Existing alley configuration, EVA’s recommendation By Scott A. Rappe A 36-unit residential development has been proposed for the vacant land that connects the 800 blocks of Marshfield and Paulina. This development presents a rare opportunity to increase pedestrian safety, improve city service delivery, enhance automobile circulation and increase the potential for green space, by simply restoring the original alley configuration of the block. The redundant east-west alley was created when the original alley was removed to construct a now-demolished parking garage. This alley interrupts the sidewalk on both Paulina and Marshfield, disrupts normal traffic flow and threatens pedestrian safety. Additionally, the new development will require a private alley to facilitate parking and trash pickup, adding more paving to the block. The East Village Association has asked Ald. Proco Joe Moreno to facilitate a trade of the east-west alley to the north of the property in exchange for the devel...

Billboard at 1934 W. Chicago Ave. East Village Association membership meeting minutes for April 1, 2013 Submitted by Meghan Quinn Business Minute: Steve Quick Jeweler Store manager Sarah Wortman recently opened Steve Quick Jeweler at 1909 W. Division St. Steve Quick opened his flagship store in Lincoln Park 26 years ago, expanded to a second location in Lincoln Square five years ago, and just this past fall opened his Wicker Park store. Wortman said that Quick looks for spots with a lot of character. The jeweler is known for bridal sets but offers a large selection and can fix watches. Customers can create their own wish lists so loved ones know exactly what to get for special occasions. The business has been running an electronic billboard ad for the past three weeks or so, and residents are concerned that this doesn’t mesh with the community’s negative stance on the billboards. An EVA member pointed out that she is keeping track of which local businesses are advertising, and will...

1659 W. Division Planning, Preservation & Development minutes for April 15, 2013 Robert Baum and Mike Downing, new owners of 1659 W. Division, will rehab and continue to operate single-room occupancy apartments. The business plan is to offer corporate housing contracts to law firms, hospitals and other service businesses at a lower price than executive housing. Most units will continue to share bathrooms, but with updated plumbing. Main entrance will be on Division Street. The building will have 24-hour staffing, video monitoring and a first-floor retail tenant. The building will be reconfigured to 35 units (from 38) and rates to about $2,000 a month (from $400). Parking will be offsite on private lots, with no valet. The operator will contract for commercial refuse service. Units will not have full kitchens; the first floor will have a lunchroom. The architect, owner and developers of a vacant lot at 819 N. Paulina (John Hanna, Rogelio Llamedo, Alex Negonechny, Andriy Stetsyuk)...

Division & Ashland development EVA Planning, Preservation & Development minutes for April 11, 2013 Submitted by Kok Keng Goh, with Gladys Anselmo Peter Locke recapped purpose of the meeting: University of Illinois-Chicago urban planning graduate students are looking ahead to what future development in East Village might look like. Joshua Hahn is working with the East Village Association on a master plan that might be incorporated in Chicago planning and zoning. Ada Morgan and Andres Acosta are involved in a Local First Chicago effort to identify metrics to track development impact. East Village could be a case study for a neighborhood scorecard based on the metrics. Neal McKnight noted recent conversations on local business: Owners gather neighborhood data to determine feasibility of setting up an enterprise. East Village's reported household income doesn't seem accurate or reliable; better data would aid neighborhood planning and attract businesses aligned with cur...

West Town March 2013 City of Chicago crime data In West Town, 341 crimes were reported in March, according to information gathered from the City of Chicago data portal and reported by the Chicago Tribune . There were 27 violent crimes vs. 34 in March of 2012, a 21% drop. The 241 property crimes represented a 25% drop from 320 the year before, and the 73 quality-of-life crimes was half the 147 reported last year.

About 50 community members testified at an April 8 meeting on the Peabody-Otis school merger. Next hearing is 5-7pm Friday at Clemente High. East Village Association board meeting minutes for April 8 Submitted by Kok Keng Goh Speakers for May 6 Congressman Mike Quigley , Mary McInerney of Nextdoor.com. Business Minute: MB Financial (home mortgages, loans), Comrade Cycles. Consider reaching out to Polish Museum, Hoosier Mama. West Town Library community event sponsored by Redbox Redbox contacted the West Town library to fund a community connector event, to promote the creative-artist community. Redbox has chosen five U.S. cities, Chicago being one of them, and only West Town library was selected. Gladys Anselmo is spearheading the event, expected by July or September. Other community organizations (Chicago Grand, Eckhart Park, Commercial Park) were contacted. Suggested ideas include displaying artwork on building and library windows (vendor contacted for projection on building); f...