Wintrust Bank To Take Over JJ Pepper Storefront

Weiss Plaza at Lawrence and Sheridan, now rebranded as "Uptown Retail," is getting a new tenant in the space where JJ Pepper was for so many years. According to sales materials, Wintrust Bank is taking over the spot.

That leaves two spaces available for rent: the largest storefront (8271sf) where Family Dollar was once upon a time, and a smaller space (920sf) in the middle of the plaza.  If you know any businesses that might be interested, the broker is Todd J. Cabanban, todd@crmcr.com, 312-477-0342.

It's good news for Wintrust customers: the two closest branches are in North Center and Lincoln Square.

Bargain Hunters, Rejoice!

After an extensive renovation, the Salvation Army thrift store will be reopening Friday at 4315 North Broadway.

First Midwest Moves In

First Midwest Bank didn't waste any time changing its signage and painting its signature purple colors on the banking portions of the Bridgeview Bank Building, 4753 North Broadway.

First Midwest bought Bridgeview Bank and its holdings for $145 million, completing the transaction last week.

Prior to the First Midwest sale, Bridgeview Bank sold its building in April to Cedar Street/FLATS, which has not publicly announced its plans for the building, which at one point was rumored to be converting into a hotel.

Stay tuned!

Walking Tours of Buena Park's History

Memorial Day Field Mass At St. Boniface Cemetery On Monday Morning

As is its annual tradition, St. Boniface Cemetery will honor the fallen at a field mass on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th.

The service will begin at 10:30am. Active military and veterans will also be asked to come forward for a special blessing followed by the playing of Taps. The officiant will be the Most Rev. Raymond E. Goedert, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Chicago.

Although it is a Catholic Mass, all are invited to attend.

St Boniface is located at 4901 N Clark. If you attend, you may want to check out the Civil War Memorial (pictured right) that honors German immigrants "who took part in the defense of the new fatherland." St. Boniface opened in 1863 and was Chicago's first German Catholic cemetery.

Ald. Matt Martin Introduces Himself With His First Newsletter

A first newsletter from 47th Ward alderman Matt Martin:

"Dear neighbors,

On Monday morning, I was sworn in as 47th Ward Alderman alongside Mayor Lightfoot, Clerk Valencia, Treasurer Conyears-Ervin, and the rest of City Council. The remainder of this week has been a whirlwind in myriad ways, but it has also been manageable thanks to Alderman Pawar. He and his staff were beyond helpful during our transition, and I will be forever thankful for their patience and generosity. Our ward is in strong shape due in large part to their service over the past eight years.

Now, it's time for my staff and me to get to work for you! This week, a couple of my highlights include riding along with our streets and sanitation superintendent, Erick Norton, and participating in the Next Generation City Council, where high school students from across our city drafted resolutions and held a mock council meeting. In addition, our office held an open house on Monday evening and our first Ward Night on Thursday. I can’t wait for week 2 to begin!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve this dynamic community. I’m excited about what we can accomplish together over the next four years with a bold vision and a commitment to our shared values.

Onward!

Ward Office Updates

Ward service office: We will remain at former Ald. Pawar's office at 4243 N. Lincoln Ave.We are open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, with extended hours to 7pm on Wednesday evenings.

Memorial Day: The ward service office will be CLOSED on Monday, May 27.

Contact us: The ward office number is the same at 773-868-4747. You can email us at info@aldermanmartin.com. Our website will be up shortly.

Join a community council! We're looking for residents to lend their time and talents for several councils, including Green, Senior, Youth, Zoning, Transportation and more. Sign up here.

Meet the 47th Ward staff

• Laura Reimers, chief of staff
• Josh Mark, director of zoning & infrastructure
• Michael Sewall, director of constituent services & community outreach
• Andi Aguilar, constituent services advocate
• Bindu Poorori, arts and culture advocate
• Erick Norton, streets and sanitation superintendent"

If you'd like to receive Ald. Martin's newsletter, you can sign up here. You will not be signed up automatically if you received Ald. Pawar's weekly newsletter.

His Facebook page is here.

Man Charged With Felony Home Invasion, Shot By Homeowner (Updated 2x)

Shortly after midnight on Friday, a man was shot by the homeowner as he allegedly entered a home on the 800 block of West Lakeside through a rear sliding glass door.

According to a statement by CPD, Christopher L. Johnson, age 41, of the 1400 block of West Arthur in Rogers Park, has been charged with one felony count of Home Invasion/Dangerous Weapon. He will appear in bond court at 26th & California Saturday.

The homeowner had a valid FOID card and has not been charged.

Mr. Johnson, according to reports, sustained a gunshot wound in his rear end, and was taken to Illinois Masonic for treatment.

No mug shot was made available by the police.

Updates: Mr. Johnson is being held in the hospital, and has a court date later this month.

An alert reader let us know that he was arrested on May 10th of this year for another burglary in Uptown, committed at 2am.

Update: CWB has more on Mr. Johnson's criminal record.

Bike The Drive Is Sunday Morning

Reader Bill Andres sent this to us back in 2008

Sunday morning is the one time a year that motor vehicles are nowhere in sight, and it's all pedal power on Lake Shore Drive, for the 18th annual "Bike The Drive."

The ride begins at 5:30am, with riders encouraged to join in by 7am at the latest. The route is bookended by Hollywood Avenue to the north and the Museum of Science and Industry at 57th Street to the south, with riders choosing to do as little or as much of the route as they want.

The Drive will be closed to motor vehicles beginning around 4:30am and will completely reopen between 10:30am and 11am.

If you want to participate, registration (benefiting the Active Transportation Alliance) is still open. To register, and for more information, check out the Bike The Drive website.

Join Your Neighbors & 19th District Cops To Kick Off The Holiday Weekend

Ald. Cappleman To Serve As Vice-Chair Of Health & Human Services Committee

Ald. Cappleman will be switching from the city's Zoning Committee Chair to something that will likely have a great impact on Uptown: the vice-chair of Health & Human Services.  
Ald. Tom Tunney will take over as Zoning Committee Chair. Both aldermen have a good working relationship and Alderman Tunney backed Alderman Cappleman in the recent election.  We expect both Aldermen to continue to work together to develop Uptown's unused and underused spaces.

From Ald. Cappleman's latest email:
"Mayor Lori Lightfoot has asked Ald. Cappleman to serve as the vice-chair of the City's Health & Human Services Committee. As a former social worker who worked for more than two decades in the not-for-profit sector, Ald. Cappleman looks forward to working with the committee chair, Ald. Rod Sawyer, to advocate for Chicago's residents."

It's Day One (Again)

Congratulations to Mayor Lightfoot on the beginning of her term as 56th Mayor of Chicago, to aldermen Cappleman and Osterman on their reelection to third terms, and to new 47th Ward alderman Matt Martin on his first day as an elected official.

This is what Uptown Update posted on the inauguration day of three freshly-minted aldermen eight years ago. A lot has changed, and Alds. Pawar, Osterman, and Cappleman have all put their stamps on Uptown. (And the "diaper" on top of the Riv is long gone! We look forward to being able to say the same about the Uptown Theatre long before Inauguration 2023.)

Our sentiments remain the same: Let's build an even better Uptown, and all work together to that end.

---

From May 16, 2011:

"An Open Letter To Alds. Cappleman, Pawar and Osterman

Gentlemen:

Your terms started five whole minutes ago and there are still potholes!  Gang graffiti!  Are our schools better yet?  Wow, I bet we'll even hear shots fired before June rolls around.  You guys said you would make things better!  What's holding you up?  Better do it quick or we'll vote you out!

Okay, we jest.  But, newly minted Aldermen, you're going to be hearing a lot of that.  You promised changes and you've made great plans for your respective wards.  People are eager to see what you can do.  So here's what we, as Uptowners, would like to say to you:

• We'll try to be patient.  But it won't be easy.  It feels like we've been waiting for this moment for years, as you and about 20 others vied for our votes in the last campaign.  You three came out on top : via a landslide, a Cinderella squeaker, and an emotionally heated run-off.  We know, intellectually, that nothing can change overnight.  But we're so eager to see what you can do that we may come across as a bit demanding and zealous.  Sorry if we give you a short honeymoon period.
• Please figure out why the gangs are concentrated here... and fix it.  Five or ten years ago, on the rare occasions when we heard gunshots, people talked about it all summer.  Now it's the OK Corral at least a couple times a week.  We're sad that we're getting used to it.  When elderly neighbors who've lived in Uptown their entire lives tell us, "I dread summer coming," it's a terrible thing.  Make crime your issue.
• Convince us that Uptown can change.  We've seen Lakeview go from seedy to thriving; we've seen Southport go from scary to inviting; we've seen the Clybourn Corridor go from empty factory buildings to teeming with retail.  But we've heard too many times, from too many people:  "Uptown will never change."  Convince us that it can.
• But don't lose the flavor that makes us, us.  We don't want to see the pancake house turn into a gastropub, nor the Chinese restaurant become a Chico's.  (But if a gastropub or a Chico's wants to come here, we've got plenty of empty storefronts where they can set up shop.)  We moved to or stayed in Uptown for a reason, and we don't want to see our neighborhood lose what's good and unique.
• Cmdr. Boehmer says that it's just a few people who are creating most of Uptown's crime problems.  We'll support you in whatever you can do to get those individuals out of here.  We'll go to court with the court advocates, we'll attend CAPS, we'll call 911 even more than we are now.  Tell us how we can help you.  Specifically and clearly.
• Perhaps related to the above item:  Please make the public housing safer.  We know the people who live there are terrorized by the bad guys, perhaps more than anyone else.  When a community has to hire armed guards and put up surveillance cameras in housing that was built to give people a safe and affordable place to live, there's a problem.
• Please do something about the Uptown Theater.  We'd love to see it restored.  We want more than a quick peek into the front lobby when the caretaker steps out for a smoke.  The 4700 block of Broadway is a showplace for grand buildings that have been lovingly restored, rebuilt and/or rehabbed:  the Bridgeview Bank building, the Uptown Broadway Building, the entire block where Borders was, and the building where Bank of America is.  Restoring the Uptown Theatre as the crown jewel would complete the picture and make Uptown a destination spot for all of Chicago.  (And while you're at it, can you get the diaper taken off the top of the Riviera Theater?)
• But don't build for the sake of building.  Instituting a half-baked plan for development is worse than keeping a space empty until a good plan comes along.  We'd rather live with the status quo and the possibility of something great happening in a few years than live with bad development, just for the sake of getting something done.
• Listen to the people you represent.  We hired you because we liked your ideas for the ward.  But we've got some opinions and ideas, too.  You'll never make everyone happy, but let us know that you at least hear and understand what we want for our community.
• Oh, gawd, the el.  We don't even need to elaborate what all needs to be done, but let us just say that a community with as many elderly and disabled residents as Uptown has needs to have accessible el stations.  It's criminal that the people who need the subways most can't access them in Uptown.

Good luck, Aldermen.  We want you to succeed and we'll do what we can to help you.  We want a better and safer Uptown.  Help us get there.

Consider this a virtual hearty slap on the back, and a firm handshake of congratulations.  Now, let's get to work."

Someone's Breaking Car Windows, and The Cops Have Issued An Alert

Photo courtesy carcomplaints.com

In several communities north of Lawrence Avenue, including Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park, Lincoln Square, and West Ridge, someone is throwing bricks or rocks through the back windows of vehicles. We're gonna take a wild guess that it's for the purpose of burglarizing them.

A few words:

• Don't make your vehicle a target. Don't leave anything -- anything -- in plain sight in your vehicle. We've heard of windows being broken for car chargers and bottles of soda.
• If you know anything, please call the detectives. The number is 312-744-8263.
• If see see something suspicious, call 911. "Call 911 immediately and provide a detailed description of the offender(s) including any vehicle description and license plate information."

According to a statement released by the police, it is likely one or two persons creating all this mayhem, described as a male or males wearing a long hooded jacket, dark pants, and light colored gym shoes.

The incidents times and locations are (Uptown locations highlighted):

• 1200 block of W. Arthur Ave. on May 01, 2019 at approximately 3:00 PM
• 7500 block of N. Ridge Blvd. on May 03-04, 2019 between 9:00 PM - 6:00 AM
• 4900 block of N. Marine Dr. on May 07-08, 2019 between 5:30 PM - 6:45 AM
• 7400 block of N. Sheridan Rd. on May 09-10, 2019 between 9:45 PM - 12:00 AM
• 1900 block of W. Lawrence Ave. on May 11-12, 2019 between 9:50 PM- 9:45 AM
• 1100 block of W. Columbia Ave. on May 12-13, 2019 between 2:00 PM- 7:30 AM
• 900 block of W. Carmen Ave. on May 14-15, 2019 between 6:00 PM – 7:50 AM
• 7100 block of N. Paulina St. on May 15-16, 2019 between 10:00 PM – 8:00 AM
• 2800 block of W. Chase Ave. on May 18, 2019 between 3:19 AM – 4:00 AM
• 2900 block of W. Sherwin Ave. on May 18, 2019 between 3:00 AM – 4:00 AM
• 7500 block of N. Rockwell St. on May 18, 2019 between 12:55 PM – 1:20 PM
• 2800 block of W. Touhy Ave. on May 18, 2019 between 3:00 AM – 4:00 AM
• 1000 block of W. Balmoral Ave. on 17-18, 2019 between 3:30 PM – 12:25 PM
• 2900 block of W. Jerome St. on May 18, 2019 at approximately 6:30 PM

Vintage Garage's 2019 Season Will Be In Evanston, Starting Sunday, May 19th

Go north, sellers and buyers of vintage goods!

Vintage Garage, which spent many summer seasons at 5051 Broadway, has gone suburban due to construction at the its long-time home base.

You can visit it at 1800 Maple in Evanston, between 10am and 5pm. The selling floor is the fifth floor of the garage, with free parking on Floors 1 through 4. Or, take the Purple Line to the Davis stop!

Admission is $6 (kids free) and the Garage will take place on three Sundays: May 19, July 21 and September 21st.

We hear that there's a full house on board for Sunday, so if you love vintage records, clothing, furniture, jewelry, tchotchkes, and more, you know where to find it.

Safe from wind and rain and weather conditions in general. ;-)

See the website here.

Farewell From Ald. Pawar

Ald. Pawar, who made a 2011 campaign promise that he would not seek a third term in office as 47th Ward alderman, released his final newsletter today, on his last day in office:

"This is it! This is my final newsletter as your alderman. I remember writing my first one 8 years ago and now here we are.

On Monday, Matt Martin will be our alderman – and he is going to be great. My office has provided everything he needs to get going on Monday.

As I was cleaning out my office, I found the first speech I gave as alderman. On inauguration night in 2011, I said this in front of our community and my supporters: “This will probably be the last time I get to own my story – everyone has told the version that is easiest to tell. But you deserve to hear the whole story; it is a story about personal sacrifice, shoe leather, friendship, and you.” Looking back, I was right about my story but what struck me was the part of the speech where I talked about quitting the campaign. Here it is:

“I was a full-time graduate student and working and campaigning full-time. I had a book contract to fulfill. And fifteen months into the campaign, I was working 15-18 hours a day and the campaign was running on my credit card. I was tired and felt defeated. So I quit. I was done with it. I walked away.

But being the good friends that Charna and Sam are, they got me to knock on doors one last time. It was cold and I was tired. And that is when I realized that money and resources from progressives and donors would likely not come. But, it was during that night of door knocking that there was some clarity. 

There is nothing more pure about our political process than talking to you. It didn't matter that I had no money or that I was a renter or young or whatever trope was being used against me. What mattered was that we were all concerned about schools, services, and our city. I was back--and all-in.

It was after the debate at Coonley Elementary that we got the Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune endorsement. The rest is history.

But I never thought I would give a speech and admit that I quit. The reason I am telling you this story is because I want everyone to know how important it was to me when I got your support. And how hard it was for me when we felt alone. And most important of all, the next time someone comes to you for support, whether it be for a recommendation, a box of girl scout cookies, a lead on an internship, or even someone who is running for office, that you believe them like you believe in a 10 year old who wants to be an astronaut. 

We never tell a child to stop believing – we encourage idealism; yet as adults we often don’t support people who swing big. Public service and public engagement and real change is about supporting families, communities, and individuals who think big, who are willing to put themselves out there, and need your help. It’s not about giving big – it’s about giving something – just what you can—sometimes a signature on a petition, a $5 check, or just showing up in the cold. This is how we should be supporting one another and how we get to real change."

You allowed me to go big. To pass legislation. To organize around neighborhood high schools. To challenge the narrative that poor people are poor because they make bad decisions. To run for governor and challenge wealth worship. We accomplished a lot. I made some mistakes along the way, but you stuck with me and we stuck together.

Now let’s do the same for Matt and Lori.

One last time: thank you to Jim, Brad, Erick, Ernie, Dara, Danny, Bill, and all of our amazing volunteers. Thank you to Charna – my partner and the love of my life – for making all of this possible.

Thank you and see you around the neighborhood.

Pawar out."

CEDARst Plans Development Near Lawrence & Winthrop (New Meeting Date)

Cedar Street's proposal for 4750 N. Winthrop

Update: Please note that the meeting has been postponed for a week. The new meeting date is Thursday, May 30th.

Original Post:  CEDARst plans to build a 4 story development on a parking lot it purchased back in 2015. 

Truman Square Neighbors Block Club will meet with the developer to discuss plans for the development that would fill a parking lot that was formerly a residential building decades ago on Winthrop just south of Lawrence. A total of 84 residential units, with a mix of one bedrooms as well as studios are planned with 37 parking spaces on site.

The current parking lot at 4750 N. Winthrop

View the entire proposal here on Alderman Cappleman's Zoning & Development page.

UU Note: The apartment building that once stood at 4750 Winthrop (1910s postcard)

Park Bait Shop: 61 Years, Three Generations, and Still Going Strong

Back in the 1930s, bait shops lined the Chicago lakefront, supplying people who fished to feed their families during the Great Depression. There's been a shop at the intersection of Montrose Avenue and Montrose Harbor Drive since at least that time.

Willie Greene used to be a supplier for the shop that was there then. In 1958, he bought the place and named it "Park Bait Shop." 61 years later, his daughter Stacey Greene owns it and runs the place, assisted by her son.

Meet the second and third generations of the family who make their living at one of the oldest bait shops in Chicago, right here in Uptown, thanks to Jay's Chicago on WTTW.

Six Sundays In Uptown: A Course On Jewish Prayer and Spiritual Experience

From Chabad of Uptown:

With All My Heart: The Jewish Art of Prayer and Spiritual Experience
6 Sunday mornings in Uptown

Whether you’re seeking relief from stress; you’re hoping for focus, clarity, and connection to a raw and vulnerable place deep within you; or you just want to start each day from a positive, humble, and grateful frame of mind, this course is for you.

Jewish wisdom teaches profound techniques to give wings to our emotions and words to our yearnings, allowing us to make contact and communicate with something larger than ourselves and feel comfort and shelter within a reality that’s more whole, more intense, more real, and more beautiful.

Join us for the remarkable course on six Sunday mornings, starting May 12th 11:00am - 12:30pm, RSVP today at https://www.myjli.com/index.html?task=student&cid=35587

The Facebook Event Page is here. 

Montrose Beach Clean-Up This Saturday, Volunteers Welcome

The Alliance for the Great Lakes will be holding a clean-up of Montrose Dog Beach as part of its Adopt-A-Beach program on Saturday, May 11th, between 9am and 11am, in conjunction with event sponsor Alitzer Paloucek Group with CrossCountry Mortgage, Inc. Meet-up is at the restrooms.

Everyone is invited to join in. All cleanup materials will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own gloves, bucket and reusable cup. Supplies, light snacks, refreshments and tunes provided by the Altizer Palouceck Group.

If you're not sure where the dog beach is, here's a map.

Community Coffee and Polynesian Dance At Bezazian This Saturday

From Mark Kaplan, branch manager at the Bezazian Branch Library, at Magnolia and Ainslie:

"Saturday is just around the corner and we have two superb programs at Bezazian:

At 10am come meet our social worker Justine Janis and chat with neighbors at our first Community Coffee--coffee and treats will be served.

At 11am we will have a Polynesian dance performance by local troupe Isla Pacifika in recognition of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month."

Here are more details:

10am-11am: "Join us for our first Community Coffee, a casual event where you can meet neighbors you know or someone you don’t for the first time. This event features Bezazian and Uptown Branch social worker Justine Janis who will tell you what she does and what she can do for those who seek her assistance. Coffee and snacks will be served. Followed immediately by a spectacular Polynesian dance performance."

11am-noon: "In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we welcome Polynesian dance troupe Isla Pacifika, a Chicago-based group whose mission is sharing the art and heritage of Polynesia. They will perform dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Guam and Samoa."

The Bezazian Branch Library is located at 1226 West Ainslie, immediately west of National Car Wash.

14-Year-Old Boy Charged With Attempted First-Degree Murder In Argyle Platform Shootings (Update: Released By Judge With No Supervision!)

NOTE: Because the accused is a minor, he has rights that adults accused of crimes do not. He cannot be mentioned by name. We do not have the right to print his criminal record, or officially know anything about him except that he is a minor. Tread carefully in the comments.

Update: Unbelievably, on Friday Judge Linda Pauel at juvenile court released the suspect with no supervision, no electronic monitoring, nothing. As far as we know, charges are still pending, but the boy will not be held in custody or monitored in any way until his next hearing.

The cops did exemplary work in finding him and charging him. The judicial system... wow. Mind blown. Unbelievable.

From CBS Chicago:

"After a court appearance Friday the 14-year-old boy, charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery, was released by a judge with no supervision.

A judge made that decision over the objections of prosecutors.

“At today’s detention hearing, we requested the minor be held in custody,” the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “The court made the finding that under the law the minor must be released because he was held in custody for 42 hours …  and not brought before a judicial officer within 24 hours.”

The state’s attorney asked for electronic monitoring for the suspect, but it was denied."

According to the Sun-Times, the suspect's next court day is on Monday, May 13th.

Update: According to CBS Chicago, the State's Attorney's Office is blaming the police for procedural errors that resulting in him being released. The police are disputing the State's Attorney's version of what happened and saying that they got the alleged shooter before a judge in plenty of time. The judge will not discuss the case due to the boy's juvenile status.

Original Story, printed 5/9/19, 11:32pm:

Fourteen years old.

Fourteen years old.

That's the age of the suspect is who is charged with attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of two men on the Argyle Red Line station platform on Monday.

He is charged with One Felony Count of Attempted First Degree Murder and One Felony Count of Aggravated Battery/Discharge of a Firearm.

According to a release from the CPD:

"A 14-year-old male juvenile was placed in custody on May 8, 2019 at approximately 5:00 p.m. on the 3100 block of W. Monroe St. The juvenile offender was identified as the individual who fired several shots, striking a 44-year-old male and a 34-year-old male on the CTA Red Line platform on May 6, 2019 at 4:01 p.m. in the 1000 block of W. Argyle.

The juvenile offender was arrested and charged accordingly. No further information is available at this time."

He will face a judge on Friday, May 10th, in Juvenile Court at 1100 S. Hamilton.

Broadway Streetscape Comes (Nearly) Full Circle

We've got color! Work on the sculpture at the Racine/Broadway Plaza is nearly complete, as color was added to the color wheel this week. The sculpture is based on a design by Uptown artist Lowell Thompson.

After a year and a half of work that has included resurfacing the streets, improving the lighting, adding new curbs, adding safer pedestrian walkways, adding new trees and planters, and the addition of the plaza, the streetscaping project is nearly complete.

Here's to a new and improved Entertainment District, right in the heart of vintage Uptown.

"Share" Your Haircut With A Domestic Violence Survivor On May 21st, 22nd

Extra Police Patrols in 19th District Saturday Night, As DUI Strike Force Will Be Out

Everyone knows not to drink and drive, but Saturday night will be an especially bad time for it, because the CPD's DUI Strike Force will be out in the 19th District.

The special patrols will begin at 7pm on Saturday and continue until 3am Sunday. The press release mentions that "The purpose of this program is to saturate a pre-designated area with roving police officers that continually monitor vehicular traffic for signs of impaired driving. Patrols also place emphasis on speed, alcohol-related and safety belt violations."

In a similar saturation in the 18th District (lakefront south of Fullerton) last weekend, 107 violations were written for everything from DUI to unsafe vehicle violations to insurance violations.

The 19th District includes all of Uptown south of Lawrence. Its boundaries are Lawrence, Fullerton, the lake and the river.

Pro tip: Lyft, Uber and taxis are a lot cheaper than fighting a DUI charge.

Ald. Pawar To Hold Final 47th Ward Town Hall

From Ald. Pawar, who will be leaving office next week, per an election promise to only serve two terms as alderman of the 47th Ward:

"Dear Neighbor,

We’re coming down to the wire as our last day in office will be Friday, May 17. Come JOIN US at our final TOWN HALL on Tuesday evening to discuss all the work we've done together."

Two Big 46th Ward Preservation Wins Praised By "Preservation Chicago"

Preservation Chicago, an advocacy group fighting to save Chicago's irreplaceable architecture, just put out its April 2019 newsletter featuring two 46th Ward preservation "wins" namely the Clarendon Park Field House and the "Eagles Building" at Broadway and West Sheridan:

Clarendon Park Field House (Chicago History Museum)

After many years of preservation advocacy efforts for the Clarendon Park Fieldhouse and Community Center, the final decision for the renovation and restoration of this historic building was made by the Chicago Park District with support from 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman. Since the beginning of this process, the more likely outcome had been the demolition of the historic building and the construction of a much smaller field house.
The Clarendon Park Fieldhouse and Community Center plays a central role in providing many programs and services for the Uptown community and its youth, including after school programs, summer camps, basketball programs, and is home to Kuumba Lynx and the Garfield Clarendon Model Railroad Club. It serves as an invaluable safe haven for teenagers and young adults. It is essential that the building remains open for the community during a multi-phased renovation and reconstruction. The demolition of this building would have endangered or ended many of community services and programs that have been based in the Clarendon Park Fieldhouse and Community Center.

The Clarendon Park Community Center, originally called the Clarendon Municipal Bathing Beach, was built in 1916 as a state-of-the-art facility. Clarendon Municipal Bathing Beach was once one of “the largest and best equipped of all of the beaches in the city” and was considered one of the most popular civic achievements of its time. It could accommodate over 9,000 swimmers and included a promenade for thousands of spectators. The building remained popular until the 1930s when landfill moved the shoreline further east and created Clarendon Park. It was further separated from the Lake Michigan shoreline by extensions of Lake Shore Drive in the early 1950s.

The building was designed by city architect C.W. Kallal in a Mediterranean Revival Style. This “Italian Resort Style” became the model for such other highly regarded lakefront landmark buildings including Marshall and Fox’s South Shore Country Club of 1916 (now South Shore Cultural Center), the 63rd Street Bathing Pavilion in 1919, the Edgewater Beach Hotel in 1916 and 1924 and demolished in 1967, and the Edgewater Beach Apartments in 1928. This style was defined by tall towers capped with hipped-roofs clad in clay tiles, large entry colonnades, porticos, loggias and open-air promenades.

Overtime but especially during a 1972 “modernization” effort, the distinctive tall towers fronting Clarendon Avenue and the smaller towers fronting the beach, along with the entry colonnade, verandas, open-air loggias and tile roof were demolished and replaced with a massive flat roof. The unsightly metal fascia greatly impacted both the aesthetics and functionality of the original historic structure. The significant modifications to the building resulted in extensive water infiltration and roof issues, which have proved an ongoing challenge.

Preservation Chicago hopes to see this important building’s exterior restored to an appearance more similar to its original design in a multi-year, multi-phased project. The distinctive tall towers fronting Clarendon Avenue and the smaller towers fronting the beach, along with the entry colonnade and the verandas and open-air rooftop loggias were beautiful and distinctive architecture elements that should never have been removed. Reconstruction of some of these features could elevate the Clarendon Park Community Center to its rightful place alongside the 63rd Street Bathing Pavilion and other important landmark lakefront buildings from this period.

Preservation Chicago applauds Ald. James Cappleman for his commitment to seeing the Clarendon Park Community Center protected from demolition and for helping to solidify the necessary renovation funds. Preservation Chicago applauds the Chicago Park District for its flexibility, support and commitment to this important project. The Clarendon Park neighbors and community stakeholders played an essential role in this effort and deserve special recognition for their unwavering support for this wonderful outcome with a special thanks to Katharine Boyda, Melanie Eckner, Martin Tangora, Cindi Anderson, Stuart Berman, the Uptown Historical Society, the Clarendon Park Advisory Council, Uptown United and Uptown Chicago Commission.

“Eagles Building” at Broadway and Sheridan, Reinstallation During Construction, Isaac G. Ettleson Building, by architect Harry Hale Waterman, built 1911, 3845-3835 N. Broadway. Photo Credit: Ward Miller, Preservation Chicago

The distinctive terra cotta eagles that so clearly distinguished the orange-rated “Eagles Building” at Broadway and Sheridan have returned! The original building was demolished, but as part of the redevelopment agreement for the site the decorative terra cotta was carefully removed and has been re-installed as part of the new mixed-use development.

With its series of repeating terra cotta eagles, Preservation Chicago had initially opposed the demolition of the two-story Isaac G. Ettleson building at 3835-3845 N. Broadway from 1911 by architect Harry Hale Waterman. However, when it became clear that the demolition would proceed, efforts shifted towards reuse of the historic terra cotta onto the new building façade. A new structural system and structure would be built and the original historic terra cotta cladding reused.

Preservation Chicago applauds the developer David Gassman for embracing the responsibility of carefully handling the unique terra cotta ornament and following through on his commitment to salvage, reuse and reinstall it. The developer hired architecture salvage expert firm Central Building & Restoration to do the work, with supervision from restoration architect Paul Clausen. Most of the eagle terra cotta ornament and other decorative terra cotta ornament were successfully salvaged and reapplied to the new structure.

After the Medic Building debacle (Chicago 7 2013) where Novak Construction did not follow through on the verbal agreement with Preservation Chicago and the Alderman’s office to reuse façade components of the original Art Deco building in their new Whole Foods development at Ashland and Belmont, Preservation Chicago worked closely with 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman’s office, the City of Chicago Landmarks staff and developer David Gassman to formalize the reuse plan in a written agreement. Preservation Chicago remained in close contact with the development team throughout the deconstruction and reconstruction process to offer support, guidance and to ensure a good outcome.

Marianne Lalonde Withdraws Election Challenge Against James Cappleman

Photo from www.facebook.com/
marianneforuptown/

Two and a half months after the February 26th municipal election, and fewer than two weeks before city officials will be sworn in for their upcoming four-year terms, there are no more challengers for the 46th Ward aldermanic seat.

On Tuesday, Marianne Lalonde, who came up just 25 votes short in the April 2nd runoff election against incumbent alderman James Cappleman, announced that she is withdrawing her legal challenge of the election results.

In a statement on her campaign's Facebook page, she did not formally concede and did not offer congratulations to Ald. Cappleman. Instead, she discussed what she describes as troubling aspects of the Board of Elections' vote-counting methodology for the 46th Ward, a process she closely observed during the past few weeks.

After the election results were certified by the Board of Elections on April 18th, Lalonde requested a discovery recount of 25% of the precincts in the ward. Essentially, that means looking at votes cast in ten precincts chosen by her and her attorney(s) to see if a basis for a legal challenge exists.

Her conclusion: "Our assessment is that the law currently allows no further viable remedy, so I have withdrawn my complaint."

With the withdrawal of her legal action, we hope the healing of differences in the 46th Ward can begin. In her post, she says, "Now more than ever, we need to build bridges between different groups within our community." We agree wholeheartedly.

In a similarly conciliatory tone, Ald. Cappleman tweeted on Tuesday, "Now that the 46th Ward election is settled, I look forward to 4 more years of advocating for all residents and working together as a community."

There's still one race that's still being contested: in the 5th Ward, challenger Will Calloway has not conceded to incumbent Leslie Hairston, despite trailing her by 176 votes.

Photos Released In Connection With Argyle Shooting

Do you recognize either of these men? If so, the police would like to hear from you.

They are wanted in connection with the double shooting on the Argyle Red Line platform on Monday. Police released the photos early Wednesday morning.

Per the statement, they are being sought for questioning in connection with aggravated battery with a firearm:

"One of the offenders is described as a male African American, wearing a black Adidas jacket with white stripes on sleeves, dark ripped jeans, and green shoes.

The second subject is described as a male African American, short dreads, wearing a light colored Hilfiger hooded jacket, blue pants with white stripes on the side, white and black gym shoes.

If you have any information about this incident, please call the Bureau of Detectives – Area North at (312) 744-8261.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to CPDTIP.com."

The incident number to reference is RD# JC-252297.

Public Safety Meeting Called For Wednesday, May 15th

The increasing level of gun violence has been a huge concern since the weather got warmer, as Uptown has experienced multiple instances of gunfire on our streets, with at least six shooting victims.

After the double shooting on Argyle on Monday (the third incident in which people were shot on and nearby Argyle since mid-March), a joint public meeting was announced Tuesday by the 46th and 48th Ward aldermen and the 19th and 20th District police commanders.

Ald. Osterman (48th Ward) wrote:

"Yesterday afternoon there was a brazen shooting on the Argyle CTA platform at 4pm. Two individuals were wounded in this incident. Chicago Police believe this was a targeted gang related shooting. Both individuals who were shot are very well known to the Chicago Police Department and have criminal pasts. Police are reviewing video footage and actively investigating this shooting. I will provide an update on this incident later this week. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Area North Detectives at 312-744-8263.

This is the third shooting in the Argyle area in recent weeks. In the previous two incidents, arrests have been made. Police are investigating whether yesterday's incident is related to the two previous shootings.

As someone who cares deeply about the safety of everyone in our community, I find these incidents which put our residents in harm's way extremely frustrating. I'm working closely with 20th District Commander Sean Loughran to address violence in and around the Argyle Area. The Chicago Police Department will be sending the 20th District additional resources for the Argyle area, which will include additional bike patrols and a second foot patrolman on each shift.

I am hosting a meeting with Alderman James Cappleman, Commander Sean Loughran of the 20th Police District, and the new Commander at the 19th District, Chris Pappaioannou, on Wednesday, May 15, 6:30pm, at Furama, 4936 N. Broadway. Please attend this meeting for more information on recent gun violence in Uptown as well as ways to get involved in our offices' summer safety initiatives.

If you have any questions, please contact Alan Oviedo in my office at alan@48thward.org or 773-784-5277."

Ald. Cappleman (48th Ward) wrote:

"There have been a number of troubling incidents involving gunfire in the Uptown area over the past few weeks. Although we have all worked together over the past eight years to reduce the number of these incidents, I am very concerned about the sudden uptick in gun violence, which has been reported from Montrose north to Foster.

All of the shootings have been targeted and gang-related. Because the violence stretches across police districts and ward boundaries, I will host a public meeting with 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, our new 19th District Police Commander Chris Papaioannou, and 20th District Police Commander Sean Loughran. The meeting will be a chance to hear more about the recent crimes, learn what the police are doing and share ideas about what we can do together to make our neighborhood safer.

     WHEN:  Wednesday, May 15, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
     WHERE:  Furama Restaurant, 4936 N. Broadway

I hope to see you there."

Two Men Shot On Platform Of Argyle Red Line Station Monday

Monday afternoon, two men were shot while they were standing on the platform of the Argyle Red Line station. Readers report hearing 10-15 shots fired at approximately 4:10pm.

Police say the shooting victims were specifically targeted, and no one else was hurt. One victim, age 34, is in critical condition after being hit by four bullets. He was taken to St Francis in Evanston, the nearest hospital with a trauma unit.

The other victim, age 41, received a graze wound and refused treatment at the scene.

The shooters are being sought. They escaped by foot, running east on Argyle. As a result, the police helicopter circled over the Argyle area for approximately 45 minutes, and police and EMTs responded en masse.

According to CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi, "The area is heavily saturated in HD crime cameras and detectives are reviewing digital evidence.  Anyone with info send anonymously to http://www.cpdtip.com."

Later, he tweeted, "Area North Detectives have good leads from the community as well as physical and digital evidence from the scene. As far as the two victims, they are both well known to CPD. We believe they were the intended targets of the shooting.  Investigation continues."

Trains approaching the Argyle station were immediately stopped, and the Fire Department came to the scene to help passengers disembark. For three or four hours after the shootings, Red Line trains in both directions bypassed the station while police gathered evidence.

These are the fourth and fifth victims of gun violence on Argyle since mid-March. For more details, see here and here. According to Ald. Osterman, arrests have been made in both of the previous instances.

Argyle lies in two different CAPS beats: west of Winthrop is Beat 2033, and east of Winthrop is in Beat 2024. Beat 2033 next meets Wednesday, June 5th, at 7pm at the Bezazian Library, 1226 West Ainslie. Beat 2024 next meets Thursday, June 20th, at 7pm at the Margate Park Fieldhouse, 4921 North Marine Drive.

A complete list of all 2019 CAPS meetings in Uptown, in both the 19th and 20th Districts, is here. It is also always linked in the sidebar on the blog.

We will update as more information becomes available.

Ald. Cappleman Trib Editorial: 46th Ward Kids Need New Gym

Ald. Cappleman penned the following in Chicago Tribune "Letters Voice of the People"

"Every public school has hurdles to overcome, but McCutcheon Elementary in the 46th Ward faces a long list of challenges. More than a quarter of its students experience homelessness. One-third have cognitive disabilities, including autism. And 3 out of 4 students live in poverty.

McCutcheon does an admirable job educating the most vulnerable students in our community. But now, the school finds itself with a new challenge: its affluent neighbors.

McCutcheon is one of only five schools in Chicago’s 500-school district without its own gymnasium. Because of strong advocacy by me and McCutcheon’s former principal Gwyneth Kram, the school is finally getting a new gym as part of Chicago Public Schools’ billion-dollar capital investment in schools.

A new gym will be a godsend for McCutcheon, which has been leasing a gym at the neighboring Boys & Girls Club. The new elevator planned for the gym (linked to the main school) will mean teachers can easily bring kids in wheelchairs upstairs in the school, instead of physically carrying them, as they currently do. And the school will no longer have to spend valuable instructional time bundling up its students — many with cognitive disabilities — to bring them down the block for physical education class.

Some neighbors have filed a lawsuit to try to stop construction of the new gym.

A neighboring block club says the McCutcheon gym will have a negative impact on the neighborhood’s image (their words, not mine). These neighbors proposed that the entire school — not just the gym — should be relocated to another site.

The neighbors also argue that the gym will impede pedestrian access to Sheridan Road from some directions. CPS and my office have been very receptive to working with architects and neighbors to ensure that safe pedestrian access to Sheridan Road is preserved.

McCutcheon recently won a five-year community-schools grant that will allow students and community members to participate in productive programming in the neighborhood, where gang activity can be a concern. A new gym will provide a safe gathering space after school and on weekends — which is especially important since the neighboring Boys & Girls Club is not open on weekends.

Having a dedicated gym is a matter of equity for McCutcheon’s deserving students, 85 percent of whom are children of color. It’s time for neighbors to support this amazing school serving some of the highest-need students in our community."

— Ald. James Cappleman, 46th

Go Fly A Kite At Montrose Harbor On Saturday

Enjoy a sunny, rain-free day on Saturday with your little ones at the Annual Kids & Kites Festival on Saturday, between 10am and 4pm at Cricket Hill (just inside the park at Montrose).  According to the city website:

A favorite family event and a harbinger of springtime in Chicago, the 21st Annual Chicago Kids and Kites Festival returns to Cricket Hill in Lincoln Park (Montrose and Wilson) on Saturday, May 4, from 10am to 4pm. Admission is FREE.

The City of Chicago will provide free kite kits, while supplies last, for children to get creative as they build, decorate and fly their own kites.

The Windjammers Professional Kite Team will once again be on hand to thrill the crowd with their synchronized kite flying maneuvers throughout the day, and festival goers can enjoy activities such as face painting, balloon artists, circus arts presented by CircEsteem and crafts. Chicago Kite will also be onsite for kite buyers.

Chicago Kite will be onsite for kite buyers, and professional kite flyers will demonstrate their skills with oversized and uniquely-shaped kites.

For any last minute changes including cancellation due to unsafe weather conditions, please check Facebook or Twitter or call 3-1-1.

Beer Tasting To Benefit Courtenay School Playground Equipment - TONIGHT

Cedar Street Purchases Bridgeview Bank Building For $18.7M

Cedar Street's upcoming project at Lawrence & Broadway

A building with amazing views in the heart of the Uptown Entertainment District is about to go residential (or something else?) for the first time in its history.

It's a glorious building, clad in white terra cotta, built in 1924 for Sheridan Trust & Savings, which moved across the street from what is now Huntington Bank. It was eight stories when built, and later expanded to twelve stories in 1928. It had an extensive three-year restoration that was completed in 2013.

Photo courtesy of Bridgeview Bank website

If you've only been there for Starbucks, which we hope is reconfigured as part of this renovation,  you really need to check out the original lobby (open only for special occasions). It was featured in the Johnny Depp movie "Public Enemies", and it is breathtaking. (You can see photos from Designslinger, as well as a history of the building, here.)

And today came this confirmation of the building's next phase via The Real Deal:

"Micro-apartment developer Cedar Street Companies added the iconic Bridgeview Bank building to the long list of historic Uptown properties under its control.

An entity of Cedar Street bought the triangular 12-story office building this month for $18.7 million, according to Cook County property records. Managing partners Alex Samoylovich, Will Murphy and Mark Heffron secured a $13.1 million acquisition loan from Associated Bank."