Dakota Residents Rally Behind Circuit; Fight Petition Drive
Thu. July 22, 2004 12:00 AM
Chicago, IL -
Dakota residents who support Circuit Nightclub and oppose the drive by a handful of people to close the gay dance club met July 18 to voice their frustrations and brainstorm on how to counter an effort to vote their precinct dry.
"We are a majority and we want to do the right thing," said Steven Heintz, who hosted the meeting with his partner, Michael Swingler, at their apartment at the Dakota, 3631 N. Halsted St.
A large group of Dakota residents discussed the situation with members of the Northalsted Area Merchants Association, Lake View Citizens Council activist Charlotte Newfeld and Bill Greaves, Mayor Richard M. Daley's GLBT community liaison.
"We're all sick of having to be embarrassed to tell people where we live," Heintz said.
When the Dakota opened more than three years ago next door to Circuit, residents immediately started complaining about music volumes emanating from the gay dance club.
Since then, Circuit's owners have spent almost $200,000 reinforcing the club's soundproofing. Most Dakota residents say that has solved the noise problem.
"They have soundproofed," said Dakota resident Steffen Boll. "They have put a lot of money into it. I am satisfied."
Another Dakota resident, Dennis Sneyers, said, "It's no louder than anything else in the city. I can now sleep with my windows open."
But the soundproofing has not satisfied Dakota residents Evelyn and Tom DiLisio, who are mounting a drive to vote the precinct dry in a last-ditch effort to close Circuit. The referendum drive comes after City officials' repeated findings that Circuit complies with Chicago ordinances governing exterior noise.
"The City has taken a position that this establishment has operated absolutely legally," Greaves said.
The DiLisios have been gathering voter signatures for petitions to place a referendum on the November election ballot that, if passed, would deny any liquor licenses in the precinct bounded by Addison, Halsted, Pine Grove and Waveland.
The DiLisios have until Aug. 4 to gather enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot.
But Heintz, Sneyers and other Dakota residents at the meeting said a majority of those living in the complex are weary of the DiLisios' efforts against Circuit. Some said they also feel the proposed Center on Halsted, a GLBT community center to be built across the street from the Dakota, is threatened.
"I sort of get the impression she (Evelyn DiLisio) is not happy with the current design of the Center," Sneyers said.
Dakota resident Rick Nichols added, "I get the same impression-that she's trying to create something new or something that's not reflective of the community."
Circuit is the only bar in the precinct at the present time. But Shelly Rosenbaum, who owns GayMart on Halsted Street, said voting the precinct dry would have long-term ramifications beyond Circuit.
"If that were to happen it would mean no new bars and no new restaurants could open here," he said. "By voting areas dry you cause all sorts of problems."
RJ Chafin, president of NAMA, which represents most of Lakeview's gay nightclubs, as well as other businesses, said NAMA is stepping up its efforts to make City officials more cognizant of North Halsted Street's economic and tourism value to Chicago. The area contains one of the world's heaviest concentrations of gay bars and businesses and draws hundreds of thousands for events such as the Pride Parade, Northalsted Market Days and International Mr. Leather.
"We are very, very concerned about what happens here because it does affect your street," Chafin said. "It affects the whole street."
Newfeld urged NAMA and the City to "do a survey of this block and surrounding blocks...looking at the opportunities that would be shut off. I am worried a lot about these liquor licenses and what this can do against this community."
Heintz said the Dakota residents supporting Circuit and opposing the referendum drive are also receiving support from Alds. Helen Shiller (46th), Tom Tunney (44th), LVCC president Jim Ludwig and others.
"I for one want this to stop," Heintz said, referring to the DiLisios' efforts against Circuit. "Make it crystal clear that this is not in the best interests of this neighborhood."
By Gary Barlow
CFP Staff Writer - www.ChicagoFreePress.com
©2004 Chicago Free Press, Rainbow Media
This article originally appeared on ChicagoFreePress.com. Republished with permission.
"We are a majority and we want to do the right thing," said Steven Heintz, who hosted the meeting with his partner, Michael Swingler, at their apartment at the Dakota, 3631 N. Halsted St.
A large group of Dakota residents discussed the situation with members of the Northalsted Area Merchants Association, Lake View Citizens Council activist Charlotte Newfeld and Bill Greaves, Mayor Richard M. Daley's GLBT community liaison.
"We're all sick of having to be embarrassed to tell people where we live," Heintz said.
When the Dakota opened more than three years ago next door to Circuit, residents immediately started complaining about music volumes emanating from the gay dance club.
Since then, Circuit's owners have spent almost $200,000 reinforcing the club's soundproofing. Most Dakota residents say that has solved the noise problem.
"They have soundproofed," said Dakota resident Steffen Boll. "They have put a lot of money into it. I am satisfied."
Another Dakota resident, Dennis Sneyers, said, "It's no louder than anything else in the city. I can now sleep with my windows open."
But the soundproofing has not satisfied Dakota residents Evelyn and Tom DiLisio, who are mounting a drive to vote the precinct dry in a last-ditch effort to close Circuit. The referendum drive comes after City officials' repeated findings that Circuit complies with Chicago ordinances governing exterior noise.
"The City has taken a position that this establishment has operated absolutely legally," Greaves said.
The DiLisios have been gathering voter signatures for petitions to place a referendum on the November election ballot that, if passed, would deny any liquor licenses in the precinct bounded by Addison, Halsted, Pine Grove and Waveland.
The DiLisios have until Aug. 4 to gather enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot.
But Heintz, Sneyers and other Dakota residents at the meeting said a majority of those living in the complex are weary of the DiLisios' efforts against Circuit. Some said they also feel the proposed Center on Halsted, a GLBT community center to be built across the street from the Dakota, is threatened.
"I sort of get the impression she (Evelyn DiLisio) is not happy with the current design of the Center," Sneyers said.
Dakota resident Rick Nichols added, "I get the same impression-that she's trying to create something new or something that's not reflective of the community."
Circuit is the only bar in the precinct at the present time. But Shelly Rosenbaum, who owns GayMart on Halsted Street, said voting the precinct dry would have long-term ramifications beyond Circuit.
"If that were to happen it would mean no new bars and no new restaurants could open here," he said. "By voting areas dry you cause all sorts of problems."
RJ Chafin, president of NAMA, which represents most of Lakeview's gay nightclubs, as well as other businesses, said NAMA is stepping up its efforts to make City officials more cognizant of North Halsted Street's economic and tourism value to Chicago. The area contains one of the world's heaviest concentrations of gay bars and businesses and draws hundreds of thousands for events such as the Pride Parade, Northalsted Market Days and International Mr. Leather.
"We are very, very concerned about what happens here because it does affect your street," Chafin said. "It affects the whole street."
Newfeld urged NAMA and the City to "do a survey of this block and surrounding blocks...looking at the opportunities that would be shut off. I am worried a lot about these liquor licenses and what this can do against this community."
Heintz said the Dakota residents supporting Circuit and opposing the referendum drive are also receiving support from Alds. Helen Shiller (46th), Tom Tunney (44th), LVCC president Jim Ludwig and others.
"I for one want this to stop," Heintz said, referring to the DiLisios' efforts against Circuit. "Make it crystal clear that this is not in the best interests of this neighborhood."
By Gary Barlow
CFP Staff Writer - www.ChicagoFreePress.com
©2004 Chicago Free Press, Rainbow Media
This article originally appeared on ChicagoFreePress.com. Republished with permission.