Ravenswood on Tap; Public Space in North Center

Hi neighbors,

Recently, grubs at Welles Park hatched into thousands of adult beetles—just weeks after a Park District contractor said treatment for grubs had been completed. Last Fall, I personally raised concerns to the Park District that grubs had returned to the Park. At that time, Park District leaders assured me that was not the case, but months later, just before the start of Summer programming, the fields were closed again for treatment. 

I have shared my serious frustration with Park District leaders regarding these ineffective treatment plans. In the coming days, I will be sitting down with them to discuss their revised plan to ensure that the grubs issue is resolved in a more permanent way.

On a more positive note, I’m excited to share that it just got easier to build affordable housing in Chicago. On Wednesday, the City Council unanimously passed my proposal to reduce delays and speed up the development of 100% affordable housing developments across Chicago. You can read more in the News section below. 

At the same City Council meeting, we were scheduled to take up the proposed sale of Chicago’s parking meters to Stonepeak Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. However, a vote was called off at the last minute. My colleagues and I will continue reviewing Stonepeak’s proposed purchase, with a vote possibly taking place in September.

I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend. If you’re looking for something to do, consider swinging by the annual Ravenswood On Tap street festival tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday. While the air quality tomorrow is projected to improve, it may still pose challenges for neighbors — especially those with respiratory illnesses. You can track Chicago’s air quality here to help inform the precautions you take. 

Because of these ongoing air quality challenges, our office will be postponing tomorrow’s shredding and recycling event that was scheduled to take place at the Jewel Osco parking lot on Lincoln Ave. We will be rescheduling the event soon, so please consider signing up for future reminders.

Yours in service,

Ald Matt Martin

POSTPONED: SHREDDING & ELECTRONICS RECYCLING. Our community shredding and recycling event scheduled for this Saturday, July 18th is postponed due to poor air quality. Sign up for updates, and we'll let you know about the new date.

Provide Feedback: New Public Space for North Center

Thursday, July 30th

You're invited to an Open House on July 30th from 5 PM to 6 PM to discuss a concept to turn an underutilized parking lot in North Center into a public space for all to enjoy.

For years, we've known the City-owned parking lot at Lincoln & Berenice is underutilized. Last summer, we asked neighbors what they'd like to see instead.

Since then, we've worked with designers to turn those ideas into a concept for a new public space. Join us to review the plans, share your preferences, and help guide the next phase of the project.

Learn more

Passed: More Affordable Homes, Fewer Bottlenecks

Big news: It just got easier to build affordable housing in Chicago. The City Council passed my proposal to reduce delays and speed up the development of 100% affordable housing.

Right now, it takes about 14 months from funding approval to closing for these projects in Chicago—roughly twice as long as in our peer cities. That means fewer affordable homes get built. In fact, over the same period, Atlanta built 10 times as many 100% affordable housing developments per resident as Chicago.

I'm committed to using of every tool available to address our affordable housing crisis. 

Learn more

Ravenswood on Tap

July 18th - 19th

Each year, we celebrate Malt Row with Ravenswood On Tap, a two-day outdoor festival that is all about local.

Enjoy beers from Malt Row breweries, KOVAL Distillery cocktails, special tappings, and live music from an incredible roster of original, independent Chicago musicians. There’ll be delicious street food, local artists and artisans, mini golf, swordplay demos, and more! Ravenswood On Tap is open on Saturday, July 18 (12-10pm) and Sunday, July 19 (12-8pm). Be there or be square!

Learn more

Free Shredding and Electronics Recycling

Saturday, July 18th

Our office is hosting a Community Recycling Day with MWRD President Kari Steele's office on Saturday, July 18th from 9am-11am in the Northcenter Jewel Parking Lot (4250 N Lincoln). We'll be accepting paper to shred, medicine, and electronics. There is no need to register, folks can simply show up.

Learn more

Lincoln Square Cat Tour

Saturday, August 8th

The Lincoln Square Cat Tour is a walking tour where participants explore Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood – meeting local feline residents and celebrating the cats that help make our community special. 

Whether your cat is a seasoned window-sitter, a curious front-porch greeter, or a neighborhood legend in the making, we'd love to feature them on the tour. Not a cat owner? Join us to admire cats, meet fellow cat enthusiasts, and experience the charm of Lincoln Square one purr at a time.

Learn more

Movie Screening: Plastic Detox

Join us on Monday, July 27, at Sulzer Library for an evening exploring the growing science behind microplastics and their impacts on human health and fertility. We'll watch selected clips from Netflix's The Plastic Detox, followed by a panel discussion with scientific experts who will explain the latest research and answer your questions.

This event is part of Plastic-Free July and is presented in partnership with Organizing Plastic Alternatives (OPA).

RSVP

Comment: Metropolitan Water Reclamation Strategic Plan

Submit by July 24th

Residents are invited to submit public comment regarding the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's (MWRD) upcoming strategic plan. MWRD assists with storm water management and treating our waste water, and this plan will guide how their priorities for the next four years.

Learn more

Unexpected Life Event: Zero Interest Loan

An unexpected medical bill, car repair, housing expense, or high-interest debt can be difficult to manage alone. Jewish Free Loan Chicago is a non-profit lender that provides zero-interest personal loans of up to $7,500 to eligible individuals and families across Chicagoland – regardless of faith.

JFLC’s team works with applicants respectfully and is available to answer questions about the process before they apply.

Learn more

Now Open: The Ivy Bar & Kitchen

1625 W Irving Park

Welcome The Ivy Bar and Kitchen to the 47th Ward! You'll definitely want to check out their renovated rooftop space right at Irving Park Rd and Ashland Ave.

They're serving up your bar food favorites in an elevated space.

Learn more

Andersonville Sidewalk Sale

July 24th-July 26th

Mark your calendars for one of Andersonville's favorite summer shopping traditions. Stroll the one-mile district along Clark Street and discover unbeatable deals on fashion, home goods, antiques, gifts, art, vintage finds, and one of a kind treasures while enjoying live music and performances throughout the neighborhood.

Learn more

Resources

Workforce

• Goodwill Workforce Center Events, Learn more
• Social Services Career Trainee, Learn more
• Cook County Assessor Hiring, Learn more
• Greater West Town Job Training, Learn more

Greater Rockwell Garden Walk

Saturday, July 18th

The Greater Rockwell Garden Walk is returning for its 2nd year! Whether you have a garden to show off or want to get some inspiration from your neighbors, we hope you'll join us on Saturday, July 18th from 11am-3pm! 

Stop by Waters Elementary School & Community Garden anytime between 11am-2:30pm to pick up a map of the gardens and fuel up with refreshments.

Learn more

Meeting: Parking Alternative Response Proposal

Wednesday, July 29th

Join the 19th District Council for a meeting focused on their Parking Alternative Response Team (PART) pilot ordinance, a proposal that sends trained civilian parking enforcement staff to parking-related 911 calls, ​allowing police officers to focus on higher priority public safety needs.

District Councilors will provide an update on where the progress towards passing the ordinance stands, discuss the challenges it has faced, and explore why expanding alternative response is so important for Chicago.

Learn more

Town Hall: Next Police Superintendent Search

Thursday, July 23rd

The selection of Chicago's next Superintendent is one of the most important public safety decisions our city will make. Join us on Thursday, July 23 at Mather High School from 6 PM to 8 PM as District Council members, CCPSA Commissioners, and local alderpersons discuss how the superintendent selection process works, the role of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), and how community members can participate in the process.

This is an opportunity to learn how you can help shape the future leadership of the Chicago Police Department.

Treatment Not Trauma Town Hall

Tuesday, July 28th

Join advocates on Tuesday, July 28 for a community town hall featuring Northside Alderpersons and representatives from the Mayor’s Office. The townhall will discuss the current state of the CARE program, funding, implementation challenges, and what's needed to build a stronger, more effective alternative response system.

Learn more

Western Brown Line Construction

CDOT continues addressing their final touches required for project completion in the plaza and surrounding area.

CTA's work on the Western Brown Line Station bus turnaround and canopy has been completed! Final touch ups will continue. The north elevator may reopen following a scheduled inspection on the 20th. The return of bus service is pending a curb adjustment from CDOT at the bus turnaround entrance. We are running down a timeline on the curb adjustment and will share updates as we receive them. 

Sign up for Updates

Ashland Resurfacing

CDOT has shared that the second and final layer of asphalt will be finished by Wednesday, July 22, weather permitting. As soon as CDOT finishes laying the new asphalt, they will begin restriping parking, lane lines, and crosswalks. At our request, CDOT is expediting the striping and sign installations such that they will be completed by the end of July. CDOT will remove parking restrictions block by block as soon as they finish striping. Once CDOT has completed the repaving and striping, crews will work on the raised crosswalks, concrete bus pads, and will restore impacted parkways. We anticipate that these finishing touches will be complete by the end of August.

Sign up for Updates

This Year: Upcoming Projects

• Water Main Replacement near Leavitt and Lawrence
• People's Gas Projects on Greenview from Roscoe to Grace

This Week

• Paint Bouquets & Sips, July 17th, Learn more
• Horner Park Brew Fest, July 17th, Learn more
• Greater Rockwell Garden Walk, July 18th, Learn more
• Ravenswood on Tap, July 18th-19th, Learn more
• Queen of Angels: Let's Play, July 18th, Learn more

Next Week

• Andersonville Sidewalk Sale, July 24th-July 26th, Learn more
• Fulton Market Grand Prix (Volunteers Needed), July 26th, Learn more
• Andersonville Vintage Market, July 26th, Learn more

Future Weeks

• Fulton Market Grand Prix (Volunteers Needed), July 26th, Learn more
• Dim Sum 5K, August 1st, Learn more
• Feel Good Fest, August 8th, Learn more
• Lincoln Square Cat Tour, August 8th, Learn more
• Ravenswood Community Bike Ride, August 8th, Learn more
• Andersonville Vintage Market, August 9th, Learn more
• Thirsty Ears Music Festival, August 22nd-23rd, Learn more
• Saigon Jazz Revival, August 29th, Learn more

Community Job Boards

Looking to work locally? Many of our local chambers of commerce offer job boards to help highlight openings at local businesses. Find more information at the following links:

• Andersonville
• Lakeview/Roscoe Village
• Lincoln Square/Ravenswood
• Northcenter
• Greater Ravenswood