One of Carvana’s vending machines. (Provided by Carvana)
Carvana, with its sleek glass tower that distributes cars like cans of soda pops and bags of potato chips. Wall Street darling Founded in 2012, it claims itself as the future of car sales.
But progress is in the eyes of the viewer, environmentalists argue. For migratory birds, which have been declining in number in recent decades, the 140-foot-high transparent structure, which is brightly lit 24 hours a day, is a deadly clash waiting to happen. Says.
The battle between commerce and nature maintenance has emerged with Skokie. There, Carvana proposes to build one of the vending machines directly across the street. Harms Woods, Designated Illinois Nature Reserve It is located along the main green path of birds that embraces the northern tributaries of the Chicago River.
“Sure, everything made of glass is dangerous, but here we have birds and glass in the green corridor, which is often used by migratory and resident birds.” Chicago Bird Collision Monitor.. “The enhanced threat is to light up at night and attract birds. It’s a triple threat.”
Members of the birdwatching community, as well as residents of adjacent condos / apartments, have their own beef with Carvana, putting pressure on Skokie staff to put a brake on Carvana’s proposal. Their opposition seems to have influenced.
Skokie’s planning committee approves Carvana’s planning committee Exterior planNeed relief from the village sign code in mid-November, Board of Trustees The final vote for the project was scheduled for this month.
However, at a meeting of the Board on December 6, Mayor George Van Dussen informed attendees that the issue had been kicked back to the Planning Commission for additional hearing.
According to a village spokesman, Carvana’s proposal was remanded to the planning committee to address four issues: building and sign lighting, truck routes, delivery times, and bird strike prevention. She said the tentative date for the next discussion was the Planning Committee meeting on January 6, and the earliest issue that the village board could consider was January 18.
Rob Kusel, a Skokie resident who first warned about Carvana’s potential for a bird strike, said he was eager to see how Carvana would change the table.
Carvana did not respond to WTTW News’ request for comment, November 18 Planning Committee At the meeting, a company representative said, “Carvana is sensitive to this problem of bird clashes” and “is open to seeing another glass.”
“This can be a victory for birds, a victory for Skokie, and a victory for Calvana,” Kusel said. “I still don’t know if Skokie will turn Calvana’s feet to the fire or if Calvana will do the right thing.”
The Harmswoods Nature Reserve is opposite Skokie’s potential Carvana vending machine site. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
The proposed Carvana location, 9801 Woods Drive, is now a ground parking lot for 654 cars that is part of the campus. Previously occupied by Rand McNally, Which Resigned in 2018.. As stated in the planning committee report, other developers have not proposed a solid plan for the vacant 5 acre site.
The Eden’s Expressway runs east of the site and the Calvana building is designed as a 3D sign.
“It’s an exhibition tower,” a company representative said at a meeting of the planning committee. “We want to be able to see our car.”
The parcels are zoned for “office / research” and cover a wide range of applications such as office, retail and industry.In response to complaints from neighboring residents Optima Old Orchard Woods In the development of what the Calvana Tower is called “Garish” and “obtrusive”, the Commission noted that the proposed building footprint is actually much smaller than what is allowed by zoning.
The planned height of 140 feet is below the maximum of 180 feet. The proposed setback is approximately 100 feet from each site boundary for the required 50 feet. The maximum land coverage allowed by the building is 30%. The Calvana Tower occupies only 3.6%. In short, things can get worse.
Optima itself is a huge glass surface of 660 units, close to the Old Orchard Mall and Harms Woods, completed in 2008 and touted as selling points. According to Prince and Kusel, the complex is not as big as the Tower of Calvana, but it does pose a threat to birds. Some important differences are that Optima’s glass is not completely transparent, residents use blinds and the lights are off at night.
On the other hand, see-through glass and constant lighting are essential to Carvana and its brand.The company has already built 30 such towers In 18 states, including Oak Brook.
However, in Kusel’s opinion, “The moment they chose that location (opposite Harmswoods), they were obliged to be caretakers. If there was a building that needed to incorporate a safe design into the bird, this Is necessary. “
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Robert Kusel is a nature-themed photographer. “One of the reasons for my concern is that I’ve seen far fewer birds in number and variety since 2010,” he said. The bird above is just one of the species he shot with Skokie. (Provided by Robert Kusel)
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Proposed Carvana site, currently 5 acres of parking. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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Skokie’s Woods Drive is the line between Harmswood on the left and development on the right. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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Optima Complex, adjacent to Calvana Site and opposite Harms Woods. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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A popular nature trail in Harmswoods, opposite the Calvana site. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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Golden hour at Harmswoods. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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The barely visible Eden’s Expressway runs behind the proposed Calvana site. The see-through glass and lighting of the Calvana Tower is designed as a 24/7 sign. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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As a nature reserve, Harmswoods itself is protected from development, but not from what is happening across the street. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
Chicago is unusual among major cities in that it is located along one of the country’s major north-south migratory bird routes. The combination of city location, bright light and tall buildings is, in fact, deadly to birds. The most deadly in the countryAccording to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Birds look straight through clear glass and cannot recognize obstacles in the flight path, or glass reflections, especially if the reflections are trees, are aware of what is real and what is mirrored. Will be lost. Wright further disorients and pulls the bird away from the path of travel.
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors collects approximately 6,000 birds each year in an area of just 1.5 square miles downtown. Prince said he did not claim a ban on glass buildings, but he has enough product and design features to minimize the risk of collisions. ..
“We have a solution. This doesn’t have to happen. It’s only correct if the design is bird safe and you can do it, why don’t you?” She said. “It may be subtle and attractive.”
Visit the Milwaukee Bucks Fiserv Forum, which opened in 2018, according to Prince.It was designed as The most bird-friendly professional sports arena Domestically, it has built-in features such as the type of coated glass that looks like a bird but is transparent to the human eye.
“It doesn’t disturb the view, you need to be very close to the building to see it,” she said of mitigation. But for birds, the thoughtful design of the building was a lifesaver. “I saw a bird approaching it, detouring and flying away,” Prince said.
Bucks rushed to receive positive coverage of their arena. The benefits of public relations could benefit Calvana as well if they choose to modify their plans and accept the opportunity to make concessions for the birds.
“It can only be beneficial to their brand,” she said. “They were able to set a welcome example in the following places.”
Prince acknowledges that many people do not yet consider birds to be considered, and that birds are accepted as a secondary victim.
“You always have to fight those battles,” she said. But more and more people are understanding the important role that birds play in maintaining the health of ecosystems, and healthy ecosystems benefit humans like any other creature. ..
Chicago’s tallest buildings are now routinely dim during the most active migration periods. Illinois recently passed a law All newly constructed state buildings require a bird-friendly design.
Responsible lighting and reduced threat levels due to certain glass treatments are a major demand for environmentalists Carvana. And they want those commitments in writing.
“It’s one of our red lines,” Kusel said. “Must be concrete.”
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
The 140-foot Carvana automatic dispenser proposed by Skokie poses a high threat to birds. Will the compromise fly? Chicago News
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