhood and residential community with an oversized, disruptive year-round tax-free entertainment venue.
THE ISSUE
Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) is a non-profit/tax-free music school that resides in Fort Sheridan and has petitioned the City of Highwood to rezone four (4) “residential”/R-1 acres to “commercial” to expand its current education portfolio to build a massive 728-seat, 4-story, 46,000 square-foot, $35-40+ million modern year-round entertainment venue.
FHFS believes this commercial venue will change the historic and visual character of Fort Sheridan, and lead to increased traffic, congestion, noise, crowds, pollution, safety concerns and alter ease of travel in/out of the Fort and nearby roads. The proposed facility will increase public resource demands of police, fire, EMS, and other city departments for Highwood (HW), Highland Park (HP) and Lake Forest (LF).
THE IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Historic Preservation
As the home of a National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) designated neighborhood, Highwood and Highland Park are exceptional among cities in the US. As a former essential and active military base, Fort Sheridan represents a vital part of our nation’s heritage. Highwood, Highland Park and Lake Forest, and Fort Sheridan in particular, are also unique to have incorporated a vast array of protected open lands, now managed by the Lake County Forest Preserves.
The NHLD designation requires that Fort Sheridan’s buildings, landscaping, painting and lighting must adhere to strict policies to maintain the historical flavor and setting unique to this community, and "dramatic or negative change to [NHLDs] can impact their integrity and create cause for concern over the loss of NHLD designation."[3]
MYAC’s proposed oversized development threatens the integrity of this historic site and undermines the essence of what makes Fort Sheridan special. FHFS is determined to protect this irreplaceable landmark and the protected open lands from a project that prioritizes commercialization over preservation.
BY SIGNING THIS PETITION YOU ARE AGREEING TO SIGNING YOUR NAME TO THIS LETTER GOING TO MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD OF HIGHWOOD:
Dear Sirs:
This note is in opposition to MYAC’s proposal to rezone its 4 “residential” acres to “commercial.” And it is my request that these “Public Comments” be added to the Public Record and forwarded to all members of the Planning & Zoning Committee.
It is my belief that MYAC’s zoning request for a giant 728-seat, 4 story, 46,000 sq ft, $35-40+ mil commercial year-round event venue is ill-fitting for the Fort Sheridan residential neighborhood that is a former military base and a unique community of 503 residences with a “national historic landmark district” (NHLD) designation. Cities around the country revere, protect and celebrate their NHLD and military-rich communities. Does Highwood not want to maintain the intended pastoral and non-commercial nature of this one?
And please know, I am not anti-music nor anti-education. But I am against this venue development project proposed by MYAC.
Importantly, as a tax-free non-profit, there are no tangible benefits associated with this proposed massive year-round commercial venue for Fort Sheridan, or for the City of Highwood, its residents or businesses. And, MYAC doesn’t really have a need for such a large structure for its students to use on a regular basis. Rather, its viability must come from frequent non-mission uses and by outside performance acts/groups. MYAC will not put a limit on the number of performing acts, and this is probably why. As a close comparison relative to size and volume, Skokie’s North Shore Performing Arts Center is only slightly larger than the MYAC proposed venue and it boasts 200,000 patrons per year (see www.Northshorecenter.org
It is also known that Highwood has many other real estate development projects underway with tangible and meaningful benefits. And these projects will provide a taxable base and lift to the local economy, will further support the city’s vibrant business and restaurant culture, and the city’s financial solvency. They too will add more traffic and congestion to an already busy little community. In contrast, the MYAC venue offers no financial benefit, and it will add additional excessive traffic.
With realistic expectations for a high-traffic year-round commercial venue, this will put undue stress on a Highwood neighborhood that is peaceful, serene and known as special for its airiness and link to nature with its walking paths, open spaces, lakefront and pastoral beauty. This is why it’s felt to be a gem by all who enjoy Fort Sheridan! This huge commercial venue will change the historic and visual character of Fort Sheridan, but more importantly, lead to increased traffic, congestion, parking problems, noise, crowds, pollution, safety concerns and alter ease of travel in/out of Highwood and on surrounding roads in Highland Park and Lake Forest. It will also increase public resource demands of police, fire, EMS, and other city departments in HW, HP and LF.
From a simple standpoint, there is not enough parking for the 728 patrons. Then add the necessary spaces required for members of a full orchestra (which includes another 100 spaces), plus parking needed for venue staff, security and maintenance staff, caterers, buses, trucks, etc. Insufficient parking is the conclusion already stated by the City of Highwood’s own consultant. This alone should suggest this is an ill-fitting location for this proposal.
In sum, this proposal just doesn’t add up or sound right. Please do not approve this rezoning request. Maybe a team of business consultants can help MYAC find another location for their expansion plans.
Thank you very much for your consideration and I look forward to a reply.
Sincerely,
---------------
*When signing the petition you also agree to have your name listed as a FHFS supporter - We appreciate you!
More Info visit: www.friendsofhistoricfortsheridan.org
Sign up for UPDATES! Updates from Friends of Historic Fort Sheridan
519
The Issue
We DO NOT get your email or donations on change.org. PLEASE click here to provide your email address so we can send you updates as they happen.
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/ecyLxiR/FHFS
Friends of Historic Fort Sheridan (FHFS) is a passionate community-driven organization dedicated to preserving the integrity of Fort Sheridan’s National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) residential neighborhood, and protecting our nearby at-risk neighbors in Highwood, Highland Park and Lake Forest. We are standing firm against a proposed zoning change that threatens to commercialize a cherished national landmark designated neighborhood and residential community with an oversized, disruptive year-round tax-free entertainment venue.
THE ISSUE
Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) is a non-profit/tax-free music school that resides in Fort Sheridan and has petitioned the City of Highwood to rezone four (4) “residential”/R-1 acres to “commercial” to expand its current education portfolio to build a massive 728-seat, 4-story, 46,000 square-foot, $35-40+ million modern year-round entertainment venue.
FHFS believes this commercial venue will change the historic and visual character of Fort Sheridan, and lead to increased traffic, congestion, noise, crowds, pollution, safety concerns and alter ease of travel in/out of the Fort and nearby roads. The proposed facility will increase public resource demands of police, fire, EMS, and other city departments for Highwood (HW), Highland Park (HP) and Lake Forest (LF).
THE IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Historic Preservation
As the home of a National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) designated neighborhood, Highwood and Highland Park are exceptional among cities in the US. As a former essential and active military base, Fort Sheridan represents a vital part of our nation’s heritage. Highwood, Highland Park and Lake Forest, and Fort Sheridan in particular, are also unique to have incorporated a vast array of protected open lands, now managed by the Lake County Forest Preserves.
The NHLD designation requires that Fort Sheridan’s buildings, landscaping, painting and lighting must adhere to strict policies to maintain the historical flavor and setting unique to this community, and "dramatic or negative change to [NHLDs] can impact their integrity and create cause for concern over the loss of NHLD designation."[3]
MYAC’s proposed oversized development threatens the integrity of this historic site and undermines the essence of what makes Fort Sheridan special. FHFS is determined to protect this irreplaceable landmark and the protected open lands from a project that prioritizes commercialization over preservation.
BY SIGNING THIS PETITION YOU ARE AGREEING TO SIGNING YOUR NAME TO THIS LETTER GOING TO MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD OF HIGHWOOD:
Dear Sirs:
This note is in opposition to MYAC’s proposal to rezone its 4 “residential” acres to “commercial.” And it is my request that these “Public Comments” be added to the Public Record and forwarded to all members of the Planning & Zoning Committee.
It is my belief that MYAC’s zoning request for a giant 728-seat, 4 story, 46,000 sq ft, $35-40+ mil commercial year-round event venue is ill-fitting for the Fort Sheridan residential neighborhood that is a former military base and a unique community of 503 residences with a “national historic landmark district” (NHLD) designation. Cities around the country revere, protect and celebrate their NHLD and military-rich communities. Does Highwood not want to maintain the intended pastoral and non-commercial nature of this one?
And please know, I am not anti-music nor anti-education. But I am against this venue development project proposed by MYAC.
Importantly, as a tax-free non-profit, there are no tangible benefits associated with this proposed massive year-round commercial venue for Fort Sheridan, or for the City of Highwood, its residents or businesses. And, MYAC doesn’t really have a need for such a large structure for its students to use on a regular basis. Rather, its viability must come from frequent non-mission uses and by outside performance acts/groups. MYAC will not put a limit on the number of performing acts, and this is probably why. As a close comparison relative to size and volume, Skokie’s North Shore Performing Arts Center is only slightly larger than the MYAC proposed venue and it boasts 200,000 patrons per year (see www.Northshorecenter.org
It is also known that Highwood has many other real estate development projects underway with tangible and meaningful benefits. And these projects will provide a taxable base and lift to the local economy, will further support the city’s vibrant business and restaurant culture, and the city’s financial solvency. They too will add more traffic and congestion to an already busy little community. In contrast, the MYAC venue offers no financial benefit, and it will add additional excessive traffic.
With realistic expectations for a high-traffic year-round commercial venue, this will put undue stress on a Highwood neighborhood that is peaceful, serene and known as special for its airiness and link to nature with its walking paths, open spaces, lakefront and pastoral beauty. This is why it’s felt to be a gem by all who enjoy Fort Sheridan! This huge commercial venue will change the historic and visual character of Fort Sheridan, but more importantly, lead to increased traffic, congestion, parking problems, noise, crowds, pollution, safety concerns and alter ease of travel in/out of Highwood and on surrounding roads in Highland Park and Lake Forest. It will also increase public resource demands of police, fire, EMS, and other city departments in HW, HP and LF.
From a simple standpoint, there is not enough parking for the 728 patrons. Then add the necessary spaces required for members of a full orchestra (which includes another 100 spaces), plus parking needed for venue staff, security and maintenance staff, caterers, buses, trucks, etc. Insufficient parking is the conclusion already stated by the City of Highwood’s own consultant. This alone should suggest this is an ill-fitting location for this proposal.
In sum, this proposal just doesn’t add up or sound right. Please do not approve this rezoning request. Maybe a team of business consultants can help MYAC find another location for their expansion plans.
Thank you very much for your consideration and I look forward to a reply.
Sincerely,
---------------
*When signing the petition you also agree to have your name listed as a FHFS supporter - We appreciate you!
More Info visit: www.friendsofhistoricfortsheridan.org
Sign up for UPDATES! Updates from Friends of Historic Fort Sheridan
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Petition created on October 15, 2024