By LORRAINE SWANSON
Editor
There’s something about Bob Oehmen’s rain garden that irks his fellow condo dwellers and neighbors in Rogers Park. Like the rain, they wish it would go away.
Bob Oehmen shows off one of the rocks from his rain garden on the corner of Albion and Glenwood in Rogers Park.
It all began last October when Bob spent three weekends removing a tree stump with an ax from the public parkway in front of his condo building on Albion.
Bob’s removal of the tree stump is duly noted in the condominium association’s meeting minutes from Oct. 26, 2008, along with the treasurer’s report and other business, such as tuck pointing bids and unclaimed items left in the back yard: “Landscaping project – Bob has completed digging up the old tree roots on the corner of Albion and Glenwood and will plant native prairie flowers next spring.”
“During the process all of my neighbors saw me,” Bob explains. “I had left some dirt on the sidewalk one weekend after I had worked on it and someone complained that it was a hazard.”
At the same meeting, his fellow condo dwellers unanimously elected him to a two-year term on the condominium board, but it’s only a 12-unit building so everyone takes turns serving on the board.
Over the winter Bob planned his garden, thinking he had the full consent of the condominium association. Bob also started a club and a blog (this is Rogers Park, you know, the fifth bloggiest nabe in the nation) called the Nat Cap Club, where he shares his thoughts about the environment and something he calls the “Do Gooder Economy.” He also explains his philosophy about grass on his blog, which he describes as an “addiction” and beckons his neighbors to “lighten up on your turf grass compulsion.”
When spring arrived Bob got busy excavating three sections of the public parkway on the corner of Albion and Glenwood. Last year Bob lost his job as a business analyst and like many of us who are unemployed he has a lot of time on his hands. He planted prairie flowers and native grass with seeds he got from some of the 49th Ward Green Corps events. The Chicago Waldorf School was getting rid of plants so he did the corner, as well.
“I was inspired by Earth Day a year ago,” Bob says. “I got in touch with my inner gardener which I thought had gone away.”
Bob Oehmen's fellow condo dwellers claim that his rain garden is an unsightly mess and that they didn't know about the rocks.
Bob also wanted to combine rocks with the garden, so he created a Native American medicine wheel around the prairie flowers and plants. Many of the rocks are the size of small boulders the he collected from around the Midwest. He also planted a Victory Garden by a U.S. Postal Service mailbox on the corner and posted signs, broadcasting to the neighborhood that it was a community garden and for neighbors to help themselves to free vegetables when the garden matured.
In April, the condominium association had its regular spring meeting. Bob said he was sick and wasn’t able to attend. “Two days later, the president of the association called me,” he explains. “She said, ‘we took a vote and your garden has to go. You have to turn it back into grass and make it just as before.’ I was blown away.”
According to the minutes from the April 29 meeting, under an item marked “The Druid’s Grave,” other residents in the neighborhood were threatening to get a petition together to remove the garden. The city was also threatening to find the condo association $500 to $1,000 a day, because the garden was in the public parkway and Bob didn’t get a permit.
About a week ago, Bob sent out a press release inviting the media to attend a special condo association meeting on the sidewalk in front of his building. By then he had declared war on the garden-haters on his blog. He signed his e-mail, “Chief Morale Officer of the Do-Gooder Economy.”
In a phone interview before the meeting, Bob said he applied for a city permit “to use the public right of way” through Ald. Pat O’Connor’s 40th Ward service office. He also took out a liability policy for $500, taking full responsibility for any injuries or deaths his garden may have caused.
“Basically, I bitch-slapped them,” Bob says. “As a result of getting me to do everything right, I might as well go for the whole hog and do the whole parkway,” which involves turning about 200 feet of the corner of Glenwood and Albion into “Little House on the Prairie.”
So we went out and talked to his neighbors, all whom seemed like nice and reasonable people. They told us their nerves are frayed from trying to reason with Bob, who they described as acting like an eighth-grader.
“I’m not against the concept of prairie plans and incorporating it into the urban landscape, but look at the execution,” Dave Urbaniak said, pointing to the medicine wheel and wild plants growing in the parkway, including a ring of boulders around the fire hydrant.
“We’re not trying to turn this into Kenilworth, but it looks like hell and it’s dangerous,” Urbaniak said, who serves as treasurer on the condo board. “All it takes is for someone who is stewed to trip over the rocks and get hurt, and we have a lawsuit. The association is legally responsible for any accidents.”
Bob Oehmen listens to his neighbors confront him about his rain garden and use of profanity in front of young children during a special meeting of his condo association on the sidewalk in front of his building last Sunday.
Bob was quiet during the meeting as his neighbors confronted him about his use of profanity in front of young children when confronted by his neighbors about his medicine wheel. They also pointed out how gangbangers could use the rocks to smash their car windows to steal their stereos and airbags.
In Bob’s defense, there are other gardens in the public parkways up and down Glenwood, “but the neighbors asked our permission,” says Rusty Burnett, who lives across the street.
After Urbaniak offered Bob $40 to produce copies of the city permit and liability policy, the meeting broke up.
Ronda Acuna, the coolest head in the crowd and president of the condo association, said she was willing to compromise and allow Bob to leave the plants if he got rid of the rocks. “We have to live together in community,” Acuna said. “This wasn’t a community project but a Bob project. We’re allowed input.”
Bob did show the permit to Lake Effect News, but it was an application signed by O’Connor, not the actual permit. As for the $500 liability policy, well, Bob said he was talking to a couple of insurance companies.
Bob has since removed the rocks from around the fire hydrant upon the order of the 24th District Police.
We also asked Bob if asked his fellow condo-dwellers for input into the garden. Bob responded that his rain garden has the potential to be a learning opportunity for children, and that the mayor is encouraging the use of rain gardens to control street flooding.
“Everyone doesn’t have ownership,” Bob says. “The reality is that I did open it all up. I handed out a gazillion business cards. People have mouths. I don’t have to take responsibility for giving them an engraved invitation. If they had been nice and asked me, I wouldn’t have said no. I’ve been totally open with the condo association.”
The day after the meeting, Urbaniak called the cops, according to Bob. Bob went upstairs to his condo unit and produced copies of permit application. The 24th District police told Bob to “cease and desist” until his permit gets approved.
Tim Czarnecki, O’Connor’s chief of staff, confirmed that the alderman’s office was notified by the 24th District Police last Monday of the cease and desist order.
“The police made him remove the rocks around the fire hydrant,” Czarnecki said.
Nobody is complaining about this garden in the public parkway across the street from Bob Oehmen's condo. The homeowner says his neighbors asked his permission before they planted it, although its fire hydrant is also covered with foilage.
Asked about all the other guerilla gardens we saw in public parkways and whether those neighbors had permits, Czarnecki said most community groups aren’t being challenged.
“They’re doing it at their own risk” Czarnecki said. If the city had to do repairs to a fire hydrant or sewer and had to dig it up, the city isn’t required to replace it. Most community groups are aware of this. We asked Bob to do a permit only because of the controversy he’s caused.”
Meanwhile, Bob has accused his neighbors of pulling up the plants. Acuna denies the accusations.
“If we’re going to remove the garden, we will do it as a group in broad daylight,” she says, adding the condo association has hired an attorney.
Bob and his fellow condo dwellers have scheduled a sit-down this Thursday with O’Connor, who has agreed to mediate his constituents’ dispute. O’Connor has the power to rescind his approval on the permit application.
“For us it’s a matter of safety and aesthetics, and him not living in community within our building to allow input or direction,” Acuna says. “He has no landscaping abilities and he plans to do the whole block. We were trying to work with Bob to get rid of the rocks, but just because of where it’s gone we just want it completely removed.”
Do you think Bob Oehmen’s rain garden is an unsightly mess?
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Yet another reason I’ll never live in a condo!
I have no use for all those petty dictators & their idiotic rules!
A fair article…thanks. One small correction. After our meeting on Sunday, where Bob found out everyone was against his “garden”, Bob kept putting things in anyway. Without a schematic, plans, nothing….just “I’ll put this here, and put that there.” I came out and told him that if he didn’t stop, I’d pull everything out right there. He repeated his claim of having a permit and told me he’d call the police. I told him, “go ahead, Bob. Call the police and get your permit. I’ll wait right here”. And I did.
Bob went upstairs and called the Alderman’s office. While he was gone, a police car came by and I waved him down. The poor officer was sad he went down Glenwood that day! But he was very helpful. It was then we found out that Bob had lied to us about having the permit. All he had was an application, one that he applied for about six months after the fact. We told Bob that having large rocks ringing the fire hydrant was dangerous. Did he do anything about it? No. But when the officer told him it should be removed, it was all, “oh, no problem officer, I can do that in ten minutes.” His exact quote.
And, in related news, Bob was recently stopped from cutting bushes ON PRIVATE PROPERTY adjacent to this condo building last week. Don’t know why he was doing that, but he doesn’t care who or what he damages. Its all “about Bob”. Thanks for the article.
Yes, definitely sounds like this is “all about Bob.”
Based on reading the article and viewing the images, he’s a passive-aggressive freak with landscaping skills that are even worse than his people skills.
Someone give this guy a spreadsheet to get his mind off gardening.
Hi everyone for weighing in on this – even those who oppose me.
Please fill out rain garden questionaiire – http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zxAcbPfZ0UAmk_2bMtqFZD9A_3d_3d
It’s got questions both about rain gardens in general, and mine in particular.
Rain gardens are the hot eco thing, but we need dialogs like this.
They had a huge controversy about the Rain Garden in Millenium Park, btw.
To those cry babies – get off your butt and do something to improve the Parkway in front of YOUR place.
Hi Dave,
I see you are still getting things wrong – I got permission to trim the bushes.
Do you want the woman’s name and number? The high bushes are a traffic hazzard – even after making a full stop at the corner, I can’t see if anyone is on the sidewalk. In fact, the woman who gave me permission called me last week to ask if I’d done it.
And exactly where is the list of anti-gardeners you promised.
Oh, and you full of IT about ALL the folks in the Condo hating it – one person who supports me has applied for a permit. And I met one other person as well. And one guy from there said he didn’t like the garden, but he accepts it.
Lorraine – a few corrections:
1) The permit issue was started by the anti garden conto members. The city did not threaten to give the condo a ticket – Dean, the boyfriend of Jamie, somehow knew a city office that required permits. Neither Ald Moore nor Ald O’Connor knew anything about a permit.
2) The Condo started this ‘war’ when they voted to have me destroy hours of my work.
They didn’t have enough sense to even find out if they had the authority to do so. And yes, when you DEMAND me to remove something you have not authority over, you are damn right you get my Irish up.
3) I don’t think I told you this, but I officially started my NatCap Club 2 years ago, as part of my C3 project – (Chicago Conservation Corp). And thru the 49th Ward’s Green Corp. I have a written letter of support for the club from Sadhu Johnston -The Chief Environmental Officer of Chicago, and our neighbor.
It’s much more than a blog – it’s a place to get info, and meet up with other folks who care about building a better world.
I’ve been an Activist for 40 years. I’m a South Sider, I’ve been thru tougher fights than this. I faced down crazy Republican Texans down in Crawford, Texas with Cindy Sheehan, race riots in high school, people telling me to get fucked when I was working on the Kerry campaign. And you better be careful when you pick a fight with me.
All you who have opposed this have done Rain Gardens and me a great service.
- Bob Oehmen, founder, the NatCap Club.
Keep in touch.
Enjoy the free rocks and free veggies from the Rain Gardens.
Email me if you want to be notified when we have a geology teaching later on. There’s cool fossils in them thar rocks.
Bob@natcapclub.org
I agree…another reason to not live in a condo. WHy anyone would want to band together with lunatics who have nothing better to do than fight this guy…..over a rock garden? Get serious! Better yet, get your own hobby!
Bob: Your picture belongs in the dictionary, next to the definition of a popular female hygiene product whose first word begins with a “d,” and whose second word is “bag.”
Garden Wars: Final status
You’re Invited – Prairie Plant & rock Give Away – Relocation!
(only those who appreciate this garden, and rain gardens in general – all others, please have the good sense to not interject yourself)
Hi,
Please join me all day on Saturday, June 27th in my front condo public property, – 6575 N. Glenwood, 60626 Rain or Shine. Even if a “Stay of Execution” is granted by dictator O’Connor
All of the plants, rocks and rich earth from my newly created “Do-Gooder Victory“ rain Garden will be given away to everyone, no matter where you are from. Lottery style.
With Thanks to all the Rock people (Grandfathers), Plant People and such. And Apology to them for the 2 legged people among us who have fought so hard to move them out of their home.
I brought them here, and it is my Sacred responsibility to make sure they are removed in A Good Way.
PotLuck feast to follow
Meat or Veggie. Organic or not.. Alcohol or not.
You may show up any time after 8 am. I figure most people will show up around 10-ish.
We’ll start the Give Away when it’s time, maybe 2-ish.
This party is another Step in the process of Doing Better by our Planet & Us. The harsh reality is that such opposition exists everywhere, and we must learn to work it.
This all caught me totally off guard. I fought as a Warrior. This is super liberal East Rogers Park fer Christs sake. And one of our renters is suffering from Cancer. Go Figure.
Please pass this on. I support all efforts to have this insanity stopped. But I must prepare for the Taking Down party.
Aho!
Mitakue Oyasun! (All My Relations!)
Bob Oehmen,
As Joe Friday used to say on the ol Tv show Dragnet, “Just the facts, Ma’m”
General
1. Rain gardens: encouraged by the city. (312) 743-WATER their brochure (which I’ve now posted in front of the gardens) has a photo of a rain garden on 5520 Glenwood Ave. See also Millennium Park and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
2. Rain garden/prairie plant gardens are gaining in popularity throughout the nation. http://www.raingardens.org
3. There are similar gardens to mine all over the neighborhood, including 2 just across the street on the west side of Glenwood.
The Conflict in a nutshell.
Buildings
Two buildings at corner of Glenwood & Albion, Chicago, IL 606 26
Glen-Albion Condo Assoc, 6575 – 79 Glenwood, 1337-39 Albion
Corner building at 1336-40 Albion, 6619-23 Glenwood
Gardens – all on city owned parkway property.
Two 20 x 20 feet plots at 6575-79 Glenwood
Total parkway associated with this site is 20 x 180 feet, 20 x 80 feet
One 20 x 20 plot at 6619-23 Glenwood
Time Line of events
October 7, 2009. 1st of a few emails sent by Bob to all condo members about the garden
October 26th, 2009. Condo association approves of Bob’s garden. Bob voted in as Secretary.
April 28th, 2009. Condo president Ronda Acuna phones Bob, telling him the association voted for him to return the garden to grass. 7 members were present at that meeting, on April 26. Bob missed it due to being exhausted from Earth Day Month activities.
May 14th . Bob informed of garden new garden status.
Condo president tells Bob that they have discovered that a Permit is required for anything done on Parkway.
May 15th. Bob compromises on garden design.
Bob calls Ald. O’Connor’s office. Staff (Kathy) tell him the 2 modifications requested by those who complained. Bob makes changes by 4pm. Informs Ward staff and condo pres.
May 21. Bob applies for Permit.
May 26. Condo meeting set for May 31.
Neighbors are invited.
May 27 – May 29 Press Release sent out by Bob to over 100 Chicago media
May 31. Meeting with Bob and members of 5 other condos.
Bob informs members of Permit. Dave threatens to destroy garden. Two members of press attend. Two neighbors attend.
June 1. Police get involved.
While Bob is working in garden, Dave Urbaniak confronts him, screaming, threatens to tear up plants. Dave hails a passing police car, and gets officer involved.
Night of June 1. Some plants are pulled up.
June 4. Condo owner from 1336-40 Albion attempts to file for Permit.
Person is pro-garden. Permit is not approved.
June 11. 7pm-8pm Meeting with Alderman O’Connor and Condo board.
O’Connor dictates that garden be returned to grass, under threat of city plows tearing them up.
June 12th,. 8 PM. Bob puts out signs at gardens, informing neighbors of garden status, and to contact him if they want plants or rocks.
Night of June 12. Signs have been torn down.
June 16th Press Release sent to over 100 Chicago media
July 2nd. Deadline for garden to be removed.
Sad, you can’t garden anywhere. Chicago suburbs are fining residents who grew their grass too long in their fenced in back yards.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-tall-grass-18-jun18,0,574949.story
I live in a condo. What is my so called greenspace like? Kentucky blue grass everywhere, approved non flowering shrubs and approved same style flowers everywhere because everything has to match, of course. Heaven forbid anything looks wild or native. Formal straight lines and water hungry plants must be the standard. Sanitized environments here we come….
Sadder still that the police are being called for a ‘non-authorized’ gardener. The word is out that Rogers Park doesn’t tolerate gardeners unless they are given the stamp of approval and cross all Ts in order to garden anywhere in sight, and possibly dare I say one day become like the suburbs where someone else dictates what is acceptable in your own back yard.
I grew up in a rough neighborhood lacking any greenspace whatsoever. Back yards are practically non-existent in Pilsen and front lawns… even less. We called the police for shootings and gang banger fights not because a neighbor took it upon themselves to put in a garden for everyone. So it’s not Versailles, get over it.
By the way, gang bangers will hurl anything in sight. I’m sure the stones are not the only thing they can throw around on your block.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Like Bob, I’m a big fan of collecting rocks. But I’m left to wonder; where did all of these rocks come from? I understand that Bob has been collecting them for years, but where had they been all these years when they weren’t used to decorate the garden and that nobody complained about them.
Bob couldn’t have been keeping hundreds of pounds, maybe a couple thousand, of rocks in his condo, so where they that they were never used to smash windows and attract kids who would hurt themselves like the press release quotes a resident.
This Bob shows the self-indulgence typical of condo owners. It is almost always the condo owners who try to appropriate part of the public property for themselves, putting up fences on city property to try to keep others out. Someone should tear out all of the barriers these self-righteous, gentrifying suburban rejects.
I get a kick out of you knuckleheads who talk out of where the sun don’t shine. I know, why let facts get in the way of a good, self righteous rant. Or bother to verify your assumptions. Like that I’m an outsider – NOT! Probably been here longer than you’ve even been alive. Note the qualifier “probably”. Both alderman say “if you want to make some landscape improvements, – go ahead”. And even when I rented for 16 years, I was an Activist – working to stop crime and stuff. You talk, I take action. So sit on it! And while you’re resting your brains, find out how the city is promoting rain gardens like mine.
As to the other guy, about the rocks. When I put the 2 gardens up last Fall, I only had enough to border the circle and part of the north side. The rest I got since May – I found a quarry up north where I can get them for free. There’s fossils in lots of ‘em. Contact me via my website – http://www.natcapclub.org
The final status is that the goofy’s got their way. The plots on the south side will be turned back to grass in the next day or so. But not before some wacko damaged the plants in the circle plot. Clearly a religious hate crime – I designed it as an American Indian Medicine Wheel. But only 1 person knew about that aspect of it. I’m storing the rocks in my garage.