07-24-17 Public Works and Property Vacation

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Committeemember Broden followed up, Why did the Board of Public Works make you petition for the entire alley? Mr. Crowley replied, I'm assuming they wanted to settle the matter once and for all. Committeemember Broden then asked, Is there precedence in vacating only a portion of the alley? Mr. Crowley replied, If it were agreeable to the group to proceed with a favorable recommendation for just the alley as far as the fence goes, that would be fine with us. Committeemember Broden stated, I've scoped out the area and hydrants seem proximate. I think proximity to the back-up hydrant is the significant factor here. I understand that. Committeemember Ferlic asked, What is the purpose of the vacation?Are there future development plans for the land? Mr. Crowley replied, It may turn into possible patio seating. Committeemember Broden asked, Is the Welsheimer property the one (1) that runs north on Portage Avenue? Mr. Crowley replied, The Welsheimer property is immediately north of Frank's building and it is nothing but a garage. The footprint is a little more than the garage area. So the parking lot for Welsheimer's is across William Street next to their building. The affected property is just a tiny little square. Committee Chair Voorde then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. Daniel Chapman, 330 W Navarre Street, stated, There was permission given for the fence based on a police evaluation. There was an assessment done and the area was deemed a problem area. Because I wasn't given permission to vacate this alley originally, I was given permission by that group to build that gate and fence. We're not okay with expansion at Frank's Place. Expansion means more nuisance. We have been through years and years of nuisance problems. The gate was a great solution but it wasn't the end-all solution. For example,before the gate, I went out to get in my car and go to work and there's a drunk guy passed out. I call the cops and they take him away. People have also knocked over my birdbath and they continuously speed through the alley. Maria Tomasula, 326 W Navarre Street, stated, It is a thin wooden fence. We clean it several times a year. We try to be good neighbors but our neighborliness consists mostly of not complaining. Every time we have to act in response to Frank's Place, we quietly tolerate the daily irritations and inconveniences. We do not want it to expand. The things we have to deal with now are almost to the point of not being tolerable. Even before the fence it was not tolerable. There were many people walking, urinating, and passing out. When the gate was put 3