Mission

Over three years, Fern Hill has offered little detail to residents and businesses in Old Town. The community must be given a comprehensive plan and substantive details about the development before the Alderman or the City considers any proposal.

We lack information on so many topics including traffic plans, long term use of the Treasure Island space, and future plans for the two gas stations owned by Fern Hill. 

• Large development projects work with City Officials for months before finally providing highlights to the community just before a public vote. The project proposed by Fern Hill is no exception. 

• The community deserves a transparent process that allows all residents to voice their concerns regarding the proposed plans. Transparency includes input on all plan phases, not just piecemeal overviews about individual parcels or properties. The Fern Hill development must be reviewed at one time and not piece by piece over many years.

• When final project plans are provided, residents and stakeholders in the community must be given sufficient time to review the proposals with consultants and experts from both sides. Only then should additional meetings be held for the community to voice their concerns or support. Once final plans are unveiled, community meetings on specific topics should be considered, including separate meetings on traffic, density, and architecture.

• OTFRD wants greater transparency from Fern Hill about their specific plans for the development, including hearing from the retail partners. Many of these stakeholders are going to shape the face of the development, and the group wants to listen to what plans they have in store for the community.

We are not opposed to development at this site but the scale is staggering for Old Town. Constructing a towering 500-unit building will create a level of density that is unsustainable for the neighborhood.

• Fern Hill has proposed an ultra-dense development. A large office-like tower comprised primarily of expensive single-bedroom apartment rental units will not contribute to the community's makeup.  

• By incorporating a diverse group of unit sizes, the development can create a living environment that prioritizes a sense of community and diversity congruent with the diverse group of people that make up Old Town. 

• Fern Hill wants the right to build a massive 460 foot tower with 500 rental units at the corner of North & Wells. Current zoning does not allow for a tower of that density. Rezoning that corner would open the floodgates to build more towers in Old Town.

Turning a crisis into a catastrophe is not acceptable. Old Town is already struggling to keep up with the existing traffic; any new development must make substantial efforts to improve the situation and not exacerbate it. The development must allow on-street parking to access local businesses and parks. 

• Old Town is already grappling with a traffic crisis. There are daily congestion issues that adversely affect the lives of community members. As currently proposed, OTFRD  believes the development will significantly exacerbate the crisis, making even short trips through the neighborhood unbearable. 

• The City and Alderman must carefully review any traffic plans pushed by the developer or their paid consultants to ensure the new development will not intensify the traffic crisis we have already experienced.

• There must be a balanced approach to parking. Removing street parking is not a solution to the more significant problem and would significantly impact local businesses’ ability to remain operable and retain customers, in addition to inconveniencing residents.

The community demands the use of reasonable height restrictions and building materials to preserve the character and historic architecture of the Old Town Triangle historic area. Old Town will quickly become New Town if developers continue to push modern structures that have no place in this historic neighborhood.

• Any proposal development in Old Town should enhance and embrace the historic community. Historical elements and green space should be a part of any proposal.

• To preserve the distinctive skyline of Old Town, any giant tower should be looked at with great apprehension. This developer has a goal of creating as many units as possible and going as high as possible regardless of the outcries of the neighborhood. While several towers are currently present in the surrounding community, they were also met with opposition and assurances that there would not be additional towers. Just because other large buildings exist is not a sufficient rationale to say additional towers will fit in the neighborhood.