Friday, May 3, 2013
Residents pushed against the newly proposed Boystown hotel, with the developer asking, “Would you like me not to bring a business here?”
Lake View neighbors grilled the developer behind Boystown’s new OUT Chicago hotel Thursday, with the man behind the project saying he felt attacked. Proposed for 3343 N. Halsted St., the 10-story hotel and resort is planned to take over Mark’s Chop Suey and collaborate with both Minibar and Sidetrack. But unlike the first community meeting, seemingly filled with supporters, Thursday night’s forum gathered residents and business owners split on the development. Topics like crime, congestion and traffic took center stage for residents, and although many applauded Parkview Developers Partner Ian Reisner, many others seemed frustrated with the proposal. Former Lake View Citizens’ Council President David Winner says he thinks drawing more …
41.942822
-87.649326
Mark's Chop Suey On Halsted
3343 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL
/articles/out-chicago-hotel-developer-plays-defense-with-neighbors
2211783
/locations/9346792
Emanuel helped plant 30 trees at the elementary school, then announced his new plan to plant almost 4,000 trees in Chicago in 2013.
Chicago will plant about 3,800 trees in neighborhoods across the city this year through various programs and projects, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced at Friedrich Jahn World Language Elementary School. Located at 3149 N. Wolcott St., the school sits on the border between Roscoe Village and Lake View. “Chicago was one of the first cities where planting trees and urban forests were part of the City’s plan and design,” Emanuel said. “Planting and protecting our trees is part of Chicago’s past, but also an important part of creating a greener Chicago for our future.” The Chicago Department of Transportation celebrated Arbor Day today with the planting of a total of 31 trees in the parkway and playground of Jahn Elementary Schoo. “The planting …
41.938942
-87.675898
Jahn World Language School
3149 N Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL
/articles/mayor-kicks-off-chicago-s-2-3m-tree-investment-at-local-school
2211006
/locations/9343081
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The 15-story Boystown development is shaving down its 2-year construction timeline with plans to open in less than a year.
Those itching to move into Boystown’s new Halsted Flats development won’t have to wait much longer: About seven months have been shaved off the construction timeline, officials said. Crews broke ground at the site at 3740 N. Halsted on Nov. 1 with plans to build the 15-story structure over two years. But now representatives with the project say construction won’t take nearly as long. “Update: Halsted Flats will be opening March 2014,” the company wrote on its Facebook page April 24. “Stay tune(d) for more info!” Officials with the Halsted Flats development did not immediately return Patch’s calls regarding additional details about the construction timeline, but crews on the scene said everything is moving at a rapid pace. This also comes …
41.950272
-87.649465
3740 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL
/articles/halsted-flats-construction-timeline-slashed-plans-march-2014-opening
/locations/9332384
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Chicago's bike sharing program, now named Divvy, is moving forward, and locations for almost every bike kiosk have now been decided. Check the map to see where you can pick up a Divvy bike.
Lake View officials and the Chicago Department of Transportation have officially chosen almost all of the locations locals will be able to snag a bike in the city’s new bike share program. Now dubbed “Divvy” to reflect the nature of bike sharing, the program is launching more than 28 kiosks where Lake View neighbors can pick up bicycles. The new cycles will also be painted the iconic “Chicago Blue” to “provide a high level of visibility on the street,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. “Bike sharing is another large step we’re taking to make Chicago the best big city in America for cycling,” Emanuel said. “We are improving our bicycling infrastructure to create the quality of life that will attract businesses and families to …
The neon sign is pulled down in preparation for a gut-rehab project, turning the former SRO into market rate housing.
While crews were hard at work Saturday afternoon pulling down the iconic neon Chateau Hotel sign, residents on the inside were batting a bed bug infestation. Sitting at 3838 N. Broadway, the single-room occupancy hotel has roughly 30 residents left in the building. It’s slowly being vacated for a gut-rehab to transform into market rate housing. Earlier this month, Ald. James Cappleman (46th) notified residents the ward recently worked with police and the Dept. of Family and Support Services to “assist an elderly, fragile woman living at the Chateau who was covered in bed bugs.” They moved her to the hospital, and upon her discharge, she was relocated to a new home. But in a new statement sent out by the alderman’s office on Friday, …
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart releases a surveillance video that purports to show a corrections officer didn't slip and fall as he claimed in a workers compensation claim.
The "Your Federal Taxpayer Reciept" widget, attached here, tells literally how much of your tax dollar went where.
Tax day came and went this month, but most residents don't know where their money goes in the federal government. A new initiative from the White House is changing that. By entering information in the above form, taxpayers can see exactly what departments used their money This year marks the 100th anniversary of the modern income tax, instituted through the 16th Amendment in 1913. In 1913, instructions for the 1040 form were just one page. Today, instructions are 189 pages, along with dozens of additional schedules and forms. Click HERE for an interactive taxpayer receipt that shows how much of your tax dollars went to pay different aspects of the federal budget last year.
Friday, April 26, 2013
It’s now time to vote on how to spend the $1 million of the ward’s money to improve the community.
After residents in the 46th ward presented their plans to neighbors, it’s now time to vote on how to spend $1 million in infrastructure improvements in the neighborhood. It’s all part of Ald. James Cappleman’s (46th) participatory budgeting program, something he launched back in October that lets residents have input on government spending. Groups were tasked with creating detailed presentations for how to spend the money, with a focus on popular initiatives like community beautification and adding bike-friendly infrastructure improvements. Groups working on the project presented their proposals in early April in what was described as a “big science fair” at both Uplift High School and the Preston Bradley Center. But now it’s time for …
The second period of construction for the Wells Street Bridge will effect Brown Line travelers and may overcrowd Red Line Trains, Chicago Transit Authority officials said.
The second round of construction on the Wells Bridge starts Friday, bringing back memories of longer commutes and slower trains. From Friday morning until May 5, the CTA will reduce service while reconstructing the Wells Bridge over the Chicago River—mainly effecting Brown and Purple Line riders. The first 9-day period at the beginning of March slowed commutes and confused riders with shuttles and mislabeled trains. “Leave early or late,” CTA officials warn. One of every three Brown Line trains will stop at Merchandise Mart, with the others using the Red Line tunnel and ending at the Roosevelt station, officials said. Shuttle buses will take riders to the Loop where train service is reduced. Construction will effect 700 trains every …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The area where North Damen, North Elston and West Fullerton avenues cross, just along Bucktown's northern border slightly shy of Lincoln Park, is one of the most dangerous in the city. Officials are finally taking the necessary steps to fix it, they say.
The city is finally taking a major step necessary to remedy what's been known for some time as one of Chicago's most dangerous intersections. The area where North Damen, North Elston and West Fullerton avenues cross—along Bucktown's northern border slightly shy of Lincoln Park—ranked first and second in the city for its number of crashes between 2004 and 2007. It has continued to fall in the top 10 through 2011, according to 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack's office. North Side officials have been steadily chipping away at a to-do list that will allow them to revamp the intersection, but Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced last week that he submitted an official proposal to the City Council to acquire the nine parcels of land needed to …
Jason
12:18 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013
The whole point of getting a variance is to modify restrictions in order to allow a landowner to use the property in a certain way. If developers were restricted to only using a property in the manner in which it was zoned then what you are saying is variances are never appropriate. Additionally, if you looked at the zoning map, you'd note that the entire corridor is zoned for use C1-2 except for… more ›