A public safety meeting Thursday will discuss personal safety, crime prevention and advocacy to increase police presence. Capt. Phil Kwasinski will be guest of the East Village Association and Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association in a special meeting at 6:30pm in Bath House Cultural Center, 1019 N. Wolcott Ave. Aldermen Proco Joe Moreno (1st Ward) and Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) will attend. We're asking our members to write letters demanding urgent action on crime. Sample letters will be available to sign at the meeting, and letters will be collected to be presented to city officials. Those who can't attend can download and send letters directly to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and their alderman ( find your ward here ). Sample letter to Mayor Emanuel Sample letter Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st Ward) Sample letter to Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) Sample letter to Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th Ward)

A rendering for the Shake-It restaurant proposed at 820 N. Damen. East Village Association board meeting August 14, 2017 West Town Bakery, 1916 W. Chicago Ave. Neighbors of a car-repair shop at 820 N. Damen Ave. oppose its conversion to a burger bar. In East Village Association board discussion, president Michael VanDam said that neighbors' nuisance concerns should take precedence. The patio could operate weekends till midnight under city ordinance. Its Motown soundtrack could run till 10. Damen Avenue is zoned for business use, but most buildings on the street are residential. The restaurant and bar would feature milkshakes, burgers and pizza. Drinks would contribute up to half the revenue, according to estimates provided to EVA from Cleveland-based nightclub operator Forward Entertainment Group. Half the seating would be outdoors, in a layout similar to Big Star taqueria at 1531 N. Damen Ave. At an Aug. 10 hearing, Ald. Brian Hopkins suggested that he would have litt...

Paulette Lombardi of Market Select, 912 N. Ashland. East Village Association membership meeting August 7, 2017 Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. By Michelle Hayward Michael VanDam called the community meeting to order. Business Minute Sabroso Mexican Grill opened 3 weeks ago at 941 N. Damen. The restaurant is BYOB and awaiting a liquor license, said co-owner : Luis Escobar. Market Select Currently there is a liquor moratorium on Ashland between Augusta and Chicago. A similar pause on licenses was lifted four years ago on an adjoining stretch of Ashland for a similar concept, Garden Gourmet , 1130 N. Ashland Ave., under a plan of operation approved by EVA. Today, there is a request for a lift of the moratorium specifically regarding incidental packaged-goods sales. The local market concept for 912 N. Ashland, presented by Paulette Lombardi, is called Market Select and is focused on everyday needs with some packaged beer and wine. It would follow the same plan of operat...

Market Select prepares to stock its shelves at 912 N. Ashland. Market Select, a grocery at 912 N. Ashland Ave., plans to sell beer and wine, and is asking East Village Assocation members Monday to support lifting the freeze on Ashland Avenue packaged-goods liquor licenses. EVA has proposed a Plan of Operation limiting liquor sales volume and ruling out malt liquor and fortified wine sales. The plan is based on the Garden Gourmet plan negotiated with EVA in 2013. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st Ward), who must recommend the license, backs liquor restrictions to replace the moratorium. EVA members will also discuss a restaurant proposal for 820 N. Damen. Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) will hold a community meeting Aug. 10 on the Shake-It restaurant. Its boozy milkshake menu would require a liquor license. The operator Forward Entertainment Group has submitted floor plans and development details.