Ald. Cappleman's 2017 Year In Review & Construction Update

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The past year has been especially exciting with the completion of major projects that have helped transform the 46th Ward. We've not seen this type of renaissance in generations, and it took many years of planning to get us where we are today. There has been a lot of dust and many road closures along the way, but much of that is now over and we can enjoy the benefits.

NEW BUSINESSES IN 2017. The number of new businesses in the 46th Ward nearly doubled from the previous year. Not only do new businesses provide job opportunities, but they also provide residents with more shopping opportunities. Most of these are independent, small businesses, which further adds to the unique character of the 46th Ward.

Some of the new businesses are:

• Pride Film & Plays, 4139 N. Broadway
• Mutt Jackson, Montrose Dog Beach
• The Mukase Restaurant (African food), 1363-5 W. Wilson
• Sol’s on Sheridan (Korean food), 4715 N. Sheridan
• Save More Market, 4650 N. Sheridan
• Ana & Sebastian’s Airbnb 9-bedroom mansion, 4516 N. Sheridan
• Sunnyside Health Center, 4501 N. Sheridan
• The Satellite Cafe, 942 W. Montrose
• Ross Dress For Less, 918 W. Montrose
• Verizon, 918 W. Montrose
• Haymarket Books, 800 W. Buena
• Lakeside Market, 801 W. Irving Park Road
• Bistro 750, 750 W. Cornelia
• Verizon, 3701 N. Halsted
• Wingstop, 3720 N. Broadway
• Wee Care Preschool Too, 3826 N. Broadway
• Gold Cuts, 4141 N. Broadway
• Klein’s Bakery, 4155 N. Broadway
• Bodi Shak, 4704 N. Broadway
• Sustain Gallery & Workspace, 1201 W. Leland
• Nick’s on Wilson, 1140 W. Wilson
• Uptown Dry Cleaners, 4554 N. Magnolia
• Wash U Coin Laundry, 4554 N. Magnolia
• Longacre Pizza Squared, 1309 W. Wilson
• Body Basics Energy Wellness Center, 4554 N. Dover
• Hence Interiors, 1401 W. Wilson
• Salon Sen, 3740 N. Halsted
• Larry’s Bar, 1020 W. Lawrence

PROJECTS IN PROGRESS

• 734 W. Sheridan: This 8-story building replaced the former gas station at the corner of West Sheridan and Broadway and is expected to be ready for occupancy by early June 2018.
• 3833 N. Broadway: This 7-story building will have geo-thermal heating, which is the most environmentally friendly way to heat a building. The expected completion date for commercial tenants is this summer, and move-ins for the apartments will start in the fall.
• Morningside, 4525 N. Kenmore: 64 rental units will be available in the first quarter of 2018.
• 4430 N. Sheridan: This 4-story mixed-use development is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2018.
• The Montrose, 4334 N. Hazel: The developer has plans for a series of townhomes on the perimeter of their deck. The project has been placed on hold, and the developer expects to be able to provide a timeline later in 2018.
• 931-33 W. Belle Plaine: This apartment building is expected to be completed in early spring 2018.

PROJECTS WITH A PROPOSED 2018 START DATE

• 3921 N. Sheridan, Ace Hardware: Expected to begin during the second quarter of 2018
• 975 W. Wilson: Expected to begin during the first quarter of 2018
• 4601 N. Broadway: Expected to begin during first quarter of 2018
• 1050 W. Wilson: FLATS is securing financing and hopes to break ground in 2018.
• 1124 W. Wilson: Developer is working with the current residents and the city to first relocate the residents to affordable apartments before a gut rehab begins in 2018.
• 4500 N. Broadway: Aldi will receive a major renovation, including adding a front entrance facing Broadway. The overhaul will make the store more pedestrian-friendly and allow more eyes on the street to enhance public safety.

OTHER PROJECTS

• Clarendon Park Community Center: Last September, Uptown residents provided feedback about improvements they’d like to see at Clarendon Park Community Center, 4501 N. Clarendon. The center is slated to undergo an extensive $6.1 million renovation, prompted by money secured from the 811 Uptown development. Attendees at the open house used large graphics of the building to cast votes on interior room renovations. Each attendee was allowed three votes. On the ground floor, the gym received the most votes (37), followed by the game room (14) and fitness room (12).  Other sections on the ground floor, such as the model railroad and early childhood areas, received 10 votes or fewer. On the first floor, the multi-purpose room received the most votes (48), followed by the dance room (24) and recording studio (13). Other areas on the first floor, such as Kuumba Lynx office and a meeting room, received 10 votes or fewer. The Park District is in the process of securing a design team for the project. Once a team is in place and the assessment and design work have been completed, another Open House will be scheduled to present the final plan for the renovations to the community. The timeline for the project has not been determined yet. The project will be funded by a $4.6 million contribution from the Clarendon/Montrose Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District, and $1.5 million from the Chicago Park District. These long overdue repairs will bring the community center back in compliance with city building code.
• Gill Park Playlot: The park at West Sheridan and Broadway is slated to receive a new playlot, with construction expected to begin in spring.
• Grow Uptown: My office is partnering with Peterson Garden Project and Neighbor Space to  install a community garden on the parcel of land in front of the former Stewart School. The project will begin in the spring. Scholarships will be provided to families with lower incomes and some of the vegetables that are grown will be donated to local food pantries. This project is in keeping with a promise made by Chicago Public Schools to ensure there was benefit to the community when the property was sold.
• Broadway Youth Center: This is a program of Howard Brown Health Center, provides social services to LGBTQI youth, and moved to the 46th Ward earlier this year.
• Apna Ghar: This domestic violence shelter opened in January 2017 and is the only such shelter for immigrant women in the entire Midwest.

HELPING OUR SCHOOLS

• In September, I pushed hard for both McCutcheon and Courtenay to be awarded the Becoming A Man (known as BAM) Program for male youth. In October, both schools learned they had received the program.
• Friends of the 46th Ward Schools continues to work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to get matching dollars when they raise money for our 46th Ward schools.
• In 2018, I will launch regular, ongoing meetings with members of 46th Ward Local School Councils, so we can work together to address issues and concerns.

STREETSCAPE PROJECTS

• A $6 million streetscaping project on Broadway (from Gunnison to Leland) is now 90% complete, and the remainder of Broadway from Leland to Wilson will be completed before summer 2018. For the first time in decades, the sidewalk on Lawrence near Broadway is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• The intersection of Clarendon and Broadway had a complete overhaul to make it safer for both pedestrians and bikers.
• Bike lanes were installed on Leland beginning at Clark, and will eventually lead all the way to the lakefront bike trail. One section of the bike path was installed between Uplift High School property, and it included a way to address stormwater runoff behind the school, with plans for a butterfly garden and shade trees.
• The replacement of century-old water mains on Broadway in Lakeview and sections of Clark Street in Uptown was completed, which also allowed for the complete repaving of those streets, including new markings.

PARK BIKE TRAILS IN 2018

• Along the lakefront bike trail, work should be completed by the second quarter to separate the bike trail from the pedestrian trail. The bike trail will be moved further east to make it easier and safer for bikes to cross Montrose, Wilson, and Lawrence.
• Bike riders will be able to more safely head east to the Park on both Lawrence and Wilson with the installation of bike lanes that will connect them to the bike path in the park.

HOMELESSNESS.  In 2016, I successfully pushed for a housing-first model of care to address the encampments located under two Uptown viaducts. A total of 75 people received housing, some for the first time in many years. In 2017, the Center for Urban Research & Learning out of Loyola University created a report entitled The Encampment that documented the experiences of the people who were housed during this pilot project in an effort to learn from their stories. One person who had been living in a tent for a long time remarked, “I feel at home, finally. I mean, I can stand up without having to bend over the side of the tent. I can actually go to the bathroom. You know I can cook some food, besides firing up the grill.” I continue to work with my colleagues and advocates to make the Housing First model a priority in Chicago.


YEAR OF ART

We saw a lot of new and revitalized art in the 46th Ward in 2017:

• A mural at the Bezazian Library was restored.
• A large mural of colorful fish was added under the Montrose viaduct.
• In November, we got a new mural with a jazz theme on a CTA wall across from the Lawrence L stop.

Art to come in 2018:

• A 17-foot circular sculpture that will be lit up will be installed in front of the Riviera Theatre next spring.
• A large sculpture of a phoenix will be added at the Broadway/Montrose/Sheridan intersection during the first quarter.

PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATES

• In 2016, I pushed for the hiring of 1,000 more police officers for the City of Chicago within the next two years, and we are on target to meet this goal.
• Motorcycle noise has been an ongoing problem along Lake Shore Drive. I convened a meeting with neighbors and other elected officials to discuss possible solutions to this noise and safety issue.  As a result, State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz passed state legislation that will allow the City of Chicago to start measuring noise on Lake Shore Drive, which is critical to assist us in our efforts to curb the racing of motorcycles.

PETS

• The series of hurricanes in 2017 had a profound effect on animal shelters that experienced severe damages.I orchestrated a pet supply drive at Camp Wiggles that helped provide needed supplies for these animals, some of whom had been transported to Chicago for adoption.
• I worked with the Park District to secure all of the necessary permits for the new Mutt Jackson dog wash at the Montrose Dog Beach. This site features self-service dog wash stations, dog-training sessions with Urban Pooch, and much more.

Best wishes for a wonderful and prosperous 2018,
Ald. James Cappleman

931-33 W. Belle Plaine Construction Moves Along

Current state of construction at 931-33 W. Belle Plaine

Rendering of completed project (Chioros Properties)

A quick status check of the development along the quaint 900 block of West Belle Plaine reveals quite a bit of progress. The first two stories are almost complete and interior framing has begun.

You might recall that Chioros Properties is developing this former parking lot into a 4-story, 17 unit building with 20 parking spaces.

Ald Cappleman: A 2016 Year In Review For Uptown

From Ald. Cappleman's 2016 year in review:

I have heard from many of you about the sudden renaissance of economic development in the 46th Ward. What we're seeing right now is unprecedented, but by no means, was it an accident. During my first term as alderman, I put in place all the needed ingredients to create more vibrant corridors for retail. This has encourage more people to shop in their neighborhoods and has provided more employment opportunities for residents. Exciting new businesses such as Ka'lish, a vegan restaurant that will have its ribbon-cutting ceremony this Saturday, focused on hiring staff who all lived within a few blocks of their store on Wilson Avenue.

NEW BUSINESSES IN 2016 INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

• First Ascent at 4718 N. Broadway, officially opened in early 2016, and is a rock climber's paradise.
• Heritage Coffee on Lawrence provides great coffee in the beautiful lobby of the Lawrence House.
• Kal' ish, a vegan restaurant, at Wilson/Malden, opened up and will be expanding another restaurant next door in 2017.
• Pokiology, a seafood restaurant, at Wilson/Magnolia, is a quick favorite among many residents.
• The Jerk Stop, a Jamaican restaurant at Wilson/Clifton, gives another great option for food on restaurant alley/coffee bean row.
• Emerald City Coffee, a coffee and pastry restaurant with a cool vibe, located at 1224 W. Wilson
• My Chocolate Soul, a bakery that provides a very unusual and eclectic types of chocolate and pastries: 4442 N. Broadway
• Earth's Kitchen, a restaurant providing a blend of Japanese and American food, located at 3715 N. Halsted
• Selam Market & Restaurant, providing authentic Ethiopian food, at 4543 N. Broadway.
• Uptown Arcade, a bar and arcade that attracts crowds after the concerts in the area, at 4830 N. Broadway.
• Wabi Sabi, Chicago's only rotary sushi restaurant at 4521 N. Sheridan
• Finest Food & NY Subz at 4759 N. Sheridan, also offers coffee and lots of snack options.
• Ensemble Media, a creative services and multimedia production company that creates unique videos, animations, print collateral and interactive solutions at 4704 N. Kenmore.
• Futatsuki Ramen, a Japanese restaurant known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes at 4621 N. Broadway.

COMPLETED DEVELOPMENTS IN 2016 

• Lawrence House at Lawrence/Kenmore: 344 rental apartments with a beautifully restored lobby. Includes a Heritage Coffee Bar and a bar will open inside the lobby within the next few months.
• 4752-60 N. Racine at corner of Broadway/Lawrence: A Lake Point Properties development with 18 soft loft apartments
• 4027 N. Broadway near Irving Park: A 20-unit building with 1st floor retail.
• The Bachelor, a FLATS project at 1136 W. Wilson. Has 40 rental apartments and hosts frequent art shows on the first floor.
• The Firehouse, a FLATS project at 1217 W. Gunnison: 4 apartment units at a formerly abandoned firehouse.

PROJECTS WITH WORK IN PROGRESS IN 2016 

• Clarendon/Montrose Development: a $125M proposal that includes rental apartments and Treasure Island. Approximately 1/3 of the $15.88M TIF will go toward rehabbing the Clarendon Park Community Center, 1/3 will go toward the Low Income Housing Trust Fund that provides rental assistance to people with very low incomes, and the remaining 1/3 toward demolition of the dilapidated Maryville site. A total of 563 rental apartments to be built in 2 stages.
• 3833 N. Broadway: an 8-story, mixed-use development with 134 rental apartments and retail.
• Stewart School Lofts at 4525 Kenmore: a 64 residential development with Morningside Group. The building became a Chicago Landmark in 2016. Plans will later include a mid-rise to be built directly north of the building with retail.
• 4635-41 N. Broadway: Lake Pointe Properties completing 14 residential units and 5 retail spaces.
• 931-33 W. Belle Plaine development with 20 units
• Pensacola Place at Hazel/Montrose: 184 rental apartments will be added to their current mix of 264 units. Town homes will be built around the perimeter of their deck located above Jewel.
• Ross Dress For Less at 918 W. Montrose (across from Jewel). Opening is expected in the spring.

PROJECTS PROPOSED IN 2016 THAT HAVE NOT YET STARTED

• 3901 N. Broadway: a Vermilion Development featuring a 10-story with 100 rental apartments and retail
• 4601 N. Broadway designed by MX3 Architects: 197 apartment units at the corner of Broadway/Wilson with retail on the first floor.
• 4420-30 N. Sheridan development: 33 units in a mixed-use development
• 3928 N. Sheridan: a Loukas Development with 54 apartment units with retail
• 1023 W. Irving Park: 5-story condo building with one unit on each floor.
• 927 W. Irving Park: 5-story with 28 rental units

OTHER DEVELOPMENT NEWS

• Wilson L Station: A $203M project has an expected completion date at the end of this year. In April, the demolition of the remaining old L track will be completed and the escalator is expected to be operational by June. All 4 new tracks will be up and running in September. A request for proposal is going out for the Gerber Building, and I am working with CTA to get that whole space rented out as one large retail space rather than have it broken up into smaller stores. A number of businesses have expressed interest for that spot.
• Uptown Square Historic District: Located within the Entertainment District, this enhances the area's prestige and property values while bringing stability and predictability for future private investment, with the ultimate goal to get the Uptown Theatre rehabbed.
• When the Clarendon/Montrose TIF passed City Council, it allowed for $4.5M to be contributed to the Clarendon Park Community Center. Per the Parks Dept, this was the only way we could get the necessary funds to jumpstart this rehab of this center that had become dilapidated.
• $14K was contributed from Menu funds to the Park District to do necessary plumbing work to allow for a dog washing business (Moxie Wash) to open up near the Montrose Dog Beach this year. 

SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

All this new development happened while we protected non-profit affordable housing in the 46th Ward. When Presbyterian Homes announced plans to sell their building at 3801 N. Pine Grove, I worked with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, State Rep Sara Feigenholtz, the City’s Dept. of Planning & Development, and ONE Northside to prevent the seniors in this building from having to move. I found an attorney who took on the case pro bono and then worked with CHA to negotiate a sale in 2016 so that no one would have to move from their home. There is now no longer any threat that they would have to move.

SAVING A HOMELESS SHELTER 

Due to an inability to raise additional funds to supplement the government dollars that Northside Housing & Support Services (NHSS) was already receiving, the shelter announced in September that they were closing in December. The Dept. of Family & Support Services (DFSS) tried getting other providers in to assist, but no other agency was willing to take it over. A generous donor stepped up with 3 years of promised support to keep them open. I will meet with the shelter's board of directors and DFSS to see how I can help them prevent this type of funding crisis again.

A NEW WAY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS

When I was elected alderman in 2011, I became very vocal with the way the City addressed homeless encampments. A host of different agencies were providing interventions with limited results of getting people off the streets and into permanent housing. Some of the people living on the streets had been there for many years and appeared stuck in the cycle of homelessness. Early in 2016, I teamed up with Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky to push the City to adopt a “housing-first” strategy that places people immediately into housing with wrap-around services. In May, a pilot project was started in Uptown because it was the largest encampment in the City. Of the initial assessment of 75 individuals living at the encampments, 54 were housed, and the remaining 11 left the area on their own. To assist with funding this new way of addressing homelessness, I also led the charge to add a 4% surcharge on Airbnbs, with these additional funds going toward our efforts to get people off the streets and directly into housing. The U.S. Interagency on Homelessness had declared this approach as the best way to address chronic homelessness. This approach also is very cost effective because the cost of a person's health care dramatically drops when he or she is in safe housing.

FRIENDS OF THE 46TH WARD SCHOOLS 

This non-profit organization started out as a task force to help me create the 46th Ward Master Plan, and now it has blossomed into something that has provided ongoing and much needed support to our area CPS schools. Thanks to a matching grant the Friends of the 46th Ward Schools received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, over $3,000 was raised.... all money that will be distributed to our local CPS schools.

PUBLIC SAFETY 

Enhancing public safety in the 46th Ward has always been one of my top priorities. Working with both the Commanders of the 19th and 20th Police Districts, along with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, I established a Retail Corridor Public Safety Committee, and we now have many retail establishments working together with us to reduce criminal activity in the area. In my discussions with Police Supt. Eddie Johnson, I asked for and received more foot patrol officers walking in our neighborhoods. They have strong relationships with the local businesses and community so that we can partner better together to address crime. I successfully fought for the hiring of more police officers in our last City Budget, something I knew many of you wanted. This year we were able to get an additional 52 sworn officers assigned, that is in addition to the police that are being recruited now. I worked with my colleagues and Mayor Rahm Emanuel to expand the Becoming a Man program and the One Summer Chicago program that provides employment opportunities for youth from 14 to 24 years of age.

LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

I spearheaded an ordinance to protect members of the transgender community using the bathroom of their gender preference without having to produce an I.D. I was joined by other members of the LGBT Caucus to get this passed. With the Short Term Rental Ordinance, I succeeded in getting a 4% surcharge for Airbnbs to fund homeless services. I pushed to strengthen the City's Inspector General's Office to allow for investigations of aldermen, rather than a separate one for us and another one for all other City employees.

PROTECTING THE WARD'S DIVERSITY 

The thing that people most appreciate about the 46th Ward is its diversity, with over 91 different languages spoken. Besides being the smallest geographical ward in the City, it is also the most economically diverse ward as well. The challenge is to make sure we maintain our diversity as we continue to improve the economic vitality of the ward. 

Best wishes for a wonderful and prosperous 2017,

Ald. James Cappleman

Renderings of Belle Plaine Building Approved Tuesday Night

As we posted last night, the revised plans for a new residential building at 931-933 West Belle Plaine were approved last night by residents in attendance at the General Meeting of Buena Park Neighbors.

Above is the architect's rendering of the new building. According to the PowerPoint presentation that was shown at last night's meeting, the revised plan has 17 apartments, rather than 20, as were in the first set of plans. The building is set back from the sidewalk.

The building will be four stories tall, with the top floor slightly recessed because of a front balcony. The ground floor will provide parking and space for utilities, and the second, third and fourth floors will contain 17 one- and two-bedroom units.

There will be 20 parking spaces (11 inside, 9 outside) and interior parking for 20 bikes. There will be an inside elevator and two staircases. The building will be 44' tall, with the fourth floor being 37.5' tall when seen from the street due to the recessed units. The residential buildings on either side of it are 39'2" and 38' tall.

As BPN said in its Facebook post last night, construction is anticipated to begin in the spring.

Revised Plan for 17-Unit Residential Building On Belle Plaine Approved By Vote of Residents

After its general meeting Tuesday night, which included a revised proposal for 931-933 West Belle Plaine, Buena Park Neighbors posted on Facebook:

"Thank you to everyone who came to the General Meeting tonight. The final vote on the 931-933 Belle Plaine Development was

• Yes - 41 votes
• No - 30 votes

Which means the 17 unit plan is approved. The developer indicated that they would likely begin construction in the spring."

The original proposal was for a new 20-unit residential building on the property, which has served as a parking lot for many years.

The residents of Buena Park and the developer have been meeting about the plans for the property for the past six months. Buena Park Neighbors had published the meeting agenda, which included the item: "Mike Chioros will present a revised plan for a proposed new building at 931-933 Belle Plaine, which will be followed by a vote."

We don't have renderings of the 17-unit plan as referenced by BPN yet, but we'll post them as soon as we get them.

BPN Holiday General Meeting Tuesday (931 Belle Plaine & French Macarons On Tap)

Tuesday is the Buena Park Neighbors quarterly meeting and holiday socializer. We hear a hot rumor that there will be freshly made French macarons available for those who show up early enough to get some. There will also be a presentation and vote regarding revised plans for 931-933 Belle Plaine, currently a parking lot. See the agenda items above to know what topics will be covered.

Please note the event will be held at Brennemann School; the meeting will definitely run no later than 9pm, unless you want to write "I will not linger" on the blackboards until the morning staff comes to let you out.

December 8th Buena Park Meeting Will Include Vote on 931-933 Belle Plaine Proposal

The next General Meeting of Buena Park Neighbors will be held on Tuesday, December 8th. Please note the location (Brennemann School, 4251 Clarendon) and earlier start time (6pm).

This is an opportunity to meet new neighbors and talk about neighborhood issues and businesses. The agenda is:

• 6pm - Holiday Cheer - Join us to meet neighbors and mingle.
• 6:30pm - Meeting Begins

• Representatives from Brennemann School will welcome us and introduce the school's toy drive. Please bring a toy to share for a child between 3-14 years old.

• Buena Park Neighbors - President Lisa von Drehle will update us on the neighborhood and Membership Drive.

• Lakeview Pantry Introduction - Please bring warm hats, coats and gloves to donate for its clients.

• Chicago Police Department CAPS Liaison Jason Clark - Sgt. Clark will update us on safety and take your questions.

• Alderman Cappleman - The Alderman will update us on the state of the ward and answer questions.

• 931-933 Belle Plaine - Mike Chioros will present a revised plan for a proposed new building at 931-933 Belle Plaine, which will be followed by a vote.

Buena Park Neighbors is a 46th Ward neighborhood association of more than 200 residents, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations in the nationally registered Buena Park Historic District. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for everyone in Buena Park.

Meeting Regarding Future of 931-933 Belle Plaine

If you are interested in weighing in or learning more about the proposed plan to build a rental building on the site of what is now a parking lot at 931-33 West Belle Plaine, you'll want to mark your calendar.  From Ald. Cappleman:

"I have heard from many of you at our previous two meetings or via email and phone regarding the proposed development at 931-33 W. Belle Plaine. I am having an additional meeting to make sure everyone that would like to discuss this proposal has the opportunity to do so.

What: Meeting to Discuss Proposal for 931-33 W. Belle Plaine
When: October 22, 6pm-7pm
Where: Uptown Branch Library, 929 W Buena Ave

For more information about this proposal, please click here. If you have any questions about the proposal or meeting, please contact Tressa Feher in my office at 773-878-4646 or info@james46.org.

I hope to see you there!"

Keep Updated On Proposed Plans For 931-33 Belle Plaine

In Ald. Cappleman's latest newsletter, he indicates that he will be revisiting the community feedback on the proposed plan to build a rental building on the site of what is now a parking lot at 931-33 West Belle Plaine.  If you want to be kept in the loop on what is going on, read on:

"931-33 W. BELLE PLAINE PROPOSAL. Ald. Cappleman met with residents to discuss a proposal to upzone property on W. Belle Plaine. Another meeting will be scheduled to provide residents in the area more information about this proposal. If you would like to attend, please email Ald. Cappleman (james@james46.org) to be notified of the date and location of the next meeting."

New Residential Development Proposed For West Belle Plaine

Neighbors living near 931-933 West Belle Plaine recently received mailed notices that a zoning change is being proposed, one that will enable the conversion of an existing 40-space parking lot into a 20-unit four-story residential rental building with 21 parking spaces.  You can see the renderings here and the developer's application here.

According to the 46th Ward's website, the proposed zoning change was accepted at a June 1st Buena Park Neighbors meeting.  We've heard from several neighbors of the parking lot who just found out about the proposed development when they received the July 22nd letter.

If you're trying to visualize the location of the parking lot/proposed new building, it's a half block west of the intersection where The Shift, Michael's Pizza, and GNS Foods are located. At that point, Belle Plaine is a narrow residential block that runs between Broadway and Sheridan.