Attention, Professional Artists! The CTA Wants YOU

Art at CTA's headquarters, by John Bannon

Uptown has turned into an outdoor art lover's dream during the past few years, and there's even more artwork coming our way. The CTA has released a Request for Proposals for artists to help decorate the new station houses and viaduct walls of the ongoing Red Purple Modernization Project. 

But you need to hurry! The deadline for submissions is this FRIDAY, April 1st. The CTA is seeking "professional artists to create new, original public artwork for six  locations as part of the RPM Phase One project:

• Lawrence main stationhouse, 1120 W Lawrence
• Argyle main stationhouse, 1118 W Argyle
• Berwyn main stationhouse, 1119 W Berwyn
• Bryn Mawr main stationhouse, 1116 W Bryn Mawr
• Bryn Mawr Hollywood entrance, 1119 W Hollywood
• Lawrence to Bryn Mawr viaduct walls

Artists with experience in 2D and 3D art can apply to join CTA’s eclectic mix of over 70 other works of art throughout the system. Previous public art experience is not required. Artists will be selected based on past experience with creating and displaying art at exhibits, museums and other venues.

Artists will submit a written application that outlines their approach to artistic expression and to public art as well as their understanding of RPM public art goals.

Read more here and apply here."

From the Ashes...

Apartments.com / 4621 N. Broadway

As a junior member of our team, I don't remember the "old days" that my fellow UU editors talk about incessantly, but when I moved here, Futatsuki Ramen was always a comfort to me. I was upset (and let's get real, we were all upset) when Futatsuki had to close in 2020 as the result of a fire in the apartments above.

But sometimes bad things can lead to good things, and one very nice thing is that the family-size four-bedroom apartments at 4621 Broadway have been nicely renovated and are now for rent. I for one am hoping that Futatsuki's return is close behind (and we at UU have heard some encouraging things), but for now, this is a nice thing for us while we all wait to slurp ramen here and at Rakkan. 

Demolition Imminent For Upcoming 4511 N Clark Development

Construction fencing spanning 4511-4521 N. Clark

Demolition permits have been issued for the 3 parcels that will soon become a 5 story development at 4511 N. Clark by MCZ Development.

The $12.5M development will include a mix of studios, one and two bedroom units for a total of 56 apartments with 28 indoor parking spaces. Ground floor retail will be included. 

This development received approval from Clark Street Neighbors Block Club and was ultimately approved by the 46th Ward Zoning & Development Committee as well as Alderman Cappleman. This project is one large part of the development boom taking place up and down Clark Street. We are likely to see more one and two story buildings (many in poor condition) being replaced by larger residential developments. 

We are in the midst of the biggest development boom in Uptown in many, many years, folks.

4511 N Clark (2rz Architects)

 

Early Morning Explosion Rocks Lawrence/DLSD Viaduct

Shortly after 7am, an explosion took place in the viaduct where Lawrence Avenue runs under DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

Heavy black smoke was seen pouring out of the viaduct, and there were (and are) concerns about the safety of the people experiencing homelessness who have set up tents in the viaduct.

We haven't heard any reports of injuries, thankfully.

Suspicions are that one or more propane tanks stored in the viaduct exploded, setting tents on fire.

We have seen propane tanks on both sides of Wilson and Lawrence and in the parks, and this is not the first propane fire. Storing tanks of highly explosive chemicals in the midst of people living in extremely flammable tents, directly underneath a heavily traveled U.S. highway and on the public sidewalk, seems like a very dangerous situation to us.

We will report more information as we learn more, and we continue to hope everyone in the vicinity of the explosion is okay.

Permits Issued For Three-Story, Four-Unit Residence Building at 4723 Winthrop

courtesy of Google Streetview (2007)

One of the last empty lots in Truman Square has been purchased, and permits to build on it have been issued.

The lot at 4723 North Winthrop has stood empty since at least 1973 and has occasionally been up for sale over the past 20 years.

According to Yimby Chicago, "the current plans indicate this project will yield four dwelling units, one of which will be a penthouse. The building will also have a finished basement, a rooftop deck, and a detached four-vehicle garage."

Current zoning is RT-4, so it appears the building will be  built under existing zoning with no changes requested or required.

The construction company is Profus and the architect is Ronald Vari. No renderings or timeline for the project have been made available, but we'll keep you updated.

We're Cuckoo for New Restaurants!

Yelp / User Denyce M.

It's been a slow process, but an exciting new restaurant has finally opened just at the northern border of Uptown at 5143 N. Clark, formerly home to Ora Sushi.

Cuckoo (you can see the website at https://www.restaurantji.com/il/chicago/cuckoo-/) brings bright colors and a menu focused on pan-Asian (Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese) food. Carryout is now the primary focus, compared to the former Ora space, which looked like this:

Loopnet

The menu, posted below, features crispy chicken in different forms (wings, sandwiches), bibimbap, and don, something missing from the area since the loss of the late lamented Sunshine Cafe and Futatsuki Ramen. Cuckoo also has a selection of boba teas and smoothies to complement the many excellent purveyors further east in the Argyle Street section of Uptown.

Yelp/Cuckoo

Yelp reviews are great so far.  As our crew of editors constantly says, please continue to patronize Uptown's small businesses!

Resilience Healthcare To Purchase Weiss Hospital

Weiss Memorial Hospital, 4646 N. Marine Drive

News broke this morning that Pipeline Health has agreed in principle to sell West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park and Uptown's own Weiss Memorial Hospital to Resilience Healthcare and owner Manoj Prasad. The overall deal is worth $92M, and the sale will not be final until it is approved by the Illinois Health Facilities and Service Review Board.

Prasad is a community hospital specialist and his new entity, Resilience, will be his first foray into hospital ownership. He has committed to the hospitals by leaving his current home in Detroit and purchasing a new home near West Suburban.  He expects to be a 'hands on' operator and appears very committed to strengthening both hospitals.

Both hospitals will remain exactly as they are now, hospitals, with investments made to hire more staff and improve facilities. As part of the deal, Pipeline has committed to donate an additional $12M of the sale proceeds to the new entity and two hospitals. There are currently 100 positions open at each facility after challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This news should come as a relief to people who feared Pipeline Health would close Weiss and leave Uptown without a hospital. Pipeline ended up keeping Weiss open and poured millions into new facilities and operations, including a new orthopedics department and a gender clinic. We are hopeful for the long term future of the hospital given Pipeline's investment, Mr. Prasad's history and his commitment to the hospitals.  We wish Mr. Prasad and Resilience much success in their new endeavor.

Read more at Crain's (subscription required) 

UPDATE: You can read more in Ald. Cappleman's newsletter.