Lake Effect News reports that Lawrence House had no "life safety plan" in place for residents, 46 open Building Code violations, and that the fire Monday aroused suspicions and the investigation has been turned over to the police.  We asked yesterday and we'll ask again:  Is it enough simply to provide low-income housing? We think not, not if the people living there are unsafe due to negligence or substandard conditions. Lower-income should not mean lower safety. Yet, over and over again, it does.

Read Lake Effect News' story:  Cause of Lawrence House Fire “Suspicious” (photo courtesy of Lorraine Swanson/LEN)

A reader writes:  "By now you've probably read the very sad story on the Tribune and Sun-Times websites about the 26 yr old man who drowned in the Chicago River last night. It appears that he was evading the police after they witnessed him defacing a wall. My sympathy goes out to his family but there is more to the story.

via Chicago Breaking News:
A man given probation just two days ago for criminal damage to property died Tuesday night after plunging into the Chicago River while being chased by police for tagging a building.

Jason Kitchekeg, 26, of Mokena was one of three men being chased by officers for spray-painting a building on Ashland Avenue, police said. Kitchekeg, a longtime Uptown resident, was likely tagging an abandoned paint manufacturing plant there.

Cops caught two of the men, but Kitchekeg jumped into the river near the 2800 block of South Ashland, officials said. He died of drowning in an accident, an autopsy by the Cook County medical examiner's office found today. Continue Reading

SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE
A woman who left an Uptown nursing home last month and was reported missing plunged to her death from an overpass onto the Dan Ryan Expressway Tuesday afternoon.

At 1:39 p.m. a woman jumped onto the Dan Ryan Expressway from the 95th Street overpass, according to police.

Catherine Ryan, 37, was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Continue Reading

Cupcake Gallery owner Darius Williams shares exclusive pics and info on today's TV shooting:
"So, I'm in my office at The Cupcake Gallery working on very important things, when a lady comes in and talks to me about removing my sign for a movie shooting. I look outside at all the mayhem and I ask myself how I missed all this commotion. I guess that's what happens when you're baking your heart out all the time.

Anyway, so I asked the questions that you guys want to know! So, they're doing a shooting for a television pilot. Seems as though the big V was here a few days before as well scoping out the place. I asked what kind of show, and they couldn't give me details - but the guy who had the ladder and removed my sign told me "it's supposed to look shitty in the picture." Wow, that's a blow. So, they use Wilson avenue for that purpose? Hmmmm...

Anyway, the guys are here until Friday shooting. And yes, my lovely sign that I had designed when I first opened The Cupcake Gallery is now history. They say they're paying for a new one. You heard it here first - I want my new sign... especially since I had to front the money for it."
UU Note: Check out Darius' blog for even more pics of the shoot.
The Cupcake Gallery is located on Wilson between Malden and Beacon 773-537-5633

If you get a chance, check out the window display at "Shake, Rattle & Read" (at Lawrence & Broadway) designed by Pam Puskala and Leslie Rowan. Makes us wanna break out into song!

Inquiring minds want to know how long we can expect JAM Productions' Riviera Theatre to be covered in a white tarp? It would be great to see it restored to match the gorgeously rehabbed Riv Building next door.
Just across Lawrence, our friend the Uptown Theatre has once again been tagged by vandals. We hope that the owners, JAM Productions, will get this removed ASAP. We also encourage our readers to call 311 to report this graffiti. The address is 4816 N. Broadway, and yes, the graffiti is over 6 feet high. How are the vandals getting up here over and over again to do this?

When: Always March 29th

National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day celebrates small business owners. These individuals spend countless hours nurturing and growing their young enterprises. The workload demands, and lack of a hired staff, often translates into long and late hours, and many missed family and personal events. But, all in all, they love what they do. After all, they are their own boss.

New businesses have always been a vital, yet not fully appreciated, part of the U.S. economy. On the retail side, they bring different and unique products to the marketplace. They provide stellar and personal service support. When you call, you are more likely to get a real, live person. And unlike big national chains, they know their products. They are outstanding performers in niche markets. In manufacturing, they create many new concepts and ideas, making them creators of new products.

Celebrate National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day by showing your support....shop their stores today, and every day.

UU Note: What are some local businesses you recommend to your neighbors and friends?

A reader sends in the following pic and info:
"I was walking home from work tonight and noticed "No Parking" signs posted on Wilson between Malden and Beacon. They mention that towing is enforced March 10 from 12pm till 4pm on March 11 for a movie location. Does anyone know what is filming here?"

Another reader writes in:
"Came home to a sign indicating "Funny Little Man Productions" will be filming a TV presentation on Malden tomorrow and Thursday. Can't find a website for the production company. Any idea what is being filmed?"

A resident was critically burned in a fire at Lawrence House (1020 W Lawrence) today.  Lorraine Swanson of Lake Effect News was there and broke the story that residents told her:  no working fire alarms in this residence, which houses the disabled and the elderly.  Unconscionable!

• Fire At Lawrence House, Tuesday, 3pm
• Fire Alarm System Did Not Go Off During Uptown SRO Fire
• Man Critically Injured in Uptown High-Rise Fire

The fencing and barriers around Wilson Yard on Montrose have been taken down, so now we can get a look at what $54,000,000 of our money (or, if you prefer, 70% of our property taxes for 23 years) will buy.

Some Chicago aldermen are introducing an ordinance that calls for 20 percent of the city's TIF funds to subsidize affordable housing. TIF, or tax increment financing, allows the city to use property tax revenue to pay for community development.
Continue reading at Chicago Public Radio's "City Room"

UPDATE: Also read "Theft of Millions Goes Unnoticed" via The Southtown Star

Joe Askins of YoChicago took a drive through Uptown this past Sunday before visiting the open houses in Margate Park we mentioned here. Check out the video above and view the original post here. This is the first video detailing Joe's most recent visit to Uptown. The rest of his adventures will follow.

"Police are searching for a missing 37-year-old woman who left an Uptown nursing home last month and was last seen at a Minneapolis hospital."  Read more at the website of WBBM780.  If you see Catherine Ryan or have any information, please call police at (312) 744-8366.

Somerset Place officially closes its doors at 5pm, and community and religious leaders will hold a vigil there this evening. Read all about it in Lake Effect News.

For more about Somerset's closing, reference the 5009 Sheridan blog.

Update from the Tribune:  Friday is the last day for Somerset Place.

We heard from the folks at the Census Bureau:

"We are still recruiting for the U.S. Census and are in a huge push to bring people on board. Attached (click to enlarge) please find the testing times for Uptown & the neighboring area. We hope you will post them on the UU site for those who are in need of jobs.

Also, the questionnaires will be going out soon, please ask recipients to complete the questionnaire and send them back ASAP."

Another "slice of life video" from those wacky folks on Blood Alley. Welcome to "Love Sick Clifton," and a slight viewer warning that it may not be wise to eat while watching.

This sounds like fun.  From the NY Times:  "If you’re not doing anything the evening of March 19, you might consider a visit to the Johalla Projects Gallery in Wicker Park for the opening of the “Aldermen Project: 50 Aldermen/50 Artists” show."  Read about it here.  Artist Jon Hisel is doing the portrait of Ald. Smith; we don't know who's assigned to Alds. Schulter and Shiller.  In any case, we're sure there's going to be plenty of buzz around the show and at least a couple 'controversial' portrayals.  "The “Aldermen Project: 50 Aldermen/50 Artists” will open at 7 p.m. on March 19 at the Johalla Projects Gallery, 1561 North Milwaukee Avenue; www.chicagoaldermenproject.blogspot.com."

Update:  Alderman Shiller, 46th: Artist John Geletka, and Alderman Eugene Schulter, 47th: Artist Phineas X. Jones.

... Uptowners can enjoy a stunning view of the Chicago Skyline from Montrose Harbor.

We happened to be at Walgreen's last week and saw that ATI Physical Therapy is moving into the 'hood, at 4620 North Clark, in the former Blockbuster storefront.

Glad to see an empty retail space get filled, and we welcome ATI to Uptown.  The website says "Opening Soon" and workers were moving equipment in while we were there.

With the sun and melting snow we've had this week, it's a reminder that winter will eventually be over and gardeners will soon be busy beautifying our community.  So we thought this press release from One Seed Chicago was timely:

NeighborSpace's One Seed Chicago project lets Chicago gardeners vote on their favorite seed, then distributes the winning seed for free in an effort to help Chicago "Grow Together" in 2010.

CHICAGO-This month gardeners across Chicago will begin voting for their favorite prairie seed for One Seed Chicago and the winning seed will be sent to them through the mail.

“For the third year One Seed Chicago is uniting Chicagoans,” said Ben Helphand, NeighborSpace Executive Director. “By planting a common seed, backyards, windowsills, community gardens and balconies across the City will be linked together in a season-long celebration of urban greening.”

In partnership with GreenNet, Chicago's community greening coalition, One Seed Chicago selected the three candidates Chicagoans will choose from. This year the winning seed will be from a plant that was once commonly found in the prairies around Chicago, but that is now rare in the wild outside of prairie restoration projects and cultivated gardens. Once established this native plant will require little water, is less prone to diseases and attracts beneficial insects and birds to a garden.

Vote until April 1st. The winning seed will be announced at the annual Green and Growing Fair, April 24, 2010 at the Garfield Park Conservatory. For more information or to vote visit http://www.oneseedchicago.com/.

Siam Noodle (Sheridan & Leland) just got a classy new awning that changes the exterior from a local hole in the wall to a destination spot.  What a difference.  Now the outside invites people to come on in and try the delicious food within.  We'd love to see more Uptown businesses follow its example.

A reader writes:  "Haven't seen any posting lately regarding Somerset Place at Sheridan and Argyle. Any idea what's going on there? It would appear that it's on the verge of closing?"

It seems that the Somerset is in the process of relocating its residents since Medicare pulled funding.  There's a very detailed blog about what's going on there written by someone who's done consulting work for the facility:  5009 Sheridan: The Closing of Somerset Place.  It's interesting, sad, and shows a lot more shades of gray than we suspected.  Dialogue between those affected by Somerset - staff, residents, administration, community - is encouraged.

A reader sends in the following pics and cautionary tale:
"I live near Leland and Malden and happened to be walking by the "Leland House" run by Cornerstone/Jesus People USA on the southwest corner at 4656 N. Malden. I noticed large chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on the Leland side of the building (see above). I happened to look up to see where it came from and noticed that years of shoddy patchwork on the cornice of the building was resulting in chunks crashing on the sidewalk (see below). Some of the chunks were close to 8 inches long and could seriously injure someone. I called 311 and requested a building inspector to come here immediately and hope your readers do as well. Just looking at this building's exterior, you can see years of patch jobs and deferred maintenance. I think the residents here deserve better. It upsets me to see buildings in Uptown falling into disrepair like this one. I hope you share this with your readers. Thanks."

BUENA PARK NEIGHBORS (BPN) is pleased to announce the NINTH ANNUAL BUENA BUNNIES event. Yes, the acclaimed Buena Bunnies project is back for its ninth year and you don’t want to miss it! Please join BPN members, neighbors and friends in the Nick’s Uptown pool room on Sunday, March 21, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Nick’s Uptown is located at 4015 North Sheridan Road.

Bring an empty basket, (or two or three), Easter treats; little stuffed snuggly things and anything else creative that will make your Easter basket one that every bunny (or child) will love. Make sure you bring your own cellophane to hold all the goodies in your basket(s)! Come help us break last year’s record of 90+ baskets!

All of your creations get donated to St Mary of the Lake Church in Buena Park for their annual Easter basket giveaway to the neighborhood children.

One prize will be awarded to the coolest basket in the annual and highly competitive BEST BUENA BUNNIES BASKET CONTEST. We are pleased to announce that this year’s guest judge is the creator of the BUENA BUNNIES project, BPN Vice President, Ellen Feinberg. Ellen is stepping down from the BPN Board after 10 years of service to the Buena Park community.

So be a BUENA BUNNY!!

Of course Lorraine Swanson was there....

"Attendance at Tuesday’s CAPS Beat 2311 meeting was higher than usual as residents and business owners gathered to learn more about the afternoon shooting at Wilson and Broadway that injured a woman who was caught in gang crossfire on Feb. 25."  Read the entire story at Lake Effect News.

UU Note:  This is disturbing.... "In other business, residents reported hearing five to six shots fired in the area of Lawrence and Magnolia early Monday morning. Rios said they were aware of the situation but only received one 911 call reporting shots being fired."  Readers, if you see or hear anything suspicious, call 911.  Don't worry about "bothering" the cops -- they can sort out the priorities.  If you don't call when there's trouble, how can the cops help?  Another reason to call:  CPD assigns manpower to areas based on 911 reports.  No calls, no cops.  It's up to you.  We're happy to do what we can, but writing to a blog saying "I heard shots last night" won't solve the problem.  A call to 911 is where it all starts.

Live Broadcast by Ustream.TV

Update:  The body has been preliminarily identified as that of a Hanover Park man who went missing in January at Foster Beach.  Sad.

Readers wrote us:  "There are about 10 emergency vehicles and a helicopter circling in the park right along the lake at about Foster and the beach. Any idea what is going on?"

and "Just wanted to let you know about a sad situation tonight. I was at the Montrose Dog Beach at around a quarter to five, and a couple of fellow dog owners unfortunately discovered a body in the water. According to them, it had looked as if it had clearly been in the water for quite a while.  They called the police, and fire and rescue, the CPD marine unit, and a chopper were quickly on scene, so I'm sure we'll know more in a while.  Hopefully, the body will be able to be identified and we can find out more about this tragic occurrence."

Chicago Breaking News reports:

"The body of a person was found in Lake Michigan in the Uptown neighborhood this afternoon, ChicagoFire Department officials said.  Officials did not know the gender or age of the person who was found, said Quention Curtis, a fire department spokesman.

Curtis said that firefighters were called to the 4700 block of the North Lake Shore Drive about 5 p.m. and located the body a short time later.  Chicago police officials did not have any information available."

A reminder that CAPS for Beat 2311 is being held tonight at Truman College, in the cafeteria, at 7pm.  This is the beat where a woman with her baby was shot in the leg last week while waiting for a bus, and where this week, many were woken by gunshots in the Lawrence/Magnolia/Malden area.  Come talk to the cops and neighbors about your concerns and see what can be done by working together.

Lake Effect News has a scathing editorial holding Ald. Shiller's feet to the fire regarding the latest shooting binge in Uptown (with numerous readers reporting loud gunshots just this morning in the Magnolia/Lawrence area).  Please take a look at it here.  It ends with these prophetic words:

By the way, there’s a CAPS meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, at Truman College. Last week’s shooting will undoubtedly come up. You might want to send somebody. Better yet, you might want to attend it yourself. The next aldermanic election is less than a year away, and the people are paying very close attention.

LEN was there when Ald. Shiller spoke to Uptown Business Partners last week and reports on the "rosy" picture of Uptown that the alderman painted in "Lunching With Helen." 

If nothing else, it's a rare occasion to see Helen use one of her favorite buzz phrases twice in the same sentence.   “To me, the Target represents an opportunity for us to create a critical mass of people coming into the community to be joined with the critical mass we already have from Truman College and the people who live here,” Shiller said.  For those keeping score, we see that "lazy lanes" (another popular buzz phrase of late) isn't used at all, and the up-and-coming "magic bullet" hasn't made an appearance since Ald. Shiller's statement calling everyone who objects to neighborhood violence a "political enemy."

Item One:  We'll always know that constructing rental buildings that average $400K-plus per unit is absurd (or "The Chicago Way"), but at least we know one company's bottom line (Architectural Glass Works in Tinley Park) is benefiting from our property taxes:

Item Two:  Someone sent us an interesting comparison about just how much money is involved with the Wilson Yard TIF. 

• The "Hope For Haiti" telethon, with its prime-time spot, nationwide audience, and dozens of Hollywood stars, raised approximately $66 million.  That's just over half of what Ald. Shiller has been given to spend on the Wilson Yard TIF alone. 
• The "Hope For Haiti" telethon has a committee overseeing how the money is spent; the Wilson Yard TIF does not.

Just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it?

A reader sends us this link to Chicagoist featuring "Demera" at Lawrence and Broadway:
During a visit to Demera a couple of weeks ago, a waiter pointed out that the restaurant served a special Ethiopian honey wine. Even better, he said, one variety was actually made in-house. We were instantly sold, and thus began our first experience with Tej. A traditional drink similar to mead, Tej is fermented from honey and flavored with various herbs and spices, including buckthorn.
Continue reading at Chicagoist

On Sunday, March 7th, from 12pm-4pm, over twenty local real estate agents will be holding open house tours of more than thirty homes for sale in Chicago’s Margate Park neighborhood. “The Explore Margate Park: A Tour of Homes" event is designed to give interested buyers the opportunity to get an in-depth sampling of the area’s home offerings, all in one afternoon.  "I would urge everyone to come out and visit this vibrant neighborhood and see what it has to offer,” said Koenig & Strey’s Brandon Vejseli. Margate Park borders Lawrence on the South, Foster on the North, Lake Shore Drive on the East and Sheridan Road on the West. Home prices vary within the $100,000 to $1,000,000 range, presenting something for everyone.  For more information on the open house event, visit www.GreenChicagoAgent.com/Margate or contact event organizer Brandon Vejseli by calling 312-642-1400.

A "Cupcake Gallery" fan writes in:
"Just wanted to show some support for a local business. I have visited The Cupcake Gallery three times now in the past three weeks. Their cupcakes are top notch (see above)! Just got done eating one. And the owner is a really friendly guy. If your readers have the time, stop by and grab one. They won't regret it. Key lime, orange creamsicle, red velvet, cookies and cream, etc."

UU Note: We've been told that Darius, owner of the Cupcake Gallery, has been doing some interior remodeling lately and that some sort of display case has been added, along with FREE WIFI. Check it out on Wilson between Malden and Beacon.

Two suspects are being held in connection with Thursday's broad daylight shooting steps from Ald. Shiller's office. An accomplice to the shooters fled the scene saying, "Yeah, murder one, murder one."
Read all about it at Lake Effect News.

Update:  More from LEN about charges being filed against the subjects.  "Dontaneous Salley, 22, of the 4400 block of N. Racine and Jeremiah Moore, 20, of the 800 block of W. Sunnyside Ave, were each charged with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm early Saturday morning."  That can't be possible -- didn't Ald. Shiller say that the "youths" causing trouble in this ward all live elsewhere?

The 23rd District Court Advocates report that Samuel Dukes, the Cornerstone security guard who was arrested for purchasing heroin in front of the shelter on Clifton last July, was found guilty and sentenced to one year behind bars.  The woman he was buying it from, Wanda Williams, was found guilty of delivery of a controlled substance last November and is serving four years.

From today's Tribune:  "Here's a sure sign that Chicago aldermen are petrified about next year's City Council election. Their protectors in Springfield are trying to make it much harder for anybody to run against them.

An Illinois House committee this week approved a bill that would greatly increase the number of petition signatures a candidate has to collect to get on the ballot. And if a registered voter signed petitions for two or more candidates, the signatures wouldn't count.  Bottom line: Less competition! How nice for the incumbents."  Read the whole thing here.

The reader who brought this to our attention says, "Would love to get opinions from Harris and Steans on this."

Lake Effect News has a timeline, details and a photo.

According to a reader with a police scanner, at 4:27pm: 

"Person Shot Wilson and Broadway.  Possibly one person shot; other reports are saying that there are two people down at Sheridan and Wilson. Confirmed one female shot in the leg."

Update:  More from the scanner.  "Another person shot in the leg on the 4600 block of Racine. They were picked up by a black SUV. Police are at the hospitals looking for them. Crowd control being implemented at Broadway and Wilson and at Wilson and Sheridan. Possibly more victims based on citizen reports, but police cannot find any more victims.  Shell casings found on the east side of the street 4601 Broadway."

Update 2:  "The victim is stable and 21 years old. She was taken to Illinois Masonic."

Update 3:  ABC7Chicago has a story and photo.

Last month UU ran an item about a Rogers Park resident -- a friend of several UU readers -- who was beaten up on the Red Line by three men who are alleged to have called him anti-gay names while the beating occurred. The incident started around the Wilson stop, and the three men exited at Argyle, where they were arrested.

Well, there's more.... "Three Evanston men who allegedly shouted anti-gay slurs as they beat a good Samaritan trying to stop them from bullying another CTA Red Line rider now face felony hate crime and aggravated battery charges."  Check it out at Chicago Breaking News.

Lake Effect News interviewed the officers at the 23rd District to get their reactions to the death of Sgt. Alan Haymaker.  Read Lorraine Swanson's story here.

Reminder:  Visitation is today, and the services are Friday.

Thanks to a cool little government website, it's possible to see exactly where the funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 are being spent.  In Uptown, nearly $6.5 million's been invested, and 9.53 jobs have been saved/created.  Click here to see the website -- hours of fun!