"Pokiology" Coming To Wilson Avenue

Poke bowls are coming to Uptown! The Cedar Street-owned storefront next to Baker & Nosh's future location (the former Starbuck's on Wilson) is going to be the new home of Pokiology Chicago.

The latest trend in healthy food, poke (pronounced "poh-kay") is a traditional Hawaiian dish consisting of fresh vegetables and fish.

According to its Instagram page, Pokiology hopes to open sometime this summer at 4600 N. Magnolia, Suite C. We welcome them to Uptown!

Ald. Cappleman: Largest Drug Bust In Years Nabs 34 In Sheridan Park

Ald. Cappleman at today's press conference announcing a major drug bust,
with Chief Anthony Riccio of the CPD's Bureau of Organized Crime

"The largest drug bust in Uptown in many years occurred over the last few days in the Sheridan Park area, with a total of 34 individuals who are in the process of indictment. Undercover officers were involved with drug buys over the last 6 weeks from these individuals who were arrested, which will make it much easier to obtain convictions. Click here to view CPD's press release.

A special thanks to 19th Police District Commander Cesario, members of the Chicago Police Department, and the residents of Sheridan Park who continued to call 911 and participate in CAPS so that the police had enough information to carry out this operation.

Yesterday, I contacted the Cook County State's Attorney's Office Community Justice Center to follow these arrests so that we can send a very clear message that drug dealing in this community will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

I will also be working with the 19th Police District Court Advocacy to help organize residents to serve as court advocates when the court hearing date is set. Court Advocates send a clear message to the judge that the community is concerned about public safety and are focused on having justice served. Having community members as advocates at these hearings makes a big difference in the outcome of these cases.  Please join me as a court advocate by calling the 19th Police District CAPS office at 312-744-0064.

You can also help by attending a series of events throughout the July 4th weekend where community residents are welcomed to gather together for an ice cream social, police outdoor roll call, and positive loitering events in the Sheridan Park area. A special thanks to members of the Sheridan Park Neighbors who are helping to make some of these events happen. Click here to view the calendar of events."

Update: Crime in Wrigleyville has identified 13 of the 27 people arrested so far in this operation. Seven remain on the loose and have had warrants issued for their arrests. Of the 13 ID'd by the blog,

• Three people give their address as 4621 North Sheridan (Grasmere Place care center and nursing home)
• One gives his address as 4506 North Sheridan (Neon Street shelter)
• One gives her address as 4750 North Sheridan (ICA Building, with many social services as tenants)
• One gives his address as 4943 North Kenmore (Northmere SRO).
• One gives his address as 4615 North Clifton (Cornerstone Community Outreach)
• One gives his address as 941 West Lawrence (Preston Bradley Center)
• Three give addresses outside of Uptown.

We realize that many transient people don't actually live at the addresses they have on their identification, but use them as places to receive mail and get occasional services. This may very well be the case with the majority of the arrestees. But if any of them actually are clients of the social services whose addresses they claim, we hope the services step up their game and keep a closer eye on their clientele to keep them on the right side of the law.

Men's Shelter At Lawrence & Sheridan To Close July 31 Due To Budget Impasse (Updated 1x)

941 W. Lawrence

Update: With the stopgap budget passed in Springfield on Thursday, the shelter has announced it will be able to stay open at least through the end of the year. Here's the story in DNAinfo.

Original post is here:
Another casualty of the budget crisis down in Springfield:

North Side Housing and Support Services Press Release:

The Board of Directors that oversees a 72-bed shelter for homeless men in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago voted last night (Wednesday) to close its doors on July 31st because the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services said it was unable to process a contract until the State of Illinois passes a budget for the fiscal year 2017.

The shelter is run by the Interim Housing Program of North Side Housing and Supportive Services which was founded in 1983. It is located in the Peoples Church at 941 W. Lawrence Ave., and has been in operation for several years. It is open 365 days a year; and in the past year,more than 320 different men spent a total of 18,000 nights at the shelter.

Over half of the shelter's funding, or about $255,000 per year, is provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services through contracts with the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services.

Richard Ducatenzeiler, Executive Director of North Side Housing and Supportive Services was notified by the City of Chicago that, "…until we know what is going to happen to the state budget we are not at this time processing the IDHS contracts."

North Side Housing and Supportive Services, is a non-profit social services organization. In addition to the Interim Housing Program (shelter), North Side also provides case management, permanent supportive housing, and other supportive services for the homeless.

"Our other programs are funded by donations from individuals, corporations,foundations, and government agencies," Ducatenzeiler said. "We have no extra funding.Without the state funding for the shelter, we are forced to shut it down until replacement funds can be found. The program will cease to operate on July 31st if no contract is executed.”

Japanese American Service Committee Recommits To Being A Welcoming Space For LGBTQ People

As Pride Month comes to an end, we'd like to spotlight this wonderful inclusive statement from the Japanese American Service Committee, our neighbors with offices at 4427 North Clark. It reads:

"Like many Americans throughout the United States, JASC has been shocked and taken aback by the wanton violence and loss of life that occurred in the mass shooting which took place at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016.

To the families of the 49 people who were killed and to the 53 people who were injured in the shooting, we would like to express our utmost sorrow and sympathy.

And to the LGBTQ community at large, across the nation and here in Chicago, we would like to say that we are united with you in your pain, and stand committed to working together with the LGBTQ community to recover and build from this tragedy.

The Japanese American community, having endured forced relocation and incarceration which we experienced during World War II, we have a particularly sharp awareness of what it can be like to be discriminated against and to experience hate crimes, solely on the basis of our race and ethnicity. We know very well how it feels to have our safest spaces, including our homes, businesses, churches, temples, and places of social gathering, be taken away from us. 

And we also know how hard it can be to return to these same places, to rebuild a sense of community, and to make our “homes” safe again. This was in fact a guiding principle of JASC’s founders 70 years ago, as more than 20,000 Japanese Americans came to Chicago seeking refuge and an opportunity to rebuild their lives.

For the members of the Latino LGBTQ community in Orlando, we know this recovery process is very much a work in progress. And we know the repercussions of this incident have been felt across the nation and have helped to contribute to an atmosphere of anxiety and uncertainty for LGBTQ members here in Chicago.

Even further, we are also concerned that antipathy and hatred directed at the South Asian, Muslim, and Arab communities may also rise in the wake of this tragedy, and we stand firm in our solidarity with members of these communities, who have also strongly condemned this act of violence.

In order to address these many issues moving forward, JASC remains committed to being a safe space for ​all but especially people of color and ​the ​LGBTQ community, regardless of religion or creed. With this statement, we seek to recommit ourselves to the goal of making our organization and all activities and services associated with it as open, safe, and accepting of the LGBTQ community as possible. 

The mass shootings in Orlando have shown that hatred and violence are much closer than we think. We remain committed to reaching out to members of the larger community to show that as friends, allies, and neighbors, love and acceptance are as equally close at hand."

Patriot TV Series Filming Near Wilson/Broadway; Parking Restrictions Wednesday-Thursday

Some parking restrictions in the Wilson/Broadway area Wednesday and Thursday for the Amazon original TV series Patriot. It's described by IMDB as "A dad who works for the U.S. State Department tries to keep the peace with his two sons, one who's a senator and the other a folk-singing Iraq war vet."

There will be no parking from 5pm today until 11pm on Thursday:

• Wilson between Racine and Broadway
• The east side of Clifton between Broadway and Wilson

Update: Looks like the filming is taking place inside the Wilson Men's Hotel.

19th District Officers Hold Week Of Public Events Beginning Now

If you've got something you'd like to say to 19th District police officers, it's never been easier to find them.  This is from Ald. Cappleman's website about their public presence in the upcoming week. (The 19th District is everything in Uptown south of Lawrence; the 20th District is everything north of Lawrence.)

"Join the Chicago Police Department’s 19th District CAPS Office and Alderman James Cappleman for a week of events in Uptown. Meet 19th District Police Officers and your neighbors as we come together to make Uptown a safer community.

Wednesday 6/29

• 11-1pm — CAPS Information Table at Wilson and Racine
• 11am — Outdoor Roll Call at Wilson and Racine
• 7pm — Outdoor Roll Call at Clarendon Park 4501 N. Clarendon

Thursday 6/30

• 11am — Outdoor Roll Call 1145 W. Wilson in front of Truman College
• 2-4pm — CAPS Information Table at Sheridan and Wilson
• 7pm — Outdoor Roll Call Sheridan and Wilson

Friday 7/1

• 11am — Outdoor Roll Call Sunnyside Mall – Sunnyside and Malden
• 6-7pm — Positive Loitering 1100-1200 Block of Wilson with Truman College Security
• 7pm — Outdoor Roll Call 1145 W. Wilson

Saturday 7/2

• 11-1pm — Ice Cream Social with Sheridan Park Neighbors at Bronco Billy Playlot 4437 N. Magnolia
• 11am — Outdoor Roll Call Bronco Billy Playlot
• 7pm — Outdoor Roll Call 1200 W. Leland

Sunday 7/3

• 11-12pm — Positive Loitering Wilson and Broadway
• 11am — Outdoor Roll Call Wilson and Broadway
• 7pm — Outdoor Roll Call Wilson CTA Station

Monday 7/4

• 10am  — Outdoor Roll Call at Clarendon Park 4501 N. Clarendon
• 7pm — Outdoor Roll Call at Wilson and Kenmore

For more information, please contact 19th District Community Policing Office at 312-744-0064 or CAPS019district@chicagopolice.org

Wrigley Field Concert Parking Restrictions On Thursday

Parking restrictions begin at 2pm Thursday for Uptown's southern border due to James Taylor playing a concert at Wrigley Field that night. (No more concerts until mid-August, whew.) This is where the restrictions are:

• Irving Park between Seminary and Clark (basically, between the cemeteries): No parking on either side of the street 2pm-midnight on Thursday
• Clark between Waveland and Irving Park: No parking on the east/northbound side of the street 2pm-midnight on Thursday
• For a complete list of concert-related street closures, check Ald. Tunney's newsletter here.

Wednesdays Are "CAPS Night Out" in Buttercup Park; Volunteers and Participants Sought

Beginning tomorrow, and continuing each Wednesday through August 10th, Wednesdays will be CAPS Night Out at Buttercup Park. Between 5pm and 7:30pm, 20th District police officers and community members will lead group activities and games with local kids for the next seven Wednesdays.

Volunteers are needed to help out!  "We are looking for energetic, dedicated and fun volunteers to help with CAPS Night Out at Buttercup Park. Volunteers will help with activities, games, art projects, basketball, yoga, serving food/snacks, set-up, break-down and being present to help activate Buttercup Park each Wednesday night (5-7:30 pm) from June 29-August 10. To volunteer, please send an email to pc@48thward.org."

Buttercup Park is located at 4901 North Sheridan, at Ainslie.

Bird Watchers Slay Montrose Beach Surf Pool Proposal

Rendering of proposed surf pool near Montrose Beach, now cancelled

Never underestimate the power of avid bird watchers.

You might remember that an outdoor surf pool was planned for a spot near Montrose Beach and included a $2M rehab of the dilapidated concession stand building. All of that is now dead on arrival after "birders" had their say.

“Every bit of green grass counts for the migratory birds that come through and need a spot to rest,” said Charlotte Newfeld, a longtime birder.
“I think it’s absolutely outrageous. Most of the people in Uptown do not own surf boards and most of them have never been anywhere near the ocean. You have to leave the lakefront free and clear,” she said.

Read more at the Sun-Times

Uptown PlayStreet Summer Schedule

Now that school's out, the PlayStreet program is going strong. These dates and locations are currently posted for Uptown, but things can change. Please check the schedule here before heading out.

• Thursday, July 7th, 4:30pm-7:30pm, Winthrop between Ainslie and Argyle (in conjunction with Argyle Night Market), sponsored by Chinese Mutual Aid Association
• Saturday, July 30th, 10am-noon, 4848 North Winthrop, sponsored by Chinese Mutual Aid Association
• Saturday, July 30th, noon-5pm, 4400 North Magnolia, sponsored by Voice of the People
• Thursday, August 25th, 4:30pm-7:30pm, Kenmore between Ainslie and Argyle (in conjunction with Argyle Night Market), sponsored by Chinese Mutual Aid Association

Saddle & Cycle Club Fireworks Show To Take Place On July 4th

Our festive neighbor, the Saddle & Cycle Club, will present its annual fireworks show at dusk on Monday, July 4th. The club is located at Foster & Marine, but only its members and guests may view the show from inside the club.

Luckily for us, the fireworks can be seen for miles around. Come to Margate Park or one of the surrounding beaches and set up a picnic. Or schmooze someone in one of the surrounding high-rises. It's always an exceptional display, and we're lucky to have such celebratory neighbors.

Windy City RibFest Back In Uptown July 1st-3rd, Still Time To Sign Up To Volunteer

Top local and national ribbers will again mix saucy slab offerings that are complemented with an eclectic music lineup at this 8th annual festival. This tasty happening takes place over the long Fourth of July weekend. It grows in popularity (and crowds) each year and is now a must-visit Chicago summer fest! RibFest also features arts, crafts and a daytime kids' activity area.  The Main Stage will offer an exciting line-up and strolling performers such as magicians, stilt walkers, lion dancers, and more provided by local Uptown businesses and non-profits.

As the beneficiary of this year's event, Business Partners, The Chamber for Uptown, will receive a portion of the gate sales, beer sales, and all tips from beer/wine sales at the Main Stage Beer Tent. These funds will help go towards efforts to build a strong, unified business environment; facilitate economic development; and strengthen community - all to nurture a diverse, vibrant, thriving and strong Uptown.

Help needed!  From Friday, July 1 through Sunday, July 3, the Chamber needs volunteers to work the Main Stage Beer Tent. There are 9 shifts available - 3 shifts on each of the 3 days. All volunteers will receive a complimentary volunteer t-shirt with the Windy City Ribfest logo.  Click here to sign up for a volunteer shift!

Date: Friday to Sunday, July 1-3
Time:  Friday & Saturday - Noon to 10pm | Sunday - Noon to 9pm
Location:  On Broadway from Lawrence to Leland

Independence Day Weekend At Uptown Lounge

"Becoming A Man" Mentoring Program Gets Winning Marks

Photo courtesy of Youth Guidance

According to the Sun-Times, a mentoring program that was enacted at Goudy Elementary School in Uptown this past school year, as well as in other parts of Chicago, is having a positive impact on young men enrolled in it:

Crimes committed by at-risk Chicago students dropped in half, and high-school graduations rose sharply in an innovative education program called Becoming a Man that is capturing national attention and could become one antidote to the city’s persistent bloodshed, according to a newly published study.

More of this, please!

You can read more about the Uptown program in DNAinfo here, and more about the results being achieved in the Sun-Times. The website for the BAM program is here.

"Pride at Montrose" Happening At The Lakefront 11am-6pm

There's another big Pride event happening in Uptown today. The old Montrose Rocks festival, which celebrates LGBT people of color, has been rebranded as "Pride At Montrose" and takes place at the lakefront and at Cricket Hill.

Check out their Facebook page for the events and participating entertainment.

Last year, the beach got filled to capacity early in the day and police started to block vehicles from entering. It's a possibility this will happen again this year. Don't be surprised if it does.

Unlike the Parade, which uses Uptown as a starting point, Pride At Montrose starts and ends here, and there will be a lot of people leaving around the same time. Many, many people will be making their way up from the beach to the Red Line throughout the afternoon and especially at and after 6pm. If you don't like crowds, keep away from Wilson, and to a lesser extent, Montrose and Lawrence between mid-afternoon and evening.

Have a safe and happy Pride, no matter how you celebrate.

Update: Pride on Montrose, whose closing time had already been changed from 7pm to 6pm, was closed by the police at 3pm, cutting what had been -- by all accounts -- a calm and successful festival. No clarifications have been given on why it was closed early. Read about it here and here.

Update: DNAinfo ran an article Monday evening, Cappleman Miffed After Pride At Montrose Shut Down By Police.

A Pride Of Lion(s)

Lionel's parade-ready at his perch at Dayton and Montrose.

Follow his adventures on his Facebook page.

Local Pride!

A few more local Pride celebration opportunities:

• Baker & Nosh, at 1303 West Wilson: "Make sure to stop by and see us 9am-noon Pride Sunday, and grab a free La Colombe coffee! Happy Pride, Chicago!"
• Uptown Lounge, at 1136 West Lawrence: "Uptown Lounge opens at 11am for pre-parade drinks $3 Beers $4 Shots $4 Cocktails"
• La Ciudad, 4515 North Sheridan: "Join us Sunday before and after the parade for music, dancing, and great food! Doors open at 11am."
• Crew, 4804 North Broadway: "Crew will be open at 12:30 on Sunday. Stop in before or after (or instead of) the parade for bottomless mimosas or Crew's signature bloodies. Brunch available until 3pm."
• Buddhist Temple of Chicago, Racine & Leland: "This Sunday's theme is Rainbow Pride - celebrating the diversity of our sangha and the Chicago community. We'll even have rainbow-colored refreshments after the 11am service with lay speaker Nancey. Just in case you'd rather not be standing in the parade crowd under the hot sun and chance of thunderstorms - come enjoy our temple's AC and seat cushions June 26."
• Uptown Underground, 4713 North Broadway: "We believe that LOVE should be free, so we're having a free show and giving away free tickets and free jello shots to celebrate Pride. Come visit us and celebreate ‪#‎LoveisLoveisLove‬!" Muffy's Post Pride Party, Your one stop shop for a Post Pride Parade Party -- click the link for details.

#TestForFlu Bug Hits Town

The #TestForFlu Bug, aka the Virus Buster, was in Uptown last week, educating the public about influenza. We saw it parked on Clark. It was kind of hard to miss, to be frank.

Edgewater Shooting Ends At Foster/Sheridan

Tonight shortly before 9pm, a 42-year-old man was shot several times in Edgewater. The shooting occurred on Kenmore between Berwyn and Balmoral. Witnesses reported hearing shots and seeing a dark blue Mercedes speeding away from the scene, heading south.

The Uptown connection is that the Mercedes crashed into the four-plus-one apartment building at the southeast corner of Foster & Sheridan, where police found it and called for an ambulance for the injured driver.

The man was taken to Illinois Masonic, where his condition is stable. The car is registered to an address on the 6100 block of Sheridan.

According to the Sun-Times, "[The man who was shot] was inside [a different] vehicle with another person about 8:50 p.m. in the 5300 block of North Kenmore when the other person pulled out a gun and shot him in the abdomen, according to Chicago Police. The man then drove off in another vehicle [the pictured Mercedes], which crashed in the 900 block of West Foster, police said."

The police believe the shooting was drug-related (no kidding). You can see at least one bullet hole in the back panel of the crashed Mercedes, so it looks like the person who shot him continued to shoot at the Mercedes as it pulled away.

This is only tangentially an Uptown story, since everything except the place the car crashed is Edgewater-related, but we know people will be wondering about it. Thank you to reader Rob Graves, who submitted the photo to UU's Facebook page.

You have to appreciate the sign the car ran over on its way to hitting the building. You can even see the tire tracks it left.

Photo taken from Mariano's across the street

"We Are Uptown Proud!"

The Uptown Chamber has come up with a fun video celebrating the businesses and pride that Uptown has.  Check it out at www.UptownProud.org -- and see what discounts and freebies are available this Pride Weekend, too.

More Words of Love on Sheridan

click to enlarge and read the messages

It started with Alchemia Art of Hair, who invited the public to write messages of pride, love, and support on the sidewalk outside the shop at 5009 N Sheridan. Now the trend has moved slightly north, with the wall and sidewalk at 5050 N Sheridan full of messages proclaiming love. We don't know who's behind this one, but we support it whole-heartedly.

Lakeview Pantry Holds Open House Today To Show Off New Space

Lakeview Pantry, which has served the public for 46 years and is Chicago's largest food pantry, has moved to a new home just steps from Uptown, at 3945 N Sheridan (across from the Red Line station). They are rightly proud of their new location, which doubles the size of their previous space.

You are invited to tour the new facility today and see what's up. The Open House is open to the public from noon to 3pm. 

Come see what they're doing to fight hunger and need in our part of town! Check out their website at www.lakeviewpantry.org

Detailed Stewart School Conversion Plans Surface With 64 Residential Units

If there is still any doubt that the Broadway and Wilson corridor is going to be unrecognizable in a few years, here is yet another planned development we heard about a few months ago, now in greater detail. Ald. Cappleman has also issued a letter of support to the city to make Stewart School a Chicago landmark.

Exterior plans for Stewart (Pappageorge Haymes)

via Ald. Cappleman's website:

"Stewart School, 4525 N. Kenmore Ave: The Graeme Stewart Elementary School was sold to Morningside Stewart, LLC, affiliate of the Morningside Group of companies, in January 2016 and is undergoing a redevelopment in which the school will be converted to 64 residential units with internal vehicle and bicycle parking.

Morningside is the builder and developer of the property and is working with Pappageorge Haymes Partners, an architecture firm with an extensive portfolio of historic adaptive reuse.  Morningside Stewart, LLC has applied with the City of Chicago for Landmark status on the school.

The north lot will remain parking with improvements made to the lot. The south lot is not included in this development, and will be a separate planned development including mixed-use retail and residential.  This project is not receiving any TIF subsidies and the school redevelopment will not exceed existing zoning density regulations."

East elevation plans showing exterior balconies (Pappageorge Haymes)

Parking Restrictions This Week Due to Wrigley Concerts, Pride Parade

There are a lot of great events happening during the next ten days, but if you park your vehicle on the street in Uptown, you'll want to be sure it's not going to be towed, because parking restrictions are on the horizon. The concert restrictions on Irving Park and Clark begin TODAY at 2pm.

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Wrigley Field will be an open-air concert venue Friday (tonight), Saturday and Thursday. (Phish this weekend, James Taylor next week, in case you're wondering.) To that end,

• Irving Park between Seminary and Clark (basically, between the cemeteries): No parking on either side of the street 2pm-midnight on Friday, Saturday and next Thursday
• Clark between Waveland and Irving Park: No parking on the east/northbound side of the street 2pm-midnight on Friday, Saturday and next Thursday
• For a complete list of concert-related street closures, check Ald. Tunney's newsletter here.

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Unless you've been very, very preoccupied, you know that the Pride Parade will launch from Montrose and Broadway at noon on Sunday. The staging area for the parade is in that vicinity. The same parking restrictions from last year are in effect, so we're posting the same map. Towing begins promptly at 5am on Sunday.

A complete list of parking restrictions and route information for the parade is here
.

It's going to be a fun weekend, with lots of visitors. Our advice is, if you aren't using your car between now and Sunday night, find a place to park it now that's outside of the tow zone, use Lyft or Uber or public transportation, and enjoy the festivities!

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Next Friday through Sunday, July 1st through 3rd, Windy City Ribfest will take place on the 4700 block of Broadway (between Leland and Lawrence). There will be parking restrictions in the area. We will post about those as soon as we are aware of the specifics.

Open Street Party Saturday On Sunnyside (Between Hazel & Clarendon)

Positive Loitering Friday Night, 6pm-7pm

From Uptown Chicago Commission:

"Positive Loitering will take place this evening between 6PM and 7PM. The location will again be Wilson and Racine. Please join your neighbors in front of Jimmy John's. There was a definite change on the block when neighbors and police officers showed up last week.

Stop by for a few minutes or stay for the full hour. Bring a friend, bring a new neighbor, stop by on a dog walk, just come out! We have dog treats for your furry friends.

As always, the 19th District Police are aware of our presence and encourage participation."

Game-Changing Transit-Oriented Development Proposed For Broadway & Wilson

Proposed development looking NE at the corner of Broadway & Wilson (MX3 Architects)

The corner of Broadway and Wilson as we all know it today

Looking north on Broadway from Wilson (MX3 Architects)

Looking south on Winthrop showing the garage entrance (MX3 Architects)

A game-changing transit-oriented development (TOD) with ground-floor retail and 197 residential units is being proposed for the NE corner of Broadway and Wilson.

The development would replace a one-story City Sports as well as Family Dollar and Rainbow Shops, which were built in the 1970s. It would feature a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom rental units. 11,550 square feet of retail will run along both Wilson and Broadway.

The main lobby entrance is planned for off Wilson, next to the current FLATSstudio 1050 building (Wilson Avenue Theater/former TCF Bank). 41 total interior parking spaces are accessed via Winthrop behind the development and a total of 7,135 square feet of outdoor space, including a rooftop deck, will be available for the residents.

The TOD is designed by Chicago-based MX3 Architects and is planned for 9 stories pending a zoning change approval, first by Truman Square Neighbors and later the 46th Ward Zoning Committee. No TIF funds are being requested for this development. This is still a developing story and once we have more info, including the developer, we will pass it along.

City Council Passes Towing Bill of Rights

The "Lincoln Park Pirates" lot at 4882 North Clark

Yesterday a lot of legislation was passed during the City Council's meeting, including the Towing Bill of Rights, co-sponsored by Ald. Ameya Pawar and "inspired" by Uptown's Lincoln Towing.

It will require tow drivers to have dash-cam cameras and record their tows; take a photo of the position a vehicle is in before it's towed; file a list of locations from which the company is authorized to tow; and many other restrictions (see The Expired Meter for details). We hope it also means the drivers won't scream out unprovoked homophobic slurs or injure people during the towing of their cars.

As for the petition many signed asking to have Lincoln Towing's license revoked, it's a state matter and they are currently being investigated by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Steve Goodman sang in 1973:

Be it Edsel or Chevy there's no car too heavy
And no one can make us shut down

Maybe, just maybe, that won't be true after the investigation by the ICC concludes.

Our thanks to Alds. Pawar and Reboyras for coming up with the Towing Bill of Rights. Ald. Pawar said, "Tow truck companies need to exist. They just need to learn how to behave. And they need to do it in a way that’s not abusive or criminal."

Paver's Paradise

Looking east on Argyle from Kenmore

Street level brick paving is going on as we speak on Argyle. Argyle is closed from Kenmore eastward as work is underway. Once complete, the street will be flush with the sidewalk. You can get a good idea of how the completed project will look from the photo above.

City Sums Up Montrose-Clarendon TIF

Here's the official City press release on the approval of the Maryville project. Interestingly, there were several other TIF plans approved yesterday, including giving Whole Foods $8million to move a distribution center from Indiana to Pullman.

"TIF PLAN APPROVED TO SUPPORT NEW MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT IN UPTOWN. A $125 million, mixed-income housing and retail complex in Uptown will move forward through a Tax increment Financing (TIF) plan approved today by City Council.

Planned for the northwest corner of Montrose and Clarendon avenues, the 381-unit project by JDL Development and Harlem & Irving Cos. will include a 31,000-square foot grocery store and 278 indoor parking spaces. The project will also include and a 6,000-square foot retail building on the east side of Clarendon.

Up to $15.8 million in TIF assistance will be allocated toward site preparation expenses. The site is currently occupied by buildings constructed in 1957 for Cuneo Hospital and later utilized as a Columbus-Maryville children’s shelter. The buildings have been vacant since 2005.

As part of the redevelopment terms, 20 units in the 26-story complex will be made available at affordable rents. The developers will also pay $5.7 million into the City’s Affordable Opportunity Fund, which provides rental subsidies for very low-income residents and supports the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing citywide. A portion of the affordable housing payment will support a pilot program announced this spring by Mayor Emanuel that will provide rental subsidies for 75 homeless people living in makeshift encampments across the city.

The developers will also provide $4.6 million to help renovate the nearby Clarendon Park field house.

The Montrose/Clarendon TIF district was established in 2010 to support the site’s redevelopment.

All TIF funding for the project will be generated by future property taxes on the 2.3-acre development site, which is currently tax exempt. The assistance will be provided in annual installments following project completion and the fulfillment of all TIF requirements.

Zoning and financial assistance for the project were approved by the Chicago Plan Commission and the Community Development Commission in January 2016.

The project is expected to generate up to 60 permanent, full-time jobs and up to 675 construction jobs, as well as $3 million in annual property and sales taxes."

At Last! Maryville Development Plan Receives Final Approval From City Council

Seven and a half years after the 3.5-acre property at Montrose and Clarendon first went under contract, and nearly six years after the City Council voted unanimously to create a TIF district to make it more attractive to investors, the City Council approved a proposed development plan for the site today.

The final vote was 37 for, 13 against, with Ald. Osterman making a passionate speech against the passage of a TIF-funded project, and Ald. Cappleman equally passionately rebutting his argument. Interestingly, Ald. Moreno also spoke against the TIF, even though he himself was one of the affirmative votes in the creation of the TIF six years ago this month.

The City Council vote approving Maryville as a TIF in 2010

It's a huge day for those who have worked for years to see something other than boarded-up buildings and empty lots along Clarendon. This clears the way for development to take place.

November 2015 rendering of the first proposed new building

It's been a long time coming.

We tip our hats to former alderman Helen Shiller for imagining the possibilities and setting the wheels in motion for the creation of the TIF district, and to Alderman James Cappleman for seeing the project through the lengthy vetting process. It's a good legacy for both of them, and they should be proud for many reasons:

• The religious order that owns the property will receive a large sum of money from the sale to continue their good work. 
• The Clarendon Park fieldhouse will get desperately needed funding to go toward the overdue repairs to the facility. 
• The Low Income Housing Trust Fund will get an infusion of nearly six million dollars, some of which will go toward the housing-first initiative for the chronically homeless people living under Lake Shore Drive.
• New affordable housing will be created in the development.
• A large property that's been off the tax rolls since FDR's presidency will start paying taxes that support city services.
• New businesses and residents will come to Uptown.

We leave you with Etta, who says it best.

Update: This City Council meeting lasted five and a half hours. If you have the intestinal fortitude to wade through the voice-recognition-generated transcript, have at it. (There is no record in the transcript of how aldermen voted, only what was picked up from the main microphones.)

A Few More Volunteers Needed For Windy City Ribfest

From Greg Carroll of Uptown Business Partners:

"We’re gearing up for the 8th Annual Windy City RibFest right here in our neighborhood on Friday, July 1 through Sunday, July 3! Windy City RibFest features top local and national ribbers and is expected to bring 25,000 attendees into Uptown this year. The fest also offers a Mainstage lineup featuring local rock/pop and classic indie acts as well as local tribute bands.

For the 5th year, Business Partners, the Chamber for Uptown will be the beneficiary of this festival and will receive a portion of the proceeds from gate sales, beer sales, and beer tips. This funding helps us accomplish our mission of building a strong, unified business environment; facilitating economic development; and strengthening community — all to nurture a diverse, vibrant, thriving, and strong Uptown.

This is where you come in! We need volunteers to help work the Main Stage beer tent for all three days of the festival. For information on shift times/availability and to register to volunteer, CLICK HERE!

We hope you can join us for what is sure to be another great event for Uptown!"

Dep't of Justice To Hold Public Forums Regarding CPD Investigation

Interesting press release came today:

"Department of Justice to Host Public Forums to Hear from Community as Part of Investigation of Chicago Police Department. The Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, along with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, are conducting a civil pattern or practice investigation into the Chicago Police Department.  As part of the investigation, officials will be hosting public forums to provide information about the investigative process, and to offer time for community members to share their experiences with policing in Chicago.

The dates and locations of the forums are as follows:

• June 22, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  Kennedy King City College (U Building)
  740 W. 63rd St., Chicago IL 60621
• July 12, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  Truman City College
  1145 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago IL 60640
• July 14, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  KROC Center Chapel
  1250 W. 119th St., Chicago IL 60643

The forums are free of charge and open to the public and the media.

The purpose of the pattern or practice investigation is to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution or federal law by the Chicago Police Department.  The investigation is focused on use of force, including racial, ethnic and other disparities in its use of force, as well as police accountability systems, including how internal investigations are conducted, how the police department responds to citizen complaints, and how it handles officer discipline.

Community members who are unable to attend the forums but wish to share information relevant to the investigation are encouraged to contact the Department of Justice by phone: (844) 401-3735 or email: community.cpd@usdoj.gov."

Unique Thrift Store On Sheridan Has Gone Out Of Business

courtesy Google Streetview

They always had treasures tucked away, the best prices on used books, and were a godsend during back-to-school shopping. But very unexpectedly, Unique Thrift Store at Sheridan and Sunnyside has closed, effective today. Thank you to reader PF for sending us the photos of the sign on the door, and of employees packing everything up, leaving empty shelves and clothing racks. We hope that those who worked there are able to be placed at other locations of the store.

It's a large storefront, and we're eager to see what goes in next at the location. The sign on the door gives other locations for Unique Thrift stores, although none are in Uptown.

Maryville Clears Finance Committee, Final Council Vote Could Happen Wednesday

This afternoon the Finance Committee of the Chicago City Council approved Montrose-Clarendon Partners, LLC's plan to develop the Maryville property and to make improvements to the Clarendon Park Fieldhouse. Aldermen Osterman and Moreno voted against the plan; the rest of the committee members voted in favor of it.

One more affirmative vote is needed to give final and full approval to the proposed site development and fieldhouse improvements. That vote is expected to take place at the meeting of the City Council tomorrow.

Unsurprisingly, there was lively and lengthy testimony today, both pro and con, from those who attended the committee meeting as concerned citizens.

The Maryville project has been in play since 2008, when Sedgwick Properties Development Corp. signed a contract to purchase the property. In 2010, then-alderman Helen Shiller ushered through the Montrose/Clarendon TIF, which was intended to give Sedgwick $50 million for its version of the project, which would have included over 1,000 new apartments, a hotel, a health club, and a grocery store.

There've been a lot of changes to the plan since then. The only constant is that the buildings on the site and the Clarendon Park Fieldhouse have continued to deteriorate while various iterations of the development plan have come and gone.

This long saga may finally come to an end as early as Wednesday.

Update:  DNAinfo did a story on today's vote.