East Village Association | West Town Chicago

Red Apple asks for liquor license

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:13:12 PST

Neighbors of Red Apple Convenience planned to meet Tuesday with 32nd Ward staffers about the store at 2000 W. Chicago Ave. seeking a liquor license.

Move N Pick Convenience Inc. applied for a package-goods license Feb. 15, according to the city Business Affairs & Consumer Protection department, which starts the clock on 40 days to file objections.

Ward outreach director Elizabeth Gomez is facilitating the meeting, set for 6 pm at 2657 N. Clybourn Ave. It is unclear if owner Irar Sweiss will be invited.

Successful license protests indicate a potentially "deleterious impact" on the neighborhood, according to former East Village Association president Gladys Alcazar, former deputy director of the Local Liquor Control Commission. That would mean problems with parking, loitering, littering, noise, crime or property values.

Earlier, neighbor Suzanne Wahl had complained to Gomez that curb service at the convenience store was interfering with corner bus stops. Wahl is circulating a flier on the ward meeting.

Cops mark East Village apartment burglaries

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:13:04 PST

With seven burglaries in East Village in a month, police are calling attention to a series of apartment burglaries.

A Feb. 22 community alert noted a series of back-door and window break-ins in the two beats bound by Division, Ashland, Chicago and Rockwell. Residents are advised to "Be aware of suspicious persons ringing door bells, and persons hanging around alleys."

Area 4 detectives noted four cases, but we found three burglaries on the 800 block of North Winchester Avenue alone, plus reports on the 1000 block of North Winchester, 1600 block of West Augusta and 1800 blocks of Division and Haddon.

Four days earlier, the 13th District issued an alert on car thefts of items such as computers and purses. The auto thefts stretch from Ohio Street south to Lake, from Desplaines to Paulina. "If you see someone tampering with a vehicle, call 911 and inform the call taker that you are reporting an auto theft in progress and provide a complete, concise description," the alert says.

District Cmdr. Frank Gross will speak at the March 5 East Village Association meeting, starting at 7 pm at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott.

Wood Street blues: Prepare to be impressed

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:41:14 PST

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has laid down markers on the site of the soon-to-close Wood Street police station, promising something “innovative, impressive and appropriate” with a police presence.

Ald. Proco Joe Moreno reveals this news in his constituent newsletter four months after Emanuel announced that the city would close the 50-year-old 13th District station house at 937 N. Wood St. as a cost-cutting measure. Moreno now is selecting volunteers to name the site's new role.

"I will be involved in the discussions, but this group will make the decisions," Moreno says.

Making an impression there is certain to be a challenge: Moreno's advisers will be bargaining with the cash-strapped city as tbey determine the scope of the transformation./p>

The 1st Ward alderman named Catherine Garypie and Tony Duffy to the working group and is seeking a third member. "Ideally, this person should have lived in and improved the community for, at least, five years," Moreno says. "This person needs to be an effective communicator and someone able to represent and reflect the thoughts and feelings of their neighbors."

He described Garypie and Duffy as "longtime community activists" but offered no details from their resumes to suggest why he chose them.

"Ald. Moreno missed an opportunity by not including representatives of local community groups in this working group," East Village Association vice president Neal McKnight said Thursday in a post on the EVA Facebook page. "Our local community organizations have a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to offer to this process. Let's hope he reconsiders."

Two members of Chicago Grand Neighbors Association had volunteered for the committee after Moreno signaled his intent to form the group at a Jan. 15 CGNA meeting, said president Lyn Wolfson in an e-mail message. In a followup memo, Wolfson clarified that she would tell the two CGNA to apply for the open spot on the panel. Wolfson suggested that CGNA and EVA representatives review the nominees' credentials.

Sidewalk cafes put trees at risk

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:42:23 PST

Is there room enough on Division Street for trees and sidewalk cafes too?

"Our office is continuing to get requests to remove tree pit fences to allow for more sidewalk cafe space," 1st Ward chief of staff Raymond Valadez says. "We need to meet as a community to discuss sidewalk cafe regulations in general and to come to a consensus on what is acceptable regarding these tree pit fences on Division Street."

Sidewalk cafe standards are on the agenda at a 10 am Feb. 28 meeting that Ald. Proco Joe Moreno has called with chamber officials, business owners, community representatives and city officials. The session is at the Bedford restaurant, 1612 W. Division St.

"I think we should propose that businesses that use the sidewalk be charged with the care, maintenance and replacement when necessary of similar-sized trees," says East Village Association vice president Neal McKnight. "This is not a bargaining chip: This should have been this way from the beginning."

Fences designed to protect the trees have been removed ad hoc in recent years to clear the sidewalk for seating at the Boundary, Moonshine, Prasino and Via Carducci, while other fences have fallen into disrepair. In some cases roots have been paved over with bricks or concrete, starving trees of air, water and nutrients.

"The trees are one of the things that make Division Street so desirable for businesses and their patrons," says EVA planning co-chair Scott Rappe. "Expanding the cafe into the fenced area threatens the health of the trees, and puts private profits over the public good."

Bikes spoken Wednesday at Fifty/50

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:57:23 PST

The future of biking in the 1st Ward is the Active Transportation Alliance topic in a 6:30 pm presentation at the Fifty/50, 2047 W. Division St.

Street festivals, bike paths and transit options are on the group's agenda this year. The event is also a modest fund-raiser: An "Active-Trans-Tini" drink special includes a 15% contribution to the group.

Extra toppings: Pizza Hut tower hearing Feb. 27

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:18:50 PST

An unusually open development process at the former Pizza Hut lot continues Feb. 27 with a public hearing by Ald. Proco Joe Moreno, whose opinion has weight in City Council votes to follow.

The site at 1601 W. Division will be reviewed in a 6 pm meeting at Near North Montessori School, 1434 W. Division St.

Current plans call for 110 to 119 studio- to 2-bedroom apartments, a PNC bank and storefronts in an 11-story building. The project would require zoning changes and a planned development ordinance to waive height limits and parking requirements.

In a process Moreno put in play last year, developers Rob Buono and Paul Utigard, architect Jon Heinert and attorney Rolando Acosta have discussed plans with East Village Association representatives on Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Dec, 18 and Jan. 18, all with advance public notice.

Since Pizza Hut shut its doors five years ago, EVA has been promoting development that makes the most of the site's direct access to the CTA Blue Line station and bus connections. Planning co-chair Scott Rappe summarized EVA's Polish Triangle planning goals in a Feb. 6 statement. Text of the letter follows.

Commissioner Andrew J. Mooney
Department of Housing and Economic Development
121 North LaSalle Street 10th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602

Re: Proposed Development 1601 West Division Street

Dear Commissioner Mooney:

Since 2007, when the above referenced property became available, the East Village Association has advocated for a development that was appropriate to its prominent location on the Polish Triangle, took advantage of its proximity to public transit and had the potential to become a local landmark.

The property was purchased in 2011 by Rob Buono and Paul Utigard, who are proposing a development that appears to meet the four criteria set forth by the East Village Association for the redevelopment of this property:

1. Significant presence: The eleven story height of the proposed building will give it a significant presence on the site, anchoring the corner and, along with the landmark Home Bank & Trust Building, will create a gateway to the thriving Division Street retail/restaurant district to the west.

2. High Density: The proposed size of the building will provide approximately 100 rental units, strengthening the demand for local retail businesses and positively impacting street activity and safety on the Polish Triangle.

3. Mixed-Use: In addition to residential units, the proposed building will add retail space along Division Street where none currently exists, and provide for office space on the second floor.

4. Pedestrian & Public Transit Friendly: The proposed building will provide limited on-site parking thereby encouraging the use of the adjacent public transit, and increasing pedestrian safety by limiting automobile traffic on and off the site. Indoor resident bicycle storage and a number of affordable units will attract renters without automobiles.

Messrs. Buono and Utigard have met with the East Village Association on numerous occasions as they have developed their proposal. We have found them to be open, receptive to our suggestions and responsive to our concerns. Together, we have discussed a variety of issues, and ways to address them, and we look forward to seeing their resolution in the final PD proposal. These include:

- median to control left turns from westbound Division Street traffic - potential traffic control measures on Marshfield - disclosure that resident parking on Marshfield will be prohibited - proposed use of west building elevation for advertising - availability of car-sharing facilities - specific undesirable uses for retail storefronts

We are encouraged by what we have seen so far and ask that you support the application, with the caveat that the East Village Association be kept apprised of the process and retain an active role as the specifics of the PD are negotiated.

Thank you,

Scott A. Rappe, AIA
Co-Chairperson
Planning, Preservation & Development Committee

Cc: Alderman Proco ‘Joe’ Moreno
Raymond Valadez,
Rob Buono

Crime safety forums added

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:04:28 PST

Police Cmdr. Frank Gross and Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy beat coordinator Molly Murray are confirmed guests at the March 5 East Village Association meeting. But crime and personal safety also will be addressed in events this month that follow on recent violent crimes, including Thursday's stabbing at a North Avenue florist.

The Guardian Angels organization will conduct a self-defense class 6 pm Saturday at Champions Tae Kwon Do Institute, 2142 N. Milwaukee Ave. Space is limited (312-217-7245).

Chicago Police have scheduled "Safe and Sound" forums for 6 pm Thursday at Haas Park, 2402 N. Washtenaw Ave. (312-744-1261) and 6 pm Feb. 29 at Smith Park, 2526 W. Grand Ave. (312-746-8355).

The March 5 EVA meeting will be at 7 pm at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott.

McKnight slated for March 5 vote

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:20:15 PST

Elections set for EVA officers
Stephen Rynkiewicz, Neal McKnight and Tom Tomek have been looking for candidates to stand for election March 5. Currently, McKnight is running for EVA president, Peter Locke for vice president, KK Goh for treasurer and the position for secretary is still open. McKnight will e-mail candidates and request a bio for the EVA newsletter.

March 5 membership meeting
Greg Nagel has asked Rachael Switall to introduce StudentsXpress as the business minute.

Tom Tomek will request for the police commander and CAPS' Molly Murray to be the main speakers to discuss crime issues. McKnight is going to write a letter regarding current crime concerns in East Village and the surrounding area and will ask other neighborhood groups to sign off.

Nagel will take the EVA Facebook posts and e-blasts and duplicate them onto the Ukrainian Village watch, Bosworth page and Marshfield e-mail chain to gather more involvement and collaboration. Nagel will also send out an invite to those groups to attend the membership meeting. Dana Palmer will also personally invite some members of those groups.

For all those who have EVA meeting reminder signs, please affix them to your fences as a more permanent solution.

East Village street signs
Chicago Event Graphics will hang signs for abut $20 per sign and has brackets, Tomek reported. However, the city Bureau of Electricity has to sign off on the installation because the signs will be hanging on electric poles. McKnight will make a final attempt to speak with Ald. Proco Joe Moreno about this issue.

Chicago Avenue streetscape
Scott Rappe will draft a thank-you letter to Moreno for his support of the Pedestrian Street designation. McKnight will draft a letter to the alderman as well, requesting a meeting on several issues including sign installation, Washington Mutual building zoning (1555 W. Division St.), the Inner Town Pub petition for an outdoor area (1935 W. Thomas St.), and transition issues for the new alderman.

Inner Town Pub
Rappe will ask that if the owner comes to Moreno requesting an outdoor area that the alderman send the owner to EVA for review of his plans.

Bag dispensers
Dana Palmer ordered 12 bag dispensers that will be placed throughout East Village to help combat dog poo nuissance. Once they arrive Palmer and EVA will decide where they should be placed.

Board meeting minutes submitted by Dana Palmer: Meeting commenced 6:37 pm, adjourned 7:48 pm Feb. 13 at Leona's Restaurant, 936 W Augusta Blvd. Attendance: Nagel, McKnight, Goh, Palmer, Rappe, Rynkiewicz, Tomek; non-board members Rich Anselmo and Peter Locke. Next membership meeting 7pm March 5 at Happy Village, 1059 W. Wolcott St.

Miller Lumber apartments hearing March 6

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:32:31 PST

A four-month-old plan has resurfaced for 52 apartments on the site of the L. Miller & Sons lumberyard, 1815 W. Division St. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno will discuss mixed-use development of the site in a March 6 public meeting.

The 1st Ward office did not disclose details of the Smith Partners proposal or respond to a request for details. But development attorney Rolando Acosta briefed East Village Association planning co-chair Scott Rappe last year on a five-story plan for the site, with 9,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

Rappe briefed EVA directors in November and in turn relayed their concerns about the project's height and density. Acosta did not respond to Rappe's suggestion that Smith Partners limit the project to four stories.

The number of apartments and their small size, 622 to 926 square feet, were among the points of contention. So was the height precedent and the impact on traffic and parking in a location across from an elementary school. The location's only public transit other than LaSalle II Magnet School buses is the 70 Division route on the CTA.

The March 6 hearing starts at 6 pm at the school, 1148 N. Honore St.

October 2011 renderings were drafted by Berkelhamer Architects. Antunovich Associates was the architect of record, and Smithfield Construction Group was identified as contractor. The EVA board reviewed black-and-white copies of the renderings. Rappe's e-mail response to Acosta follows, as well as the renderings.

Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 3:57 PM
To: 'Rolando R. Acosta'
Cc: 'Karen Halm-Lutterodt'; 'Neal McKnight'
Subject: 1815 W. Division

The East Village Association board discussed the proposal informally at our meeting Monday. Before we schedule a formal presentation, I want to relay some comments:

1. While EVA has actively encouraged increased density at the 1601 W. Division site, this site is different in that the proposed increased unit count are likely to have a greater impact on the adjacent neighborhood core. The East Village Association worked with previous aldermen to establish the current zoning designation of B3-2 in order to ensure that new development is consistent with the existing vintage buildings in height and density. We are also concerned that the requested zoning change would eventually create pressure to demolish existing high-quality vintage buildings simply because they do not maximize this higher density. Thus, we are not inclined to support a zoning change that would deviate from this longstanding policy.

2. There is great concern about the increase in traffic directly across from LaSalle Language Academy and its impact on the safety of children walking to school. We are unlikely to support a curbcut in close proximity to the existing alley, and suggest that the parking layout be revised so that all traffic uses the existing alley.

3. We are concerned about safety and aesthetics related to the parking lot. Open parking is inconsistent with the residential character of this block; we would prefer to see the building come to the ground where it overhangs the parking, and an appropriate screen where the parking is uncovered.

4. The site plan and renderings seem to indicate the tree pits that are currently missing would be replaced, but that they would be offset from the existing tree line. The East Village Association was a key player in establishing the streetscaping design that has contributed to the success of Division Street. We would like to see the missing streets aping elements restored in a manner consistent with the original design.

We strongly encourage your client to work within the existing B3-2 zoning. A four-story, thirty-nine unit building would be appropriate to the site, and we would likely support a reduction in the parking requirement, if some spaces were dedicated to a car-sharing service. Please call me if you have any questions.

Scott A. Rappe, AIA LEED AP

1815 W Division St Smith Partners proposal, 10-21-2011

Commercial Park movie night Feb. 24

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:27:13 PST

Gunman on camera, focus on crime

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:43:26 PST

Chicago Police this week released a surveillance camera photo in the fatal Feb. 9 robbery of a Subway restaurant at 1129 N. Western Ave. Lyn Ward, 54, was shot in the 8:48 pm incident and died the next morning in Stroger Hospital, according to news reports.

Area 4 detectives described the suspect on camera as a medium-complected black man in his 30s, about 5-foot-8. A community alert notes that he wore a dark knit ski cap, three-quarter-length tan parka with fur-trim hood, light blue jeans and white gym shoes with black trim. Citizens with information on the crime are asked to call detectives at 312-746-8252.

Crime is the planned theme of the March 5 East Village Association meeting. 13th District Commander Frank Gross and community volunteer Molly Murray will speak at 7 pm at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott.

The district plans its own safety forum Feb. 29 in the Smith Park fieldhouse, 2526 W. Grand Ave. The volunteer Guardian Angels group that patrols CTA routes is involved in the 6 pm session.

Community alerts also were issued Feb. 2 in multiple burglaries that involved front-door break-ins, in the Jan. 31 robbery of the Elevenzees gift shop at 1901 W. Division, and on Jan. 26 after a burglary on the 1800 block of West Haddon Street.

A Jan. 20 announcement noted 11 thefts since December of catalytic converters from Honda and Lexus sport-utility vehicles, and a Dec. 12 flier described strong-arm robberies in the district.

Police identified an average number of crimes in East Village last month, according to the Chicago Tribune crime tracker website. But recent incidents are getting closer attention with the city's plan to close the district's station house at 937 N. Wood St.

In December, the Chicago Justice Project noted a 70% drop in violent crime in the Wood Street district from 1990 to 2009. However, the data shed little light on how the larger, consolidated districts might fare.

"This compilation actually raises more questions than it answers," says EVA vice president Neal McKnight. A drop in reported incidents between 2008 and 2009, unremarked in the report, suggests a change in the police reporting procedure.

On Feb. 1, Ald. Proco Joe Moreno and Robert Fioretti presented commendations to six officers in a pre-Christmas arrest involving crimes near Pulaski Park, 1419 W. Blackhawk St., in the adjoining Shakespeare (14th) District.

EVA supports Local First Chicago, uncovers secret

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:44:57 PST

Patrick Shaffner of the Boring Store and 826CHI: The secretary avows knowledge of his actions.

East Village Association election March 5

Any member can run for office as EVA president, vice president, secretary or treasurer, president Greg Nagel noted in his Feb. 6 opening remarks. (The exception: Members running for or holding political office.) A nominating committee of Neal McKnight, Stephen Rynkiewicz and Tom Tomek will propose a slate.

"It's a great opportunity to get involved," said Nagel, who is standing down as an EVA officer but has joined the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce zoning committee. New volunteers have allowed EVA to address school and crime issues, Nagel said.

The man from 826CHI

The Boring Store sells secret agent gear — at least that's the cover story. Just don't call it the Secret Agent Store and threaten the mission, claims owner Patrick Shaffner.

Investigation reveals the storefront at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. as a front for tutoring lab 826CHI. Its operatives run free creative writing workshops for ages 6 through 18. EVA members spied Shaffner with the evidence: books plotted by grade-schoolers, including the adventure novel "Anywhere at Once."

The mission is supported by store proceeds and fund-raisers such as the Scrabble for Cheaters Tournament. A Boring Store gift gave Local First Chicago executive director Suzanne Keers cool-auntie cred with her 13-year-old niece. McKnight offered an unsolicited yet mysterious testimonial about his children's 826CHI assignments: "They get exposed to things about the city they don't get in school."

Suzanne Keers, right, of Local First Chicago, learns from a visitor about Cash Mobs.

Local First Chicago's community strategy

"Communities operate most effectively when problems are solved at the local level," Keers told EVA members the night before a strategy summit of Local First Chicago's neighborhoods initiative.

Chicago Neighborhoods First is assembling representatives of 30 organizations to set development, policy, retail and labor goals, said Peter Locke, an EVA member and Local First Chicago board member.

Local First Chicago operates consumer campaigns to support local, fair and green trade such as family farming. "People in Michigan should not be eating blueberries grown elsewhere," Keers said. But in fielding audience comments, she conceded there's a vast middle ground of fair-dealing chain stores and short-sighted sole proprietors that might benefit from business-to-business outreach.

Nagel moved and McKnight seconded a motion to support Local First Chicago, which passed without dissent.

Do-Division Street Fest

After consulting with board members, Nagel gave the West Town Chamber of Commerce limited support for Friday night expansion of the chamber's Do Division festival. The caveats are that that EVA is not setting a precedent and that the chamber address parking, school support and police presence.

Inner Town Pub

Nagel said EVA will follow up with the bar at 1935 W. Division after a paid solicitor circulated a petition for an outdoor patio. "Signature collecting is not in any way a substitute for a community's voice," Nagel said.

The 1st Ward staff had no knowledge of the petition. In 2007 Ald. Manuel Flores sent the bar's owner and neighbors into Liquor Commission mediation.

Chicago ward remap

The City Council-endorsed aldermanic boundaries may be put in place within a year, McKnight said. The remap puts East Village in the 1st, 2nd and 27th Wards, despite an EVA request to consolidate the neighborhood within the 32nd Ward. Aldermen have pledged to work together on community concerns.

Website & newsletter

Stephen Rynkiewicz asked for comments on EVA's website redesign, social networking additions and expanded e-mail newsletters.

Planning, preservation and development

Scott Rappe restated EVA planning goals for development at Ashland and Division in a letter to Housing and Economic Development Commissioner Andrew J. Mooney.

Ald. Proco Joe Moreno indicates he will support extending Chicago Avenue's pedestrian designation west to Damen Avenue.

Ald. Scott Waguespack's staff is addressing Red Apple Convenience Store's use of the bus stop at 2000 W. Chicago Ave. for customer pickup.

LaSalle II School

A Feb. 11 charrette will look for playground design ideas at 1148 N. Honore St., and the Boundary tavern will contribute a percentage of that day's receipts to the school.

Membership meeting minutes: 7 pm at Happy Village, 1059 N. Honore St., adjourned 8:48 pm. Attending: Nagel, McKnight, Rappe, Rynkiewicz, Tomek, 17 sign-ins. Board meeting 6:30 pm Feb. 13 at Leona's Restaurant, 1936 W. Augusta Blvd. Submitted by Stephen Rynkiewicz.

Looking for a few good members

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:26:38 PST

If you want to make a difference in your community, you'll be in good company at Monday's East Village Association meeting.

Suzanne Keers and Peter Locke of the business alliance Local First Chicago will suggest shopping strategies that strengthen the neighborhood economy. Patrick Shaffner will talk about the writing workshop his spy shop The Boring Store is supporting, and Rachael Switall will introduce the citywide school newspaper StudentsXpress.

EVA was founded to improve East Village, and Monday's meeting also starts EVA's annual search for the volunteers who make it happen. President Greg Nagel is standing down, and has asked Neal McKnight, Tom Tomek and me to find candidates for the March EVA election.

Our slate for president, vice president, secretary and treasurer will be profiled on the EVA website before the March 5 meeting. Members can nominated as officers the night of the election as well. Whoever members vote in as president will get to choose additional directors. Whether you volunteer or vote, it will be worth your time.

We're looking now: If you want to do your part for your neighborhood, come to Monday's 7 pm meeting at the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott, and we'll tell you what's involved. Or follow the links above to email one of us, even if only to suggest who might be ready to take a role in the place we live.

EVA Calendar: Think local, shop local

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:44:33 PST

Local First Chicago, a network of independent local businesses, makes its case for a sustainable neighborhood economy at Monday's East Village Association membership meeting. Co-founder Suzanne Keers and director Peter Locke will bring their ideas on shopping outside the big box to the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott St., at 7 pm. Read more

Marching on: Developers are on track for a March 5 EVA presentation of plans for an apartment tower to replace the Division-Ashand Pizza Hut, followng a meeting last month with EVA and Marshfield block club members. Read more

Members only: East Village boundaries are precisely drawn (we drew 'em) on the social network Nextdoor, a recent addition to the East Village Association website. We've also brightened up our news blog layout and tweaked our Twitter feed. Read more ... Also, the East Village sharing site on OhSoWe is open to non-members. Read more

Late returns from the river wards: Chicago wards were never as tidy as East Village boundaries, and the city-approved remap for 2015 seems to add to the confusion. East Village's 32nd Ward blocks and part of the 1st Ward made a last-minute shift to the 2nd Ward. Neighbors are trying to figure out the new boundaries on the EVA Facebook page and the Everyblock East Ukrainian Village page.

Ready, Freddie? We've heard grade-school pupils perform credibly alongside professional musicians -- just Google "Freddie Freeloader," a jazz standard taught in early grades. Pritzker School has such a teaching moment lined up Feb. 10 with jazz-rap lion Corey Wilkes in the Miles Davis role. A benefit concert the night after promises meatier fare. Read more

The spy who shagged Eva: At Monday's meeting Patrick Shaffner will talk about the writing workshop his spy shop The Boring Store is supporting, and Rachael Switall will introduce StudentsXpress, a school newspaper supporting child development. See you at the Happy Village!

Pritzker School's jazz master class

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:56:42 PST

Kahil El'Zabar

A.N. Pritzker School music students this month perform alongside musicians of world renown, members of the Chicago-based Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Such collaborations are increasingly rare even in affluent suburban high schools, much less city elementary programs like Pritzker. It helps that the bandleader, jazz percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, is a Pritzker parent.

Young-lion trumpeter Corey Wilkes and saxophone patriarch Ernest Dawkins join El'Zabar in the Feb. 10 Pritzker workshop, which concludes with a 7 pm public performance in the school's newly renovated auditorium at 2009 W. Schiller Ave. They return Feb. 11 for a $100 VIP set and a 9 pm concert as the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble.

All performances benefit the school's music program. Event chair Kristene Richardson hopes to raise money for new low brass instruments, secure instrument storage and improved rehearsal space.

The three master-class instructors are headliners in their own right, active on the club and festival scene and in crossover projects covering gospel, blues, rap and rock. El'Zabar's wide-ranging credits include performing with Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon, scoring "The Lion King" for Broadway and organizing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's genre-bending Traffic series.

El'Zabar, Wilkes and Dawkins are members of the storied Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians free-jazz collective, but the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble plays in a more traditional post-bop style. The performers enhance this straight-ahead format with kalimba and other African instruments, ostinato dance grooves and El'Zabar's energetic staging.

Buy tickets here at $10 and $20 for the Friday master class and $30 to $50 for the Saturday concert. Preferred seats include a reception at Blue Line Lounge and Grill, 1548 N. Damen. The bar features drink specials all weekend for fans who mention the Pritzker jazz sets.

EVA Monday: Shopping out of the box

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:35:47 PST

Maybe your idea of shopping local is not calling the store Tar-SHAY. What would it take to make the big-box store a last resort?

Local First Chicago, a network of independent local businesses, makes its case for thinking and acting local at the Feb. 6 East Village Association membership meeting. Co-founder Suzanne Keers and director Peter Locke will bring their ideas to the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott St. Monday's meeting begins at 7 pm.

Keers and Locke view local business as part of a sustainable economy. A Chicago study cited by Local First Chicago suggests that locally owned, independent businesses put 70% more money back into the local community than chain stores per square foot occupied. A 2009 Loyola University Chicago study of the Wal-Mart at 4650 W. North Ave. indicated that the jobs the chain created were offset by business losses that followed in West Humboldt Park.

This month Local First Chicago holds a summit of Chicago Neighborhoods First, a coalition of business, labor and neighborhood groups that includes the West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce.

West Town merchants involved with Local First Chicago include Bend Yoga & Movement Studio, Futugarb, Grand Street Gardens, Green Grocer Chicago, Greener Cleaner and North Community Bank. The group has operated citywide for five years, organizing member networking events and the Unwrap Chicago promotion. More than 600 people pledged this winter to redirect at least $100 of holiday spending from chain stores to locally owned merchants.

Keers owns the business consultancy Main Street Innovations. The University of Chicago MBA graduate has 30 years of experience as a consultant, manager and analyst in technology and health care. She is a director of the Dill Pickle Food Coop and is on the advisory committee of the Good Food Festival and Conference (the former Family Farmed Expo).

Peter Locke is managing director of TerraLocke, which consults on green and sustainability concepts. The East Village resident is facilitator for the Chicago Retrofit Steering Committee, a group that includes the City of Chicago, ComEd, Peoples Gas and Nicor. He also chairs the Foresight Sustainable Business Alliance public policy group and the Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project's green schools committee. An MBA grad from the University of Rochester, Locke's 20 years as a business analyst spans the software, telecommunication and wholesale food industries.

East Village Chicago social networks

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:47:07 PST

A row of logos now lines up at the top of the East Village Association website. Not all the images will look familiar, but click on each one and you'll discover yet another way to check in with neighbors. Below the row of icons is a sign-up box for EVA newsletters, sent via Constant Contact several times a month.

How many social-media sites does East Village need? Probably you'll use only one regularly — but you get to choose which works best for you. Here are descriptions of the sites behind all those logos.

Facebook: Your friends are EVA fans too. Facebook keeps a running count and shows their photos. EVA's 440 Facebook fans make this an active page, since anyone can post comments, links, or even photos and video.

Twitter: Here 313 followers get tweets of EVA web posts, plus crime alerts, Yelp reviews, real estate listings, local news spotted by Outside.in and discussions on Yahoo! The Twitter page archives many of the headlines seen on the right-hand side of pages here at eastvillagechchicago.org.

Everyblock: This Chicago site casts a wide net for web posts with East Village addresses, notably the Chicago Police crime reports. Regular readers contribute their own lively steam of comments and questions.

Yahoo! EVA's 5-year-old message board is based on even older listserv and usenet forums. Group discussions are carried on mostly by e-mail and moderated to limit spam.

OhSoWe: Featured this week on WBEZ, the homegrown tool-sharing site takes users' addresses but shows only their first names and last initials. Readers can circulate fliers and other documents to the group — but no mega-uploads.

Nextdoor: The newest of these social sites is a Facebook clone that shows full names and addresses but is closed to people outside the neighborhood. In the first week of an EVA tryout, testers have been introducing themselves and comparing notes on apartments for rent.

Feedburner: E-mail programs like Outlook and web browsers including Firefox now double as RSS feed readers, giving them a built-in way to keep up with East Village Association posts.

Feel free to continue the discussion here as well. You'll still be asked to sign in before commenting to keep things neighborly, but now using a Google account.

East Village forum expands on OhSoWe

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:43:37 PST

East Village neighbors now should find it easier to tackle odd jobs or spread the word on local events. They can check the East Village Chicago message board on OhSoWe.com using either a secure login or a Facebook app.

Co-founder Chuck Templeton outlined recent changes and future plans for the Chicago-based social network at this month's East Village Association meeting, and followed up this week by posting a step-by-step guide to using its year-old East Village message board, one of the site's first.

The board has 140 members, and starting now EVA membership is no longer required. Users can e-mail fliers or other documents to everyone who signs up for the spam-free weekly, daily or real-time e-mail updates.

The site also matches neighbors who are lending tools, offering services or making recommendations. Addresses or surnames are confidential, and Templeton (on the site as Chuck T.) plans to add reader ratings to further build trust.

OhSoWe's than 80 local forums include the Frankie Machine Community Garden, Eckhart Park Advisory Council and Chicago-Grand Neighbors Association, as well as interest groups for triathletes and University of Chicago business students.

EVA also sponsors Facebook and Yahoo! groups, as well as news feeds on Twitter, Everyblock and Broad Shoulders Update.

Developer, neighbors review Division-Ashland tower

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:23:58 PST

Developer Rob Buono and architect Jon Heinert with 1601 W. Division model

East Village Association board minutes for Jan. 18, 2012, submitted by Dana Palmer

Rob Buono, with the development project at 1601 W. Division, presented plans for the site to the board and the Marshfield Avenue neighbors group. Neighbors expressed concerns about parking, a drive-through and increased dog waste.

The project will have 35 parking spaces, 20 on the site and 15 on the Wendy's property. Marshfield residents requested a change to zone parking and Ronda Locke with the 1st Ward office stated the staff will get started on that now. A disclosure could be made to prospective tenants that they would not be eligible to park on the 1100 block of Marshfield. The developers agreed to discuss this further.

A bank will occupy the south side of the first level with one drive-through in the alley. No left turn will be allowed off Division Street into the drive-through, and those exiting can only go south on Ashland Avenue.

Tenants will be allowed pets. The concern for increased dog waste was brought up. A suggestion was made to the developers to purchase bag dispensers with waste disposal along their property to help decrease this nuisance.

Dog waste
Dana Palmer made the motion for EVA to purchase 10 bag dispensers to be placed throughout East Village to help alleviate the dog waste issue.

EVA signs
Tom Tomek will speak with the ward office about getting the new East Village signs installed.

Chicago Avenue Pedestrian Designation
EVA was requested to write a letter in support of a pedestrian designation along Chicago Avenue. Scott Rappe moved that the East Village Association supports the extension of the existing Pedestrian Street designation from Wood Street to Damen Avenue. Greg Nagel seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously. Rappe will write the letter.

Red Apple curbside delivery
Rappe will follow up in regard to this issue.

Feb. 6 membership meeting
Peter Locke with Local First Chicago and Chicago Neighborhoods First will be the guest speaker. Neal McKnight will ask Garden Gourmet Chicago to be the business minute.

Adjourned 8:24 pm

OhSoWe tool sharing gears up; Marshfield parking queues up

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:20:39 PST

Chuck Templeton, OhSoWe.com

President's welcome
President Greg Nagel opened the East Village Association's Monday meeting with a discussion of the just concluded 1st Ward hearing on Chicago Avenue pedestrian street zoning. EVA has been seeking a consistent public process to solicit neighborhood input before proposing ordinances.

OhSoWe.com
Guest speaker Chuck Templeton described the site he co-founded to connect neighbors and encourage conservation. Neighborhood groups have joined the site in Chicago, San Francisco and Providence, R.I.

Members are identified by first name, last initial and proximity. They can request confidentially to borrow tools or use skills of nearby members. A system will be added to rate satisfaction with borrowers or service providers, Templeton said. Nagel noted that the site allows EVA members to circulate fliers within the group.

Planning, preservation & development
Update on Ashland & Division: Marshfield Avenue residents and developer Rob Buono are invited to the 6:30pm Jan. 16 EVA board meeting to address parking at the apartment tower planned for 1601-15 W. Division St., planning committee co-chair Scott Rappe said.

Buono's presentation to the committee indicates one parking space for every three apartments. That's consistent with the location at a Blue Line hub. However, Aaron Bilton suggested that high-end apartment tenants would own cars nonetheless.

Miller Lumber: The committee also has reviewed what Rappe called a trial balloon for development of the L. Miller & Sons lumber warehouse at 1815 W. Division St. An apartment building one story taller than the Prasino restaurant at 1846 W. Division would have 52 units, compared with 18 allowed under current zoning. Reviewers found the density and parking allowances inappropriate for the site, which faces LaSalle II school's entrance and lacks the Polish Triangle's transit access.

Red Apple: Nagel said EVA will go on the record against a liquor license for Red Apple Convenience Store, 2000 W. Chicago Ave. The 32nd Ward office is researching the legal status of curbside pickup.

Police station closing update: Discovery of asbestos in the demolition of the new station-house site will delay closing of the 13th District station at 937 N. Wood St.

CAPS
Anne Shaw said she is seeking assurances that redrawn beat maps will maintain the neighborhood's police presence. A rally earlier in the day sought better security for streets near the Congress Theater, 2135 N Milwaukee Ave, after a New Year's Eve assault.

New business
Winchester traffic: Roots Handmade Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave., will extend an agreement to close sidewalk cafe and large windows an hour earlier. Deliveries continue to be an issue, as the loading zone and alley are often parked in.

Board of Review: Property tax appeals close Jan. 20 and can be filed online at cookcountyboardofreview.com, Bilton said. The 1st Ward will sponsor a tax workshop Jan. 12 at Haas Park.

Ward redistricting: At Jan. 11 hearing on competing ward maps, EVA will ask for boundaries that do not split East Village.

Jan. 9, 2011 minutes: East Village Association membership meeting at Commercial Club Park, 1845 W. Rice St., submitted by Stephen Rynkiewicz. Called to order 7:18 pm, adjourned 8:48. Board members attending: Greg Nagel, Neal McKnight, Aaron Bilton, Scott Rappe, Stephen Rynkiewicz, Tom Tomek. Attendees included Rich Anselmo, Marjorie Isaacson, Molly Murray, Anne Shaw, Chuck Templeton, others.

Location change: Public hearing on redistricting tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:42:09 PST

The location has changed for tonight's public hearing on Chicago ward redistricting, according to a notice from Ald. Scott Waguespack. Chicagoans can learn about the process and review the proposed ward maps at 6 p.m. in DePaul University's Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield.

Landlord weighs Chicago Avenue anchor

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:34:35 PST

The owner of a vacant lot on Chicago Avenue pledged to work with neighbors in developing the property, which was rejected last year as a music hall.

Ken Kosinski sees 1834-50 W. Chicago Ave. as a "middle anchor" between the Dominick's Finer Foods and Goldblatt's buildings, he told more than 50 people attending a public hearing Monday at the adjoining Commercial Club Park. Plans might build a path to the playlot at 845 W. Rice St. or address another community need, Kosinski suggested.

Ald. Proco Joe Moreno called the hearing to consider including the property in Chicago Avenue's strip-mall ban, now in place between Ashland Avenue and Wood Street. Moreno would extend "pedestrian street" zoning a quarter-mile westward to Damen Avenue.

The East Village Association contacted Ken and Lois Kosinski after they inherited and tore down the former AAA Distributing Co. auto warehouse. Kosinski said his family grew up in the neighborhood and that he saw the property as a catalyst for further development. "With the right input we can really do something special," Kosinski said.

At Monday's hearing Moreno volunteered that he had contacted the Chicago Community Trust, unsuccessfully seeking funds to expand the park.

In 2010 EVA members approved a plan for a restaurant and concert venue there, operated by New York's Brooklyn Bowl. Sound-proofing and parking issues led managing partner Peter Shapiro last year to abandon his plans to lease and renovate the AAA building.

Asked for an update, Moreno said he has been trying to persuade Shapiro to locate elsewhere in the 1st Ward. Moreno did not say which if any sites he suggested.

The ordinance would tuck parking behind any new building. Kosinski was not ready to endorse the change. "We have to put all those cars someplace," he said.

The measure would ban drive-throughs and ease off-street parking requirements so that buildings face the sidewalk, encouraging foot traffic and discouraging crime. "The idea is to have a connection between what's happening in these stores and out on the street," said Steven Valenziano, a city Housing and Economic Development administrator.

The EVA board has been supporting the ordinance. "The really cute shopping along Armitage and Halsted, that doesn't just happen," said president Greg Nagel. "The zoning of those streets laid the groundwork."

As the hearing was nearing a close, Moreno told a questioner that he was waiting for the West Town Chamber of Commerce to weigh in, and that he would not take a community vote. He said it would be his decision whether to move the measure to the City Council.

"If we are going to change the zoning, it would be sooner rather than later," Moreno said, suggesting a City Council hearing in March. "There's benefits and downsides to any zoning change, and frankly that's probably why most alderman did this [zoning review] in their offices."

Calendar: EVA meets tonight at Commercial Park

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:40:00 PST

A hearing on Chicago Avenue zoning is set for 6:30pm tonight at Commercial Park. East Village Association follows with its monthly meeting at 7:30pm in the fieldhouse at 1845 W. Rice St.

Chuck Templeton, a founder of the community bulletin board OhSoWe.com, will walk members through the site's neighbor-to-neighbor features, including a forum for tool sharing and odd jobs. EVA is one of more than 80 Chicago area groups with forums on the site. Read more

'Revolting New Year assault': Ald. Moreno pledges new lighting on North Rockwell Street after an assault at the Congress Theater, 2135 N Milwaukee Ave.

Useless knowledge: Commercial Park Advisory Council is hosting an adult Trivia Night 6:30- 9pm Jan. 23 at Root Handmade Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave., to raise funds for Snowberry, Superior and Honore playlot improvements.

Relax and strap it down: Take your Christmas tree to Humboldt Park or one of 22 other sites for city crews to turn it to mulch.

Tax relief: Property tax appeals close Jan. 20 and can be filed online. Ald. Moreno will sponsor a workshop Jan. 12 at Haas Park. Read more

Strong-arm robberies: Police say a lone male has approached female victims on the sidewalk and robbed them of purses, money and cell phones. East Village crime on Everyblock

More maps: Compare the three (or maybe more) ward redistricting maps at a 6pm Wednesday hearing in DePaul University's Cortelyou Commons, 2324 N. Fremont St

Chicago Avenue gets Jan. 9 hearing; EVA meeting to follow

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:29:39 PST

A proposal to extend Chicago Avenue pedestrian zoning will be taken up during a 1st Ward hearing at 6:30pm Monday in the Commercial Park fieldhouse, 1845 W. Rice St.

As described on this site, the plan would ban strip-mall parking lots along Chicago Avenue from Wood Street to Damen Avenue, including the vacant lot at 1834-50 W. Chicago Ave. adjoining the park.

To allow more East Village Association members to participate, the group has moved its monthly meeting to the fieldhouse. The meeting will start at 7:30pm or at the conclusion of the 1st Ward hearing.

Chuck Templeton, a founder of the community bulletin board OhSoWe.com, will walk members through the site's neighbor-to-neighbor features, including a forum for tool sharing and odd jobs. EVA is one of more than 80 Chicago area groups with forums on the site.

CPS shelves LaSalle shift

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:31:23 PST

Chicago Public Schools administrators confirmed in a meeting Monday that magnet admissions at LaSalle Language Academy in Old Town will not be shifted this fall to LaSalle II Magnet School in East Village. Adding pupils at LaSalle II, 1148 N. Honore, likely would have claimed foreign-language classrooms.

"The meeting yesterday was brief and to the point," said LaSalle II Principal Suzanne Velasquez-Sheehy in an e-mail. "There is no room for an expansion at LII given our current facilities. CPS is also aware of LaSalle I's concerns so they have decided to allow LaSalle I to remain a magnet school for the upcoming school year."

CPS spokeswoman Becky Carroll announced last week that LaSalle's magnet program at 1734 N. Orleans would continue next year while the schools hash out long-term solutions to ease overcrowding at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, 615 W. Kemper Pl.

When the school district floated a plan to make nearby LaSalle a neighborhood school, more than 500 persons signed an online petition supporting the magnet program.