The proposal by Catholic Charities Housing Development and Technical Assistance Corporation for Housing has been recommended to the city council by the plan commission, after objections that the plans were a radical departure from designs normally presented by the department of planning and development.

Plan commission member Doris B. Holleb notes the three buildings of 80 to 104 units would be constructed in the center of the 7.7-acre site, "in a sea of parking." However, department of planning and development deputy commissioner Jack Swenson counters that design was favored by the neighborhood, which did not five-story buildings along Irving Park Road. "It's a challenge to meet the two conflicting goals here," he explains, adding the current buildings' setbacks are objectionable to neighbors.

"This goes against every urban planning rule and concept we know of," counters plan commission member Linda Searl. "I think it's a completely wrong plan. It goes against all the concepts we've talked about, at least in the five years I've been here."