This is all about the site at 3809 s Ashland. The building was built in 1920 by Samuel Scott, and some preservation Groups want part of the building maintained.

Karis Cold Storage purchased the site, they own and lease out cold storage for various clients

They own and run ashland cold storage on 43rd and ashland not too far from this site.

The meeting is set to start at 6:00, pretty sparsely attended, besides Ald. Ramirez, city staff, there are maybe 10 members of the public.

We have representatives from the demolition, the developer, the commissioner of the department of public health, the acting commissioner of buildings, and one of the city health inspectors.

We now have background from the city. Karis intends to build a cold storage facility at the site, there is already a site plan, traffic study, and air quality study on the site. There have been 4 previous community meetings on the site.

The moderator (who wasn't introduced) says that the site is considered "enviromentally complex" and contains lead paint which is what triggered the meeting requirement.

Marlene Hopkins is up to talk about the site. There are two demolition permits, one for each site. Both permits were issued on march 13/2024.

Hopkins says that this is not a demolition by implosion, this will be a mechanical demolition. This will be done through excavator, crane, some wrecking ball, and hand demolition, and will take around 4 months.

Commissioner Dr. Ige from CDPH, is up, she says that this was designated "environmentally complicated" due to the mixture of potential toxins and residential buildings nearby. This triggers a special process so that we can know all the impacts before work begins,

She says that the problems here are: Dust- -Which will be controlled by debris being wet/covered -improved drainage -a 10 mph speed limit - all roadways and vehicle access points will be swept and wet.

Additionally there is a concern around Asbestos: Dr. Ige says that the cities only asbestos inspector will ensure that all asbestos will be removed and disposed prior to demolition. This has already been done.

Dr. Ige also says that all lead has been removed, and at least 50% of the uncontaminated construction and demolition debris will be recycled or reused.

Acting Comis Hopkins says that DOB and CDPH will be onsite before any demolition, and that they will be on site daily prior to any active demolition to observe and ensure all regulations are being complied with.

This is the design of the building. The rep from Karis says that the facade and building can't be saved because the building is very purpose-built. It will be about 99k square feet.

Domonic from American Demolition, is up. He says that they were the org that did the Wrigley gum factory, without any complaints. he says the demolition will take 4 months, and will take about 15-20 union staff

He says there will be 3 dust monitoring sensors on site. Domonick DiSilvio was his name.

We now move into community questions and comments. Layla Willis is up first from Landmarks Illinois. She asks why they can't save the building. Karis's rep responds, that the attractiveness of the site is its location near the stockyards,

he says that to make it a cold storage site it needs purpose built steel lined walls, which requires a special layout.

Layla reads a statement from Landmarks Illinois saying they oppose the demolition. She says that the continental can company (the old name of the site) was once a hub for hundreds of industrial operations. In 2014, it was included in the list of most endangered places in IL

She says that in 2016, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and she urges the developer to reconsider plans. She asks if an EPA permit will be needed

Dr. Ige responds that she does not believe that an EPA permit will be required. A member of the audience shouts out "why", "if its considered an environmentally complex demolition" Dr. Ige says that its designation is due to proximity to houses, lead, and dust, not the EPA

Ward Miller is up from Preservation Chicago. He says that all of these sites are significant on a world scale, for their processing of food tied to the stockyards.

He says that we are diminishing a key asset, he quotes Dilla's "everything dope comes from Chicago" He talks about the architect Samuel Scott Joy, he specifically wants to save the tower, and the facade saved.

He says that "bricks are bricks" but we can't demolish our way into the future.

A representative from Neighbors for Environmental Justice is up. She asks how CDPH is going to contact the residents of those blocks, before this goes into effect, and she also asks if there is a phone number to call. She specifically cites concerns around Namaste Charter

Dr. Ige says that her community engagement team is here and they will provide a phone number for CDPH, and will do some door to door engagement.

The Neighbors for Environmental Justice board member (whose name I didn't catch) The demolition contractor says that since it is union work the work will take place 5 days a week, 7-330.

Caroline from Bridgeport is up next. She echoes concern for preserving history, she shouts out support for union workers being part of the demolition. She calls on the city to do to due diligence for EJ reasons.

Sara Mathers, (who I just realized was the moderator) has been, hilarious, cracking jokes, and engaging with every speaker. Hardcore shoutout.

Another speaker is up, he doesn't say his name, he calls on the 12th and 11th ward, and DPD to come up with a plan to preserve whats left of the central manufacturing district.

There is another community member up. She asks if the future building is more important than preserving the old building, and she asks what the new building will be used for . She says that if its for food she supports it because "the old building looks bad"

She makes a comment about vertical farming. Karis says that they are building the building on spec, but that if there was vertical farming interests they'd be interested but there are still environmental and logistical concerns.

Another member of the community, he says that he lives a block away, his kids go to namaste charter, his church is a block away, he says that his is dirt. He asks who is accountable Dr. Ige, says that she is accountable for holding the demolition company responsible.

Domonick from the demolition company says there are no visual environmental hazards, the asbestos has been taken care of, and other dust will be handled through air monitoring, and water. He says that they are a Chicago company, his guy are Chicago guys, they breathe the air too

Sonya from Mckinley park is up. She expresses concern around transportation emissions from the cold storage and asks if there has been any planning or process around that.

The rep from Karis says that the building is by-right, because its replacing an industrial building. He also says that cold storage has a different transportation standard and is fractional compared to other vehicle traffic from manufacturing or say Amazon.

Caroline from Bridgeport asks if there is anything we can do anything about the hours, The demolition contractors say the hours are set.

The inspector from CDPH talks about dust, he says that these companies have bought into a technology called a "dust boss" which sprays water into the air, captures the dust, and drops it to the ground safely.

With that at 7:06 the meeting wraps up!