The CTA's preferred plan for high-speed buses will slow traffic on Ashland Avenue and a half-dozen parallel streets, according to a federally required environmental assessment . Ashland traffic will get 10% slower and Damen 3%. Wood Street and the smaller north-south streets nearest Ashland were not considered. Ashland would lose about 12% of its parking, which the study assumes would be absorbed by side streets. Augusta Boulevard and a dozen other intersections would have to be reworked to avoid "unacceptable" rush-hour delays, the city's Ashland Bus Rapid Transit analysis says. However, the document says waits already are unacceptable at Diversey, Clybourn and four other crossings. Residents can download the plan and email their comments to the CTA until Dec. 20. Catherine Garypie, who outlined the public comment process for EVA this summer, will give an update at Monday's East Village Association meeting.

Wicker Park Apartments, west of alley behind Planned Parenthood (Brininstool + Lynch Ltd.) East Village Association board meeting minutes, November 11, 2013 Submitted by Meghan Quinn Preservation, Planning & Development: 1515-17 W. Haddon St. Mark Sutherland came to discuss his proposed transit-oriented, mixed-use development at 1515 W. Haddon near the Blue Line Division stop. Sutherland currently owns 21 apartment buildings and has been given awards for landmarked projects. Haddon Street west from Milwaukee Avenue Sutherland feels that the market demands smaller apartments right now, and so proposes 8 studios, 24 one-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units and 1 large single-family unit in the top. This equals 44 units on floors 2 through 5, plus the 1 large unit on the 6th floor, totaling 45 units. Sutherland is aiming for LEED Silver certification, incorporating sustainable concepts such as solar, 50% green roof and electric vehicle parking. David Brininstool of Brininstool +

East Village Association membership meeting minutes, Nov. 4, 2013 Submitted by Meghan Quinn CNT Energy, Vito Greco ( Energy Impact Illinois ) Free energy audits through the end of the year for 2-4 unit buildings. Up to $400 will be subsidized and the homeowner would pay $500 max. There are always programs and grants to help make your home more energy efficient. Even if you don’t take advantage of the rebates, air sealing and proper insulation will earn your money back quickly. Another big energy loss is through inefficient lighting. There is a free program to install compact fluorescent lights and low-flow faucets. East Village planning & development discussion We live in a changing neighborhood with many teardowns and new home construction. This could be seen as good fortune, but the EVA board has been discussing how we can continue a positive transition while maintaining the character of the neighborhood that draws people here in the first place. As a community group, we w

By Jason Nosek , library associate Chicago History Book Club Please join us at the West Town Branch at 6:30pm Tuesday, Dec. 3 as we discuss the classic work “ The Great Chicago Fire ” by Robert Cromie. The Chicago History Book Club explores the city’s history through reading and discussing books on events, themes, time periods and personalities that have contributed to making Chicago what it is today. If you cannot join us, stop by at 1625 W. Chicago Ave. to pick up our next book, the bestselling “ The Devil in the White City : Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America” by Erik Larson.

Buy your holiday gifts at participating Shop for Good businesses in Wicker Park & Bucktown and they will donate 10% of your purchases to the local school or nonprofit of your choice. Shop for Good runs Dec. 6-8. Shop at participating business in Wicker Park Bucktown and generate donations for for the Polish Triangle Coalition, a group that includes the East Village Association. Shop at participating Shop for Good businesses, find great gifts to purchase and generate a donation to your favorite local school or non-profit.    Request a duplicate receipt and write "Polish Triangle Coalition" on it. Request that duplicate receipt so your dollars count and Polish Triangle Coalition gets the 10% donation.    Place the duplicate receipt in the Shop for Good receipt box next to the register.    All instructions are on the Shop for Good receipt box, so it’s easy to Shop for Good.

President's Message By Neal McKnight The East Village is a beautiful neighborhood that is diverse in both people and architecture. However, as others have recognized the beauty of the East Village we have lost some of our diversity both in our people and our architecture. The board of the East Village Association is seeking to explore ways of promoting diverse and responsible development. Too often families that are longtime owners of beautiful and historic homes are offered no opportunity to sell their properties other than to a developer who will demolish the existing structures. Likewise many developers of larger remaining parcels seek zoning changes to accommodate more high-priced one-bedroom and studio apartments. These all-or-nothing propositions create a monochromatic East Village and undermine characteristics that make our community so attractive. The board of the East Village Association believes that now is the time to begin discussions on a number of topics: How ca