East Village Association | West Town Chicago

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.

11-story plan at Pizza Hut site

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:12:34 PST

East Village Association board minutes for Dec. 19, 2011

LaSalle II Magnet School
Before a meeting with Chicago Public Schools administrators, Neal McKnight issued a board statement seeking commitments for 50% of at-large admissions to neighborhood students at LaSalle II, 1148 N. Honore, and for retention of the foreign-language curriculum. The neighborhood quota, negotiated by former Ald. Manny Flores at the school's opening, has yet to be implemented.

Architect Jon Heinert shows designs for 1601 W. Division.

PNC Bank/Pizza Hut site
Four more floors of apartments have been added to plans for the former Pizza Hut property at 1601-15 W. Division St. The 11-story building would rise to 120 feet, compared to 80 feet for the CVS Pharmacy building at 1200 N. Ashland Ave.; rooftop mechanicals for two elevator shafts bring the height to 140 feet.

Wicker Park's Coyote building, the Northwest Tower at 1608 N. Milwaukee Ave., is 12 stories tall; across the Polish Triangle, Noble Square Cooperative at 1165 N. Milwaukee Ave. spans 28 stories. "We feel this site in a way is addressing the Triangle in a more direct way," said developer Rob Buono, noting the contrast with CVS, a former bank building. "We want something iconic."

EVA directors suggested that more window glass and warmer colors would relieve the stark look of staggered gray panels shown in the concept drawings, and would make the apartment tower appear less institutional. Designs will change further as contractors review material choices, Buono noted.

The development would have 110 to 119 studio to 2-bedroom apartments. Parking provisions have not changed, with Wendy's on board to share its lot. The elevator tower's west face might frame a tall billboard: an art project promoting a tenant.

Finished plans likely will be presented to EVA members March 5 before Chicago Plan Commission review. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno will pursue a median prohibiting turns from westbound traffic.

Scott Rappe said the Chicago Department of Transportation is considering a potential kiosk vendor at the Triangle. Buono is interested in contributing to a "significant" Polish Triangle improvement.

Liquor moratorium
EVA will address the Chicago Liquor Control Commission to oppose licenses along Ashland and Damen avenues, where package-goods license moratoriums were lifted without residents' input.

The Chicago Grand Neighbor's Association is concerned about curbside service at Red Apple Convenience Store, 2000 W. Chicago Ave., where no package-goods restrictions were in place. Greg Nagel moved and Tom Tomek seconded a motion to oppose curb service; Nagel withdrew the motion after discussion.

West Town Special Service Area 29
Program manager Katharine Wakem said plans to expand the tax district had been scaled back after review. EVA directors suggested scrapping expansion along predominantly residential Damen Avenue. Greg Nagel asked that the SSA present the revised proposal to EVA members.

Ruxbin Kitchen
The Ruxbin group has withdrawn plans for a package license following suggestions from Rappe that would accommodate a restaurant bar at 851 N. Ashland Ave.

Chicago Avenue pedestrian street
Ald. Moreno plans a public hearing on extending Pedestrian Street rules along Chicago Avenue between Damen Avenue and Wood Street. Neal McKnight will set up a meeting with the owner of 1834-50 W. Chicago Ave., which has been razed; Rappe will circulate a letter on the issue.

13th District police station
Station house closing is postponed while asbestos mitigation delays completion of the replacement facility, Tom Tomek said.

Roots Handmade Pizza/Bleeding Heart Bakery Cafe
EVA members at the Dec. 5 holiday party surveyed the Bleeding Heart rooftop deck at 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Managing partner Scott Weiner has committed to limits on truck traffic.

East Village branding
Wakem and board members compared notes on sign installation vendors and on ways to facilitate communication among neighborhood and business groups.

Jan. 9 meeting
OhSoWe.com founder Chuck Templeton is guest speaker; 7pm at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott.

Attending at Leona's Restaurant, 1936 W. Augusta: Officers Greg Nagel, Neal McKnight, Kok Keng Goh; directors Aaron Bilton, Scott Rappe, Stephen Rynkiewicz, Tom Tomek; guests Rolando Acosta, Rob Buono, Jon Heinert, Peter Locke, Katharine Wakem. Called to order 6:35 pm, adjourned 8:43 pm.

LaSalle II access, school curriculum at risk

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:08:11 PST

Neal McKnight outlined neighbor concerns at LaSalle II language academy in a Dec. 19 letter to 1st Ward Ald. Proco Joe Moreno:

I am the vice president of the East Village Association and I am writing on behalf of the Board of Directors of the East Village Association. We applaud you for taking such a proactive stance in addressing community concerns regarding the proposed increase in enrollment at LaSalle II Magnet School at 1148 N. Honore.

As you know, LaSalle II is squarely within our boundaries and of great concern to our members and the broader community. Many of our members' children are enrolled at LaSalle II. Two of our board members' children also attend LaSalle II. We were recently advised that the Chicago Public Schools is contemplating increasing enrollment at LaSalle II. The East Village Association is concerned with the impact that increasing enrollment will have on the quality of education at LaSalle II.

Significant time and energy has been devoted by Principal [Suzanne] Sheehy, the administration, staff and parents (including many East Village Association members) to make LaSalle II a superior academic environment. At the core of this effort is the world language curriculum and smaller class sizes.

In addition, when LaSalle II was founded the Chicago Public Schools in negotiation with former Ald. Manny Flores committed to enrolling 50% of new students within 1.5 miles of the school. The rationale for this percentage was to develop a community vested in both LaSalle II and the surrounding community. This formula has been an unqualified success.

We believe that increasing enrollment without a corresponding increase in resources and physical space may threaten the gains made by LaSalle II. After conferring with members of the LaSalle II community and the LaSalle II Parent Teacher Organization the East Village Association has a number of concerns and requests.

1. The Chicago Public Schools should honor and recommit to enrolling 50% of all new students from the 1.5 mile area surrounding LaSalle II as originally negotiated by Alderman Flores.

2. Before any new students are enrolled, the Chicago Public Schools should commit to maintaining the world language curriculum. The LaSalle II parent community has communicated to EVA that this curriculum has been integral to the success of La Salle II.

Currently LaSalle has a computer lab, 5 language rooms, and 2 special needs classrooms. If the Chicago Public Schools increases enrollment at LaSalle II, additional classrooms (including the accompanying increase in teachers and staff) must be dedicated to the world language curriculum.

3. Any increase in enrollment must be combined with a commitment to maintain class sizes at the current magnet school standards and in no case more than 30 students per classroom.

The development of the LaSalle II Magnet School has come through an ongoing partnership between Ald. Moreno's office, the LaSalle II community and surrounding community organizations. We call on the Chicago Public Schools to respect the efforts of these stakeholders before imposing enrollment changes on LaSalle II.

LaSalle II adds pupils in CPS plan

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:27:08 PST

By Tom Tomek

Chicago Public Schools has proposed adding additional students at LaSalle II Magnet School, 1148 N. Honore, and converting the original LaSalle Magnet School in Old Town to a neighborhood school.

LaSalle II has experienced considerable change in each of its four years. This year, newly consolidated with Andersen Community Academy, LaSalle II seems to have finally started to seek a level of identity with a basic plan for the future.

The new CPS proposal has thrown a large wrench in LaSalle II's gears. The school does not have the faculty or campus to sustain 30 more new students each year for nine years. If the proposed plan is realized, the quality of experience at LII would be severely compromised.

An undersized gym, lunchroom and lack of modern campus infrastructure would constrict the working order of an overcrowded student population. The old building (1890) and newer wing (1960) are not sufficient to accommodate a potential 270 additional students.

As a language academy, LaSalle II requires labs for language drills as well as computer and science studies. A new playground in the planning phase has claimed the outdoor real estate. Nothing short of a complete demolition and rebuilding of the campus would make room for more students.

A promise at LaSalle II's founding to admit neighborhood residents in greater numbers for a magnet school was quickly put aside. An expansion intended to create school capacity in Lincoln Park stands to aggravate capacity issues in East Village.

The plan also would strain traffic flow on Honore and Wolcott. A possible 200-plus additional vehicles, plus residents' vehicles from a proposed apartment development at Miller Lumber, would trigger a future traffic migraine.

Simply reversing the one-way traffic direction on Wolcott and Honore would do no more than swap the daily am/pm gridlock. Not all parents cooperate with the current Kiss & Go program, and getting more than minimal police attention has been a struggle.

Ald. Proco Joe Moreno has set up an emergency meeting with CPS central office personnel and Principal Suzanne Velasquez-Sheehy that could prove pivotal. Good luck to them.

Taller order for Pizza Hut site

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:31:17 PST

The Polish Triangle overlooks the Noble Square Cooperative high-rise at 1165 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Developers are raising their sights for the former Pizza Hut corner lot at 1601-15 W. Division. Current plans involve an apartment building rising stories higher than the CVS Pharmacy across the street, at the Polish Triangle intersection with Ashland and Milwuakee.

Developer Robert Buono reviews plans with the East Village Association board at 6:30 pm Dec. 19 at Leona’s Restauraunt, 1936 W. Augusta.

New condos at 1530 W. Haddon are in the shadow of Lewis Towers and Noble Square Co-op.

In October, Buono filed plans with the city for an 80-foot-high planned development. The design called for rental apartments above a bank at 1148 W. Ashland, with a drive-through lane exiting to Ashland and additional storefronts along Division.

The building was to be roughly even in height with the former MB Bank building at 1200 N. Ashland. Two taller structures approach the triangle, Lewis Towers at 1170 N. Milwaukee Ave. and Noble Square Cooperative at 1165 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Since the Pizza Hut was closed in 2007 several proposals have envisioned a single-story drugstore or bank in its place. EVA has been seeking a higher-density mixed-use building as a gateway to the neighborhood and a complement to the Blue Line transit hub.

What's next for Chicago Bowl site?

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:39:44 PST

A newly vacant lot reveals an old Sinclair Gasoline billboard at 1854 W. Chicago Ave.

The long-shuttered auto warehouse at 1834-50 W. Chicago Ave. is gone, along with plans to locate a performance space there modeled after the Brooklyn Bowl nightclub in New York. A chain-link fence with concrete footings now surrounds the property.

Two local alderman are advancing a proposal that would keep the vacant lot from becoming a strip mall. Aldermen Proco Joe Moreno (1st Ward) and Scott Waguespack (32nd) propose extending Chicago Avenue's "pedestrian street" designation from Ashland Avenue west to Damen Avenue. It now stops at Wood Street.

A pedestrian street in Chicago zoning parlance requires storefronts close to the sidewalk and bans strip malls, drive-throughs, auto lots, gas stations, car washes and self-storage warehouses. Division Street is a pedestrian street between Milwaukee and Leavitt.

Plans for the former AAA Distributing Co. building are unknown, but changes may have been triggered when the property recently cleared probate, East Village Association vice president Neal McKnight says. Razing the structure removes a barrier to potential development, McKnight suggests, and rates a modestly lower property tax bill as a vacant lot.

Brooklyn Bowl managing partner Peter Shapiro confirmed to EVA that his development group abandoned plans for a long-term lease of the building. Renovation costs were higher than expected, Shapiro said, and the Chicago Bowl developers grew more concerned that big concerts might overwhelm the area's traffic and parking capacity. The group continues to scout Chicago locations for a music venue, restaurant and bowling alley.

Commercial Club Park, 1845 W. Rice St.

For now the vacant lot gives a clear view of Chicago Avenue from the Commercial Club Park playground across the alley. In recent years the Chicago Avenue tract was pursued as a library site or park extension, but the owner did not entertain offers on the property.

Budget limits now make such a park acquisition unlikely. With Eckhart Park and Smith Park each a mile away and Humboldt Park 2 miles, the Park District does not view the area as under-served.

How to stop catalytic converter thefts

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:01:41 PST

Catalytic converters (via How Stuff Works)

By Sgt. Juan Clas, Chicago Police

Catalytic converter thefts have been occurring throughout Chicago. Here is why they're being stolen and a few tips on how to help prevent thefts from your vehicle.

Read more »

East Village holiday party: No agenda here

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:29:02 PST

There's no reason to drop in at Bleeding Heart Bakery Cafe tonight except to meet people and have fun. No votes will be taken (well, maybe on Foursquare). The cash bar is lined up, but you work out who's buying the first beer. No builders will make presentations, although if you bring a dish for the potluck something good will develop. If it's not in your budget, just stop in and say hi. Wait till another day for trees to be planted, licenses granted or handbills supplanted. Looking for a public forum? Come chat up your neighbors. We'll start around 6:30 at 1916 W. Chicago. There will be no drive-through. Happy holidays!

I'll give you a topic: Discussion has broken out at eastvillagechicago.org following last week's posting about convenience-store liquor sales. It's not all about whether more package goods are a good idea, although the neighboring Wicker Park Committee has a view on where that might lead. At facebook.com/eastvillagechicago the talk is more about lack of community review, and in a long chain of comments on the MSNBC-affiliated site everyblock.com thoughts are all over the place. It's all good, although at this point comments might best be directed to Ald. Proco Joe Moreno. The old 1st Ward comment page is dead, but the link at left should work. Drop in tonight and talk about whatever you want.

Make Monday a Bleeding Heart holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Rynkiewicz) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:09:57 PST

Bleeding Heart Bakery Cafe, 1916 W. Chicago Ave.

Join your neighbors for Christmas cheer Monday at the annual East Village Association holiday party. This year's event is a potluck dinner in the upstairs mezzanine of Bleeding Heart Bakery Cafe, 1916 W. Chicago Ave. A cash bar will be open from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Bring a food dish of your choice to share, or buy from among the bakery's renowned sampling of sweets. December's confections include the Veruca Salt vanilla cake with salted caramel, an English Pea cupcake with creme fraiche mint frosting, and Thai Me Up (coconut, mango, cilantro and mint) – not to mention carrot cake in orthodox cream-cheese icebox dress, or coconut flakes in its vegan version.

The new East Village store opened Aug. 22, returning to the neighborhood where Michele and Vinnie Garcia opened their first organic bake shop two blocks away in 2004. Since then branches have located in Roscoe Village, Oak Park and Elmhurst, and the Garcias' pastry prowess has been documented in multiple Food Network challenges, most recently the Halloween episode of they mystery-meat contest "Chopped".

A Jan. 3 membership vote on the cafe's rooftop deck started the year for EVA. The restaurant shares the same management team as Roots Handmade Pizza next door. Visitors can order from the Roots menu should they crave Quad Cities style pizza or simply wonder what that is. Roots also features a salad named for the alderman; much as we like the beet salad, it is not called Eva's Choice.

Liquor at Polish Triangle! Say it ain't so, Joe

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:06:15 PST

CVS Pharmacy, 1200 N. Ashland

By Neal McKnight

Last month the East Village Association learned that Ald. Proco Joe Moreno introduced and the City Council passed legislation lifting a longstanding packaged liquor moratorium on Ashland Avenue, from Division Street to Blackhawk Street. The sole purpose of this legislation was to grant a liquor license to the national retailer CVS Pharmacy.

This single-purpose legislation was introduced and passed without the input of the community, and calls into question Ald. Moreno’s commitment to transparency and local business.

The East Village Association, the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce and Near North Montessori School all opposed lifting the moratorium. The Wicker Park Committee requested that no action be taken until CVS made a presentation, which never happened.

All of these groups have been working for years to improve the Polish Triangle, and all are concerned that liquor sales will set back their efforts to improve the Division-Ashland-Milwaukee intersection.

Ald. Moreno simply could have told these community groups that he planned to lift the moratorium and grant the license with concessions. Instead, the legislation was introduced and passed without addressing community concerns. Members of the community learned of this decision after the legislation had passed, We found out by walking past CVS and seeing a beer and wine "Coming soon!" sign.

This decision has multiple consequences. First, because Ald. Moreno introduced and the City Council passed this legislation, multiple locations on Ashland Avenue are now available to sell package liquor. This may exacerbate ongoing issues that relate to liquor sales.

The Polish Triangle has had lasting problems with vagrancy, public consumption of alcohol and public intoxication. The problem was so bad that Ald. Moreno just this past year ordered the benches removed from the Polish Triangle. This type of activity impacts both the 13th and 14th police districts. We do not need to create new crime problems or exacerbate an existing problem.

Nelson Algren Fountain at the Polish Triangle

In addition, by lifting the moratorium and granting CVS a liquor license Ald. Moreno will discourage the development of local business.

CVS has more than 7,000 locations around the country and can be a formidable competitor, in the same way Wal-Mart is formidable. This legislation creates a new hurdle to attracting a responsible, independent wine shop to the area. The East Village Association last year attempted to accommodate just such a locally owned liquor store.

EVA explored modifying an existing package liquor moratorium in the empty Washington Mutual space at 1555 W. Division. When the local family that proposed the wine shop learned that CVS was seeking a liquor license, they withdrew the plan. They said would be undercut on price and driven out of business.

EVA tried to reassure the family that a different moratorium in place across the street would keep the gargantuan retailer from getting a liquor license. They obviously had a better handle on the situation, and did not waste time, energy and money in an venture the alderman would undermine. Ald. Moreno has now cemented a national liquor retailer in our community that will effectively exclude a locally owned, locally responsive business.

EVA simply does not understand this decision based upon Ald. Moreno’s previous stances against making zoning changes to accommodate national retailers. This decision is all the more troubling because Division Street and Wicker Park have gained a national recognition as a shopping destination anchored by locally owned and operated businesses.

Ald. Moreno states that “CVS agreed to some restrictions on the type and packaging of beer and liquor that would be sold, and since CVS is a well-regarded corporation,” operating in multiple locations in his ward, he supported the single-purpose legislation. Not so fast. Do you know who you are dealing with?

Another unit of CVS Caremark Corp., sued by the Illinois Attorney General and 27 other attorneys general, in 2008 settled a deceptive practices case for $38.5 million arising out of its marketing of prescription drugs. Just two years later in October 2010, CVS agreed to pay $75 million and forfeit $2.6 million in profits from the sale of products containing pseudophedrine, which is used to make methamphetimine.

At the time it was the largest civil penalty paid under the Controlled Substances Act. CVS admitted that stores did not monitor excessive purchases, and the U.S. Attorney stated that CVS failed to follow its ethical and legal responsibilities. If CVS has difficulty curbing the sale of nasal decongestant, what steps would it take to control the sale of liquor?

Ald. Moreno did not take the time to confer with the local community groups on these issues. Based upon CVS's record and the location of this store, the community at least should have been given the chance to weigh in on control issues. What restrictions did Moreno pursue? How was any agreement documented? How will it be enforced? We still do not know. These questions should have been vetted by the community before the moratorium was lifted.

Decisions have consequences that are not immediately obvious. Community input helps legislators and executives understand the risks. Governing is messy and sometimes disappoints people. In this case, Ald. Moreno's lack of transparency disappointed residents and organizations that are trying to bring lasting, sustainable improvements to the Polish Triangle.

Because Ald. Moreno did not want to share his pro-national retailer decision directly with the community, EVA has a simple suggestion for him to restore confidence: Live up to your stated commitment to transparency and post on your website all of your proposed legislation, including zoning changes, prior to introducing them to the City Council. That way the community can review these changes and head off bad decisions. That way voters will not have to say “Say it ain't so, Joe, say it ain't so.”

Wicker Park Committee on Polish Triangle liquor moratorium

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:09:22 PST

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Alderman Proco Joe Moreno
1st Ward

On behalf of the Board of the Wicker Park Committee, I am obliged to express our extreme disappointment in your decision to suspend the liquor license moratorium for two blocks along Ashland Avenue, thereby allowing the package liquor license for the CVS Pharmacy at Ashland and Division. The Wicker Park Committee, along with neighboring East Village Association (EVA) and the Wicker Park Bucktown (WPB) Chamber of Commerce, has previously stated our opposition to lifting the decades old moratorium. The recent announcement by CVS of... “Beer and Wine Sales Coming Soon”… was a stunning surprise to the community, since there had been no discussions among Ward staff and the community groups that this liquor license application was going forward.

Regrettably, we recognize we have no recourse with the CVS liquor license, but we will expect diligence from your office in enforcing agreements with CVS regarding sales restrictions and neighborhood surveillance. Furthermore, terminating this moratorium exposes two blocks of Ashland Avenue to future applications for liquor licenses. While we recognize CVS is a well-regarded corporation to some, we would like to point out that the increased propagation of packaged goods stores is in direct conflict with the Metropolitan Planning Council’s Technical Assistance Report: 2010 “Placemaking at the Polish Triangle.” The report states “A casual observer will note there is much evidence of alcohol consumption on the Triangle. This leads to increased trash (beer cans, liquor bottles) and contributes to feeling unsafe” (Page 12). While the Polish Triangle area has struggled to revitalize its image and improve the local economy, we anticipate that the increase prevalence of alcohol will hamper the attempts these efforts. We therefore expect that your office will put forward the utmost commitment to preventing any future “surprise” liquor license along Ashland.
Respectfully,

Jim Drew
Cc: Raymond Valadez, Chief of Staff
WPB Chamber of Commerce
East Village Association
Pulaski Park Neighbors Association
WPC Board

Chicago ward remap: Why not the 1st?

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:09:20 PST

Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st) at Oct. 10 police station house rally

By Greg Nagel and Neal McKnight

The East Village Association Board recently agreed unanimously to issue a letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ald. Richard Mell (who is leading the aldermanic remapping process), Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st), Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) and Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) formally requesting that the East Village be mapped entirely within the 32nd Ward. Adding urgency to the decision were recent comments from Ald. Moreno that his ward was moving west and the rapidly approaching ward remap deadline.

Currently East Village is mostly within the 1st Ward, but is also in the 32nd and 27th. Being in three wards is obviously inefficient and the board believed that our organization’s voice should be heard on the remap issue.

Over many years EVA has worked with Ald. Waguespack on various issues. We find that we share a very similar vision for our neighborhood. Furthermore, we appreciate his published development protocols and transparent process. We also believe that our best opportunity to be included in a single ward would come from being included in the 32nd Ward.

Many of us, and our friends and neighbors, voted for Ald. Moreno. However, his recent decisions called into question his commitment to and his vision for the East Village community. When Ald. Moreno was elected, we were excited to have another alderman that pledged to really listen to us and work with the community in a transparent fashion. However, our recent experience with Ald. Moreno has been disappointing.

Specific recent issues include:

• Ald. Moreno agreed to rezone a property on the Polish Triangle to allow a pawn shop.

• Ald. Moreno sponsored the legislation to lift the liquor moratorium so that CVS at the Division and Ashland can sell liquor. We believe liquor sales on the Polish Triangle will lead to an increase in crime and vagrancy. The granting of a license to CVS discourages locally owned businesses.

Ald. Moreno ignored the requests of several community groups when making this decision. He sponsored the legislation and failed to communicate the decision to the interested groups.

• Ald. Moreno also sponsored legislation to lift the liquor moratorium on Damen between Augusta and Division. The East Village Association voted against lifting this moratorium in a 2008 membership vote. The moratorium protects our community from increased crime and vagrancy.

Ald. Moreno pledged to confer with EVA when making these decisions. He made several promises to various EVA board members that he would not lift this moratorium without EVA support. But in fact he emailed EVA's president less than 24 hours prior to introducing the legislation to lift the moratorium.

• Ald. Moreno voted for the budget that eliminated the 13th District Police Station. The East Village formerly went on record opposing the closing of this station, and at an October public rally at the 13th District Ald. Moreno publicly stated he was opposed to the closing of the station.

Yet Ald. Moreno failed to include preserving the 13th District in a joint letter to the mayor signed by him and 27 other aldermen.

There are additional policy and process concerns regarding the demolition of historic buildings, development on Chicago Avenue and 1601 W. Division that preceded these concerns.

In the event that all or a portion of East Village is included in the new 1st Ward, we encourage Ald. Moreno to be more transparent in his decision making and to respect the East Village Association as a partner in community planning and development. The ward remap is an opportunity for all concerned to re-evaluate and recommit to an open and productive relationship.

Finally, we owe our membership a disclosure of the decisions that are made and the reasons for these decisions, even if that creates tension.

The EVA bylaws grant the authority to make decisions at the executive level, the board level or the membership level. Over a two-year term as EVA president Greg Nagel has not made a unilateral decision, but time-sensitive issues are presented to the board.

With reports that the 1st and the 32nd ward boundaries were in flux, the remap emerged as such an issue. Directors were polled by e-mail Nov. 17 on their position, and reviewed the letter before it was issued about 36 hours later.

Not everyone will agree with the decision to issue the letter. However, time was of the essence, and we hope posts on the subject have kept the process transparent.