The sticking point was a site plan for the project, which according to Department of Planning and Development project manager Kimberly Cook, was at odds with city ideas on where the store should be built on 38,138 sf at the northeast corner of Madison Street and Kedzie Avenue. Although a compromise was reached, Walgreens' officials nixed the site from its voracious expansion plans late last year, she adds, which killed a $950,000 land sale.

The department solicited 150 developers, but got only one response, from Madison Kedzie LLC. Before the Deerfield-based company and eventual tenant pulled the plug, Madison Kedzie LLC had added a 2,680-sf bank branch at the corner, satisfying city requests, while keeping the pharmacy on the eastern end of the site.

"We were looking forward to building a great business here," says 28th Ward Alderman Ed Smith. Although Walgreens and the developer could return to the table, Cook says her department will continue marketing the West Garfield Park site. Those efforts started in late 2004, and the sole response to the city's request for proposals came in nearly a year ago.