Alderman Daniel La Spata was the June 11 EVA guest speaker. Wood Street greenway improvements will make the street one way southbound traffic for vehicles from Crystal to Division and Cortez to Augusta, while maintaining two-way bike lanes. "A lot of people use Wood Street as a cut-through," Ald. Daniel La Spata told EVA members at the June 11 meeting. "They were simply using Wood Street to avoid the congestion along Milwaukee Avenue or Augusta." Updates on the project are on the 1st Ward website . The annnual East Village Block Party will be Aug. 9 on the 800 block of North Winchester, starting at noon with entertainment from School of Rock. The bounce house returns for kids. Bring a dish to share; there will be pizza from Roots and cake balls from West Town Bakery.

Damen Avenue is under zoning review north of Chicago Avenue. East Village Association membership meeting Jan. 10. 2024 at Roots West Town, 1924 W. Chicago Ave., Neal McKnight presiding 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 ...

New York City's food waste collection containers feature a catch to deter rats. By Marjie Isaacson Chicago residents soon may have a drop-off option for responsibly disposing of food waste, provided free by the city’s Department of Street and Sanitation. Food waste sites throughout the city will be a welcome development. Chicago has long been lagging behind many metropolitan areas in addressing the food waste problem. When organic materials are sent to the landfill, they emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Avoiding this result is an important strategy in mitigating the effects of climate change. In addition, Streets and San is restarting the distribution of backyard compost bins. Composting at home is the most environmentally friendly way of managing organic wastes, but not everyone has the space or desire to do so. Chicago's food waste collection will start this August or soon...

An Augusta Boulevard bike lane is reconfigured to hug the sidewalk, away from traffic. East Village Association membership meeting May 1, 2023, at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Christina Slaton, president By Jenifer Goldsmith EVA hosted aldermen Daniel La Spata (1st) and Gilbert Villegas (36th) for an update on ward news and introduced the new officers and plans for a neighborhood block party on Aug. 19. 1st Ward: Bike lanes, LaSalle II field, migrant needs La Spata reviewed plans for the new protected bike lane on Augusta Boulevard from Western Avenue to Milwaukee Avenue. He is hopeful for connected bike access through the neighborhoods, but pointed out each alderperson is responsible for coordinating in their own ward, which makes it difficult to design citywide. He is looking into creating safe north-south routes with a focus on moving forward on Wood Street. Three different designs will be revealed for the project in late May. La Spata will be serving on the...

A snowplow clears the Polish Triangle at Division and Ashland. A participatory budgeting proposal would explore plaza beautification. Here's your chance to spend $1 million on street work. By Marjorie Isaacson It’s time to vote! No, not in that election, the one for mayor and alderman on Feb. 28. For 1st Ward residents, this is an opportunity to spend $1 million in ward infrastructure money. Participatory budgeting is a resident-led vote to identify and fund projects that are important to the community. Ideas are solicited, then a team of volunteer residents reviews them and develops them into proposals, then residents can choose their preferences. Voting is underway now and closes Feb. 5. The highest voted-on projects listed are what the alder will spend the money on, maybe with some adjusting to stay within the $1 million limit. Whether the projects get done will be subject to many things, but straightforward ones will be done&mdassh;if more votes come in for street r...

By Marjorie Isaacson Do you have an idea for an infrastructure improvement in the 1st Ward? Some of your neighbors do, and they are trying to get them funded in next year’s city budget. Here are some of the proposals from the 1st Ward Participatory Budgeting process: Alley repairs along Western and Artesian, north of Wabansia Curbs and sidewalks on the 1300 block of North Moorman Playlot or dog park at 1607-11 W. Chicago There are 76 proposals registered on the Participatory Budgeting website. The time for submitting ideas has been extended, and additional ideas can be added until Oct. 5.

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...

Plans are in motion to repave Wood Street, but with few details about separate bicycle lanes. East Village Association membership meeting May 2, 2022, Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Bob Zwolinski, treasurer Wheels are turning on Wood Street's proposed bicycle lanes. The Chicago Department of Transportation has not presented a plan and EVA has been unable to connect with CDOT, but Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) expects details to emerge in the next month. "On the Wood Street bike lane, please know that CDOT continues to have this project under review," La Spata wrote EVA via email. "All of the feedback we receive from residents continues to be passed on. Whenever CDOT comes back to us with design alternatives, we will make sure to notify the public." La Spata asked for time to present to EVA members at the June meeeting and expects by then to "have clarity" on the project. One group of neighbors are circulating fliers for an onlin...

EVA members review the Rules Committee map May 2 at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. EVA members discussed Chicago's ward boundaries May 2 after board members drafted a letter to support a ward consolidating much of West Town within the 1st Ward. Presiding officer Bob Zwolinski asked for member comment before sending the final draft to Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward), who chairs the City Council Rules Committee. Here is the approved letter: May 5, 2022 Alderman Michelle Harris 8th Ward Re: Support of Rules Committee Ward Map Dear Alderman Harris, The East Village Association, Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association, Chicago Grand Neighbors Association, and Wicker Park Committee have come together to express our support for the ward map as proposed by the Rules Committee. For the first time in many years, the map as proposed brings our neighborhoods together. We appreciate that you have taken our input and drawn boundaries for the 1st Ward t...

A 1st Ward proposal would make Wood Street northbound from Grand Avenue to Ellen Street for protected bike lanes. East Village Association membership meeting Feb. 7, 2022, on Zoom. Presiding: Dan Johnson, director A proposal to change the traffic flow on Wood Street drew a crowd to EVA's monthly meeting. Many neighbors wondered why they hadn't heard about the plan earlier. East Village is likely to remain in multiple wards, 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins told East Village Association members Feb. 7. The online meeting highlighted the problems with a divided territory when attendees aired concerns about 1st Ward plans for bike lane improvements. "If it were up to me, and I say this with some sense of irony, I like my ward, I really do," Hopkins told the 50 attendees, addressing dueling City Council redistricting proposals . "I like representing your neighborhood and I lose it under both versions and I'm sorry that it's happening. ... It's part of ...

Following EVA's Nov. 1 meeting, the Greater West Town Community Coalition sent a letter on City Council ward boundaries Nov. 8 to Chicago aldermen. Signatories were the Chicago Grand Neighbors Association, Commercial Park Advisory Council, East Village Association, Eckhart Park Community Council, Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association, Wicker Park Advisory Council, Wicker Park Committee and Wicker Park Garden Club. Neighborhood communities must stay unified in order to serve the constituents, ensure public safety, and address common needs. We, the community called West Town, are comprised of closely knit neighborhoods represented by the undersigned neighborhood associations. We insist the alderpeople and their respective caucuses create a ward map for the City of Chicago that unifies our connected neighborhoods into as few wards as possible rather than excessively dividing our community. Our neighborhood associations represent contiguous communities including but not limite...

Damon Smith and Chaundra Van Dyk of Change Illinois organized "people's map" hearings. East Village Association membership meeting Nov. 1, 2021, 1019 N. Wolcott Ave. Presiding: Michael VanDam West Town's diverse community groups will be flexing their muscle this month to influence a ward remap that threatens to divide them. Guests advised members of the East Village Association and neighboring organizations Nov. 1 to reach out to aldermen and lobby for more cohesive, responsive wards. "We have to have sharp elbows too," said Andrew Schneider, Logan Square Preservation president. "Don't believe the map has to look this way." The odds are stacked against East Village retaining its current representatives. Daniel La Spata's 1st Ward is likely to follow migration northwest or risk losing its Latino majority. Brian Hopkins' lobster-shaped 2nd Ward is expected to sacrifice its western claw to consolidate around the Lincoln Yards ...

Who will represent East Village for the next decade? Chicago aldermen will negoatiate their ward boundaries in November. Their first proposal splits the neighborhood between two wards spanning the city: one stretching west to Central Avenue and another east a mile short of Lake Michigan. EVA members will review Chicago's shape-shifting political jurisdictions at the community group's Nov. 1 meeting. Joining the discussion will be Chicago historian Daniel Pogorzelski, Logan Square Preservation president Andrew Schneider and Change Illinois project manager Chaundra Van Dyk. The meeting starts at 7pm in The Mitz event space, the former Lincoln Public Baths building at 1019 N. Wolcott Ave. NOTE: Masks are required for all attendees. Per Executive Order 2021-10, Private Property may still require all persons to wear face masks regardless of vaccination status.

1st Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata answers questions on Zoom. East Village Association membership meeting Oct. 5, 2020 via Zoom; Presiding: Michelle Hayward, vice president Chicago's eased COVID-19 restrictions this month do not sacrifice public health, insists Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward). "There was actual data behind them," including a drop in COVID-19 cases, La Spata told EVA members Oct. 5 via Zoom. City inspections quickly brought a few businesses into compliance with early reopening guidelines. Residents need to do their part to stay safe, but mask wearing is not targeted for enforcement.

Bird general manager Robbie Zettler and senior manager Kelley Foxx East Village Association membership meeting Sept. 9, 2019, Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Presiding: Michael VanDam, president Bird picks up 250 of its scooters every night and redistributes them for the morning commute, general manager Robbie Zettler told EVA members Sept. 9. Yet with 10 companies in Chicago's June-to-October scooter trial, it's hard for any of them to commit more resources to clear scooter clutter. Chicago requires scooter vendors to respond to complaints within two hours, says government partnership manager Kelley Foxx. Bird aims for a 30 minute turnaround, Foxx says. Fielding questions on scooter safety, technology and future plans from the Happy Village patio, Foxx said he expects the city to winnow the field down to a more manageable three companies.

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.

The East Village Association has asked 1st Ward Ald. Proco Joe Moreno to support creation of a citywide college preparatory program in foreign languages at Wells Community Academy High School, 936 N. Ashland Ave. President Michael VanDam sent Moreno this statement on March 10: "I am writing on behalf of the East Village Association to express our strong support for the selection of Wells High School as the charter location for the proposed World Language Academy currently under consideration. "After hearing from Principal Raichoudhuri at our meeting on March 6, 2017, the members of EVA voted unanimously to express support for this initiative. "We believe that the Language Academy would be an excellent complement to their current Computer Science and Law Academies, and that Principal Raichoudhuri, as one of the primary driving forces behind the Language Academy pilot program, is uniquely qualified to ensure its success. "We also wanted to express our than...

Plans to revive the Club Foot bar have fallen apart, but 1st Ward Ald. Proco Joe Moreno said he would support lifting a tavern license moratorium at the Augusta Boulevard site. "I am very seriously considering lifting all moratoriums in East Village because they are old ways of dealing with protections in our city," he told EVA members Sept. 14. Moreno also said he'd support a $500 million property tax increase to balance the Chicago budget. He noted that his proposal for a city tax on smokeless tobacco would need a new state law, and claimed that tax increment financing has been abused, although he'd keep the 1st Ward's TIF district. Ed Marszewski, Club Foot's prospective new owner, did not attend the meeting. But Moreno said Marszewski couldn't get a lease at 1824 W. Augusta Blvd.

East Village Association minutes for Jan. 5, 2015, submitted by Catherine Garypie CANDIDATE ALYX PATTISON (2nd Ward) Alyx Pattison lives in Ukrainian Village and serves on the local school council at José de Diego school. Raised in a working class Utah family, her grandfather founded a local miners union. Everyone in family was laid off at some point. Growing up, "Mom was on and off food stamps. Government helped my family" with food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid. Pattison went to Northwestern law school. She moved here 17 years ago to work for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Raised in working class family, "I believe in the power of government to do right by society. Government can offer a hand up not a hand out. Block by block we can build communities." Pattison works for a law firm as a securities litigator. Priorities for 2nd Ward & City as a whole? Schools Crime Lack of faith citizens have in city government Budget issues and continued borrowing

1st Ward candidates Andrew Hamilton, Ronda Locke, Proco "Joe" Moreno, Anne Shaw answered questions Jan. 29 in Wells Community Academy High School auditorium. Here's the first part of the 90-minute event moderated by Alden Loury of the Better Government Association. The introduction is by East Village Association president Neal McKnight. The event was sponsored by Chicago Grand Neighbors Association, Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association and West Town Neighbors Association. Find DNAinfo coverage of the event here .