East Village Association | West Town Chicago

Neighbors fight new St. Boniface apartment plan

2016-03-31T22:55:00.002-05:00

A March 31 community meeting plots ways to save St. Boniface Church.

Against all odds, St. Boniface Church is still standing, but maybe not for long.

Closed since 1990, the former Roman Catholic Church at 1358 W. Chestnut St. could be razed for a six-story, 40-apartment building and four townhouses. Or not.

Neighbors of St. Boniface are fighting to preserve the Romanesque church, constructed in 1902-04. They drew 65 people to a March 31 community meeting at Northwestern Settlement, 1400 W. Augusta Blvd., to discuss a new round of talks with Carefree Development, who took over the property in 2013.

Carefree has two new partners: Harlem Irving Cos., owner of the Harlem Irving Plaza shopping center in Norridge, and Guardian Capital, a Chicago private-equity investor. The development plans are fluid: A month earlier, the partners proposed a 10-story, 105-apartment tower with three floors of parking.

Neighbors have been pushing for larger, owner-occupied units. Mike Dotson counts more than 900 apartment units already in the West Town development pipeline, mostly smaller Transit Oriented Development units. The church sits midway between the Blue Line's Division and Chicago stations, too far away to qualify for reduced parking within a half-mile of the Blue Line.

Plans to save the church continue to surface. Preservation Chicago executive director Ward Miller says two potential developers are waiting in the wings. One would rework the church structure as residences. Another would remodel it as a music school. The property is zoned RS-3 for houses and duplexes.

Funding has run dry for subsidized senior housing preserving the church facade, and Carefree could not deliver on its shift last year to market-rate condos.

The neighbors' group asks residents to write Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. to support a family-oriented alternative. A court date on demolition is scheduled for April 20.

East Village Association officers 2016-2017

2016-03-07T01:35:00.001-06:00

Daniel Johnson chairs an EVA meeting at Happy Village.

Daniel Johnson is slated for a second term as president of the East Village Association, with secretary Michael VanDam moving up to vice president.

The vote is at 7 p.m. tonight at the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Nominations will be taken from the floor.

Accountant Peter Gariepy will run as treasurer and Northwestern Medicine data analyst Daniel Navarro as secretary.

Both Johnson and VanDam have taken on new jobs in the past year, Johnson as partner in a newly formed litigation law firm and VanDam as an Ask Nagel real estate agent.

March showdown for Leona's teardown

2016-03-07T01:11:00.001-06:00

A city ledger logs building inspections for a dairy at 1936-44 Augusta.

Volunteers are making a last push to preserve a longtime dairy and restaurant building before the City Council acts on a demolition request.

Ald. Brian Hopkins has deferred action on a demolition permit at 1936-44 W. Augusta Blvd., but chief of staff Steve Niketopoulos says without new information March 16 vote is likely. MCZ Development plans to raze the building, initially proposing condominiums. From 1985 to 2015, the site was a Leona's restaurant.

Local historians have been trying to flesh out the site's emergence as Pure Farm Products, "the only Ukrainian dairy in Chicago," in the words of a 1924 ad in the Newberry Library's collection.

The building is in the city's East Village landmark district. The Commission on Chicago Landmarks recommended demolition after staff failed to turn up documentation from the district's historical period, defined as "circa 1883-1920s."

Niketopoulos says the developer is "anxious" to proceed, but has not discussed plans since the November demolition hearing.

In the Richard J. Daley Library at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I found a card file entry for "enclosing the space between two buildings" at 1942 W. Augusta and a 1930 ledger items for bricklaying and roof work spanning 1936-44 W. Augusta.

The Polish Museum of America is trying to date parade photographs showing the dairy, and families connected to the Home dairy have been searching for photos as well. Longtime neighbor Jeff Kulik has been documenting construction work, including other uses of its distinctive white and green glazed bricks.

Landmark commission staffers have not weighed in on whether the new research makes a persuasive preservation case, Niketopoulos says.

In Our Urban Times, Elaine Coorens suggests that in the days of the milkman, add-ons to a 19th-century structure would have been typical for an emerging wagon-delivery business.

"It appears that this may be the only example of the local dairy left in the City of Chicago," Coorens writes. "People would surround at least three-sides of a two flat then put a roof over the enclosure and it would become the local dairy." Her Pure dairy citations include a 1922 Tribune report on city health inspections.

If the city allows demolition, a new building would have to pass landmarks review. Construction must be in keeping with surroundings. Hopkins would ask the developer to consult with the East Village Association on design, Niketopoulos says. An early concept drawing "would have disappointed reviewers," he adds.

Division subway rehab on track for yearend start

2016-03-06T19:53:00.000-06:00

Delays in CTA Blue Line renovations are giving community members a second chance to influence design of a new Division station entrance.

The CTA expects work to begin at yearend, community liaison Jeff Wilson tells local architect Scott Rappe, who represented community groups in late 2014 talks with the city.

"The project will still be awarded to a design-build team," Rappe tells members of the Polish Triangle Coalition, "but there appears to be time to influence the process, and a willingness on the part of the CTA to make sure this happens."

The East Village Association, Wicker Park Committee, Near North Montessori and other community representatives formed the coalition to support public-space improvement and maintenance at the Division-Milwaukee-Ashland intersection. The group produces summer performances at the Polish Triangle.

A contractor will plan and execute updates. The Grand, Chicago and Division stations would get new entrances with granite stairs, glazed wall tiles and new lighting.

The coalition's online survey in 2014 found community support for a more attractive entrance similar to Loop station upgrades.

But city representatives estimated that the downtown-style design would cost twice as much as recent improvements at neighborhood stations. And it hedged on whether the timeline would support custom plans. With work still to be awarded, the coalition is formally requesting a role in designing the station.

The group formed in 2011 as a Friends of the Parks affiliate. It recently incorporated and is seeking recognition as a nonprofit charity.

Division is one of seven Blue Line stations promised "extensive" renovations in the CTA's $492 million Your New Blue plan, a 13-station modernization that began in 2014. The city secured a $120 million federal loan a year ago to start improvements.

Renovations are estimated at $33 million for the Grand, Chicago and Division stations. The CTA plans to make water management improvements and ceiling repairs, replace the original 1951 escalators and clad the platform and staircases in granite. Mezzanine improvements would include an epoxy finish for the concrete floor, new plaster ceilings, high-efficiency lighting and new steel exit gates.

Ridership at the Art Deco station at Division is comparable to the Rosemont, Jefferson Park and Logan Square stops. With the prospect that transit-oriented development will bring more riders, the coalition argues the Polish Triangle plaza and its subway entry should be a clean and welcoming destination.

Several readers of EVA's Facebook page would like the station to add an elevator to enhance accessibility. Comments also suggest wider steps, a second escalator, more turnstiles, Polonia-themed art and an O'Hare Airport-style ceiling treatment.

The Division node was built for the Dearborn Subway, a downtown tunnel excavated during the New Deal to replace elevated tracks. World War II delayed the station's buildout. A concession stand dates from 2005.

Chicago Avenue license would lift liquor moratorium

2016-03-01T22:21:00.000-06:00

Windy City Mini Market seeks to lift a freeze on new Chicago Avenue package-goods licenses.

East Village Association board minutes for Feb. 8, 2016, by Michael VanDam

Windy City Mini Market

Windy City Mini Market, 1756 W. Chicago Ave., would like to receive a liquor license to sell wine and beer. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno referred the owner to EVA to discuss the plan, and the owner replied to an EVA questionnaire.

According to the proposal, no more than 40% of inventory would be liquor, limited to 102 square feet in a cooler. To receive this license, the packaged goods moratorium currently in place on Chicago Avenue would need to be lifted from Wood Street to Ashland Avenue.

The owner will send EVA a proposed Plan of Operation for the sale of liquor.

Cleos Pub

No update on progress: Catherine Garypie expressed concern that Cleos had not asked Chicago Grand Neighbors Association or EVA to take a position on the late-night license and may misrepresent the EVA or CGNA 4am license position to the the liquor commissioner. She suggested that EVA send a letter to the liquor commissioner pointing out that EVA still needs additional information from Cleos before EVA can take a formal position. Cleos' management had not provided the Plan of Operation included with the application. (This paragraph was updated March 7 after minutes were circulated.)

Ace Hardware Building

Brian Foote sent the developers at 1013 N Ashland Ave. the “no opposition” letter confirming the vote at the previous EVA general meeting.

Attendees: Rich Anselmo, Brian Foote, Catherine Garypie, Dan Johnson, Neal McKnight, Jordan Marie, Daniel Navarro, Scott Rappe, Stephen Rynkewicz, Tom Tomek.

EVA supports transit-oriented Ace on Ashland condos

2016-03-01T21:06:00.001-06:00

Architect John Hanna presents the Ace on Ashland condominium plan.

East Village Association minutes for Feb. 1, 2016, by Michael VanDam

Ace Hardware Building

Brian Foote introduced the team behind the proposed new transit-oriented development replacing the Ace Hardware at 1013 N. Ashland Ave. The group had previously met with the EVA board and has integrated most suggestions into the revised plans.

The building will include 2,500 square feet of commercial space and 33 units on three floors above: six 1-bedroom units, 21 2-bedroom units and six 3-bedroom units.

Parking will be limited to 25 cars, and the building will include storage for at least 25 bikes. Parking will be accessed off the alley behind the development.

EVA members voted to approve the upzoning to B1-3, which will ensure that the ground floor retains commercial use.

Scott Floersheimer presents his plan for late-night hours.

Cleos Pub

Scott Floersheimer, owner of Cleos, spoke about his application for a late-night liquor license at 1935 W. Chicago Ave.

Floersheimer stated he had submitted all required signatures Jan. 6. City guidelines require signatures of at least 50 percent of all registered voters living within 500 feet of the business.

When asked why he was applying for the license, Floersheimer said the business was hitting a growth plateau and he felt this would offer the opportunity to continue to grow.

The operational plan included with the application included additional security and training for staff, security cameras and procedures for dealing with disturbances.

EVA members expressed concern about the additional noise and stress the late-night license would impose on the neighborhood.

Nominating Committee

EVA officers will be nominated and approved at the March EVA meeting (to be held on March 7). Dan Johnson, Catherine Garypie and Michael VanDam are on the nominating committee. Interested members should contact them for consideration.

Where to comment on Cleos hours

2016-02-09T14:49:00.000-06:00

The city's comment period ends this week for 4am liquor license application at Cleos, 1935 W. Chicago Ave. Managing partner Scott Floersheimer made presentations Feb. 1 to the East Village Association and Jan. 19 to Chicago Grand Neighbors Association. Neither group took an advisory vote; both encourage raising concerns directly with city authorities.

Floersheimer told EVA members he's motivated to make make late hours a success: A second shift and security will nearly double his personnel, and problems could jeopardize his license to serve liquor, whatever the hour. Here are where to direct comments by Feb. 12.

Gregg Steadman, Local Liquor Commissioner
Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
121 N. La Salle St., 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602

Joe Moreno, 1st Ward Alderman
Office of the 1st Ward
2740 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
ward01@cityofchicago.org

Brian Hopkins, 2nd Ward Alderman
Office of the 2nd Ward
1400 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
ward02@cityofchicago.org

Maria Guerra Lapacek, Commissioner
Department of Consumer Affairs & Consumer Protection
121 N. La Salle St., 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602

Edward J. Kulbida, Commander
12th District
Chicago Police Department
1412 S. Blue Island Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
REBECCA.ARGUELLES@chicagopolice.org

Chicago Grand Neighbors Association
CGNA@cgnaweb.org

Dan Johnson, President, East Village Association
djohnson@wjylegal.com

Developer resurrects St. Boniface housing

2016-02-02T09:21:00.001-06:00

Development stalled at St. Boniface Church after EVA worked to halt demolition in 1999.

East Village Association minutes for Jan. 4, 2016, by Michael VanDam

Business minute

Peter Gariepy, a local accountant, recently opened a branch of a small St. Louis-based accounting firm in the neighborhood. Specializing in bookkeeping, tax return prep and payroll for small businesses, Rajesh C. Vora, CPA is equipped to handle a wide variety of accounting tasks.

Gariepy works independently in Chicago, supported by a seven-person team in St. Louis. His goal is to make accounting “paperless and painless.” Gariepy can be reached at peter@vora-cpa.com.

Planning Preservation & Development

Ace Hardware condo development: No update.

Cleos late-night liquor application: Scott Floersheimer, owner of the bar at 1935 W, Chicago Ave., is scheduled to appear Jan. 19 with the Chicago Grand Neighbors Association and at the Feb. 1 EVA meeting.

CAPS

Molly Murray moved out of the 12th district. Joe Galanti will be the new community-policing coordinator. He can be reached at beat1213@gmail.com. EVA is looking for someone to serve as its new CAPS coordinator.

Leona’s update

Research continues on the history of the Leona’s building to back up the case for landmark status. Any information should be forwarded to Steve Niketopolous at Ald. Brian Hopkins' office.

New business

St. Boniface: Carefree Development Corp., which was going to develop senior housing at 1358 W. Chestnut St., is now looking to sell the church property to a developer with experience in historic preservation for market-rate housing. Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. supports the process.

Niketopolous announced plans to extend the Wood Street bicycle lane to the 606 trail.

Meeting called to order at 7:08pm at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave.

Neighborhood school head count slips

2016-02-02T09:19:00.000-06:00

Wells High School is at one-third capacity in a school district analysis.

East Village Association board minutes for Jan. 11, 2016, by Michael VanDam

Cleos late-night license

Cleos' application for a 4am liquor license has been submitted. That implies signatures have been collected from 50% of registered voters living within 500 feet of the establishment at 1935 W. Chicago Ave.

Scott Floersheimer, owner of Cleos, will be meeting Jan. 19 with Chicago Grand Neighbors Association. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno is scheduled to attend as well. CGNA is unsure what its position will be with Cleos. Neal McKnight will submit a FOIA request for the application and relevant support material.

Ace Hardware condo development

Brian Foote has requested additional information about the project at 1023 N. Ashland Ave. Developers of the former Ace Hardware site should be prepared to present plans at the Feb. 1 EVA general meeting.

Schools

Stephen Rynkiewicz discussed the recent Chicago Public Schools utilization figures. Wells High School, 936 N. Ashland Ave., is at just 33% of capacity. LaSalle II magnet school, Otis and Talcott are under-enrolled, while Columbus and Pritzker meet targets. A number of “welcoming schools” that received students from schools closed in 2013 are on the enrollment “watch list."

West Town school enrollment falls short: CPS report

2016-01-31T22:37:00.001-06:00

West Town schools don't have enough students, according to a Chicago Public Schools assessment, with 11 of 16 schools considered "underutilized."

Wells High School, 936 N. Ashland Ave., is at one-third capacity, the analysis says. The neighborhood high school for East Village is angling for designation as a citywide language academy to fill classrooms. In the past, CPS also has addressed space needs by removing temporary structures and "co-locating" separately run schools in the same building.

Another designated neighborhood high school, Clemente at 1147 N. Western Ave., was rated only 24% full. Chicago Arts, Prologue and Ogden high schools also on the underutilized list.

Two East Village elementary schools that feed Wells also are deemed "underutilized," with Talcott at 58% and Otis at 63%. Chopin, De Diego and Lozano also are on the low-enrollment list. At 120% of targeted enrollment, Columbus is rated "efficient." So is Mitchell, at 83% capacity.

Among nearby magnet schools, La Salle II is under-enrolled at 62% and Pritzker is on track at 99% of district targets. The report excludes alternative schools and charters not in CPS buildings. Enrollment targets are based on an average of 30 students in each homeroom.

None of the schools are in immediate danger of closing. DNAinfo notes that a similar space utilization report was used in Chicago's 2013 school closings. However, those closings triggered a five-year moratorium on closing additional facilities due to low enrollment.

Peabody School in East Village was one of the shuttered schools; its annex at 1434 W. Augusta Blvd. is now Rowe Middle School, a charter school run by Northwestern Settlement. The report labels Rowe's main campus at 1424 N. Cleaver St. as the only overcrowded West Town school, running at 124% of capacity.

EVA members review Ace on Ashland condo plan

2016-01-31T20:58:00.000-06:00

The construction fence shows a building design for the former Ace Hardware site.

Developers of a condominium building will ask East Village Association members Monday to support a zoning change at the former Ace Hardware site, 1023 N. Ashland Ave.

Owner Ross Babel plans a new four-story building with first-floor commercial-retail tenants and 33 condo units. The floor plan requires B2-3 zoning; the lot's now B1-2. Attorney Sara K. Barnes calls the upzone "more compatible" with buildings to the east and west.

After reviewing early plans, members of EVA's development committee suggested adding 3-bedroom units for a more diverse mix. Here's how the units now stack up in size:

6 – 1 bedroom, 1.5 bath (720 square feet).
9 – 2 bedroom, 1 bath (850 square feet).
6 – 2 bedroom, 2 bath (920 square feet).
6 – 2 bedroom, 2 bath (950 square feet).
6 – 3 bedroom, 2 bath (1,280 square feet).

The plan earmarks two 2-bedrooms units as affordable to median-income buyers. Rules in place when the project started would normally require four affordable units for this size building.

A vote is expected after the developer's presentation, at 7pm in Happy Village, 1058 N. Wolcott Ave.

Only 25 parking spaces are planned, although the city's Transit Oriented Development rules allow even fewer in this spot south of the CTA Blue Line. Barnes suggests that condo buyers will insist on parking, especially for the bigger units, and that some spaces would be needed for the first-floor businesses.

"With this in mind, and our proximity to the CTA, we do hope to also attract ownership interest from young urbanites, who can easily commute to work and move about, without the need for a car – hence the small reduction in the amount of required parking," Barnes says.

North Clybourn Group is marketing the building as Ace on Ashland, but there's no plan for Ace Hardware to return. However, Barnes says the owner is trying to recruit “residential services” such as a café, gym or grocer – even a hardware store – to provide "services that are underrepresented and needed."

Cleos makes case for late-night license

2016-01-17T21:48:00.002-06:00

The Cleos street view extends from 1935 W. Chicago Ave. to the building next door.

A late-night license at Cleos pub, 1935 W. Chicago Ave., will be reviewed at the Feb. 1 East Village Association meeting.

Cleos managing partner Scott Floersheimer will make his case, which is likely to echo his Jan. 19 presentation to the Chicago Grand Neighbors Association at Output lounge, 1758 W. Grand.

Ald. Proco Joe Moreno's office requested the CGNA review; an EVA vote is not scheduled. Both Moreno and Chicago Police Cmdr. Edward J. Kulbida must approve the license.

Kulbida also seeks neighborhood feedback. Residents can contact Sgt. Rebecca Arguelles, who reviews liquor applications, by e-mail or at 312-746-8306. The 1st Ward office can be reached via email or at 773-278-0101. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, which issues liquor licenses, is at 312-744.6249.

The late-night license would keep the tavern open till 4am, or 5am Saturday nights. To apply, Cleos submitted signatures of a majority of registered voters listed within 500 feet.

EVA meets at 7pm in Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. CGNA and EVA share a Chicago Avenue boundary.

Floersheimer notified neighbors before circulating petitions, and made a case for the license on Cleos' website. He tried to refute objections that surfaced on the Facebook Community Page for Ukrainian Village. He promised to keep the kitchen open till 4, and suggested that most late-night patrons would be workers from nearby restaurants.

He stated that since the bar opened in 1993, the only neighborhood issue he's aware of is patio noise, and that laws protect neighbors from irresponsible operators. Floersheimer noted that Cleos has bought the vacant building next door at 1939 W. Chicago Ave. but said he has no plans for the property. Signs promoting the Cleos patio and drink specials cover the storefront.

The city could act as early as Feb. 13. If denied, Cleos could appeal within 20 days.

Building may incorporate Leona's storefront

2016-01-03T19:38:00.000-06:00

Volunteers are researching construction of the closed Leona's glazed-brick front.

East Village Association minutes for Dec. 7, 2015, by Michael VanDam

Business Minute

Aussie Pet Mobile provides mobile pet grooming services to the larger West Town area. In addition to offering his services, owner Tim Shannon is looking for experienced groomers to join his team.

Planning, Preservation & Development

Leona’s update: While the Landmark Commission did not designate the Leona’s property at 1936-44 W. Augusta Blvd. as significant and contributing to the East Village district, Ald. Brian Hopkins continues to work to preserve the building, and EVA members are researching its history. While the developers’ final plans have not been released, they may try to integrate the façade into the final project.

Ace Hardware condos: Developers would like to take advantage of the new Transit-Oriented Development guidelines to build condominiums on the site of the old Ashland Ace Hardware, 1013 N. Ashland Ave., and would like the property upzoned. They will present their proposal to the EVA board and general membership at an undetermined date.

Cleo’s late-night license: Cleo’s tavern has proposed applying for a 4am license. To receive approval, the owner needs signatures of at least 50% of all registered voters living within 500 feet of the location at 1935 W. Chicago Ave. The establishment is actively canvassing for signatures. EVA leaders will be meeting with Chicago Grand Neighbors Association to determine next steps. In the meantime, they recommend that people weigh in with letters to the liquor commissioner.

Polish Triangle Coalition

Four years ago, EVA, the Wicker Park Committee and other groups formed the Polish Triangle Coalition to get more life at the Triangle. Now would be a good time to get involved if you have an interest. Meeting are usually the last Tuesday of each month. Those interested should contact Stephen Rynkiewicz.

East Village issues, from taverns to transit

2016-01-03T18:08:00.000-06:00

A feisty exchange between East Village Association members and a local alderman drew wide interest in 2015.

Efforts to reopen the Club Foot bar drew a crowd to EVA's September meeting. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno expanded the debate, saying he'd consider opening East Village to new tavern licenses. The 1st Ward alderman warned EVA members that he doesn't feel bound to follow the group's guidance, and signaled his vote for a city budget that increased taxes and fees by $755 million.

Posts on the Club Foot site at 1824 W. Augusta Blvd., including audio of Moreno's comments, drew links from Facebook groups, EveryBlock, DNAinfo and Chicagoist.

The East Village freeze on tavern licenses sprung from EVA's longstanding role advising local aldermen on zoning and licensing. The moratorium encouraged East Village's growth as a restaurant hotspot, and community votes approved of exceptions such as the Forbidden Root taproom planned for 1746 W. Chicago Ave.

EVA's development guidelines are this website's most popular feature, and planning issues dominated 2015's most-viewed posts as well. Several posts tracked bids to use Chicago's special Transit Oriented Development rules, which Moreno drafted with EVA and other organizations.

The ward's election debate, sponsored by EVA and three neighboring groups, drew a large crowd to the Wells High School auditorium in January. Video of the debate was watched far more widely than the 2nd Ward debate that followed.

On EVA's Facebook page, members debated a wider variety of planning and preservation issues. Notable discussions revolved around the Chicago Avenue streetscape, West Town crime and the closed Leona's restaurant building at 1936 W. Augusta Blvd.

EVA's top posts of the year:

Moreno supports moratorium repeal, tax increase
Chicago Avenue facade rehab to begin
Augusta affirmed as residential street
Chicago 1st Ward election forum video
Ashland church apartment plan extends transit zone
Ashland apartments scale down; liquor option on Augusta
Developer rehabs St. Boniface plan
Active Trans tracks stalled Ashland BRT
Polish Triangle reset; Ace Hardware condos
Eckhart Park, Peabody School, St. Boniface updates
Detroit's Michael Melis Trio performs in July at the Polish Triangle.
East Village Association board minutes for Nov. 9, 2015, by Michael VanDam

December Membership Meeting
Catherine Garypie suggested the Aussie Pet Mobile dog-grooming service as a potential Business Minute for the Dec. 7 meeting.
Polish Triangle Coalition
Neal McKnight said EVA needs a new liaison to the Polish Triangle Coalition planning committee. This could be a rotating position, with a different EVA rep attending when available.

Stephen Rynkiewicz will help draft bylaws for the group, which has been operating through Friends of the Parks. The East Village Association is a founding member of the coalition, which sponsors summer performances at Division, Ashland and Milwaukee.
Planning, Preservation & Development
Leona’s closes: Catherine Garypie, Scott Rappe, McKnight and Rynkiewicz went to a Chicago Landmarks Commission meeting, unsuccessfully attempting to block a demolition permit at 1944-46 W. Augusta Blvd. They were joined by Ald. Brian Hopkins. We are still seeking documentation for the provenance of the building.

Ace Hardware: Developers of a condo complex at 1011-23 N Ashland initially planned to build within current zoning, but now are requesting permission to build a bit bigger at the longtime hardware-store site. They would like an upzone, presumably to take advantage of the new Transit Oriented Development ordinance that cuts parking requirements.

1531 W. Haddon: The buyer continues to claim she was misled about the zoning of the purchased property and would like EVA’s endorsement of a zoning change. EVA does not feel it should be involved in this issue.

Meeting was called to order at 6:33pm. Attendance: Rich Anselmo, Gladys Alcazar Anselmo, Elaine Coorens. Brian Foote, Catherine Garypie, Marjorie Isaacson, Dan Johnson, Jordan Marie, Neal McKnight, Daniel Navarro, Scott Rappe, Stephen Rynkiewicz.

Wells scores high grades; Leona's closes

2015-12-06T18:39:00.003-06:00

Rituparna Raichoudhuri and Ernesto Matias of Chicago Public Schools

East Village Association minutes for Nov. 2, 2015, by Michael VanDam

Wells High School

Principal Rituparna Raichoudhuri and former principal Ernesto Matias discussed the current state of Wells High School. Topics included academic improvements at the school, the impact of charter schools on public high schools and the potential to add a World Language Academy track to the high school.

Raichoudhuri urged parents to visit the school and to consider it seriously. She would like the school to remain a vital part of the neighborhood and a school of choice.

Planning, Preservation & Development

A demolition permit has been applied for at the Leona’s restaurant building, 1944-46 W. Augusta. Members of the community have come together to fight for preservation of the building with support from Ald. Brian Hopkins. The building is a former Ukrainian dairy, and the exact timing of its operation and construction is being researched. More information is available in Elaine Coorens' recent article.

Newsletter/Website

A listing of local schools is now available on the EVA website, with links to information.

New Business

Steve Niketopolous from Ald. Hopkins' office pointed out the recent resurfacing of Winchester Street.

Ald. Hopkins defends Leona's building

2015-11-06T14:58:00.000-06:00

Ald. Brian Hopkins addresses members of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.

Plans to raze and rebuild the Leona's restaurant in East Village are moving to the City Council for approval. But Ald. Brian Hopkins says he'll work to preserve the building, a former dairy in the East Village landmark district.

The Commission on Chicago Landmarks recommended the city approve demolition at 1938 W. Augusta Blvd. Hopkins told commissioners before the Nov. 5 vote that the community wanted to preserve the structure, a 1920s-style glazed-tile facade around an 1895 two-flat.

"There's grandparents and great-grandparents that'll talk about ordering products from Pure Dairy," Hopkins said. "Many of them do believe the building as it stands today is a legitimate symbol of their success as a community."

Hopkins could block demolition in the City Council, but Commissioner James Houlihan asked Hopkins not to defer the issue. He noted the commission would have to approve any new building. "A 44-story high-rise might not be consistent with the district," Houlihan said.

That's not in store, said Tod Mullen, project manager for MCZ Development. He pledged to stick with the current B2-3 mixed-use zoning, which he said would allow 12 residential units.

"The zoning for this allows for a larger building," Mullen said. "This particular building doesn't have a whole lot of commercial value to us as a one-story, overly large restaurant in this particular location."

Leona's glazed-brick facade at 1938 W. Augusta Blvd. reflects its past as a local dairy.

MCZ laywer Nick Ftikas said building plans would fit into the district. "We are going to try to fit our building within what we believe the character of the neighborhood remains," Ftikas said.

Commissioners Juan Gabriel Moreno and Ernest Wong voted against the demolition. Moreno asked the developer to "provide some sensitivity to how old and new can merge."

Hopkins said volunteers were still building a case that the building preceded the Great Depression. Elaine Coorens, who researched newspapers and insurance maps, said she believed it's the last example of Chicago's local dairies.

"This building is living history," said Scott Rappe, who framed the East Village Association position against the demolition. "It has been well documented that a dairy operated on the site within the period of significance of the district. ... The alterations which have transformed this residential building into a commercial dairy add to rather than detract from the significance of the whole."

Rappe noted that Ald. Manuel Flores helped EVA head off demolition once before with a 2007 rezoning.

Neal McKnight suggested that apartments could be built behind the facade. He said commercial building in the district need to reflect the period. "We want to have that continuity so our children can understand the past and live in a sustainable future," McKnight said.

Catherine Garypie said the building recalled the days of horse carriages. "When I walk by this building I think about why local dairies existed in Chicago at one point in time. I think about how there were very few cars for much of the time the dairy operated. I think about milk, cheese and butter being produced on the property for their neighborhood, and the pride which the Ukrainian community probably had in the fact that they had their own dairy run by members of their own community." (I made a similar personal case.)

Adam Natenshon, Preservation Chicago vice president, maintained that a rehab could capitalize on the building's retro features. "In the right hands this building would be a gem and a goldmine for a developer that recognizes its attributes," Natenshon said.

Houlihan encouraged the developer to include EVA and Hopkins in its planning. "You're aware that the East Village organization is a very strongly knit and positive contributor to the character of not only this district but that neighborhood, and that they're very important in terms of the neighborhood integrity," he told Ftikas.

"I assume you're also aware that the newly elected alderman who has a great deal of experience in government, would be very interested in reviewing your proposals when you come back with a request that would fit and be consistent with that neighborhood character and this landmark district. It's not just us but it will be that local process that will be very important to your success."

Hearing on Leona's demolition

2015-11-05T08:46:00.000-06:00

A permit to raze the Leona's restaurant on Augusta, a converted historic dairy, comes up for review at the Commission on Chicago Landmarks today. Here's why the East Village Association opposes the demolition. The hearing is at 12:45 p.m. today at City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street, in the 2nd floor City Council Chambers.

Do neighborhood schools make the grade?

2015-10-31T22:17:00.000-05:00

West Town schools: Hover over the dots and click for more information.

How would you score neighborhood schools: They strive to reach their full potential? Or, they need improvement? Wells Community Academy, the default high school for East Village teens, could draw either comment.

Illinois School Report Card

Rita Raichoudhuri, its principal, will talk Monday with East Village Association members about progress and challenges at Wells and the city's other open-enrollment schools.

She'll be joined by Ernesto Matias, her predecessor as principal, who is working on a bid to launch a citywide language academy. The 7pm meeting is at the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave.

The Illinois School Report Card, issued Friday, gives the school at 936 N. Ashland Ave. high marks for professional development and teacher collaboration. Wells' learning environment is graded on the 5Essentials scale, which the University of Chicago developed to predict student success.

Wells compares well to the Noble Street charter schools, which the state combines in a single report. The state reports do not include religious and private schools.

The state has not yet posted results on the new Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. But Wells lost ground on graduation rate, and its improving results on ACT college-prep exams fall short of the Noble charters.

Raichoudhuri disputes both metrics. The school serves many families that don't stay in one place for four years, but the report card follows Wells' freshman class wherever its pupils land. "It's a fairly strange way to calculate graduation rate," she says. "We graduated 100 percent of our senior class who were physically with us."

Wells is appealing ACT's report, on which national ratings are based: "They have completely different roster counts than we do," the principal says. On U. of C. reports tracking freshman progress, Raichoudhuri argues that Wells has made giant steps, particularly among its large Hispanic cohort.

"I don't even think comparing to charters should be done. I cringe at that," Raichoudhuri says. Even open-enrollment charters can expel students or advise them to transfer to the local schools. "Forget about honors and advanced-placement classes, which they have very few of."

In the state's comparison, Wells shows a lower class size, more advanced-placement programs and more foreign-language offerings than the Noble charters. Wells offers Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish, which boosts its bid to host a language academy to draw students from beyond local boundaries.

Wells' enrollment has fallen from the State Board of Education count of 617, and now stands at 467. As a result the school faces budget cuts and could be vulnerable in future school closings.

"I'm going to compare just the charters in this area to Wells," the principal says. "None of them have dual-enrollment (college credit) courses, there is no after-school program, they don't have sports, they don't have a theater program – everything that goes into forming a holistic student with a rounded life experience, charters can't offer. There's this focus on academics and discipline alone.

"We hear, 'Parents have choice in Chicago.' But does choice matter if the district is not being transparent about what schools actually offer?"

The state also has posted results for Wells feeder schools Columbus, Mitchell, Otis and Talcott, and local selective enrollment schools LaSalle II and Pritzker.

Wells talks language academy to fill classrooms

2015-10-30T22:52:00.001-05:00

Enrollment dropped by 90 students to 467 at Wells High School, 936 N. Ashland Ave.

East Village Association board minutes for Oct. 12, 2015, by Michael VanDam

Library restoration

Jordan Marie received an e-mail from the city Department of Buildings saying it would cost $1.5 million to restore the city-owned Goldblatt's Building at 1625 W. Chicago Ave. Gladys Alcazar-Anselmo mentioned that the building was restored only in 1999. However, windows appear to have been out of the renovation's scope.

Wells High School

Stephen Rynkiewicz will check with a representative from Wells Community Academy to present at the Nov. 2 membership meeting. A drop in enrollment will cost $900,000 this school year, and if not reversed makes Wells a potential target for closing.

The high school at 936 N. Ashland Ave. has a number of turnaround options. It has offered to host a citywide language academy, and already provides programs in teaching, logistics and law.

The open-enrollment school competes against charter schools with advance placement and college-credit courses, electives and after-school activities. Last year Wells secured $4 million in scholarships for graduates.

Business Minute

Michael VanDam mentioned the possibility of LLL vintage clothing, 1931 W. Chicago Ave., presenting at the November meeting. He will reach out to the owner.

Neighborhood survey

Rynkiewicz mentioned the possibility of setting up a SurveyMonkey poll to gather neighborhood input on planning ideas and priorities. This brought up the need to offer more educational information to the general membership on zoning, moratoriums, licensing and schools.

Planning Preservation & Development

Development to replace the Ace Hardware at 1013 N. Ashland Ave. is seeking an upzone, but would remain in the business/ mixed-use category.

Scott Rappe inquired about landmark preservation in the city's most recent Transit Oriented Development proposal. According to 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly’s office, there still may be room for the ordinance to be amended if protections need to be augmented.

West Town library window repairs not in budget

2015-10-30T20:58:00.000-05:00

East Village Association membership minutes for Oct. 5, 2015, by Michael VanDam

Welcome from EVA Vice President Catherine Garypie

Presentation by John Wawraszek of Chicago Publishers Resource Center

Located at 852 N. Ashland, the Chicago Publishers Resource Center is a two-year-old non-profit hosting literary and artistic workshops and community events.

Wawraszek is very interested in partnering with EVA on events, including an upcoming Ashland art walk scheduled for Nov. 7. More information can be found at chiprc.org.

Library façade

Garypie has reached out to the city to get more information about the scaffolding in front of the West Town Branch Library at the Goldblatt's Building, 1625 W. Chicago Ave. (The Department of Fleet and Facility Management confirms a DNAinfo report that the scaffolding protects pedestrians from deteriorated windows.)

Repair funds, estimated at $1.5 million, are not in the 2016 city budget. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno has mentioned the potential of dedicating discretionary funds to fixing the building, but more information is needed on whether ward "menu money" or community fundraising could be earmarked solely for this project.

Planning, Preservation & Development

Chris Pappas, the owner of The Winchester, is looking to open a new wine bar on Division. Because it’s an older building, it may need work to comply witb Americans With Disabilities Act. Pappas may be looking to obtain a variance on this requirement to maintain the integrity of the vintage building.

CAPS

Nothing new here, but a question was raised about a recent spate of alley fires.

Schools

Chicago Public Schools is slashing budgets significantly and numerous local schools have lost teachers, particularly in special education. EVA will work to get the word out about fundraisers for these schools.

Wells High School, 936 N. Ashland Ave. at Augusta, has suffered from declining enrollment and is exploring options. Look for a representative from Wells to discuss at an upcoming meeting.

Toward civil, inclusive meetings

2015-10-03T10:37:00.000-05:00

The city operated a bathhouse at 1019 N. Wolcott Ave. from 1918 through the 1960s.

East Village Association board minutes for Sept. 21, 2015, by Michael VanDam

Membership Meeting

Given Ald. Proco Joe Moreno’s statements regarding EVA at the Sept. 14 general meeting, the board and guests discussed ways to ensure that meetings remain civil and changes to ensure that EVA remains inclusive of all neighborhood voices.

Suggestions included:

Issuing a statement about civility at the beginning of each meeting.
The alderman hosting a separate community meeting to discuss issues like Golden Arms, instead of simply sending it to EVA.
Ensuring that aldermen send representatives to attend EVA meetings.
Instituting a series of educational sessions on zoning and other planning issues.
Improving outreach and awareness of EVA through brochures and other collateral.
Re-establishing or changing key EVA principles through discussion with membership.

Bathhouse on Wolcott

Michelle Hayward, who owns the former Lincoln bathhouse on Wolcott, would like to use the space to host low-impact cultural and civic events. She and her husband bought the building in 2013.

It hasn’t been used publicly in 40 years, and she’d like it to be an active space for the community. Neal McKnight will help her in zoning inquiries.

October Meeting

Chicago Publishers Resource Center will provide the Business Minute. Catherine Garypie or Michael VanDam will lead the meeting in Dan Johnson’s absence.

New Wine Bar from The Winchester

Chris Pappas, owner of The Winchester restaurant, is exploring opening a wine bar in an old house on the north side of Division. Because of Americans With Disabilities Act requirements, the city would like him to install a ramp or lift, which he is concerned will affect the vintage character of the building. He is seeking support from EVA and the Wicker Park Committee for a variance. The building is orange-rated.

At West Town Bakery, 1916 W. Chicago Ave. Attendees (partial): Dan Johnson, Brian Foote, Catherine Garypie, Marjorie Isaacson, Jordan Marie, Neal McKnight, Greg Nagel, Daniel Navarro, Stephen Rynkiewicz.

Moreno supports moratorium repeal, tax increase

2015-09-15T11:28:00.001-05:00

Plans to revive the Club Foot bar have fallen apart, but 1st Ward Ald. Proco Joe Moreno said he would support lifting a tavern license moratorium at the Augusta Boulevard site.

"I am very seriously considering lifting all moratoriums in East Village because they are old ways of dealing with protections in our city," he told EVA members Sept. 14.

Moreno also said he'd support a $500 million property tax increase to balance the Chicago budget. He noted that his proposal for a city tax on smokeless tobacco would need a new state law, and claimed that tax increment financing has been abused, although he'd keep the 1st Ward's TIF district.

Ed Marszewski, Club Foot's prospective new owner, did not attend the meeting. But Moreno said Marszewski couldn't get a lease at 1824 W. Augusta Blvd.

Members discussed the prospect anyway. Supporters of Marszewski's Golden Arms plan said EVA should be more flexibile on side-street zoning. Neighbor Caroline Garypie said she gathered 38 opposing signatures within a block of the bar.

Moreno's staff asked Marszewski in May to approach EVA. Marszewski wanted to lift the moratorium and roll back residential zoning on Augusta. EVA's board advised him instead to ask neighbors to support transferring the Club Foot license, a "grandfathered" zoning use.

"The East Village Association leadership has got to go through a big change for me to start recognizing," Moreno told EVA members. "I like a lot of what the membership are saying here tonight because for too long a cadre of nine or 10 people have been trying to control this neighborhood. It's not going to happen under me."

EVA members last year agreed to lift a Chicago Avenue moratorium to allow the pending Forbidden Root brewpub, 1742-50 W. Chicago Ave.

In the night's only vote, members agreed to let a 33-unit apartment project proceed at 1062-1100 N. Ashland. Developer Mark Sutherland told the group the East Village Lofts would require residential upzoning and extension of the city's transit-oriented development zones.

2015 East Village block party

2015-08-29T19:30:00.000-05:00

East Village Association's annual summer event brought neighbors together for food and drink, plus a bounce house for the kids. Find more photos on the EVA Facebook page.

Ashland apartments scale down; liquor option on Augusta

2015-08-27T11:20:00.000-05:00

Milbury Architects' revised plan for 1062 N. Ashland Ave.

East Village Association board minutes for Aug. 10, 2015, by Michael VanDam

Planning, Preservation and Development

1062 N. Ashland Ave.: Developer Mark Sutherland presented revised plans to build apartments behind the Ashland Church of God's existing façade. A smaller building would have 4 studios, 16 1-bedrooms and 13 2-bedroom apartments.

The developer agreed to provide the city-required 10% ratio of affordable housing, and will not buy out of the requirement. They may move one or two of the units offsite, but will keep them within the West Town community.

The proposal should go to the general EVA membership at the next meeting on Sept. 14.

1612 W. Chicago Ave.: The Shapiro Ballroom has announced plans to renovate the old Alvin Theater for a ballroom dance school and event space. Neal McKnight will reach out to see if we can help with any necessary permits or zoning changes.

1824 W. Augusta Blvd.: EVA sent a letter to Ed Marszewski of Golden Arms stating that we do not support a lift of the Augusta liquor moratorium. He is welcome to pursue the city-sanctioned process of obtaining the approval of 51% of registered voters living within 500 feet of the proposed location.

Block Party

The East Village Block Party will be held noon to 7pm Saturday, Aug. 29, on Iowa between Wolcott and Honore. A bounce house, music, food and beer will be provided.

Transit Oriented Development

Scott Rappe presented a plan to amend the proposed Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) ordinance to better protect historically significant buildings.