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ComEd to fix corner of Clark & Kinzie Residents complained to Alderman about steep curb 31-Mar-10 – A particularly steep curb in River North is going to be rebuilt, thanks to complaints from residents, including two residents of Marina City. Carol Minkel and Betty Hogeorges wrote to 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly last year, complaining of steep curbs, most notably the southwest corner of North Clark Street and West Kinzie Street. Said Minkel about the Clark & Kinzie corner, which is on the most direct path from Marina City to CVS/pharmacy, “it is an absolutely horrendous corner.” Even when dozens of corner sidewalks in the River North and nearby neighborhoods of downtown Chicago were rebuilt last September to make them comply with the Americans with Disabilities act, the Clark & Kinzie corner was not disturbed.
(Above) At the southwest corner of the intersection of North Clark Street and West Kinzie Street, pedestrians climb two steep steps to reach the curb. Reilly responded to the complaints by writing on August 13 to Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Thomas Byrne, requesting inspection and repair of the sidewalks Minkel and Hogeorges noted. Byrne wrote back to Reilly, acknowledging the need for ADA compliant ramps at the intersections but saying there was no money to fix them. He said the design and construction costs would be at least $100,000. Nonetheless, Reilly requested a survey of the Clark & Kinzie corner. Apparently, CDOT did just that and determined that the sidewalk was the responsibility of ComEd, provider of electrical service to 3.8 million customers in northern Illinois. ComEd equipment is located in a vault underneath the sidewalk, accessible from a nearby manhole, according to the utility’s Communications Manager, Jeff Burdick. On March 16, Reilly wrote again to Minkel and Hogeorges, telling them ComEd was aware of the steep curbs and that the project had been “prioritized.” “The design and engineering for this project has been completed,” wrote Reilly. “I have been informed that the vaulted sidewalk will be reconstructed in the coming weeks, and is expected to be completed in early spring 2010, weather permitting.” ComEd to make short work of it but not until August Burdick, however, says the project may take a little longer, although ComEd representatives did meet with city officials about the corner earlier this week. “There are some additional conversations that will need to happen before we’re able to get started on the project,” he says. “But at present, we’re expecting to do some work on that corner in August and the hope would be to have everything completed then.” Between now and then, says Burdick, ComEd will have to secure the proper permits and have additional meetings between its engineers, contractors, and the City of Chicago. The work, once it starts, he believes, would probably take no more than one week to complete. “We would reduce the height of that curb, that sidewalk, as well as put in some handicap-accessible features, the usual grading down, the little ramp down, to make it easier and to conform to ADA requirements.” Minkel says she is satisfied with Reilly’s response to her complaint. Hogeorges says she is “happy to know the corner will be corrected” and when it is, “that occasion will also call for a bottle of Champagne.”
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