Many believe the street racing happening in our community for over a year is the worst in the Country. Recent videos by Jim Kozy of McKinley Park depicts cars doing donuts in the parking lot by Mariano’s next to people watching. Another video filmed by Jim Kozy shows hundreds of cars entering the parking lot at Mariano’s after 10:30pm. A week early in the same lot, a women was attacked by a mob of street racers and her car destroyed. The community has had enough of the lawlessness and the community is pushing for answers.
The videos were forwarded to Management of Regency Centers properties, the company who oversees the mall. Also, many people from the community have been calling the mall complaining about the street racers. Facebook was flooded with complaints about the mall being used for Street Racing. Ana Marie of McKinley Park was asking people to call the management of the mall to complain and provided their contact information. Alderman Cardendenas and the Chicago Police Department have also voiced their concern. A team of volunteers from the community sought out solutions. The Neighborhood Journal website provided a question form that residents could fill out offering their solutions on how to stop the street racing. Many people offered their solutions and their answers were incredible. One solution that appeared in the Neighborhood Journal by a concerned resident stated;
The action centers around the Mariano’s parking lot. It stands to reason that restricting access to the lot would make it harder for as many people to come. There are probably 300 cars there by the time the grocery closes on Friday nights. Could the strip mall add physical barriers to access after businesses close at 9, like Pete’s Market in Pilsen? Or could we have police barriers up on Fri and Sat nights?
Concerned resident
After a large outcry from the community, Regency Centers announced they will be taking steps to stop the street racers using their property. It appears Regency Centers has taken the advice from the residents of the community and will be putting up gates and doing their part to stop the dangerous street racing.
The mall will have security on site and will be installing swing gates. The security will be able to open and close the gates to allow for delivery trucks onto the property for after hours.
This is a big win for the community and will put a major damper on the street racing effecting our community. However,It will not stop the street racing but it’s a great start. Community Based Solutions work.
