Pawar Supports Proposed Malnati's, Traffic Concerns Neighbors

By Daniel I. Dorfman

Despite concerns from some neighbors, 47th Ward Alderman Ameya Pawar is endorsing the proposed Lou Malnati’s at the corner of Lincoln and Leavitt.

At a meeting Tuesday night at the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce, with Pawar and owner Marc Malnati fielding questions, Pawar stated he supports the plan to convert the Golden Angel Diner on the 4300 block of Lincoln Avenue and convert it to one of more than 40 Chicago Malnati’s locations. The plan also calls for the restaurant to take over the coach house just off the existing property and make that part of the overall enterprise.

A public meeting on the restaurant last month drew many concerned about noise from outdoor seating.

While there is support for the idea, the likely influx of traffic troubles some residents who made their voices heard at a nearly two-hour meeting. Approximately 25 people, including former 47th Ward Alderman Gene Schulter, listened as Pawar said that with the owners of the Golden Angel retiring, he believes the restaurant is the best proposal for the spot. He specifically did not want to see a convenience store or a tavern going into the space.

“We didn’t want to turn the neighborhood upside down with another late night establishment,” Pawar said.

Restaurant will bring bar, outdoor seating

Because the restaurant would have a small bar that will serve eight people, the owners are required to go before the Chicago City Council and get a zoning change. That does not appear to be an area of negotiation for the owners.

“The frank conversation I had with Marc was if we oppose the zoning change, are they going to come in? It is likely not. It changes their approach,” Pawar said.

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Besides the bar, the proposal includes 130 seats inside in addition to the bar, a space for carry-out and delivery, 13 parking spaces both in the existing lot and on Lincoln Avenue, and seasonal outdoor seating for up to 58 people that will be on Leavitt, which has wider sidewalks than Lincoln. Malnati said juniper trees will be placed on the street to hold off some of the noise from the patrons and the restaurant.

“This is going to be an amenity that is much nicer than what is there right now,” Malnati said.

Malnati, whose father opened the business in 1971, said the eatery will be open until 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The alderman said Malnati’s had agreed to reduce the size of the outdoor seating from 100 to 58 and is willing to look at having only one curb opening to stem traffic. In the drawings showcased Tuesday, the plan calls for curb openings both on Lincoln and Leavitt.

Neighbors have concerns

But that did not placate some of the neighbors. “He is going to get what he wants and we are going to get the shaft,” said Sal Calamia, who has lived across the street for over 40 years. “It is going to affect my property value, my quality of life and my privacy.”

“My concern is about safety and the congestion,” added Edwin Trouba, another longtime resident. “Already (with) the traffic, (there are) cars racing through there. As you are walking to Welles Park or the library, traffic has gotten really bad. Now you are going to have cars going in and out and the delivery trucks. I just think it is a safety concern.”

This was the second of two meetings on the matter and another neighbor thought the public should have had more of a voice in the matter.

“I think it is unfortunate that most of the residents didn’t actually get a chance to voice their opinion before this went so far down,” noted Gina Orlando. “While there was a meeting tonight it doesn’t seem like was much room for negotiation. It does seem like a definite.”

Support for the proposal

But not all neighbors at Tuesday’s meeting were opposed to Malnati’s establishing a presence in the neighborhood.

“Lou Malnati’s has a great name and a lot of families will dine there. It will be great for the neighborhood,” said Steven Gross. “I do see a problem with traffic but hopefully people will see the wave of the future and start riding their bicycles.”

With Pawar on board, Malnati now has to schedule an appearance before the city’s Zoning Committee. If all goes as he hopes in terms of meeting the regulations, the restaurant could be open by next summer.

Despite some heated rhetoric at the nearly two-hour meeting Tuesday, Pawar was happy with the exchange and stood by his support.

“I have to look at not just what is happening in that area, but the community at large,” the freshman alderman said. “Lou Malnati’s is a well loved Chicago establishment and I think this is going to be a fantastic addition to the community.”