6220 N. California Ave. – Aldi Grocery Store

Posted 11/15/2009:  Aldi clears the way for new store
The existing building has been demolished and the site cleared to make way for a new, larger store. It is not yet known when construction will begin or when the new store is expected to open. Aldi has not yet received a building permit and at this time there is no record of an application. However, this does not necessarily mean that Aldi has not already applied for a permit. Due to various Buildings department procedures, there is sometimes no record of an application until the permit has been approved and issued. Aldi recently opened a store in the new mixed-use development at Broadway and Granville in the 49th Ward. Another freestanding Aldi store is under construction next to the PetSmart on Oakton Avenue in Evanston.

Posted 7/7/2009:  Is Aldi preparing to expand?
It has been rumored for several years that Aldi is planning to expand or replace its existing store with a new store to include rooftop parking. An ordinance recently introduced by Ald. Stone hints that the project may be moving closer to reality. At the June 30 City Council meeting, Ald. Stone introduced an ordinance for a grant of privilege in the public way. A public way ordinance is required for any use or structure that takes infringes upon any street, sidewalk, alley or other part of the public way. The proposed ordinance would allow the new building foundations to extend beyond the property line along Western and Granville. Presumably, this encroachment would be entirely below grade and not visible in the finished building. Unfortunately, the drawing included with the ordinance is very dificult to read and does not appear to show the area in question.

One of the odd things about grants of privilege is that they are approved only for a limited period of time, in this case for five years. This seems entirely reasonable when we're talking about a temporary structure such as a sign, but makes no sense when we're talking about permanent structures like the foundations of a building or projecting balconies.

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