Although more than 100 residents from the West Side neighborhood showed up for a hearing at city hall, opposition was muted by an impassioned call for support from 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. While the Chicago/Central Park area slated has continued to deteriorate, he notes commercial and institutional development around the Cabrini-Green housing project, a revitalized Greektown neighborhood, and a Kinzie Street area that has become attractive to businesses.

"This area has more vacant lots than any other area of the ward. There has been no substantial commercial development along Chicago Avenue or Division Street," says Burnett, whose ward stretches five miles from Downtown. "People in our neighborhood are moving out, with some of them paying a mortgage on a vacant house or lot because they can't sell it."

Eventually, TIF money will allow the city to buy out owners of some of the empty storefronts that predominate Chicago Avenue, Burnett says.