Complimentary pizza from Roots and baked goods from West Town Bakery will be served at Monday's East Village Association meeting, in the game room at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott. The meeting starts at 7pm. The agenda includes development updates on the Fifield Cos. apartment site at 1850 W. Chicago Ave. , the former AAA Distributing site; the Smithfield apartments at 1815 W. Division St. , the former Miller Lumber location, and the Forbidden Root brewery at 1750 W. Chicago Ave. EVA's aldermanic meet-and-greet series continues with 2nd Ward candidates Cornell Wilson and Brian Hopkins . You're also welcome to submit your questions for our candidate debates, set for Jan. 29 in the 1st Ward and Feb. 15 in the 2nd Ward, at Wells High School.

East Village marked 417 violent crimes and 1,186 property crimes in the less than two years since 2013, according to an EVA analysis of Chicago Police statistics. Half took place on a sidewalk, street or alley; fewer than a quarter in an apartment or residence. Two out of five violent crimes were reported on the four main streets: 18% on Ashland Avenue, 12% each on Milwaukee and Chicago avenues, and 10% on Division Street. Violent crimes include homicide, criminal sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault or battery. Property crimes (burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and arson) hit closer to home. Among 1,186 property crimes, 39% were in a home or apartment building, garage or yard. Streets and sidewalk accounted for 38%; 11% were on CTA trains, buses, platforms or bus stops. Through Nov. 17, fewer crimes have been reported this year than at this time last year. Violent crime's down 11% in this tally; property crimes are 10% and lower lifestyle crimes (including c...

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Trash pickups before 7am were discussed in a meeting of business owners and neighbors. Getting action on a problem business in Chicago takes a track record: calls to 9-1-1 and 3-1-1. Alley noise complaints led to a meeting this month with residents and business in the 2000 block of West Division Street. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno facilitated agreements to stop overnight trash dumping or pickups before 7am, to keep containers locked and close to buildings, and to clean the alley. Police and inspectors check out complaints and can fine a businesses for violations. The owner also can be called in to City Hall for a "remediation conference” with the alderman, police and a city attorney. The meetings try to resolve problems and show how they put a business license is at risk. Actions for neighbors are outlined in a flier from Chicago's Business Affairs & Consumer Protection department: Call 9-1-1 to report illegal activity and nuisance behaviors: noise, fighting, drinking...

A "traditional" subway canopy can double the CTA's cost. East Village Association board minutes for Nov. 10, 2014, submitted by Catherine Garypie Aldermanic debate Dates are Jan. 29 (1st Ward), Feb, 15 (2nd Ward). Andy Shaw of Better Government Association will host, Wells High auditorium is rented, other associations are on board. Shaw may have format ideas. Wells students can submit questions. December meeting/holiday party Neal McKnight will check venues for Monday evening Dec. 8. Aldermanic speakers at upcoming meetings Dec. 1: Wilson, Shaw, Hopkins; Jan. 5: Moreno, Pattison; Feb. 2: Pfingsten, Buenrostro. Polish Triangle An online survey drew 1,200 responses; the majority want a traditional entrance design for the Blue Line station at Division, keeping the fountain and placing canopies over the subway. The traditional design costs $600,000, twice the price of the "modern" choice. McKnight will propose that we get specifications for the canopy fo...

Preservation Chicago's Erica Ruggiero briefs EVA members at Happy Village. East Village Association minutes for Nov. 3, 2014, submitted by Catherine Garypie HISTORIC PRESERVATION: Erica Ruggiero, Preservation Chicago advocacy director Chicago's demolition delay ordinance relies on properties identified in the 1995 Chicago Historic Resources Survey . The survey's original purpose wasn't to support the ordinance, yet that's how the city identifies properties to preserve. Buildings are identified by color: RED properties possess some architectural feature or historical association that made them potentially significant in the city, state or nation. About 300 properties are categorized as Red. ORANGE properties possess some architectural feature or historical association that made them potentially significant in the community. About 9,600 properties are categorized as Orange. GREEN, YELLOW-GREEN, and YELLOW properties are generally considered either too al...

Division Street bar owners and neighbors are meeting Wednesday to resolve noise issues from early morning garbage pickup. The meeting's at 5pm in SmallBar, 1049 W. Division St. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno's lining up bar owners and their private trash haulers to attend. Residents on Division Street and Haddon Avenue west of Damen Avenue want to limit pickups hours. City ordinance bans noise from loading or unloading garbage cans between 10pm and 7am. That includes dumping bottles and cans in the trash bins. For more information, contact Kirby Daniels at (312) 714-4460.

Andrew Hamilton and Steve Niketopoulos speak at the Oct. 6 meeting. Other 1st and 2nd Ward candidates will give presentations at upcoming meetings. EVA will organize a separate debate. East Village Association board minutes for Oct. 13, 2014, submitted by Catherine Garypie ALDERMANIC DEBATES NOTE: EVA & EVA Board must be politically neutral. Individuals can support candidates in their individual capacity, but not as EVA reps. Talk to McKnight with any concerns on this as the aldermanic races heat up. Wells HS (rents for $280/night) Dates: 1/29 (2nd Ward) & 2/5 (1st Ward) btwn 6 & 9pm Partners: CGNA (YES), UVNA (YES - Kim), New Group South of Chicago & West of Damen (YES), others? NOTE: Wicker Park Committee may join in. Invites will go out 60 days in advance (Nov 29). Ideas for a moderator? Possibly Tony Sarabia from WBEZ. May use these as a fundraising opportunity. The Winchester (restaurant) will hold pre-date cocktail party w/proceeds go to local charity ($10/...

Jess Loren, David Coleman at Oct. 6 meeting in Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. East Village Association minutes for Oct. 6, 2014 meeting, submitted by Catherine Garypie CHICAGO CHRISTMAS CRAWL Jess Loren, SocialTechPop: I am a former resident of this area. The event will be on Division between Ashland & Hoyne to have tasting and cocktail options for a "spirited event" ($3-$5 tasting menu, food). We don't expect to be a heavy-drinking event. Our ticket price ($35) targets an older crowd ("25 years old & up"). We're trying to focus on more of a foodie vibe. There will be no trolley – walking only. We have 6 venues committed. We're in talks with other venues. Other venues want to know what the community thinks before committing. We believe this is a positive for the neighborhood businesses because we are going to bring business to these restaurants at a slow time of year. City doesn't require a permit for an event like this. But we...