CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A proposed development site at Lawrence and Western Avenues would’ve brought national grocer AmazonFresh to Lincoln Square, but Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) announced those plans have been shelved.
The alderman told his community that Fifth Third Bank, which owns the land, has terminated its contract with developer Hubbard Street Group (HSG).
The move came after Amazon failed to address community concern that began in February of 2021 over affordable housing, vehicle and foot traffic, and — most importantly — the impact that the store might have on local, independently owned businesses.
In a statement, Vasquez said that HSG did reach out to an affordable housing developer, Related Midwest, and added that HSG worked to address sidewalk and traffic concerns.
“Amazon, however, refused to provide any real solutions to the largest concern our community had — the effect on our local businesses,” the statement read.
Vasquez said he was “incredibly proud” of what he described as a community driven zoning process in his ward.
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