Tonight: Residents Expected to Speak Out Against Proposed Walgreens

Readers have reached out to Skokie Patch and said they're planning on speaking out against a proposed Walgreens' development at tonight's village board meeting. The pharmacy giant would be building a business at the now vacant UBBA Tap, 9956 Crawford Ave. The property is just a stone's throw from neighboring Evanston.

The village's plan commission approved the Walgreens' development at a December 2012 meeting, despite objections from neighboring residents.

Some nearby Skokie residents are not thrilled about the decision.

Cindy Latin, who has lived down the street from UBAA for nearly 25 years, noted that there's already a CVS drugstore two blocks away at Crawford Avenue and Central Street. She also added that she and a group of neighbors will be attending tonight's village board meeting to voice their opinon against the proposed devlopment. 

"Why do we need another Walgreens?" Latin asked. "How many pharmacies does a community need? I know a lot [of my neighbors] aren't happy about this. Our quiet street is going to have cars flying through it now."

About one block away from the proposed site is Highland Elementary School. Latin  said some parents are concerned about the traffic the pharmacy giant will bring to the area.

It is unclear whether the village will be voting for the approval of the new Walgreens tonight.

Meanwhile, some neighboring Evanston residents are also concerned and might attend the meeting.

Alderman Mark Tendam (6th Ward) said a lot of his constituents have concerns about the proposed site.

"The way the property is situated, there's certainly going to be an impact on Evanston residents," he said last month. "I know there are concerns about the hours, about liquor sales ... I know there are already two other liquor stores in that stretch of Old Orchard Road, so I don't know how much booze we need in that stretch."

--

Skokie Patch on Facebook