Cotter and Company
The Cotter & Company, located at 2746 N Clybourn Ave in Roscoe Village, was leaving with 900 jobs in 1996. Most of the employees homes lived walking distance to their job. Along with the company leaving, plans to create 500 condos were going to take it’s’ place. The problem with a gated community in this community is that it would push residents who could not afford the new housing, as well as job loss. The residents wanted to stay in the community that is affordable for everyone and had access to employment. These reasons were the major factor in the push for Costco, because residents knew that new condos would bring up cost of living and give little back to those in the community.
According to Liala Buekema, the very involved Pastor at the Lakeview Lutheran Church, there were multiple organizations involved in the fight to save jobs in the community. Liala Buekema said, “We hosted many meetings and all kinds of informational meetings and conversations.” They were also trying to “evaluate plans that were put out by the developers and the alderman.” The Church of the Good News, Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Local Advisory Council of Lathrop, and Hamlin Park neighbors were all very involved and important factors in this process. Liala Buekema stated, “When Costco came to the table we were very pleased and though they didn’t bring the big number of jobs they did meet our hopes for good work opportunities.” Employment is important to the community because they want residents to have opportunities that will support themselves and their families. Currently, more than 90% of the workers at Costco have earned more than $15,000 a year. Costco also hires 75% of their employees that live within 5 miles of the store. (According to the manager at the time, Brian Thomas) Full time and part time workers also receive health, dental, and vision coverage, which is exactly what the community members wanted. An interview with Costco manager Joe, he stated that “Costco is the best in the industry when providing fair wages. The earning potential is higher than compared to Target and other companies.” They also promote from within which is a great opportunity for workers to earn higher wages. Overall, the Costco allows residents of this neighborhood to earn a decent living. In the interview I conducted with John, a worker at Costco, he stated that Costco affects the neighborhood in a good way because it fits into the community and is a great place for community members to acquire resources. Also, he feels that he is apart of this community because he lives in the neighborhood, like most of the workers. If the Lathrop homes are redeveloped then residents would be kicked out and be driven to further, more violent neighborhoods, tearing apart the sense of community developed. Because of the community activism, Costco moved into the community and the idea of more million-dollar homes out. It is also a site for the youth to come and hang out while having the feeling of being accepted. As student at Alcott College Prep, Armani Perez, states “I feel accepted here because never once have I been treated with less than respect from all workers, even with a large crowd of friends. Unlike other places in the community, where they disapprove of a large crowd of teens and don’t really want them there.” There are very few sites that the youth feels accepted in this community and Costco is one place where we are accepted. |
AuthorsElle, Isai, Armani
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