In early June, I had a post about the Sportif Importer Ltd. Bike Shop. The store is located in the thriving Jefferson Park area on Chicago's Northwest Side.
The original June 6 article I blogged about is no longer available on the ABC 7 Chicago web site, I did find this re-print on Free Republic.
A summary: A developer, Demetrius Kozonis, has enlisted the assistance of Chicago Alderman Patrick Levar to have the site declared "blighted," and therefore available for an eminent domain land grab so Kozonis can build some expensive condominiums where Sportif now stands.
Sportif has been at the same location for 35 years. The location is a good one--just blocks from an entrance ramp onto I-90, as well as the Jefferson Park "el" train stop.
Since my June 6 post, I've driven past Sportif and through that neighborhood. Neither the store or the area is blighted. Only a broken "S" on the storefront looks bad.
On June 23, in an idiotic decision, Kelo vs. New London, the US Supreme Court greatly strengthened the hand of local governments in their ability to seize properties such as the Sportif Bike Shop in "blighted areas."
As far at Sportif and the surrounding neighborhood, you can decide for yourself if it's a slum. Mark at Windypundit has a separate photoblog, with pictures of Sportif and its surroundings.
The photo in the upper left hand corner is courtesy of Mark's photoblog.
It's the first in a series of photobloggings Mark will be doing on Chicago area buildings facing similar eminent domain predicaments.
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