W E D N E S D A Y
December 25, 2019 Vol. 39, No. 21 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Special section Pages 20-25
Taco Bell pitched for Roosevelt and Austin After getting turned down on Madison Street, fast-food outfit changes plan By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
Taco Bell fans in Oak Park will rejoice in hearing that the Zoning Board of Appeals has received an application to build a freestanding franchise Taco Bell, complete with drive-thru, at 6000-20 Roosevelt Road. U.S. Bank formerly occupied the 32,724-square-foot property. Don’t plan a fiesta quite yet. Zoning law requires a special use permit to build the drive-thru, and the last time Taco Bell came to Oak Park pitching a location on Madison Street, it didn’t go well for the fast-food chain. “The main issue is that they’re installing a drive-thru,” said Oak Park Zoning Administrator Michael Bruce. But that’s not all the developer is asking for. They also seek a pair of zoning variations, which are not inconsiderable. The applicant, Ampler Development, a multibrand franchise restaurant group, is asking for a reduction in street frontage coverage. Zoning law requires 60 percent of street frontage along Roosevelt Road to be occupied by the building. Bruce esSee TACO BELL on page 14
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
FAITH IN ACTION: A volunteer sorts gift donations at United Lutheran Church for the Holiday Gift Basket program.
Community unites to spread holiday cheer Holiday Food and Gift Basket Program aids 2,000 people By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as the song goes, but it’s also the most expensive. For many who have fallen on hard times, financial anxiety can over-
shadow the happiness holidays bring. Since the 1970s, the Holiday Food and Gift Basket Program has made the holidays merry and bright for low-income households in Oak Park and River Forest, as well as some in neighboring Chicago areas. “This year, we had 720 households, which is a mix of individuals or families. It’s just under 2,000 total people,” said Patty Henek, who has coordinated the program under the Community of Congregation for the past nine Christmases.
“There’s a whole mix of reasons why a family might qualify for the program,” Henek said. “There are some folks, maybe medical bills have put them in this situation and this is why they’re struggling. Maybe somebody lost a job.” By providing grocery store gift cards for Thanksgiving and wrapped gifts for Christmas, the program helps families and individuals enjoy the holidays less encumbered. See GIFT BASKET on page 16
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