The East Village Association takes an advisory membership vote Monday, May 4, on a zoning change for 1916-24 W. Chicago Ave. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Happy Village Tavern, 1059 N. Wolcott. Billy Loumbardias, the prospective tenant, described the proposal before the March 2 membership meeting . Here Loumbardias summarizes recent changes to the plan: The proposed Winchester restaurant, to be located at 1924 W. Chicago Ave., has been previously presented to this community. We are pleased to advise that the West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce and the East Village Neighbors have pledged support to this exciting project. On March 2, this project was presented to the East Village Association. Although some concerns were raised, we are hopeful that we have successfully addressed these concerns below and are happy to have the opportunity to address any remaining concerns again on May 4 at the East Village Association general meeting: Noise Control We pledge to use materials s...

The city’s Blue Cart recycling program may finally be mainstream, but many people still have questions about what can go in them. We all want to recycle as much as possible, but putting non-recyclable items in your blue cart can be worse than not recycling at all. Marjorie Isaacson, the East Village Association’s recycling expert, will be on hand for a round of "Stump the Recycling Expert!" at the May meeting. This is your opportunity to ask questions or better yet, bring in items that you wonder whether are recyclable or not. EVA meets Monday, May 4, in the Happy Village Tavern, 1059 N. Wolcott.

President Message by John Scheer  Spring is time to think Clean and Green. Every year the city sponsors an event to inspire residents to clean up our local areas and encourage the greening of the season. The city provides tools and bags in support of the cleaning activities. The Clean and Green date was April 25 this year. But everyone can continue to pick up trash, rake leaves and debris or remove personal signs from lamp poles and mailboxes. EVA has approached Matt Bailey, the 1st Ward contact for the Clean and Green, in support of a more specific greening initiative for this year. The request is for coordination and support with the Department of Forestry to plant some trees along Augusta Boulevard. Staying consistent with the Clean and Green philosophy, this planting would be a significant improvement, and the first step of what is a much larger plan published several years ago to redesign of the Augusta streetscape. This whole project is considered too big for undertaking at t...

Significant remodeling work can earn a significant tax break in Ukrainian Village and East Village. Many buildings in the two neighborhoods' landmark districts are eligible for 12 years of favorable tax assessments. Remodelers must spend at least 25% of the lowball figure the Cook County Assessor names as market value. Ukrainian Village homeowner Dan Nehm told the East Village Association on April 6 how he got this tax break — which freezes assessments for eight of those years. As city assessments rise, taxes that get an assessment freeze edge lower. Dan Nehm's handout outlines the process well. Nehm had more recommendations for future applicants: Start early on one long piece of paperwork: It can take six months for the city to issue a waiver of building permit fees. Anyone in the landmark districts can get that break, and Nehm, a union carpenter, applies for the waiver every year just in case he works on his home. The permits prove the changes meet landmark-district requirem...

The next EVA membership meeting is 7pm Monday, May 4, at the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Events on the East Village Association calendar are worth noting. Check the page and click on the dates for details. April 8 and 14 -- 1st Ward recycling for multiunit buildings without city garbage pickup April 11-- 1st Ward community meeting on Blue Line renovations -- your stimulus dollars at work April 25 -- Chicago Clean & Green volunteer cleanup -- call 311 to volunteer

Public-affairs officer Mark Reynolds (from left) and East Village Association president John Scheer listen to postal real-estate specialist Susan Bourgart and customer-service manager Gerrie Barnett-Campbell. The Division Street post office will be packing up when its 50-year lease runs out Aug. 31. The retail location likely will move within a few blocks, Chicago area postal executives told East Village Association members on April 6, but the rest of the operation at 1635 W. Division could go elsewhere. Negotiations with the current landlord are at an impasse. Real-estate specialist Susan Bourgart said rehabbing another building will take two or three months, so the post office is under the gun to find new spaces this spring. With rent at the current location likely to triple, "it's 90% likely we probably will not stay there," Bourgart said. Customer-service manager Gerrie Barnett-Campbell said the quick move will not disrupt service. But residents in attendance pressed ...

An open house March 21 and 22 in a Milwaukee Avenue storefront gathered ideas on Polish Triangle improvements. Take a survey on the Division-Ashland-Milwaukee plaza. Read a report on the open house from the Metropolitan Planning Council.