Demolition of Lake View women’s shelter underway as Cubs eye site for parking lot expansion

The Cubs started demolishing the former House of the Good Shepherd in Lake View as part of an effort to expand its nearby Camry parking lot, at the corner of Racine Avenue and Grace Street.The team purchased the site from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and began demolishing the former domestic violence shelter in late April. A permit to tear down the two-story building was issued by the city April 20. The team wants to add 259 parking spaces ahead of the 2027 All-Star Game at Wrigley Field. But adding parking will require city approval, starting with the Chicago Plan Commission. That process is separate from the ongoing demolition and could start in June, according to Mike Lufrano, executive vice president of community and legal affairs for the Cubs.The number one concern the Cubs heard from neighbors is that Wrigley Field patrons steal residents’ parking, according to Lufrano.The Camry expansion aims to remedy that. The team said the lot is mostly used by Wrigley employees, who arrive hours before game time and leave hours after — meaning they don’t contribute to the area’s traffic congestion as much as game attendees.The lot currently has 688 spaces, according to Will McIntee, Cubs’ director of government and community affairs. If the expansion is approved, there would be 947 surface parking spaces.During a March presentation to the East Lake View Neighbors association, some neighbors balked at the Cubs’ original proposal. Their primary concern was the potential for increased traffic. They also wanted…

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