A charrette or a charade?

On Dec. 16, the Chicago Department of Planning and Development held a new kind of public forum about a major planning and development scheme for greater building density on Broadway from Montrose to Devon avenues. They call it a charrette. I call it useless.

Instead of elected officials and city staff publicly explaining the complex plan and taking questions and comments, the city posted presentation boards, and city staff talked to small groups of residents about each board. Then, believe it or not, the residents got to provide input by putting sticky notes up on designated boards. Democracy by sticky note, apparently.

The lead city staffer explained to me the city now does these charrettes, because younger people and people of color don’t like traditional public forums. Really?

I went around and told groups of people that this charrette model is unsatisfactory because most of us are not architects or urban planners, and we don't understand these busy presentation boards. I said we need to hear the city's elected officials and staff explain and take responsibility for these plans, and for everyone to hear everyone else's questions and comments.

Most of the residents nodded agreement, saying they didn't understand the presentation boards either.

Architect Thom Greene, who's been involved in development issues in Uptown and Edgewater for many years, was there and agreed. He described how the west side of Broadway needs to be treated differently from the east side because the west side backs up on single-family homes while the east side could handle higher and denser buildings.

A young resident heard that and said, "That's interesting, I didn't think of that." I said that's exactly why we need a public forum where everyone hears testimony from well-informed residents like Greene.

Instead, since this is the second and last charrette, the city now will rush forward to make zoning changes and do whatever it’s going to do — likely what real estate developers prefer. And we'll all be surprised by what happens.

This is a way for city officials to avoid having democratic public forums where people offer their unvarnished views and difficult conversations take place. That's what I told Alds. Angela Clay (46th) and Matt Martin (47th) that night. They listened and brushed me off.

Harris Meyer, Uptown

Bad serve

Come on, guys and gals! Thirty-five pages in Sports Sunday and NOT ONE item about the NCAA women's volleyball championship.

There was scant, if any, coverage throughout the entire tournament. There is more to sports than football. These are exciting games and deserve coverage.

Carolyn Becker, Oak Park

Flag fatigue

I so agree with letter writer Mike Kirchberg about the new Illinois flag designs. Not only are they bland, but they are dark and dreary. There was no WOW factor. I also find them too hard to understand without an explanation.

Some highlight Lake Michigan. This is not a Chicago flag but an Illinois flag. It should represent the entire state.

I think our current flag is suitable. To replace it is a waste of money, which the state does not have. I would suggest officials cancel the vote and just give some sort of a plaque to the artists to thank them for their efforts.

Mario Caruso, Lincoln Square