Demolition of a building near Skinner Park has reignited hopes that additional room for dogs to romp could be in the offing for this part of the West Loop, where planning for the neighborhood’s canines has often been laced with disagreement.

The City of Chicago is currently taking down the two-story brick building at the northeast corner of Monroe and Loomis, a structure long vacant despite its proximity to Skinner Park and nearby residential projects.

With the land soon expected to be cleared, May Toy, president of the Skinner Park Advisory Council, is now calling for a dog friendly area to be built atop the land.

Toy has long criticized the Chicago Park District’s plans to build a 7,779-square-foot, dog-friendly area at 1451-57 W. Monroe, over what is currently a Whitney Young High School parking lot, saying the appointed space is simply inadequate to meet the needs of West Loop dogs and their owners.

“You need to meet the needs of dog owners. You can’t just say, ‘Here, you have something, be happy with it,’” Toy said. “When you want to play tennis, you don’t give them a ping pong table.”

Prior to the park district board of commissioners’ ratification of that set-up last November, Toy had made the case for years that the dog area should be located along Loomis, between Skinner Park proper and athletic fields used primarily by Whitney Young’s sports teams.

Molly Sullivan, a spokeswoman for the Department of Community Development, said the city has no specific plans for the parcel at Loomis and Monroe when the building is finally down.

The demolition, according to Sullivan, was only motivated by the city’s desire to rid from its inventory structures that have not drawn interest from buyers or developers. The city doesn’t have the funds to maintain such buildings in perpetuity, she said.

But Toy has found backing for the idea from Ald. Walter Burnett (27th), whose ward includes the parcel.

Burnett cautioned the idea was “preliminary” and said if the project was a go, the money would have to be raised among community members, in addition to some funds coming out of the Central West Tax Increment Financing District. Neither Toy nor Burnett know how much building out a new dog-friendly area at Loomis and Monroe would cost.

“They’ve got to go and do soil testing. The soil testing will have a lot to do with the cost estimate,” Burnett said. “Once they do that, then we can have an idea on cost, and it also depends on what the design is going to be.”

Burnett recently wrote a letter to two development firms that had donated $25,000 for a dog park in the West Loop, asking they release the funds, which are currently held in escrow, to the Skinner Park Advisory Council.

Toy said how those funds are applied to the dog park depends how much the city comes up for another dog-friendly area. Toy argued the dog-friendly area at 1451-57 W. Monroe, which is expected to cost between $100,000 and $150,000 in TIF funds, should be scrapped, the funds instead going to the Loomis and Monroe parcel.

A spokesperson for the park district said construction on the dog area the park district board previously agreed to is expected to start in the fall.

Contact: mmaidenberg@chicagojournal.com

---

By daja from west loop
Posted: 08/16/2010 1:36 PM

This is a much larger space and much better location than the parking lot. My dog Gigi and all her doggie friends would love it! I helped collect signatures to support this new site at Loomis and Monroe.

---

By Nick from West Loop
Posted: 08/06/2010 11:44 AM

People should read the article before commenting. The City was planning to demolish the building ALREADY because they couldn't afford to maintain it and it is already halfway down. I lived close by and the roof had already started to cave in before they started demolishment. I don't have a dog but 75% of the folks in my building do. I think that this is great for the neighborhood.

---

By Bojan
Posted: 08/05/2010 8:27 AM

Only in America do they build parks for dogs on prime real estate instead of parks for children. Nowhere else on this planet. Isn't there enough room within Skinner Park to build a dog park? Instead of wasting that money on a dog park maybe they should just fix up Skinner Park. The entitlement pet owners feel in this country is baffling.

---

By Gina Jackson from West Loop
Posted: 08/05/2010 1:49 AM

Anyone who's lived around Skinner Park for any length of time can't help but notice all the positive improvements that the Skinner Park Advisory Council has brought to "our" park including the new playground. As both a parent and a dog owner who lives by Skinner Park, I'm in full support of this new location for the dog park. We'd never have used the parking lot dog park since it's small size and asphalt surface makes it unsafe for our dog. It's better to do it right.

---

By P Fuller from West Loop
Posted: 08/04/2010 5:35 PM

You want to waste money to tear it down to build a "dog park"? Here you have a building with obvious good bones that could be turned into several nice homes with ease. How about a small schools, a business, restauraunts. This is type of property that should be enterprised and shopped to new or small businesses that create jobs. How hypocritical of 'dog owners' pretending to be green....What next, we start giving dogs LINK cards for free food?

---

By Joey Boy from West Loop
Posted: 08/04/2010 5:06 PM

The only one leading you around on a leash, or at least trying to do so, is that flip flop of an alderman Fioretti who when he was running for office supported the dog park at the original Loomis location - not the one currently proposed by Toy/Burnett at Loomis & Monroe. Now that he is in power, he is going back on his word. Just another reason not to vote for him for alderman/mayor/congressman/dog catcher/governor/president/emperor or whatever else he is running for.

---

By Brian from Monroe/Sangamon
Posted: 08/04/2010 2:45 PM

What a joke. We have two dog friendly areas in the works within a mile of each other right now. The last thing we need is to wait another five years while the city raises money to demolish this building and build a dog park. Burnett says the idea is preliminary and no one knows how much it will cost. May Toy wants to scrap the dog park we will have soon for one that we are not guaranteed. Ridiculous idea. Keep letting that woman lead you around on a leash and see where it gets you.

---

By Mike Tomey from West Loop
Posted: 08/04/2010 10:06 AM

We need a large dog "park" not just a slab. Glad an "elected" official who actually listens to the community. That building has been an eyesore for way too long. This is a great use for the land. Good job Alderman Burnett and Skinner Park Advisory Council for fighting for the entire community including dog owners.

---

By Rich from West Loop
Posted: 08/02/2010 3:12 PM

The space in the parking lot is plenty big enough. The city has enough trouble getting services to people -- we don't need to build the Taj Mahal of dog parks. Plus, there is a new dog area at the Adams-Sangamon park.

---

By West Loop wants a dog park from at Monroe and Loomis
Posted: 07/30/2010 6:58 PM

I agree with the new location at Monroe & Loomis. The other location in the Whitney Young parking lot is way too small. Why Fioretti would even propose such a community unfriendly location is totally beyond belief. My understanding is that the West Loop community overwhelmingly supports the Monroe/Loomis location. Thank you Ald. Burnett for supporting the community; and thank you Skinner Park Advisory Council for keeping up the pressure on Fioretti. I just wish more people would do the same.

---

By Charlie from West Loop
Posted: 07/30/2010 10:16 AM

This is great news! I just sign the petition for this new dog park at Loomis and Monroe. I'd rather wait and have it done right. This is a much better option. Thank you Alderman Burnett and the Skinner Park Advisory Council!

---

By John Finnegan from west loop
Posted: 07/29/2010 10:27 AM

I smell another delay with the DFA at Skinner . Whats another 5 years