Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 414

Section 10 Chicago (Tribune Sunday, April 1972 -3 Sears Tower Case May Cloud More than TV Metrowest Tcruirim i TV GHOSTING Wis. KENOSHA 1 IL'-T r- GHOSTING BY RICHARD PHILLIPS Scars Tower in the Loop will be the ''world's tallest building if it rises above some cloudy legal issues. Because the gigantic structure endangers television reception for an estimated 62,500 households, suits have been filed against the retailing corporation lhat is building the tower, Sears, Company. "The case will have a very far-reaching effect on law, and it could well go to the- United States Supreme Court," said Harvey Schwartz, attorney for the village of Skokie. A Joint Suit Filed 110 FLOORS -47th FLOOR ilm i mm judge pointed out in a early hearing over Hoogasian's suit against Sears, Case Doubled "I have serious doubts in my mind as to the right of the people fin this easel," said Judge Fred Geigcr, adding that the state's attorney's request for an injunction came close to "Big Brother" government.

"Well, I just wish I had stock in cable television; it certainly would be a lucrative franchise," said Severino of WLS-TV. Severino said ABC attorneys looked "very closely" at the legal angles before concluding there is nothing ABC can do except move its transmitters from Marina towers. "ir the problem is as minor as Sears projects, perhaps it could put up a bond and offer to pay the monthly subscription to adversely affected homes." suggested Jerrold Oppenheim, a member of the "watchdog" Illinois Citizens Committee for Broadcasting, which has asked the FCC to intervene. Would Need Change Soars could correct television ghost-ina by adding television transmitting towers to the top of its 1,350 foot building. But this would involve substantial structural changes because of the whipping motions of the heavy, tall antennas, said a Sears spokesman.

The Federal Aviation Agency necessarily must approve such a move, as a new height limit" would require rerouting airplane traffic. Such a move is not considered likely, particularly since a new height limit would mean another corporation someday would want to build as high as the top of the highest of antennas. "And then we would start the whole hassle over again," said one official. peris say ghosting is caused primarily by the window frames and siding, not the steel and concrete superstructure. I "If anyone other than a large retailing corporation were putting up this building, the public would be told to jump in the lake," said John Severino, general manager of WLS-TV, who isn't happy about Sears Tower.

The ghosting effect will cost the American Broadcasting Company station about $1 million in moving expenses. The station's transmitters are atop Marina City, and WLS faces the prospect of losing more than 1,300 north suburban viewers if it doesn't move to a higher location, altho the location has not been determined. While television industry officials puzzle out their future. Sears officials are wincing at the lumps their corporate image is getting in the suburbs. Television Issue Used This building is the height of corporate arrogance," said Slcphen Slavin.

a Dcerfield village trustee who has embraced the television problem as an issue to get him elected to the Illinois Senate. Slavin's complaint was echoed by Jack Weil, a Northbrook resident who attended a recent TV fact-finding meeting in Dcerfield. "I just bought $1,000 in stereo equipment and a television anlenna. Mow 1 discover both television and FM stereo reception may be impaired," Weil said. "I am ready to burn my credit card I he bought the merchandise from Searsl." Weil's comments may have a strong apnea! in the suburbs, but a popular public issue doesn't necessarily mean a strong legal case, as one Lake County Cookier Monsters tossing down twice the usual amount of kitchen goodies on Sesame Street.

The potential of bad reception has aroused the ire of many television lovers. Already alarmists are predicting the worst to neighbors, including a depression in home sales. "There are so many falsehoods floating around now it soon may not make any difference what the truth is," said one Sears official, who complained his company's cheery outlook is not believed. Engineers hired by Sears have been researching the potential effects of the tower for two years. Make Estimates They estimate no more than 1,800 television households tuned to the VHF channels would be affected to varying degrees, about 1,300 north suburban households would receive a distorted picture from WLS-TV 7l, and 500 households in the southeast would experience ghosting from cither WBBM-TV 21 or WMAQ-TV 51.

Major distortion and even the total loss of reception from Ultra High Frequency UHF) stations would be felt in about 62,500 households. Particularly affected would be WSNS-TV 44 and WCIU-TV 261. A Sears spokesman stressed a much higher figure 217,000 television households) had been projected for ghosting before Sears announced two changes in building material to be used above the 67th floor. What causes ghosting? Magnetic waves sent in the direction of Sears Tower from television transmitters atop the John Hancock Center will bounce off the tower at an angle and will be deflected into the suburbs. The deflected signal will follows by less than against Sears in Conk County Circuit Court March' 28.

They allege the planned 110-story tower is an infringement on the property rights of home owners pUSSUSSUI luicviaiuu aula. Another suit, charging Sears Tower will be a public nuisance, was filed 17 in Lake County Circuit Court by Jack lloogasian, state's attorney of County. n-Soth suits ask that Sears be prohibited 'horn building beyond the 67th floor, 'said to be the point at which television reception will deteriorate. The building now is at 50 floors, and the crucial C7th floor will be reached within 90 days, according to Julius Abler, assistant -take County state's attorney who is arguing the case. Abler, in explaining the suit at a ''meeting of north suburban officials, asked home owners to take "before" and "after" pictures of their television screen to help build his case.

Ghosting Expected The expected phenomenon is called ghosting. Viewers will see two footballs thrown by two quarterbacks, two Marcus Welbys doling out advice, or two Map at right shows area where ghosting is expected after completion of Sears Tower. At left is drawing of building, pointing out (iTUi floor. Two suits ask (hat Sears he prohibited from building above this floor, the point where they charge that television reception will deteriorate. Study on Saving Public Library Takes Negative Turn a millionth of a second, the original transmitted TV signal.

The result is a double overlapping image or ghosting. Changes Listed The two building material changes are the use of a nonrcflccting tiling, Marble and mosaic decor enhance room of Chicago Public building at Michigan Avenue and are other examples of underground libraries, said Bennett, and this I coincide with the city's announced plans of attempting to limit downtown vehicle traffic. John Harlray, an architect with Harry M. Weese Associates. 10 W.

Hubbard said surplus office space in the Loop is expected to reach 4 million to 8 million feet as office buildings now under construction come into use. "It would be prudent to use existing office space rather than construct still more," said Hartray. The 20-story Blue property formerly housed the John Crcrar Library. New Building Wanted Ralph G. Newman, president of the Chicago Public Library Board, makes it clear he is not interested in moving library facilities into an existing building.

"It won't work." he says flatly. "To buy an existing building and retread it to serve library purposes is too expensive. You'd have a makeshift library. We have had too much of that." Newman envisions a separate building for the research and reference department, with the existing central library used for the popular library and a cultural center, including exhibit halls, meeting halls, and theaters. Part of the building could be "refurbished and used to welcome distinguished guests to the city.

We don't have a facility for that. Maybe we should have a cafeteria or an ice cream parlor." Problem Shown Newman's remarks point up a crucial problem in planning uses for the library. No attempt has been made to decide how the library should be used, and whether it is being used effectively for the purposes considered most important. It is like shooting at a moving target, with requirements changing or shifting. There are, for example, spaces in the library building that are off-limits to library use.

The Grand Army of the Republic under a long-term lease arrangement, maintains a museum of Civil War relics in 5,200 square feet of space. Because the main library building is the reference and research center for northern Illinois, it contains state of Illinois and United States documents dating to the mid 1800s. An untold amount of LAKE MICHIGAN SMBIOH HI5, m.SKOXIE THGIH MinuiRiH nnv COOK WGWY JOlltl CHICAGO KUHKAKEE called Avram, to be used on the tower sides above Hie 07th floor and the placemen! of metal bars inside windows. A Sears spokesman said laboratory tests show the changes should "reduce" distortions to "acceptable" levels. I Ex- and Tiffany-style glass dome Library.

Citizens hope to save Randolph Cross Building on Wacker Drive and the Garland Building just west of the library building are two examples he cited. Hartray also said the Chicago Art Institute in Grant Park and the Chicago Historical Society in Lincoln Park continue to expand wings to their facilities, altho the library building could afford convenient space for cither or both. Richard Storck. 401 S. Pine Mount Prospect, said five parcels of property owned by the Harding Trust exist across Randolph Street just north of the library building.

One ot the buildings on weigh, price and package their own products, such as meat, fish, poultry, and produce. Violations of short weight and deceptive practices were the most common among Ihe 1.300 court cases that resulted from department inspections of grocery stores last year. By finding and correcting inaccurate scales, ridding shelves of out-dated food products, and correcting overpriced items, Hocin says the department saved consumers thousands of dollars last year. Consumer service officers check sale advertisements in newspapers to make sure stores are carrying sufficient quantities of the item on sale and it is priced as advertised. Prices Cheeked Hocin and Mrs.

Wanda Owczarski. a consumer service officer, recently visited a grocery store where they checked prices, scales, and dates on items. Altho open dating ot foot! items, which tells the merchant and customer when the shelf-life of an item has expired, is voluntary, Mrs. Owczarski found several cartons of sour cream and cookie dough that had been on the shelves too long. She had them removed.

As she moved thru the store selecting products to he cheeked, Hocin selected 20 packages of meat and had them unwrapped and reweighed. Most of the items were found-to be underpriccd or priced accurately. Hocin issued the store manager a warning for not having a new scale registered with the department. The manager said it would he registered. "If all of Ihe stores we check wore traHEL0X; WrCHIOSGO ms.

space is taken up as a document repository. There is a giant airshafl in the center of the building, which would he wasted space if the library goes thru with plans to install air conditioning in the building. Library officials have not asked themselves the hard questions of how much of what they have done or are doing really serves the library function, and whether there is more need for culling than collecting. Collection Increases Lowell A. Martin, in "Library Response to Urban a I960 study of the Chicago Public Library system, said the total collection of the Chicago Public Library system passed the 4 million mark in 1909.

"However, the number of different book titles in the entire system is less than 250.000, a reflection of the heavy duplication of items purchased," said Martin, indicating much space is taken in the library system by duplication. Interviews with employes in the central library clearly show they believe "more space" will solve their problems. "I would be collecting more if I could." said Robert Baumruek, chief of the social sciences and business department. "1 need more space, but I need it all on one flow-." A report on library space needs shows that square feet are considered needed for the social sciences department alone, which architects say is more space than is normally found in one floor of a modern office building. Baumruek candidly admitted it would not take long for the library to fill a vacant 25-story building.

So the next question is, where do you draw the line? (TRIBUNE Slaff Photo: By Oavld Nystroml 100 City Aides Battling Consumer Frauds The Chicago Heritage Committee has filed forms asking to have the building placed on the national register of historic places, which would entitle the building to federal funds for renovation and maintenance. Proposal Last Monday, the Chicago Landmarks Commission proposed the central building of the library be designated a Chicago landmark. However, the proposal must meet with the approval of the city planning department before a public hearing can be held. And finally the City Council must give its stamp of approval before the library can become a landmark. The $80,000 study authorized by the Public Buildings Commission, however, brings to $320,998 the amount of tax money that has been spent since 1967 on Studies and architectural competitions to remodel the library building.

The public buildings agency asked for three studies into sites for a new library building, preserving the present building, and library management. The three studies appear to be ignoring a mandate Feb. 2 from the Chicago Plan Commission to consider alternatives, including innovative ways to use the present library building. A survey by The Tribune of interested parties yielded some alternatives, which have not been discussed or considered by the agencies responsible for preserving the library. Parking Lot Use Proposed Richard Bennett, an architect with Loebel, Schlossman, Bennett, Dar, 333 N.

Michigan urges consideration of expanding the library into space now occupied by the underground garage under Michigan Avenue and Grant Park. There -rater showing cabin cruisers thai season, which officially opens Hi mm BY CASEY BUKRO 4.A study on ways to preserve the main Public Library building as an historical landmark while modernizing it has been assigned to an architectural firm that has said it can't be done. Holabird Root, architects and engi--neers at 300 W. Adams was one of three firms authorized March 15 by the Public Buildings Commission to conduct studies costing SIIO.000 into the preservation and renovation of the 75-year-old building. On March 7, Gerrard Pook, a partner in the Holabird Root firm, wrote a letter to the Chicago Landmarks Commission, saying.

"We are convinced this cannot be done on the existing site if the grand stair case, rotundas, and Grand Army of the Republic museum are to remain in their present locations." Plan Not Possible Pook said it is "not possible" to plan a library while retaining intact elements of the building that qualify it for landmark status, unless "major surgery" or additional land is provided. Thomas Stauffer. president of the Chicago Heritage Committee, said. "We have no reason to believe they are sympathetic to saving the building." This is the latest twist in a torturous road toward having the library building, at Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, declared a Chicago landmark. Altho public interest in saving the building has reached fever pitch, Chicago officials have said they will continue studying the matter.

The Citizens Coalition for the Main Library Building has collected 13,350 signatures on a petition seeking landmark status for the structure. AjMrv Early Arrivals Air view of Rurnham Harbor have carry on the boating May 15. i ItY DAVID GILBERT "To tell ycii there is no short weight or consumer fraud in Chicago would lie like saying there is no crime in the city," said Terry Hocin. "But we arc trying to keep it at a minimum." Keeping consumer fraud to a minimum in the city is more than a fulltime job for 100 persons who work in the city Department of Consumer Sales, Weights and Measures, Hocin, chief consumer service supervisors and his staff ride herd on city retail merchants checking the quality i products, inspecting prices and weights, testing scales, and making sure advertised sales are not come-ons. Food Prices Rise "In this job you are between the devil and the deep blue sea.

On one hand, the consumer blames us for skyrocketing food prices. On the other hand, merchants look at us as tho we had the plague," lie said. The department's tasks include inspecting all retail establishments and seeing they operate within a new set of consumer ordinances that went into effect Dec. 0. "We place an empahsis on food products because that is where the family, or consumer, spends a great portion of income," he said.

"While inspecting a supermarket we pay particular atten-iioti to the ineat and produce counters. Those counters ni'oducc the most, viola- ons of short weight." Overprice Items Short weight occurs when an item is overpriced relation to its actual weight. Short weight violations are found most (rmiicntly in stores that Terry Hocin, chief consumer service supervisor for Ihe city's Department of Weights and Measures, checks produce its a Chicago supermarket. Behind him is Mrs. Wanda Owczarski, a consumer service officer.

this clean, we wouldn't have any prob-" lems," said Hocin. Threats Voiced Mrs. Owczarski, who has been an inspector for 15 years, said on occasion an angry store operator has threatened her after she found certain violations. Once when she was inspecting in a small store, the woman operator told customers in Polish that Mrs. Owczarski was accusing her 'of stealing and was trying to shake her down for a bribe.

"Little did she know I speak fluent Polish and understood every word," Mrs. Owczarski said. "She was overcharging and 1 had to write her up to appear in courl: When i answered her in Polish, she nearly had a cardiac arrest." Altho consumer service officers often believe they are performing a thankless job, Mrs. Owczarski said the task often has its bright moments. i.