Ald. David Ahrens, District 15, staunchly opposes the project due to the environmental concerns and data limitations. He maintains that the air limits in the area are unhealthy and could be connected to lifelong asthma and respiratory illnesses.

“If we don’t do the necessary protections here, if we don’t exercise our duty to citizens here, particularly low income people and families who have the least resources then … the game’s over,” Ahrens said.

An engineering firm hired by Stone House determined the lot contained contaminated soil, much of which would be removed during construction, but that it was in line with other contaminant levels found in soil across the city.

“It is the Department’s expectation that this will be done to ensure that the developed property will not continue to have contaminated soils that are accessible to residents,” Hausbeck said in the memo. “We also expect that any potential for hazardous soil vapors will be eliminated through site clean up or installation of vapor mitigation systems.”

Ald. Marsha Rummel, District 6, voted in favor of granting the TIF funds to Stone House because of the improvements a new development would contribute to the area.