G.P. Greenhouse LLC (aka Guaranteed Dispensary) has applied for a special use permit for an adult-use recreational cannabis dispensary to be located at 620 N Fairbanks.  This location would be at the corner of Fairbanks/Columbus Drive and Ontario St. which already has heavy traffic.  We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge our leaders to act now to stand firm that it is not a suitable site for the proposed dispensary.

OVERVIEW:

The facility being proposed will be located on Fairbanks Ct between Ohio St and Ontario St.  This is currently one of the worst blocks in Streeterville for traffic congestion and it serves as an ambulance route for emergency vehicles trying to get to and from Northwestern Hospital, Lurie Children's Hospital, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.  The block also supports public and private bus routes, and handles traffic from hospital visitors and staff, as well as residents and tourists visiting the neighborhood. It is not uncommon for accidents and backups to occur in this block, especially when vehicles block lanes to drop off or pick up on Fairbanks, Ohio, and Ontario Streets.

The dispensary’s stated plan to offer parking and a drop-off zone on Ohio Street may cause increased circulating traffic throughout the area given the one-way east/west streets. 

SAFETY CONCERNS:

This facility is not in the interest of the public convenience and will have a significant adverse impact on the general welfare of the neighborhood and community. 

The dispensary expects to have, on average, two to three cannabis deliveries per day, all delivered in the alley assisted by armed security and not scheduled nor disclosed to the dispensary until minutes before due to the high risk of theft as cannabis products are valuable and easy to resell.  Once the products arrive, the owner plans to use armed security to protect the cannabis products as they are moved from the vehicle to the storefront.  If something goes wrong with a delivery such as theft or attempted theft, there are only two ways out of that alley - one to Ohio Street and the other to Ontario Street.  The delivery site is located in the alley that has significant pass-through traffic as well as the entrance, drop-off, and pickup for the Aloft Hotel. 

This puts in jeopardy the safety and security of neighborhood residents, as well as those in the care of the multiple nearby child care facilities serving families of the neighborhood and hospital employees. The children from the child care facilities can often be seen walking with their teachers throughout the neighborhood during the day.  

This location will not promote pedestrian safety and comfort.  The narrow sidewalk in front of 620 N Fairbanks is already heavily trafficked by pedestrians coming to and from the hospital campus, the bus stop on Fairbanks and Ohio, as well as travelled by tourists and neighborhood residents.  Additionally the proposed dispensary sits on top of an established pub and restaurant that serves a large number of individuals daily.

The narrow sidewalk right-of-way is already negatively impacted by a mailbox, lightpole, a bike rack, and the garage entrance/exit for 600 N Fairbanks.  Add to that the addition of dispensary customers for 12+hours per day for the proposed dispensary and potential for queuing on the sidewalk.  This will cause an overly congested sidewalk putting the community at greater risk for vehicle/pedestrian encounters while walking past the dispensary.  

TRAFFIC CONCERNS:

This location is not compatible with the character of the surrounding area in terms of operating characteristics, such as hours of operation and traffic generation. The facility is located directly on Fairbanks Ct. Traffic concerns include double parking, restricted flow of traffic, increased traffic on an already main thoroughfare. The owner estimated 200 customers per day visiting their dispensary, however other nearby dispensary proposals, such as 212 E Ontario in 2022, estimated 400-600 customers per day. 

Ambulances traveling to and from Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room travel on Fairbanks, Ontario and Erie if coming from the south and west. The intersection of Ontario and Fairbanks is often blocked by vehicles trying to travel southbound on Fairbanks, and it is very difficult for ambulances to turn onto Ontario Street at certain times. This causes sirens to blare even more often, which has a negative impact on quality of life for the nearby residents. Additionally, it poses a health and safety risk for patients as their travel time to the ER is increased, and in an emergency situation seconds can matter.

Additionally, the location of proposed dispensary is on the route of the private bus routes that serve Northwestern hospital employees, as well as CTA bus routes 3, 66, and 157.  Increased vehicle traffic in front of and around the dispensary will negatively impact bus and public transit use, especially during rush hour.

COMMUNITY IDENTITY CONCERNS:

This facility is not compatible with the character of the surrounding area. The immediate area is home to the Northwestern Medicine Academic campus, Lurie Children's Hospital, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and many medical offices employing thousands of employees.  It is also a residential neighborhood with a growing population of young families.  Due to the location near Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile, many tourists with children and school groups visit and stay in the neighborhood. We want establishments in Streeterville that can be patronized by people of all ages, including families with children. The inherent risk of a facility of this type at 620 N Fairbanks Ct would have a detrimental effect on the neighborhood as it does not align itself with the community's identity and values.

In summation, we feel this location poses an unnecessary risk to the community and we strongly urge the Zoning Board of Appeals to deny the 620 N Fairbanks dispensary a special use permit for an adult-use recreational cannabis dispensary.   Please sign this petition to register your objection to a proposed dispensary at 620 N Fairbanks - whether you live, visit or work in the neighborhood please make your voice heard.

Thank you,

SOAR, concerned residents, visitors and those who work in the neighborhood