ROSCOE VILLAGE — Neighbors who pushed back against Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers building a restaurant on the border of Roscoe Village and Avondale are taking a victory lap this week as the franchise has nixed those plans.
The Louisiana-based fast-food chain had hoped to take over a vacant lot at 2401-2409 W. Belmont Ave., the southwest corner of Belmont and Western avenues, to build a Raising Cane’s.
Neighbors criticized the plans, saying they worried the 7,600 square feet of landscaping and two-lane drive-thru would cause serious traffic issues in the area.
Ald. Matt Martin (47th) joined neighbors in opposing the restaurant plan, with his office saying the proposal created safety concerns.
This week, Martin confirmed the proposal is not moving forward.
“After our community learned about Raising Cane’s plans to build a drive-through on this lot, many nearby neighbors contacted my office with concerns about the impact on traffic safety,” Martin said in a statement to Block Club. “My office brought together neighbors, community associations and neighboring alderpeople in opposition to this plan.”