What is EVA's Damen Avenue zoning vision?

By -
Storefront and apartmenets.Damen Avenue is under zoning review north of Chicago Aveneue.

Damen Avenue's strip-mall zoning does not reflect the apartments and small shops on East Village's western border. How can EVA support a new vision?

EVA's January meeting continued a discussion of Damen Avenue zoning. Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) has encouraged a proactive zoning review for the former 2nd Ward stretch. A 2019 plan fizzled for a tavern at at 820 N. Damen Ave. surrounded by apartments. Renovation of the former Grace Auto Body stopped at least six months ago.

EVA board member Neal McKnight suggested downzoning Damen from Chicago to Division while extending the current Ukrainian Village and East Village landmark districts. Both commercial and residential zoning for Damen had advocates in the January member disucssion.

McKnight summarized November's zoning discussion with the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association. Most of Damen is in a B3 "community shopping district," which includes shopping centers and large store. Current zoning might suspport national retailers or strip-center uses such as the 7-Eleven at 1508 N, Damen Ave.

Chicago also has B2 mixed-use and B1 reighborhood shopping, both of which allow ground-floor retail. Mixed-use zoning can limit the uses adjoining residential or R-zoned lots.

Zoning mapChicago zoning and land use map for Damen Avenue.

Damen uses are largely residential, and Villegas' staff indicates that the alderman would support downzoning thata does not conflict with current uses. Landmark districts restrict not use but street-level appearance; the Chicago Historic Resources Survey lists 21 Damen addresses between Chicago anad Division with historic and architectural importance.

A member vote is likely to precede a recommendation to Villegas and Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st), whose ward extends north from Augusta Boulevard.

A brief public safety discussion ended the meeting. Both aldermen are concerned about property use in connection with gang activity. A March 19 primary referendum in the 36th Ward reportedly will seek reopening of the Chicago Police 13th District.

Development at 820 N. Damen lot has stalled.

Bone up on zoning

Tom Tomek business card
Anselmo @properties business card,
Ask Nagel business card.

Popular posts from this blog

Crime puts La Spata on the spot

By -
Image
Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) speaks to East Village Association members June 13, 2022. Weekend gunfire turned a scheduled meeting with Ald. Daniel LaSpata into an hourlong discussion of public safety. Residents pressed the alderman on police response to calls and his own response to violent crime. The June 13 meeting was streamed on EVA's Facebook page . La Spata stated that the number of aggravated batteries and carjackings had fallen in East Village's two beats but a rise of robberies had been "frustrating." In weekly calls with 12th District Cmdr. Beth Giltmier, La Spata said he pushed for Chicago Avenue foot patrols. Residents asked if more street cameras would be installed in the ward, noting that early morning shots fired on their block two days before had no police response for more than an hour. La Spata said cameras were funded from the ward's discretionary "menu money" but he would not commit to funding cameras without consulting Giltmi
Read more

Ald. Villegas gets to know East Village

By -
Image
36th Ward Ald. Gilbert Villegas meets East Vlllage Association members Sept. 12, 2022 at Roots Pizza. East Village Association membership meeting Sept. 12, 2022, at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Dan Johnson, director East Village again is split in Chicago's City Council redistricting. Ald. Gilbert Villegas introduced himself to East Village Association members Sept. 12. In turn, members sounded him out on how he works with community groups on neighborhood issues. The remap pushes Villegas' 36th Ward boundaries east along Grand Avenue from Belmont Cragin into East Village. A West Town satellite office at 2246 W. Chicago Ave. is staffed Tuesday through Thursday. "I ran in 2019 under an acronym that I still use today, which is PEACE—Public Safety, Education Accountability, City Services and Economic Development," Villegas told EVA members before taking questions. "I'm not an alderman that's about defunding the police. I'm an alderma
Read more