Blight on Harlem, Part II

The latest article in the "Neighborhoods for Sale" series in the Chicago Tribune points out the sidewalk-eating behemoth on Harlem and Addison:

On Harlem Avenue in the 36th Ward, a developer who has given the alderman $3,000 used a zoning change to put up a five-story condo complex despite objections from neighbors. Now the builder is trying to entice potential buyers by offering a year without condo association assessments.

The justification the mayor gives for giving aldermen final say in what gets built in their wards is that if they displease the residents they'll get voted out. This apparently happened in former Bucktown alderman Matlak's loss. But a lot of architectural havoc is wreaked before that happens.