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Donations, city funds treat East Village's ash trees

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The Chicago Bureau of Forestry tags trees after treatment. By M. Isaacson Ash trees are still being treated in East Village for emerald ash borer infestation, thanks to the generosity of donors to the Friends of Ash Trees East Village GoFundMe. Treatment will continue until the ash trees begin to lose their leaves, or until we run out of money. East Village joins a number of communities in Chicago that started treating their ash trees with private funds. However, not everyone can afford such a project. The East Village Association supports securing funding for all still-viable ash trees in Chicago to be treated routinely. Chicago has had an inconsistent policy concerning treating ashes. All ash trees in the City were treated in 2013-14, and a subset of that group was treated in 2018-19. Then no treatment occurred until this year, when the city Bureau of Forestry received a grant of $1 million and treated 6,186 ash trees. We were fortunate to be able to have some of the East ...

Ash tree defenders cover East Village

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Signs mark trees in treatable condition and give a fundraising QR code. 130 trees tagged for emerald ash borer treatment A census of neighborhood parkways found 130 trees that would qualify for treatment in an East Village Association initiative to manage Chicago's emerald ash borer infestation. A fundraising campaign is under way to fund tree preservation. The cost for private treatment is estimated at $150 to $200 per tree. A systemic insecticide, injected into mature trees every few years, is effective in protecting trees from the beetle, whose larvae tunnel under the bark and starve trees of water and nutrients. Untreated infestations are fatal. EVA volunteers found 57 good and 73 fair candidates for treatment based on the condtion of the tree's top layer or canopy. The neighborhood's leafy streets have been a magnet for renters and home buyers who value the cool breezes, rustling leaves and chirping birds of an urban landscape. Rich Anselmo, Lacey Cordero, Marjie...

Save Chicago's ash trees

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Ash leaves come in pairs. Chicago’s urban forest is in trouble. By Marjorie Isaacson Due to infection by the emerald ash borer, the majority of Chicago's ash trees will die. East Village residents are fundraising to treat ash trees. Chicago has about 20% tree coverage, far below the national average. The city’s tree inventory includes 43,000 green and white ash trees, a major segment of that population. Due to infection by the emerald ash borer, the majority of these trees will die. Trees provide many benefits: cleaning air and water, cooling temperatures in the summer and contributing to human physical and psychological health. Trees also remove carbon dioxide from the air. Preserving and adding to the urban forest is one of the primary strategies in Chicago’s climate change mitigation plans. To make this happen, Chicago has embarked on a massive tree-planting campaign. But while these new trees are a good investment in the future, it will be many years until they reach the si...

New businesses open on Chicago Avenue

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1900 block of Chicago Avenue. /div> East Village Association membership meeting March 13, 2024, at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave.; Presiding: Jenifer Goldsmith, president By Jenifer Goldsmith EVA members voted in new officers, passed a resolution in support of lifting a liquor moratorium on Chicago Avenue and heard from the owner of a new neighborhood business. EVA is excited to welcome our 2024 fiscal board! President: Jenifer Goldsmith Vice President: Christina Slaton Interim Secretary: Neal McKnight Treasurer: Bob Zwolinski If you or someone you know is interested in joining the EVA board, we are still looking to fill the position of secretary. Please reach out to any board member to inquire. We also welcome your ideas and suggestions. New businesses on Chicago Avenue, Passages Wine and Books, 1911 W. Chicago Ave., and The Happy Hour Shop, 1919 W. Chicago Ave., are requesting a lift of the liquor moratorium on Chicago Avenue to apply for incidental liquor lice...

Retailers stir Chicago Avenue liquor mix; EVA members to advise on new licenses

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East Village Association membership meeting Feb. 7, 2024 at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave.; President Christina Slaton presiding EVA members will vote March 13 whether to accept new liquor licenses on the 1900 block of Chicago Avenue. The two business owners presented their plans Feb. 7. A moratorium now restricts new liquor licenses, with restaurants as the only exception, on Chicago Avenue between Damen and Wood in the 36th Ward. The vote would advise Ald. Gilbert Villegas on whether to lift the moratorium for at least a year. Passages Wine and Books : The wine cafe at 1911 W. Chicago will serve glasses of wine as well as pour-over coffee and other nonalcoholic beverages, as well as snacks, popcorn and tinned fish. "It is time to start something that brings me and others joy," said business ownber Amanda Sadowski a social worker in Chicago for 15 years. The bookstore's bar would not qualify for the restaurant exception for new liquor licenses. The building...

Vote may rezone Damen Avenue on Shake-It block

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Rezoning could limit 814-820 N. Damen Ave. to residential use. A proposal to rezone part of the 800 block of North Damen Avenue is on the agenda for the April membership meeting. Members can vote on the zoning recommendation or propose alternatives during the 7pm April 10 meeting at Roots Pizza West Town, 1924 N. Chicago Ave. Properties at 814 N. Damen, 818 N. Damen and 820 N. Damen would allow multiunit residential construction of up to 4 floors without storefronts. EVA board member Neal McKnight recommends the rezoning as consistent with surrounding uses. The first two buildings are residential; 820 N. Damen is the vacant Grace Auto Body location and a potential redevelopment site. If Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) adopts the proposed EVA recommendation, zoning would change to RM-5, a residerntial designation. The current B-3 zoning calls for first-floor business use, with residences permitted on upper floors. RM-5 would allow more residential units then the mixed-use designati...
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