CHICAGO DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC 1333 N. Kingsbury Suite 306 Chicago, IL 60642 August 15, 2014 Alderman Patrick O Connor 5850 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60659 Re: Trumbull School Chicago Development Partners, LLC (CDP) is pleased to provide your office with feedback on our opinion of the highest and best uses for the re-development of Trumbull School. Over the past two months CDP has toured the property numerous times, met with the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and representatives of other neighborhood groups including West Andersonville Neighbors Together (WANT), Andersonville South Neighborhood Association (ASNA), and Edgewater Historical Society (EHS). At each meeting we presented and discussed the preliminary plan prepared by Fitzgerald Associates which is attached for your review. The key components of our proposal are: Retention of the current building in its present form. A maximum of 47 residential units ranging from 980 to 2,500 sq. ft. Rehabilitation of the auditorium into a permanent home for TimeLine Theatre Company as its primary space for performances, community engagement and operations. CDP would fund the rehabilitation of the theatre as part of the agreement with TimeLine. Appropriate parking that exceeds code requirements for both the theater and residential uses Our impression is that the various constituencies we presented to, strongly supported our plan, for the following reasons: TimeLine currently sells 25,000 tickets per year which could increase to approximately 35,000 in a permanent home like Trumbull. TimeLine has a proven track record for developing strong neighborhood relations and working with local businesses, a Chamber of Commerce and residents. Their new home at Trumbull would include a public lobby that is a welcoming gathering place for the community, helping to elevate and expand neighborhood cultural assets, and further establishing Andersonville as a cultural hub. TimeLine would partner with local restaurants and merchants to drive audience members to their businesses. TimeLine s Arts Education program conducts in-class residencies at numerous Chicago Public Schools, including ongoing partnerships with schools near Trumbull. They re committed to supporting the Chicago Cultural Plan, including its neighborhood engagement initiatives, and they would engage the neighborhood to deepen work in neighboring CPS classrooms and possibilities for summer youth programs in the theater at Trumbull. Area residents would receive discounted theatre tickets with zip code ID s. 00074741.DOCX / v. 2
The plan preserves Trumbull as a national and community landmark. The presence of a nationally recognized theatre such as TimeLine will enhance and expand neighborhoods reputation. TimeLine has distinguished itself by winning more than 50 local and national awards and being named Chicago Magazine s Best Theatre (2011) and the nation s Company of the Year by the Wall Street Journal in 2010, among others. The residential component would add permanent residents to the area. The project will generate substantial property tax revenue. CDP s role assures theatre gets built and operates as intended. We will not require any public funds to execute our plan. We have included a biography/resume of CDP and TimeLine for your information. In closing, we hope the RFP, as put forth by the process you have identified, will give preferential consideration to a plan such as ours for the many benefits outlined above. Both TimeLine and CDP look forward to meeting with the community to present our vision for the property in the weeks ahead. Respectfully submitted, Howard Weiner, Manager, Chicago Development Partners HW/rs Attachments 00074741.DOCX / v. 2
Re-Development Proposal for Trumbull School Ashland & Foster Chicago, Illinois Prepared for Ald. Patrick O Connor Submitted by: Developers CHICAGO Development Partners, LLC primera group inc. Architect FitzGerald Associates Architects
Howard Weiner, Principal, Chicago Development Partners Howard Weiner, the principal of Chicago Development Partners, is an award-winning developer with over 30 years experience who has successfully developed over $400,000,000 of residential, retail and commercial projects. Additionally, he has never had a loan default or been sued by a residential buyer. The bulk of Weiner s projects have centered in downtown Chicago and include over 500 residential units and over 250,000 square feet of retail space. Mr. Weiner s largest project is Skybridge, an 800,000 sq. ft. 40 story, mixed use project in Chicago s west loop which won the American Institute of Architects (AIA) prestigious National Honor Award. Citing the AIA award committee: "Skybridge is the successful marriage of architect and developer ; a breakthrough in residential high-rise design ; this tower becomes a delight on the Chicago skyline. In addition to recognition from the AIS, Weiner s projects have received awards from residential and real estate organizations such as Friends of the Chicago River and the Near North Board of Realtors. He has worked with such world renowned architects as Ralph Johnson at Perkins and Will, and Helmutt Jahn at Murphy/Jahn, and Pappageorge Haymes. Today, Weiner and his company, Chicago Development Partners have over $150,000,000 of multi-family and mixed use projects in various stages of development in downtown Chicago. Background Mr Weiner, a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in economics, moved to Chicago in 1979 where he joined American National Bank. There he was promoted to commercial banking officer, and in 1982 became the bank s youngest officer. In 1984 he began his real estate career, joining the design build firm of Shoda and Associates in Chicago, eventually becoming the principal of the firm s general contracting practice. He formed Urban Estates which provided development and general contracting services for wholly owned and third party development projects in and around downtown Chicago. In 1990 Mr. Weiner formed Dearborn Development Corp. which was a captive development firm for Mr. Weiner s projects. From 1992 to 2004 Dearborn expanded its geographic and property expertise to include multifamily, mixed use, commercial and land development. DDC projects included such diverse properties as a 150,000 sq. ft. retail center on the Chicago River (Fullerton Plaza), a 50 acre retail and office development in Nashville, TN, and of five, 100 year old buildings in Old Montreal, Quebec Canada into residential and retail. Anticipating the real estate downturn, in 2005 Mr. Weiner pursued his entrepreneurial spirit creating an internet company to deliver an on-line finishing program for home builders, and a internet driven educational and marketing content provider for medical professionals in the eye care, dermatology and plastic surgery professions. Both companies are still operating today. Mr. Weiner re-entered the real estate business in 2012 successfully positioned the sale of a $5,700,000 site in Chicago s West Loop.
Retail Projects Diversey & Halsted Fullerton Plaza 2037 N. Clybourn Multi Family 1155 W. Armitage Bucktown Park 33 W. Huron Mixed Use Other Skybridge 1333 N. Kingsbury Rue De LaCommune, Montreal
ABOUT US MISSION STATEMENT TimeLine Theatre Company presents stories inspired by history that connect with today s social and political issues. Our collaborative artistic team produces provocative theatre and educational programs that engage, entertain and enlighten. Now in our 18th season, TimeLine Theatre Company seeks to continue the extraordinary legacy of Chicago theater companies that started small, dreamed big and matured into prominent institutions that enrich the cultural landscape of the city. TimeLine s distinctive mission explores the stories that define the past and resonate in the present. Our team of Company Members works closely together to choose historically inspired material that will create a dialogue about the social and political issues facing society today. Our work has been recognized in Chicago and beyond: Company of the Year in The Wall Street Journal (2010), one of the American Theatre Wing s top 10 emerging professional theatre companies nationwide (2011), Chicago magazine s Best Theatre in the city (2011). And we have been honored with 50 Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production 10 times over 14 years of eligibility. We work to match artistic excellence with sophisticated business management, and these efforts also have been recognized. TimeLine was the first arts organization to receive the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence of a small company, and we have received the Association for Strategic Planning s Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award in the Non-Profit category. Living History Education Program Founded in 2006, the Living History Education Program brings TimeLine s mission to Chicago Public Schools, working with students on creative exercises related to historically inspired stories on TimeLine s stage and elsewhere in literature. During arts integration residencies of six to 13 weeks, students explore connections between history, art and their own lives, developing critical thinking and communication skills. Since its inception, more than 3,000 students have actively explored history through Living History. TimeLine currently partners with seven schools to present the program. Living History is made possible primarily through the generous foundation support of The Crown Family, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation and Polk Bros. Foundation. Thank you to all who have worked with and supported us along the remarkable timeline of our story so far. We re honored to have made history with all of you and look forward to everything that is to come! Pictured (from top, from left): Pat Hofmann, PJ Powers, Juliet Hart (SUMMIT CONFERENCE, 1998); Greta Oglesby, Mildred Marie Langford (A RAISIN IN THE SUN, 2013); David Parkes, Elizabeth Rich (HANNAH AND MARTIN, 2004); Derek Garza, Charles Gardner (MY KIND OF TOWN, 2012); and Janet Ulrich Brooks (33 VARIATIONS, 2012).