Green or Commercial Space: Forum Brings Community Input to Discuss the Future of Fisk Plant’s Soon to be Vacant Site
Discussions regarding the future of the land where the Fisk plant currently spends its last few months continue
In efforts to include public opinion on the future of the Fisk Plant site, the Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization (P.E.R.R.O), held a forum on Tuesday, June 4, inviting Pilsen community members and shareholders to share ideas and plan for the future.
“We are entering a new phase where we’re going to try and figure out what is going to happen to that plant now that it’s going to be closing,” said Jerry Mead-Lucero, a member of P.E.R.R.O. “Should it be a green space, should it bring jobs to the neighborhood? Those are the types of questions we want answered.”
After a decade of advocating for the plant to close, residents and environmental rights proponents will get their wish, as both the Fisk Plant in Pilsen and the Crawford Plant in Little Village will close ahead of schedule in September.
“There are a lot of people that would like to have land on Cermak so we have to be the decision makers,” said Carmen Velasquez, executive director of Alivio Medical Center. “Your perception of what you want to happen here is going to be important to the powers that be.”
The forum addressed several key issues as participants discussed the effort it took to get the plant closed, initiatives to get the land clean and free of toxins and how the land should be used.
Several participants shared their desire for the land to be used to bring jobs to the community, while others said they’d like to see more green space in the area.
“There isn’t enough green space in the community and we need more of it so our kids could play freely,” said one participant.
According to Mead-Lucero, more public forums will take place throughout the month to get as much community input as possible.
The forum was held in conjunction with P.E.R.R.O., Alivio Medical Center, The Resurrection Project, and the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council.
For more information about upcoming forums visit pilsenperro.org
June 10, 2012 - 11:48 pm
While many green buildings have already been constructed in the country, and the building would not just look after the well-being of those who worked in the facility but contribute to the neighbourhood’s positive environment as well.