5-Oct-17 – Construction will start “soon” on a solution to hide mechanical equipment on the roof of the Museum of the Contemporary Art. Neighbors above the museum say the equipment is an eyesore that will lower their property values.

The equipment will be enclosed at a cost to the museum of $250,000, including other improvements. Of a few design options shown to residents, the chosen design was “the overwhelming favorite of the neighborhood,” according to 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins.

“It wasn’t even close,” said Hopkins (left) at the annual meeting on September 25 of Streeterville Organization of Active Residents.

“The one design was just the absolute one way of consensus and agreement that this was the most attractive thing that we could do to...successfully screen the equipment on the rooftop and prevent the types of the noise and odors that people were concerned about.”

Hopkins says MCA is determining exact dimensions of the screen and then construction will start. In August, MCA told neighbors the enclosure will be in place by the end of the year.

In addition to covering up the equipment, MCA says it will aim kitchen exhaust fans away from Pearson Street, relocate telecom antennae, remove a large tent from the terrace, open a back gate during museum hours, add security cameras along the building perimeter, and replace paving stone in front of the museum.

(Right) Atrium at Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo by Gabor Mozsi, Chicago Corporate Photography and Video.

Some of the changes, such as extra security cameras and keeping the back gate open, have already been implemented. As for the remaining items, MCA has told neighbors “the list we presented was always intended to be done as our time and budget allows.”

Condominium units in the area are worth between $400,000 and $1.3 million. Residents of four buildings on East Pearson Street banded together to share their concerns with MCA and Alderman Hopkins.