City ignored zoning rules to benefit Kennedys, say Wolf Point opponents

(Above) The Residences at Riverbend, at right, early on August 17. Located on North Canal Street, the 38-story condominium is approximately 250 feet across the Chicago River from Wolf Point.

By Steven Dahlman

August 23, 2013 – The condo association that is suing the City of Chicago to stop development of Wolf Point came out swinging in its response to a motion by the city to dismiss the complaint.

Attorneys for The Residences at Riverbend say the city “effectively suspended its zoning standards and regulations in order to benefit a politically connected family.”

Houston-based Hines Interests L.P., representing the Kennedy family, wants to build three towers at Wolf Point near where the Chicago River splits into its north and south branches. In May, one of the architects said construction of the first tower would begin on July 31. Three weeks past that date, construction does not appear to have started and neither the architectural firm nor the developer is offering information on any new schedule.

(Left) The three structures would comprise a 525-foot 510-unit residential tower on the west side, a 950-foot south tower, and a 750-foot east tower.

Riverbend’s attorneys, Richard Kessler and Joseph Jacobi of McDonald Hopkins LLC, say the city denied the condo association a fair hearing “by concealing information and precluding [them] from effectively presenting their objections.”

They say the city, in approving the zoning amendment that allows the project, ignored the requirements of its own zoning ordinance, the 2009 master plan for the Downtown Central Area, design standards and guidelines for building structures adjacent to the Chicago River, and a 2012 nature conservation plan.

“Despite these extraordinary events, the city seeks dismissal of the complaint,” writes Kessler and Jacobi incredulously in their response that was filed in U.S. District Court on August 13.

Even as neighbors, Riverbend condo owners, say their attorneys, do have property interests in Wolf Point that are protected by state and federal laws – and they have sufficiently argued that development of Wolf Point will cause “immediate and definite injury to their property interests.”

The city now has until August 27 to reply to the response. A status hearing is scheduled for November 5.