48th Ward Targets Crime, 46th Ward...Not So Much

From the 48th Ward Update Newsletter:
To combat an increase in crime, Alderman Smith is working with the 48th Ward block clubs and community organizations on a number of public safety initiatives.

Last month, she hosted a "Troubled Buildings" Workshop where block club representatives and representatives of City and community agencies met to discuss how they can work together to tackle troubled buildings. Such buildings are the root of many of the public safety problems in the neighborhood.

Actionuptown.com, a community-driven website created by the Ward Office, connects neighbors to safety resources and activities in their area. From the website neighbors can learn about safety initiatives they can participate in, including Neighborhood Watches and Court Advocacy dates, and find out the locations of problem areas, troubled buildings and "hotspot" corners where illicit activity occurs.

The Ward office has printed Community Watch yard signs for Uptown. These signs, which are available from the block clubs, let everyone know the community is organized against crime and direct interested people to the actionuptown.com website.

New police surveillance cameras and additional cameras at public elementary schools, funded by Alderman Smith, will complement these efforts.

Alderman Smith is dedicated to working with police and the community to improve the safety of our neighborhood. These initiatives will enable us to be proactive on public safety and effectively use all the resources our community has at hand.

For more information on these efforts, contact Dana Fritz, dana@masmith48.org or 773-293-8413.

Uptown Resident Studs Terkel Dies

Read all about it at the Chicago Tribune here.
Also, read a Studs Terkel interview with Dale Eastman here.

Aragon In Depth

A reader sent us the following link/video showing a great historical view of the Aragon Ballroom near Lawrence and Winthrop from reporter Cory McPherrin of Fox Chicago. Enjoy.

To Our Readers

Don't end up like these guys... celebrate safely!

Second Walk & Talk With Police Commanders

(click on the image for a larger version)

Target/Wilson Yard Story In The News

Well, lil' ol' Uptown was a media sensation Wednesday. It seems someone besides the News-Star discovered there's life north of Irving Park Road. We're quite dizzy from all the attention. Some of the many major media stories are linked below. If you know of any others, please link to them in the comments.

We are grateful to the reader who sent in the picture above, taken Wednesday. (Quite a change from a few days ago!) Now that Holsten may have money to pay the bills, which hasn't always been the case recently, it seems Wilson Yard was all aflutter with people and construction equipment.

We'll see how this one plays out. We've seen the heavy machinery come and go several times this year already.

• Sun-Times: Target Signs on for Wilson Yard Store


• Illinois Real Estate Journal Reports: Target Redevelopment Hits the Mark in Uptown


• CBS2Chicago: Target Signs On To Anchor Uptown Development


• Commercial Property News: Mid-America Closes Sale with Target at Wilson Yard Redevelopment in Chicago

More From CTA Tattler . . .

. . . .This time about the slow zones on the Red Line at Wilson and Lawrence:

Q: "Now that the Red line subway slow zone project is wrapping up, is there going to be a focus now on eliminating slow zones that exist around the Wilson/Lawrence area (they DO exist but not on slow zone map) and in proximity to the Loyola and Granville stops?" (From Ed.)

A: "CTA crews are currently working on two slow zones around Wilson/Lawrence. The slow zones are reflected on the slow zone map as of Oct. 15 on CTA’s web site. CTA is currently looking for the funds to complete slow zone work in 2009 – including around the Loyola and Granville Red Line stations."

Murder On 800 Block Of Cuyler?

A reader writes in: "The police are investigating a murder on 800 West Cuyler. One officer told me that someone was beaten to death with a 2x4."

Update: WGN News confirms that the body of a Latino man between 20-30 was found. They say it's "blunt force trauma." See the report here.

CBS2Chicago reports: "CHICAGO (STNG) ― Police are conducting a homicide investigation Wednesday night after a man was found dead from apparent blunt trauma injuries in the North Side's Uptown neighborhood. An unidentified man was found dead from apparent blunt trauma at 824 W. Cuyler Ave. Wednesday, a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said. Investigators from the office were on the scene Wednesday night, and pronouncement information was not immediately available.

Town Hall District police responded to a check the well-being call at the Cuyler Avenue address Wednesday afternoon, but would not discuss the investigation further. Police News Affairs Sgt. Antoinette Ursitti said Belmont Area detectives were conducting a homicide investigation Wednesday, but additional details were not immediately available."

WAMA Holiday Decoration Viewing

Dear Businesses and Residents,

Wilson Area Merchants Association has been hard at work to put a plan in place this Holiday that will help to bring even more beauty and spirit to Uptown this Season. WAMA will hopefully be placing beautiful ornaments on some trees on commercial streets throughout Uptown. Our association will also be requesting that business owners install white lights inside their business windows. The goal is to have a common Holiday decorations theme among all businesses in Uptown.

On Tuesday, November 11th at 6:30pm, please come visit Unique So Chique, and possibly Alma Pita, to see a viewing of the Holiday Decorations. At that time (or you may do so in advance) we will take orders from those businesses who would like to particpate in the community decorating. The cost of the decorations is anywhere between $150 and $200 per business for all decorations and lights. These are very reasonable wholesale prices. WAMA will have the ornaments delivered to one location in Uptown on November 24th where you may go and pick them up. All businesses will also be responsible for hanging their own decorations, but WAMA will be glad to offer helpful installment tips. Now, the more businesses that particpate, the greater the price break. So let's go, businesses of Uptown. These decorations and ornaments are a long-term investment. Hopefully next year we can build on the existing ornaments to add even more beauty to Uptown. So please, do not dispose of these ornaments. Save the ornaments until next Year!!!

We recommend that you stop by Unique So Chique sooner than November 11th (if you can) to place your order. The wholesaler has a somewhat limited stock and once the ornaments are gone, they are gone. We will probably be able to get similar ornaments but they may not be exactly the same. We will do our best. We look forward to seeing you soon!! Thank you.

WAMA Team (http://www.wilsonareamerchants.org/)

Uptown Theatre Buyer Gets More Time

From Chicago Real Estate Daily:
Over the objections of a city attorney, a Cook County judge on Monday gave the Jam Productions Ltd. venture that bought the Uptown Theatre in July more time to negotiate with the city before determining whether Jam must comply with a previous court order that requires the theater’s owner to put $5 million into an escrow account. City attorney Judith Fryland argued in court that now was the best time to obtain that money to ensure the development at 4816 N. Broadway takes place. The escrow money would go back to the developer as the project is completed. An attorney for Jam, Patrick Thompson of DLA Piper, said the $5-million requirement would “thwart” the development, which is projected to cost about $40 million. Mr. Thompson also told Judge Daniel Lynch that Jam is meeting with the city’s planning department next month for further discussions on a development plan that could include city subsidies as well as state and federal funding. The escrow dispute is to go before Judge Lynch again in January.

(No) Friday Night Lights

See all the new retro streetlights lining the walking path between Wilson and Lawrence in the park? Bet they cost a bundle, and they're very nice! Well, best to admire them during daylight, because you won't be able to see much of them at night:

Of the 13 lights, eight aren't working, four are, and one can't make up its mind. We looked and it doesn't appear to be a copper wiring theft situation. They seem to be just plain burned out and no one bothered to do anything about it.

Of course, who needs streetlights in a dark park? At night? Along the path where people run, jog and stroll? That's not the Uptown way!

311 has been called. (But we can't help but think someone in the city should have noticed and corrected this, long before two-thirds of the lights stopped working.)

Uptown: Portrait of a Palace on WTTW Saturday

Screening Alert from WTTW: Gorge on leftover Halloween candy in the comfort of your own warm home and tune into Channel 11 at 9:30pm on Saturday, November 1st for a beautifully produced documentary about the Uptown Theatre.

Details: WTTW11 and Image Union present
Uptown: Portrait of a Palace

Description: Two Northwestern filmmakers tell the story of the shuttered Uptown Theatre, named one of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1998. In exploring the landmark's past and potential future, they take you on a breathtaking tour through one of the city's most beautiful venues unused and unavailable for Chicagoans. Meet members of the community working to open the theatre's doors and change the face of the Uptown community.

Has Target Actually Signed On For Wilson Yard?

According to Commercial Property News:

Mid-America Closes Sale with Target at Wilson Yard Redevelopment in Chicago
Oct 28, 2008

Mid-America Asset Management Inc. announced that Target closed on the sale of 132,000 square feet at the Wilson Yard mixed-use redevelopment that is under construction in Uptown Chicago. The retailer plans to open in fall 2010 along with 20,000 square feet ofspecialty retail. Mid-America represented the seller, Chicago-based Holsten Real Estate Development Corp., which is the lead developer of the five-acre project. Gershman Brown Crowley Inc. represented Target, which purchased the site for an undisclosed amount. The $150 million Wilson Yard development is situated on the site of a former Chicago Transit Authority Rail Yard that was an operation and maintenance facility for the railroad system.

CTA Talks About Wilson El Retail Status

From our buddies at the CTA Tattler:

Here is another installment in answers to questions that I didn't have the time to ask President Ron Huberman at the last Coffee with Ron. And no, Huberman did not personally answer each of these questions. Answers were prepared by the PR staff and reviewed by Huberman.

Q: "I'd like to know what the timeline is for renovating the retail space under the Wilson Red Line station. I'd also like to know if the CTA owns the Majestic Store property at Broadway and Leland, and what the plans are, if any, to stop the deterioration of this historic building." (From Elaine.)

A: "CTA currently does not have a timeline for renovating the retail space at Wilson. Our real estate contractor, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) is working on a global review of CTA's real estate holdings. CTA owns the Majestic Store property on Broadway. JLL is reviewing CTA's real estate portfolio to determine the status of its facilities and the best use for each of them. JLL has only been on board since August 1, 2008, so their process is in the early stages."

Breaking News: Labor Ready Not Coming To Uptown

We're getting official word from the people at StopLaborReady.org that Labor Ready has cancelled its plans to open up shop at Sheridan and Gunnison.

A contractor got word from Labor Ready that they would not need his services. They are cancelling their plans to open at this location due to the economy. Ald. Shiller's office has also received a similar call confirming the same.

Update: The News-Star has put out a "Web Extra" this evening in which Labor Ready brass says it is "delaying" the opening of an Uptown location and will revisit the idea next year, but not necessarily at the same location.

"Labor Ready announced that it is delaying its plans to open a branch office at 4830 N. Sheridan in Uptown. A spokeswoman for Labor Ready confirmed to News-Star this afternoon that the day-labor corporation had temporarily shelved its plans after word leaked out on the neighborhood blog Uptown Update.

"We changed our plans at this point in time because of the economic conditions right now," Burke said. "We'll revisit opening in the community but not this year. We'll revisit it next year."

Read the rest of the News-Star's web extra here.

Sign The New "Fix Wilson Yard" Petition

"Sign Our New Petition! The original Wilson Yard petition was a huge success, garnering over 3,000 signatures. However, its language is over four years old and not reflective of the situation at Wilson Yard today. So Fix Wilson Yard has drafted a new petition and we need your signatures and those of all of your friends, family and neighbors throughout Chicago!

"Please click here, and don't forget to pass the link on."

Chi-Town Daily News Examines 46th Ward Limited-Precinct Referenda

Uptown Referenda Aimed at Changing Affordable Housing Policies
BY PETER SACHS / Education reporter, October 27, 2008 3:00PM

An Uptown social justice group has two advisory referenda on next week’s ballot related to affordable housing and how tax increment financing money could be used.

But just 11 voting precincts in predominantly low-income areas of the 46th Ward in Uptown will get to vote on the non-binding referenda. Aside from canvassing within those precincts, Northside Action for Justice, the sponsors of the proposals, is keeping a low profile on the issue. And several members of a very active group of property owners in the area did not know who put the referenda on the ballot.

Read the entire article here.

We've heard of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing, but this is ridiculous. Is it just us, or within a couple paragraphs of each other, do our "social justice" buddies contradict themselves about why only their hand-picked precincts get to vote on the referenda?

"The location of the referendum has nothing to do with the location of housing," [Francis] Tobin says. It’s a coincidence, he says, that the Wilson Yard TIF district very closely overlaps with the 11 precincts that get to vote on the referenda.

and

"We’re trying to get the voice of the people who are part of the low-income community, that’s the voice we’re trying to get heard from on the referendum, that’s why those 11 precincts were chosen," [Brynn] Byrne says.

Schakowsky About Wilson Yard: "A Great Need"

A reader writes: "Just so there's no doubt in voters' minds, Jan Schakowsky is a major supporter of the Wilson Yard low-income subsidized housing. In fact, she likes the housing so much that she wrote two letters, one dated Dec. 3, 2004 and then this more recent one." (Click on the image for a larger, easier to read version.)

Fix Wilson Yard: Lawsuit To Be Filed Within 30 Days

Hello All,

Concern has arisen in the Uptown community regarding the alleged progression of the Wilson Yard development as described in recent Crain's articles. Regardless of any of these articles, the Fix Wilson Yard organization has a litigation plan which in no way is altered by these reports.

Prior to the financing article, the Fix Wilson Yard group had decided to temporarily cut back on our public presentations and place 100% focus on finalizing the lawsuit. The lawsuit will be filed within the next 30 days.

The City of Chicago has been put on notice that Fix Wilson Yard intends to file a lawsuit against the City for several violations surrounding the Wilson Yard Redevelopment Plan. Please be aware, the existence/non-existence of a big-box retailer or financing for the development in no way alters the focus of our litigation.

We believe that the recent activity by the City and Holsten is a direct result of the strength of our impending lawsuit and the strength and unity shown by the Uptown community against this development. Fix Wilson Yard is monitoring the situation closely and will take any actions necessary to counter any developments as they arise. We appreciate your continued support during this brief period of "public" silence. Please know we are continually hard at work to secure the vibrant future of Uptown. We promise to keep you updated on the status of the lawsuit and how your support will be needed.

Many thanks,

Molly Phelan
Fix Wilson Yard

Sexpot Star Of 'Faster, Pussycat!' To Appear At Tattoo Factory, Oct. 30

60's sexpot star Tura Satana will be at Uptown's own "Tattoo Factory" Thursday, October 30 from 7-11pm. Be sure to check out of screening of "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" at the Music Box Theatre on Southport on October 29 at 8pm. For more info, check out the Sun-Times article covering this event and background on Satana here.

Update: This is what Uptown Business Partners says about the event, which is also a fundraiser: We're riding on the coattails of the Tattoo Factory Gallery's event--Tura! Tura! Tura! A group art show celebrating the stunning, inspiring, and legendary icon Tura Satana, Star of Russ Meyer's masterpiece "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" There is no fee to attend and you only need to RSVP if you plan to meet us at The Spot before the event. All profits earned hosting the event will go to Uptown's Apna Ghar, a domestic violence shelter and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a breast cancer charity. Fundraisers will include selling show posters, Faster Pussycat posters, personal donated Tura items and 20% of the money made through sales of the art. At least 20 artists will be represented and the best part? Tura Satana will be there in person! Visit http://www.myspace.com/tattoofactorygallery for more information.

Dearborn Dumps On Its Neighbors

While Dearborn Wholesale Foods Corporation blithely ignores the homeless population living on their property, their Montrose and Agatite neighbors cannot share that luxury. That is because where the homeless live, eat and drink, the homeless must go - as in potty. And the property owner gets to clean it up.
The unwilling recipients of Dearborn Wholesale Foods’ homeless policy are those next door neighbors who get the sh?t end of the deal. Here, one of our locals demonstrates how to use a neighbor’s dumpster to find relief. As this is a family blog, we only show her arm peeking out from the left side of the dumpster prior to her relief and the pant zip-up after her relief.

What Side Of The Fence Is The Garbage Man On?

We watched with amazement this week as a man in a green vest sat in the Dunkin Donuts parking (near Broadway and Wilson), slowly but methodically, tossing individual pieces of garbage out of a black bag over the fences and onto the adjoining Kenmore Street parkway and Harris Bank parking lot. He sat next to another gentleman who was munching discarded donuts, tossing his trash around the Dunkin Donuts lot, and defecating along the Beauty Shop wall.
We presumed our green vest man was just another homeless guy until later that day when we saw him sporting a trashcan and broom in that same parking lot. Upon inquiry, we learned that he is the garbage man, hired by the McJunkin Building maintenance crew, to keep the Dunkin Donuts lot clean. When he left to go to his home down the street at the end of his shift, the garbage bag, garbage, feces and toilet paper from his morning break remained.

Weis Promises Police Beat Realignment

Buried in Friday afternoon news, where it was likely to get less media attention, was this policing bombshell. Other districts have specifically mentioned that the 23rd District should give up some staffing to other districts with higher overall crime rates. Those of us in the crime-ridden Uptown end of the 23rd District would like to see some of those excess 23rd District coppers assigned to our end of their district for a change. We notice that the realignment factors don’t take into account staffing needs for ongoing city events, such as CUBS games and massive Park District Lakefront events, which pull forces out of Uptown each and every summer.
Read the story at Fox Chicago here.

Chicken Overload?

A reader sent in the following pic of an Uptown resident who appears to be napping after a recent lunch at Popeyes at Broadway and Wilson. And what better place to nap than right outside the door.

Wilson Yard - The Last Frontier

We were at Aldi's over the weekend -- the one part of Wilson Yard that's actually been started and finished. And this is what the parking lot looked like. (We didn't know Mad Dog 20/20 was still being made...!)

If this one small piece of Wilson Yard is already out of control, what will happen if and when Ald. Shiller's no-tests/no-requirements housing goes in? Remember, this "plan" isn't being financed by HUD or CHA, so their requirements for tenants aren't going to be in effect. The only tenancy tests will be whatever Holsten and Ald. Shiller dream up, and frankly, based on what the current site looks like already, we're not optimistic.

Dimitri Vodka Welcomes You To Stewart School Park

A Dimitri vodka bottle and trash collection is what greets our students and they approach the north (1000 W. Wilson) entrance to the new Graeme Stewart School green space.

As shown in the photo, someone has even removed the electrical covers on those spankin' new street lights to check out that sparkling copper wire (ready for the taking), or to make room for their drug stash, just in case a cop ever bothers to patrol this cul-de-sac.

It is beginning to look more and more like an Uptown-kind-of park every day.

Fire Near Clarendon And Montrose

We are getting word of a fire near Montrose and Clarendon. Anyone near there who can confirm this? The sounds of sirens are hard to miss. Add any updates in the comments.

Update: When we heard that Maryville on Montrose was the staging area for the press, we had a feeling our intrepid News-Star editor Lorraine Swanson would be hot on the scene. We were right; the News-Star has issued a "Web Extra" about the fire, including photos: Firefighters Contain Fire in Uptown High-Rise: Evacuated residents allowed to return to their units

Update 2: Check out more photos on The Rogers Park Bench

Where Am I Located?

Can you identify where this wall with the face peering out of it is located? This may be a toughie!

Court Advocates Meeting This Tuesday

The next 23rd District Court Advocates monthly meeting is Tuesday, October 28 (last Tuesday of every month) from 6-6:30 pm. If you're interested in becoming, or learning more about being, a court advocate, please plan to attend. It's in the James O'Connor Community Room, 3608 Halsted (just north of Addison).

Court advocates attend a variety of cases, sometimes at the request of individual police commanders. Your silent presence is there to represent community interest in the case. The judge is aware when court advocates are present.

Court is during the day: morning and afternoon cases. If you have a non-traditional work schedule or can spare a day or two a month, you might want to look into becoming a court advocate. For more information, call 312-744-0064 (23rd District Community Policing).

Petco - Where The Cart Thieves Go

Soooo... if you put duct tape over the name of the store, does that mean your shopping cart isn't stolen anymore? Seen on the southwest corner of Broadway and Leland. We particularly appreciate that it's locked to the bike rack -- presumably so no one steals it!

Neighborhood Recycling And Shredding Event

From Ald. Tom Tunney's office:

On Saturday, November 1st, from 12pm – 3pm, in the parking lot at 421 W. Belmont (just west of Sheridan Road), you can bring your paper and confidential documents for on-site shredding.

You can also bring CDs, floppy disks, hard drives, computers, shoes and clothing for recycling at this neighborhood recycling event.

Lost Cat In Hazel/Windsor Area

A reader writes in asking for your assistance:
"I would love it if you could help us find our cat. We are really worried about her out there! Our cat got outside late Thursday night in the rain, and she has been missing since then. She is a 7-year-old spayed darker tortoiseshell kitty, a little chubby, between 13-15 lbs. She did not have her collar on when she got outside. She answers to Annabelle or Bella. Please email me if you have seen her. We live at Windsor and Hazel, so I would think that she would still be in the area, or at least I hope. We would really like to have her back home as soon as possible."

City Still Wants Soccer Field In Lincoln Park

(click to enlarge)

Feel Your Property Taxes Are Too High?

File an appeal! You have until December 1st. From an email blast from Ald. Gene Schulter (47th Ward):

Board of Review Accepting Assessment Appeal Complaint Forms For Lakeview Township

The Cook County Board of Review has announced dates for filing assessment appeal complaints by property owners in the Lakeview township. The filing dates for property assessment appeals open on Wednesday, October 15 and will close on Monday, December 1, 2008.

Owners of homes, condominiums, townhomes, apartment buildings, and businesses may appeal their assessments to the Board if they feel that their assessment is too high. A lawyer is not required to file an appeal on behalf of residential property owners. Evidence which can be particularly help to the homeowner seeking as assessment reduction includes any of the following items.

* A photo of the taxpayer's property.
* Proof of recent sale prices of homes similar to the home of the taxpayer.
* A real estate appraisal.
* Assessed valuations of comparable properties in your neighborhood.
* Evidence of flood, fire, demolition, or structural damage.

Complaint forms can be picked up at the 47th Ward Public Service Office or downloaded here. For your convenience, complaint forms and supporting documentation can be dropped off at the 47th Ward Public Service Office until noon on Monday, December 1, 2008.

Dude, Where's My Car?

A reader sent us an interesting link that shows all of the car tows in Chicago. You can search by street or date, and according to the site, its updated twice an hour. See if you can find your street. It's hours of endless fun. www.chicagotows.com

Crain's: Holsten Secures Financing For Wilson Yard

Wilson Yard Developer Lands Financing for Uptown Project

By Andrew Schroedter, Oct. 24, 2008

(Crain’s) — After years of delays, Chicago developer Peter Holsten has finally nailed down the financing to complete his long-awaited $151-million Wilson Yard project in Uptown. The city of Chicago has already agreed to provide Mr. Holsten with $51 million in tax increment financing for the Target Corp.-anchored project on Broadway between Montrose and Wilson avenues. And Minneapolis-based Target is contributing about $33 million.

But with the credit markets in near lockdown, Mr. Holsten scrambled to piece together the remaining $67 million to finance the mixed-use project that's been slow to get off the ground. The Aldi Inc. store that opened in June is all that stands at the 5.7-acre site, formerly a massive Chicago Transit Authority train repair shed.

On Wednesday Mr. Holsten closed at least two loans totaling $40 million with community and affordable housing lenders Alliant Capital Ltd. and Enterprise Community Investments Inc., according to spokeswomen for both firms. The remaining $27 million comes from a group of lenders, including J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and Local Initiative Support Corp., a New York-based non-profit community development organization, the Enterprise spokeswoman says.

Continue reading here.

Help BPN This Sunday At Nick's Uptown

Buena Park Neighbors' 11th Annual Halloween Trick-or-Treating will take place on October 31st... but they need volunteers to help make it happen.

Please join us in the pool room at Nick's Uptown on Sheridan on Sunday, October 26, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with some donated Halloween candy in hand. We are looking for neighbors to assist the BPN Board as we continue our tradition of stuffing 150 treat bags. The bags are given out first come/first serve at the Buena Circle Play lot. Click here for more.

They also need volunteers on Pumpkin Day itself:

If you reside on Kenmore (between Irving and Montrose) and you and/or your neighbors plan to hand out candy to our little neighborhood ghouls and guys, please contact BPN's Great Pumpkinette, Ellen Feinberg, at elf13@rcn.com, so we can mark your building. We had over 300 children last year and we hope that we attract even more children this year. Additionally, if you are interested in participating as a costumed safety monitor (ok, costumes are NOT required, but they really do make it more fun) from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., please also contact the Great Pumpkinette, Ellen Feinberg, at elf13@rcn.com - Spanish speakers are needed.

Buena Park is well known in Uptown as "THE" place for Halloween. We hope you'll consider lending a hand with this amazing neighborhood event!

Fontana Grill Open At 11am For Lunch

If you were looking for a new place to try for lunch in Uptown, then look no further than "Fontana Grill" at Wilson and Beacon. A reader just sent us a scanned lunch menu (click to enlarge) to make your selection a bit easier. We can highly recommend the Fontana Burger and any of the pizzas.
UPDATE: Call ahead for carryout orders at 773-561-0400. Also, be sure to check out the Yelp listing for Fontana Grill here.

Lake Wilson Yard

A tip of the hat to a fellow Uptown observer, who made us laugh with the above photo and this comment:

"Uptown's newest lake. The Wilson Yard's unintended watering hole gets larger with each rain. Maybe by December we'll have an ice skating rink."

(Of course, there's always the *cough* "ice skating rink" Ald. Shiller promised would be in Challenger Park in exchange for Cubs parking. Back in 1992. Haven't noticed that yet. Maybe that's her cunning plan... it's gonna be in Wilson Yard instead! That's the ticket!)

Inside: "Resident Not Happy About Wilson Yard"

A letter to the editor, Inside Online, October 22-28, 2008 edition:

"In the recent Wilson Yard TIF article (Ad-hoc Wilson Yard group battles city, Holsten says Target remains interested), it was cited that Peter Scales, the Communications Director for the Office of Planning and Development, stated that the housing component had not changed since day one and he then goes on to give a startling revelation that the housing would be sold to the low-income residents. That's news that has not been heard before. Perhaps Mr. Scales should let developer Peter Holsten and Ald. Helen Shiller know this news because they have both gone on record as saying it's 100% rental.

"Reporter Miriam Cintron neglected to mention the equally startling information that each of the family units will cost approximately $447,000 to build and each of the senior housing units will cost approximately $337,000 each. I would be hard-pressed to find any new low-income housing built anywhere in the U.S. that would equal those costs, and I would hope that other members of City Council would find this alarming, especially given our huge City deficits.

"Ms. Cintron contacted me for this story and asked me if I knew Target was coming into Wilson Yard. I told her that I can only get my news the way the rest of the ward gets their news... through a blog known as UptownUpdate.com. Ald. Shiller now refuses to talk to the community about it. When a local resident used the Freedom of Information Act to get confirmation about Target's letter of intent, it was then discovered that no such letter existed. Ald. Shiller had gone on record many times stating that there was a Target letter of intent and there's not even an 'oops, sorry' when we discover otherwise.

"It's clear that residents of the 46th Ward have grown tired of the 'Chicago Way' of doing things in their ward.

- James Cappleman, Former Aldermanic Candidate, 46th Ward"

C.W. Napkin Folds & Unfolds?

A reader writes: "The old Pizza Factory/C.W. Napkin building has a sign on the window stating that it is going to become a small grocery/convenience store." Guess the problems with the health department made it too difficult to reopen.

Update: A reader sent in the following postcard advertising that C.W. Napkin is still around and back after a "remodel." No word on whether or not it will share space with the upcoming grocery/convenience store.

"Green Space" Accomplished

Demolition is now complete at the northeast corner of Sheridan and Irving. The earlier picture was taken in late June. Nothing's there now except a lot of flat land and the required wrought iron fencing.

(We find it intriguing that a newly empty lot complies with the fencing requirement, but Dearborn Wholesale has been able to skirt this law for years now. Wonder why?)

Update: In related fencing news, the parking lot at the corner of Clark and Wilson is getting a new fence installed today.

Technical Problems Solved

Last night at 7:08, the Blogger system went ker-flooey and no one was able to post comments. We are told it's fixed now and comments are once again enabled on the system.

News-Star Article on Uptown Walk & Talk With Police Commander

Police and residents take back the night ... While cop-monitors roll tape

By LORRAINE SWANSON, Editor

Police in the 23rd District made their presence known on the streets of Uptown during an evening walk through the neighborhood last week. About 40 residents turned out for the outdoor roll call Oct. 16 on just an afternoon's notice at the corner of Wilson and Magnolia.

For some, it was an opportunity to take the dog out for a stroll, for others, a chance to interact one-on-one with top brass from Area 3, the district commander, tactical officers, and street and bike patrol officers.

"We're going to take a walk every two weeks around different areas of the district," 23rd District Commander Kathy Boehmer told community members. "The police here really do appreciate your efforts. This is a community that doesn't keep asking, 'what will you do for us?' This is a community who comes out and supports us and asks what they can do to help. We thank you for that."

Read the rest of the article here.

There will be another Walk & Talk with the commanders of both the 20th and 23rd Districts on Thursday, November 6th. We will post details soon.