A reader writes in: "I left my home this morning at the corner of Racine and Wilson and wondered why the windows of my car parked on Racine were all fogged up. Upon closer inspection I found out that someone had broken into my car and was sleeping in my backseat!! I have been out of town for 5 days and got back late last night. I wonder just how long my car as served as this guy's temporary home. I called police, and they arrested him for trespass. These guys really are pushing their limits.
The photo is hard to see as the car window reflects my image, but if you look carefully you can see his hair, his ear, and his jacket as he sleeps soundly."
I live on the 4600 block of Racine - and at 4:20 today there were almost 100 (?) kids gathered and yelling at the corner of Racine and Leland - even climbing on a parked car there. They all ended up running south on Racine - in the street. I was calling 911 when the police arrived..so I hung up and took some photos. I wish I would have gotten better pictures showing how massive the group was...
A reader writes in: "I live at the 4700 block of Magnolia- this morning I found a glass crack pipe in the alley right next to my car (sadly we do not have secured parking). I see people loitering and drinking, and using drugs in this alley at night- I've frequently find soiled condoms near my car and near the rear entrance to my building. I also found syringes every now and then. I also see a lot of people using this alley as a short cut between Lawrence and Leland- Please keep a sharp eye out for the questionable people that hang out in this alley! If you see anything suspicious call 911. We do not need this alley to get any worse, or anyone walking home from a concert/work/bar to get hurt."
Read all about it at the Sun-Times here. Even a broken clock is right at least twice a day. Oh, and don't feel too bad for her. She is still raking in $104,101 a year. Kudos to Ald. Smith and Ald. Tunney for doing the same thing.
A reader came across this other Uptown dream project on the Daniel P. Coffey and Associates website. This is "Uptown Center" and was to be located at Broadway and Wilson for your reference. There are 5 photos to scroll through, (the one shown here shows Broadway and the McJunkin's roof). You will notice the McJunkin Building and Stewart School as reference points in the other photos. Sadly, this isn't coming anytime in the near future, but isn't it nice to dream a little?
You may remember our post from back in August mentioning Dave "Pool Boy" Ochal, who was Alderman Shiller's Chief of Staff before Ms. Davis. Ochal was fired by Daley during the "generator scandal" this summer when he curiously had a generator delivered to his home by Com-Ed while all his neighbors sat without power. Well, Mr. Ochal has a cushy, new job. Read all about it at the Tribune here.
A reader sent in this picture showing the future home of 7-Eleven at Wilson and Clifton. One of the exits has been covered in plywood (next to the former ATM) and workers were seen inside working on the flooring.
"I was walking down Carmen Ave yesterday afternoon and found a note on the ground next to the sidewalk directly across the street from Helen's home. (Scan attached.) It appears to have been written in silver Sharpie, on the back of a blank Stockton Elementary School School Apparel Sale order form. Apparently the car had already been moved, as this note was just lying on the grass.
I like the vaguely threatening postscript.
This, it seems, is the kind of crime Helen is getting actively involved in stopping. How brave!"
A reader writes in: "I was in Starbucks on Wilson on Sunday and noticed something pretty touching that I wanted to share. I saw an on-duty police officer come in to get coffee. I know on-duty officers normally get free coffee but this officer insisted on paying. When the Starbucks employee refused, he kept the dollar bill and took the coffee out to the Hispanic gentleman who is wheel-chair bound and hangs out in front of Starbucks...he even gave him the dollar bill he was going to pay for the coffee with. There was no one on the street that would have seen this at the time. I thankfully saw this random act of kindness because I was seated by the window. I wanted to share this with your readers. I know a lot of people are down on the police department, but this small thing really showed me that we have a lot of good guys in uniform in Uptown."
"This plan proposed to revitalize Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood by linking the restored 4,800-seat Uptown movie palace with a new fourteen screen cinema complex, parking, retail, and residential loft redevelopment. Contributing entertainment venues in the district are the Riviera Nightclub, Aragon Ballroom (concerts) and the Green Mill Jazz Club. A newly rehabilitated mass transit station will also be a key component to the project."
A reader writes in: "My wife and I live on the 4600 block of Magnolia and we often walk north up Magnolia on our way up to Andersonville for weekend strolls. This usually entails taking a short pause to gawk at the back side of the Uptown Theatre. As it turns out, yesterday there was actually some human activity behind the chain-link fence. Workers were ripping out what looked like some pretty water damaged wood flooring. One of the workers, a really nice kid who didn't look a day over 20, said that from what he had heard from his boss, this was just the beginning of a lot of work. Sounds great to us!"
Update: We encourage all of our readers to go to this link to send a message to Public Storage Corporate and let them know that chronic loitering, drinking, and threatening acts are not tolerable.
We received this email from a resident who, along with most of Uptown, is fed up with the constant loitering that takes place at Public Storage on Broadway. The email is also a reminder to continue calling 911 when you see this activity:
"I am a concerned neighbor who lives close to the Public Storage at 4036 N. Broadway. We have a serious loitering problem at this location of individuals with extensive violent criminal records. They are often threatening to women who walk by and often times are observed abusing substances. Although men still loiter in this location it has improved due to work from community members and area businesses that have installed cameras and pressed criminal charges. However, last Friday I walked past the location with my dog and spotted open alcohol containers. I called 911 and gave a description of those who I had seen drinking. On Saturday I happened to walk by this location again and about 7 men were hanging out there and started to yell at me calling me “CAPS” because “You always call the police on us." Never mind that they appear to break the law almost on an hourly basis. I thought little of what was said until one of the men started to make specific threats on how he knew I lived in the area and was going to find me and make sure I could not call 911 again. Well, I walked away and called 911. The police came to my home in about 12 min and took me to look for this gentleman. As we were looking I was told that indeed there were several tickets that were issued for public drinking the day before. We did not find the gentleman but a description was given and I am sure he will return to the location in the next day or two. I am sending this info to Uptown Update because as in many other locations of Uptown people seem to think that because at one time public drinking, drug use, prostitution, and public violence was more accepted it still will be allowed to take place. I am telling anyone who will listen that as long as I live in Uptown I WILL NOT TOLERATE IT. It has been a difficult journey over my past 4 years in the area but so much has changed for the positive because many community members will not allow these types of antisocial behaviors to take place without a positive reaction. The fact that these men regularly make angry statements at community members they know are active in calling the police tells me they realize the neighborhood has changed and it makes them angry. Please, when you see this type behavior make sure you are safe but then call 911 and demand that a complaint is taken and attend court if you need to. Court advocacy will attend with you to support your courage. It really angers these men to be held accountable. I know it is all to easy to become discouraged but every call to 911 does make a difference in these problem locations."
Mayor Richard Daley on Saturday dismissed the notion that his administration’s failure to make good on a pledge to hire more police is affecting public safety, even as Chicago combats growing violent crime. "No, no," said Daley when asked about the lack of new hires and the impact on city safety. When pressed, Daley bristled and said "It just won’t."
Thomas has a friend who lives in the new complex. She likes the low-rise style of the Park Boulevard, a common feature of mixed-income housing.
“Maybe by not being the high rises, you know, they’ll value what they have over here and take care of it,” Thomas says.
Read all about it here. Let's build MORE low-income high-rises in Wilson Yard while the rest are being torn down all over Chicago. Yea, that's the ticket!
Well, that didn't take long. Another reader just emailed us this photo of someone taking a load off in the BRAND SPANKIN' NEW Stewart School Campus Park this afternoon. All of the hoopla of the grand opening from earlier today with Mayor Daley and Alderman Shiller is long gone. We are now left with the reality of having a park in the area that is already inundated with loitering. We hope Stewart School has a plan to protect their beautiful new park from the ravages of excessive loitering.
Love is in the air near Montrose and Sheridan. A reader just emailed us this photo they took while waiting for the 151 Sheridan bus, just north of Jake's Chicken. These two folks chose to proclaim their love and affection on the sidewalk just outside the bus stop. The reader commented that just before this picture was taken, the gentleman's hand was in the woman's nether-regions. All this took place within easy view of all passersby, including children. Many passersby were heard to say, "Get a room." We couldn't agree more. 911 was called by the photographer.
What's going on over at the McJunkin Building? This gets curiouser and curiouser.
Yet another zoning notice -- the third -- has arrived.
Funny, this one is dated September 26 (the previous one was dated September 19), but they both say that the application would be filed on September 22nd.
Funnier still, the newest one has no mention of commercial housing, but says it's for "more kinds of businesses" and would allow an existing restaurant to get a liquor license.
Now, call us suspicious, but ... nothing's changed but the date and the alleged purpose for the rezoning. Not a word about "commercial housing."
Yet... YET! ... this law firm shares office space with the Chicago Community Development Corporation, a "for profit corporation, a subsidized rental housing developer & mgmt firm, you may recall is the only developer other than Holsten to feed at the the WY trough. CCDC partnered with Voice of the People in Uptown on spending $2M from the WY TIF on 3 Uptown subsidized rental apt bldgs orphaned when William Higginson crashed & burned in 2006." (Thanks, Hugh.)
This law firm has also donated to Ald. Shiller's campaigns and has been paid by her for legal work. It has no web presence or web site. All of which leads us to believe that it's simply the in-house firm for CCDC, and something is very rotten indeed in the State of Uptown.
The more they try to confuse the point with talk of fuzzy kittens and rainbows, the more this whole rezoning thing stinks to high heaven.
Police are investigating the deaths of three adults who were found unresponsive in a Lakeview hotel room Friday. The three were found at about 2:30 p.m. at the Chateau Hotel in the 3800 block of North Broadway on Chicago's North Side, police said.
Police declined to further identify the three at this time, saying only they were adults. No information about the condition of the room, or what else was found within it, was released late Friday. The situation is being handled as a death investigation, pending autopsy results, police said. A hotel clerk would not comment on the deaths.
Mayor Daley: I think it will complement it. They need parking and good public transportation, a combination, and [adding Uptown Theater to the neighborhood’s other live-music venues] will reinforce us during the winter months and all that. In the summer, Lollapalooza is great. They’re usually out in cornfields when they get their events in other cities, and they lose it. Here they’re in downtown Chicago, next to the lakefront, the skyline, people use restaurants, people use hotels. It’s a huge event. Not only in Chicago, but people a couple of Americans in Beijing, they wanted to know, "When is Lollapalooza?" Because they were coming here in late August. I said, It’s over with. See the Jazz Festival. But Lollapalooza has become a real destination now. It’s done very, very well in terms of marketing. The bands are great. There is a lot of diversity in these bands. It’s well organized, but it’s the only one in a city. That’s what really makes it unique. You got public transportation. Friday when it started, I saw a lot of young people coming off the trains and the El and all that. It’s really worked out well. I think they’re going to sell out again next year. But I always think they have to do something different. They can’t keep it the same or else it’ll get boring and repetitious.
By Thomas A. Corfman (Crain’s) — Target Corp. says it is in final negotiations to anchor a $151-million mixed-use development on the Wilson Yard site in Uptown that has been plagued by delays.
And despite the turbulence in the market for construction financing, developer Peter Holsten is again close to arranging financing for the proposed project, sources say. The development, which would also include 178 units of affordable housing, would be on the site of a former CTA repair yard that runs along the west side of Broadway between Montrose and Wilson avenues.
Minneapolis-based Target rarely comments on any location until a deal is done, but on Wednesday a spokeswoman said: “We continue to be very interested in opening a Target store (at Wilson Yard), and are currently working to finalize our real estate transaction at this time.”
Earlier this year, Target expected an announcement in June. Now, the company expects an announcement in “a couple weeks,” she said. She declined further comment.
Mr. Holsten, president of Chicago-based Holsten Real Estate Development Corp., declined to comment. In April, he said he expected construction to start in June.
To the delight of those of us who love our crab rangoon, pork fried rice, and pho, the Reader has reviewed Argyle Street and Beyond, Thirteen Asian restaurants in Uptown. Yum! And they didn't even get to our favorites: Three Harmony, Thai Uptown and Viet Bowl.
Temporary Weekend Red Line Station Closings: Work is underway on renovations to the CTA Red Line Stations in the 48th Ward. Improvements include new platform stair enclosures and interior rehab. Closures are as follows:
1:00 a.m. Saturday, September 27 to 4:00 a.m. Monday, September 29: Bryn Mawr and Argyle.
1:00 a.m. Saturday, October 4 to 4:00 a.m. Monday, October 6: Thorndale, Berwyn and Lawrence.
Good news from the folks at the Magnolia Malden Neighbors Block Club:
Tho' the rain stopped us before ... it can't keep us down!!
TIME: Noon to 5pm WHERE: 4600 Block of Magnolia WHEN: Saturday, October 18
Let's enjoy the Fall Season.... Dress up your kids or your dog - for the season. There will be prizes! Come decorate pumpkins! We'll have paint and pumpkins, feel free to bring anything else! We'll have chili and hot dogs, and drinks. Feel free to bring a side dish or dessert!! ... and since we spent $ for a party that didn't happen - we've got to be thrifty this time - so bring your own chairs too! So come for the food, the games, the music, or just to chat up your neighbors.... but do come! We've got some great raffle prizes too! $5 donation for those 12 and older, $2 children under 12; under 5 free! The Block Party Committee needs "day of" help with set up, events, and clean up. If you're available, please let us know which you can help with. Thanks to the following sponsors: 7-11, Alma Pita, Body Fit, Chicagoland Tails, Classic Graphics, Crew Bar & Grill, Dramatic Paws, Fat Cat, Gigios, Hinckley Springs, Nick's on Wilson, Soggy Paws, The Spot, and Uptown Bikes
For more info, please contact Magnolia Malden Neighbors President Kathy Cook at kcook@bentleyforbes.com
From Red Eye: Further north near the Red Line, Jen Bakja said she has been a happy neighbor to the Wilson and Lawrence stops. But as of a month ago, she has found the sounds of the Red Line so disturbing that she offered to call "Going Public" and hold the phone up so I could assess the decibel damage myself.
"It's unbearable for the last month—with windows open or closed," Bakja, 36, of Uptown wrote in an e-mail to "Going Public." that ended with the phrase: "Please help!"
Don't fret, Bakja and Katrichis. Help is on the way for both areas of track. Gregory said the screechy sounds are the result of track that needs to be lubricated. New greasing machines have been installed in the State Street subway, Gregory said, and the machines are being calibrated to release the appropriate amount of grease. Between Wilson and Lawrence, the CTA is working to replace old greasing machines located near the Sheridan curve, Gregory said. In the meantime, the transit agency is manually greasing track curves that do not have working machines.
Maybe the agency needs to apply even more of that elbow grease Bakja's way. Nobody deserves to live near a CTA screech-fest.
Golly, we have heard from several readers who have reported these bike "remnants" to 311 that have been attached to a bike rack for months now, but to no avail. Shockingly enough, this is near the intersection of Broadway and Wilson, just in front of the optometrist at 1080 W Wilson.
Compare and contrast the Dearborn Wholesale parking lot and Jewel, right across the street from one another on Montrose near Broadway.
At 3 a.m., the only illumination on the Dearborn Wholesale side comes from alley lights. There's not a single watt of on-site lighting, there's no lighting on or inside the store except for one light bulb, and several homeless have set up quarters in the building's doorway. It continues to confound us that Dearborn Wholesale has no iron fencing surrounding its property, as required by Chicago ordinance and Mayor Daley. The low guardrail has made it a popular hangout for the homeless at all hours, and a commenter tells us there a drug overdose in the parking lot on recent afternoon, with Ald. Shiller making an appearance to see what was going on.
By contrast, Jewel has plenty of lighting in its parking lot and is surrounded by the requisite iron fencing. We haven't seen any homeless there after hours, and there's a security guard in the lot when the store is open. The stores' signs and display windows are brightly lit.
In the past, readers have commented that Dearborn Wholesale has good and concerned owners. But there's "talking the talk" ... and then there's "walking the walk." These pictures show no fencing and no lighting at night. In our opinion, saying the loitering problem is the fault of the adjacent building isn't a good response to community concerns.
Which side of the street would you feel safer walking past after dark? Which owner appears to care more about the community? Why doesn't Dearborn Wholesale put up a fence and some lighting as a good-faith gesture to demonstrate that it is, indeed, a good and concerned neighbor?
Update: Check out the rendering above for the planned "peace garden" at 920 Lakeside. Volunteers to help with the October 4 planting and donations are still needed. (click image to enlarge for more details)
National Car Wash has updated its sign to a digital light display, rather than the big plastic numbers, to keep up with the ever-changing gas prices. Here's how it looked just a few months ago.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE - Police and FBI agents in Chicago have rounded up dozens of alleged street gang members and associates in a crackdown on what prosecutors call a cocaine selling operation run by the big Latin Kings street gang.
The arrests in the Little Village area of the city's West Side came Wednesday as federal prosecutors unsealed a 223-page complaint charging 29 people with drug violations. Eleven others face state charges.
Prosecutors say they have a witness -- a gang enforcer -- who was in charge of security at a meeting where drug sales were planned. He searched those on hand for hidden recording equipment while secretly recording the proceedings himself.
The Latin Kings are one of Chicago's biggest gangs.
Facing apparent opposition from Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Daley administration is abandoning efforts to extend the legal life of the massive Central Loop tax increment financing district, which covers a wide swath of Chicago’s commercial heart.
The decision means the district automatically will sunset on Dec. 31 — and it means that the more than $111 million it has been throwing off each year for development projects instead will return to the regular property tax pool. Continue Reading:
From an Uptown Chicago Commission email: An Uptown community meeting is planned for October 14 at 7 pm at St. Augustine College on Argyle. Like Truman, best to walk or take public transportation, as parking is limited.
The main objective is to introduce Uptown's residential leadership and encourage/facilitate connecting citizens concerned about safety issues with neighbors already working on these issues (and others). We would like each block club president to make a 5 minute presentation about his/her club's activities - including its public safety concerns.
Then Good Neighbors Awards will be presented to the neighbor who found Baby Wilson and the officer who located the mother.
The 20th and 23rd District Commanders will introduce their Uptown beat facilitators and then the Commanders will discuss some of the manners in which their districts are addressing our public safety issues.
The elected officials present will be invited to make a few comments. We expect Heather Steans and Greg Harris to be present - and possibly Alderman Smith.
As this meeting may last up to 2 hours - so there is no open mic time planned.
From Business Partners' latest mailing: Stewart's Campus Park Grand Opening has moved up to Saturday, September 27, 2008!!!! Come and join Stewart students, parents, teachers, Principal Juliet Rempa, Retired Principal Patricia A. Turner, Mayor Richard Daley, Alderman Shiller and our very own Arne Duncan.
Time: 9:45 a.m. Place: Stewart Elementary, 4525 N. Kenmore Ave.
Update:Beacon Street Gallery adds: "A performance by Najwa Dance Corps will kick off the dedication of Graeme Stewart Elementary School's Campus Park in Uptown."
Update: Good news! "Thank you, Uptown Update, for posting Abbie's flyer on the website. Abbie roamed for 24 hours and was found just an hour ago, in time to be treated with her medication." Abbie escaped her fenced yard yesterday and needs her meds. Please keep an eye out for her and call her owners if you see her around the neighborhood.
"This morning Sen. Heather Steans and I are holding a planning meeting to continue to work on community-driven solutions to public safety problems in Uptown. Following the excellent Town Hall meeting on public safety, Sen. Steans and I have been talking to community leaders, police officials and other elected officials to implement recommendations from the Town Hall meeting.
"We believe that solutions must be community-driven and responsive to the needs of all Uptown residents. We will hold another Town Hall meeting soon to allow all interested parties to participate in working groups to craft solutions in the areas of: (1) increased citizen participation in public safety decision making and better communications in the community, (2) changes in public policy, (3) youth programming and involvement, and (4) business participation and involvement.
"We have asked community leaders to chair these working groups:
Citizen participation and communication - Cindi Anderson
Public policy - Rev. Randall Doubet-King
Youth programming and involvement - Judy Gall
Business participation - Christie Hahn
"In addition, we will be working to support the work of the building management group lead by the Uptown Chicago Commission, CAPS and court advocacy groups.
"Watch your mailbox for the time and place of the next Uptown Public Safety Town Hall Meeting."
BUENA PARK NEIGHBORS (BPN) is pleased to announce the ELEVENTH ANNUAL BUENA PUMPKIN NEIGHBORS. Monitored HALLOWEEN TRICK-OR-TREATING will take place in Buena Park on, Friday, October 31, 2008, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Kenmore Avenue between Irving Park Road (4000) and Montrose Avenue (4400), including the 1000 block of West Buena. Additionally, actors from National Pastime Theatre (4139 N. Broadway) will “haunt” Buena Circle Play lot. The 17 year old National Pastime Theater, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago, is noted for being a haunted former speakeasy and is on the Chicago Ghost Investigators tour.
With Holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, Unique So Chique invites you to host your next party at our multiple award-winning tea and chocolate room. With menus ranging from scones and savoriesto our more than 50 flavors of toffees and truffles (www.robertemerychocolates.com), we are certain you will find a reason to have that next special event at UNIQUE SO CHIQUE. Book any type of themed party between September 17th and October 17th 2008 and receive a 20% discount off your entire package. Savings are as great as $270. Booking must be paid in full and the event must take place before December 31, 2008.
Also, buy a $100 gift certificate between September 17th and October 17th 2008 (certificate expires one year from date of purchase) for our afternoon tea room and receive a FREE $25 gift certificate good for any of our retail items.
Please inquire about our Yoga Tea held on the first Tuesday of every month from 7pm-9pm!!
Whenever anyone in Uptown says "mixed use," we're reminded of The Princess Bride:
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
According to the original Wilson Yard Redevelopment Goals & Objectives, Wilson Yard was formed “to create a cohesive, mixed-use, mixed-income community." We all know how well that's played out.
Now the Truman College Parking Garage, which was pitched to the community a few months ago as a "parking garage," has suddenly been transformed into a "mixed-use 76,000-square-foot building." Golly gee! Magic!
And now it's not you and me, pal, paying for it through TIF funds, it's... THE CITY. Check out the Trib article below.
Uptown, where "mixed use" projects are bleeding the taxpayers dry, and bringing parking lots and low-income housing to our blighted community. Now that's economic development, Shiller and Mayor Daley style!
Truman College plan gets an assist By Jeanette Almada Special to the Chicago Tribune, September 21, 2008
A mixed-usebuilding planned for the Harry S. Truman College campus in Uptown will get city assistance. The City Council this month approved $10 million in tax-increment financing for the $54 million project. The seven-story building will be developed by City Colleges of Chicago on 9.8 acres at 4455 N. Racine Ave. That 76,000-square-foot building will have student services, including admissions and an advising center; financial-aid offices; placement testing; student clubs; and student government activities on the ground level. All are currently offered at the college's academic building.
As many as 200 of the project's parking spaces will serve CTA Red Line riders.
While this isn't in Uptown, it may affect travel. From Ald. Schulter in the 47th Ward:
"Water Main Repair in Lincoln Square. My office just received word from the Department of Water Management that they are currently performing emergency repair work to a water main at the intersection of Lawrence and Western. This work will continue through this evening. Limited traffic remains open in all directions. However, I would encourage residents to avoid that intersection if possible."
FixWilsonYard.org has hit the airwaves! A kind reader directed us to "Outside The Loop," which features an interview with Molly Phelan. Go to http://www.outsidetheloopradio.com/otl/ and scroll down to Show #104. The link is at the bottom and the interview begins at approximately the 5:40 minute mark.
A reminder that the FUNdraiser is this Thursday, September 25th, at Nick's Uptown (steps from the Sheridan Red Line stop), from 7:30-9:30 p.m. $30 at the door lets you socialize at an open bar. In addition, F.W.Y. will be auctioning off a pair of $350/face tickets to Tina Turner's concert on October 3.
Please be generous! As Molly mentions in her interview, whatever happens in Wilson Yard will affect Uptown for the next fifty years... let's leave a great legacy by stopping this flawed plan.
This Saturday, September 27th, Borders is having an afternoon just for the kidlets between 2-4pm. "Bring the family for a fun-filled afternoon of games, storytime, activities, and more!" Kids get a free cookie with any large beverage purchase at Seattle's Best Coffee cafe.
Even as the first day of autumn arrives, we still have much greenery to enjoy around the neighborhood. A tip of the hat to the residents and businesses who bring such beauty and scenery to Uptown.
A reader writes in:
