EVA members meet at West Town Bakery Cafe, 1916 W. Chicago Ave. Donation supports West Town Branch Library events EVA elected its 2026-27 officers on July 7, planned future meetings and approved a donation to support programs at the West Town Branch Library. Marjie Isaacson moved and Neal McKnight seconded accepting the slate, which was approved after brief introductions from the nominees: President Neal McKnight Vice President Christina Slaton Treasurer Brandon Winter Secretary (vacant) Newsletter/Webmaster Stephen Rynkiewicz Membership meetings were schedled to take place, starting in September, on the first Tuesday of the month at West Town Bakery Cafe, 1916 W. Chicago Ave.: Sept. 1 Oct. 6 Nov. 3 Dec. 1 Jan. 5 Feb. 2 March 2 East Village Association membership meeting July 7, 2026, West Town Bakery Cafe, 1916 W. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Neal McKnight, president Members suggested a school enrollment and board candidate forum before the...

1900 block of Chicago Avenue. /div> East Village Association membership meeting March 13, 2024, at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave.; Presiding: Jenifer Goldsmith, president By Jenifer Goldsmith EVA members voted in new officers, passed a resolution in support of lifting a liquor moratorium on Chicago Avenue and heard from the owner of a new neighborhood business. EVA is excited to welcome our 2024 fiscal board! President: Jenifer Goldsmith Vice President: Christina Slaton Interim Secretary: Neal McKnight Treasurer: Bob Zwolinski If you or someone you know is interested in joining the EVA board, we are still looking to fill the position of secretary. Please reach out to any board member to inquire. We also welcome your ideas and suggestions. New businesses on Chicago Avenue, Passages Wine and Books, 1911 W. Chicago Ave., and The Happy Hour Shop, 1919 W. Chicago Ave., are requesting a lift of the liquor moratorium on Chicago Avenue to apply for incidental liquor lice...

East Village Association membership meeting March 6, 2023, Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. By Neal McKnight EVA members reviewed plans March 6 for the Happy Village property, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave., and held the association's annual leadership election. Officers elected Members approved the officer slate for the year starting April 1: Christina Slaton, President Bob Zwolinski, VP Alison Coughlin, Treasurer Neal McKnight, Secretary Blue Line Run Club Jacque Pyne Rodriguez presented for the Blue Line Run Club. She discussed rules, times and routes. Prospective members can connect via Facebook or Instagram. Happy Village presentation Owner Jim Masterson, architect Martin Snow of SGW Architecture and Design, and zoning counsel Talar Berberian of Thompson Coburn presented plans and renderings. The group was compiimentary of the proposal and design. Concerns were raised regarding removing the patio wall. The consensus was the wall should remain to protect against noise. Th...

East Village Association membership meeting March 1, 2021, on Zoom. Presiding: Neal McKnight, director Not all Chicagoans can put solar panels on their roofs, but solar farms on the other side of the state can provide their energy and a ComEd bill credit. Alternative electric suppliers have made residential customers wary over a quarter-century of marketing in Illinois, so community solar offerings have had a more modest rollout. Brent Buchberger, project development manager at Engie Distributed Solar , gave a soft-sell presentation March 1 on the Morrison, Illinois solar project for which EVA President John Gantner was civil engineer. A 2017 law authorized the Illinois Shines program, which gives homeowners and renters financial incentives to support solar farms. The Citizens Utility Board says energy supply credits are similar to the savings from installing panels on your own property. Engie subscribers get a $100 signing bonus.

As restaurants closed in the coronavirus outbreak, EVA members met in an April 13 Zoom video conference East Village Association membership meeting April 13, 2020, via Zoom. Presiding: John Gantner, president EVA's first Zoom meeting likely won't be the last. Members logged on in an April 13 video conference to brainstorm ways to support the West Town community in what promises to be a slow transition from lockdown to the new normal. President John Gantner said donations to support local COVID-19 relief drained half the EVA treasury, and solicited feedback on other intitiatives to support. Members noted restaurant closings and delayed openings, and cancellation of the Do Division and West Fest Chicago street festivals. A thread on the Community Page for Ukrainian Village lists restaurants still open for takeout and delivery. In a long lockdown, some temporary closings are likely to become permanent. Openings may come with lower occupancy limits, as in Austria and Den...

Organizations supporting local healthcare professionals, hospitality workers and artists to receive $1,000 each from neighborhood group The iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund donates protective medical products to Illinois healthcare workers and first responders. The East Village Association, an organization of residents in the East Village neighborhood of Chicago, today committed $3,000 to help alleviate the economic impacts of the fight against the COVID-19 virus. The donation is to be split among three charities: Arts for Illinois : The Arts for Illinois Relief Fund provides support for artists and performers impacted by COVID-19; The Lee Initiative : Working in collaboration with the Fifty/50 Restaurant Group Charities, The Lee Initiative is providing food support for Chicago-based restaurant and foodservice workers unable to work during this crisis; and iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund : The iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund coordinates direct purchase of protective medical products to...

A developer withdrew demolition plans for 2047 W. Augusta Blvd. after discussions with the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association East Village Association membership meeting March 2, Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Michael VanDam, president Worker's Cottage Preservation in Ukrainian Village Kimberly Shannon, treasurer of the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association, discussed efforts to expand the Ukrainian Village landmark district. In discussions with UVNA, a developer agreed not to raze a worker's cottage at 2047 W. Augusta and to place the house back on the market. Other worker's cottages and 3-flats are worth preservation as well. Shannon asks EVA to support preserving such buildings by extending the Ukrainian Village Landmark District along Augusta Boulevard from Leavitt to Damen. A proposal has not been submitted, but the Department of Planning and Preservation Chicago indicate that Chicago may be more willing to consider blocks that mix new...

The East Village Association has elected its current officers to serve for the next year. President Michael VanDam is the only officer who has served a full year in his position; three have been appointed to vacancies. A nominating committee of VanDam, Dan Johnson and Neal McKnight recommends that current officers serve till March 2019. The slate was elected by acclamation March 5 at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. The meeting included a presentation by members of the Polish Triangle Coalition on plans for the Ashland-Division-Milwaukee plaza and CTA station. EVA board members are appointed by the president. Here are short biographies on EVA's officers: Michael VanDam , president I've lived in East Village for more than 10 years, and in Chicago for more than 25. I grew up in Michigan and attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, before coming back to the Midwest. Living directly on Chicago Avenue, I'm particularly interested in promoting responsib...

Work continues on an apartment conversion at 1038 N. Ashland Ave. West Town residents come here to learn about the East Village Association , read its Planning, Preservation & Development guidelines, check the Chicago crime map or renew their membership . In addition, EVA news posts throughout the year reflect community interest in development, public safety and other issues. Most-read posts of 2017 suggest what has attracted neighbors' interest. Here are the top posts with updates on where things stand: Restaurant plan shakes Damen neighbors: Plans for a burger bar at 820 N. Damen Ave., now an auto mechanic's garage, have not progressed since an August hearing. Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) proposed and the City Council approved a moratorium on new tavern and packaged-goods licenses along Damen Avenue, from Chicago Avenue to Augusta Boulevard. Restaurants are not affected. The license freeze also covers Chicago Avenue from Leavitt Street to Damen.

Michael VanDam , president I've lived in East Village for more than 8 years, and in Chicago for more than 20. I grew up in Michigan and attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, before coming back to the Midwest. Living on Chicago Avenue, I'm particularly interested in promoting responsible development on the commercial corridors of East Village.

Wells Community Academy High School principal Rituparna Raichoudhuri East Village Association minutes for March 6, 2017, by Daniel Navarro Officer Elections President - Michael VanDam Vice President - Daniel Navarro Treasurer - Peter Gariepy Secretary - Michelle Hayward Call for nominations from the floor - no such nominations. Call to vote - all approved. Stephen Rynkiewicz appointed webmaster/newsletter editor. Discussion with Principal Rita Raichoudhuri of Wells High School Progress on World Language Academy at Wells: Several elementary school teach foreign language, but there is no high school college-prep program for language. Initial thought was to a new building as a language academy; this was changed to moving it towards an existing facility. Wells has improved to a level 2+, close to a level 1. Wells needs students, as more students = more funds. The language academy would assist in bringing more students. Parents vote at end of March to pursue a pilot progra...

EVA has championed redevelopment of St. Boniface Church since it closed in 1990. East Village is a magnet for young professionals and the developers who follows them. EVA's most popular posts of 2016 follow the progress of St. Boniface, Pure Dairy, Ace on Ashland and other developments. Neighbors fight new St. Boniface apartment plan March 31: Neighbors of St. Boniface organized to save St. Boniface Church at 1358 W. Chestnut St. A threat to raze the church drew new interest in preserving the site, an EVA goal since the church closed in 1990. Stas Development finally stalled demolition in a last-minute deal to buy the site. An open house this coming Tuesday will preview the construction timeline for condos and a music hall . Planning, Preservation & Development Ongoing: Expansion of Chicago's Transit Oriented Development rules, which waives parking space requirements near rail lines, drew contractors to EVA's development guidelines, which discourage one-off...

Daniel Johnson chairs an EVA meeting at Happy Village. Daniel Johnson is serving a second term as president of the East Village Association, with secretary Michael VanDam moving up to vice president. New to the board are accountant Peter Gariepy as treasurer and Northwestern Medicine data analyst Daniel Navarro as secretary. Both Johnson and VanDam have taken on new jobs in the past year, Johnson as partner in a newly formed litigation law firm and VanDam as an Ask Nagel real estate agent.

A feisty exchange between East Village Association members and a local alderman drew wide interest in 2015. Efforts to reopen the Club Foot bar drew a crowd to EVA's September meeting. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno expanded the debate, saying he'd consider opening East Village to new tavern licenses. The 1st Ward alderman warned EVA members that he doesn't feel bound to follow the group's guidance, and signaled his vote for a city budget that increased taxes and fees by $755 million. Posts on the Club Foot site at 1824 W. Augusta Blvd., including audio of Moreno's comments, drew links from Facebook groups, EveryBlock, DNAinfo and Chicagoist. The East Village freeze on tavern licenses sprung from EVA's longstanding role advising local aldermen on zoning and licensing. The moratorium encouraged East Village's growth as a restaurant hotspot, and community votes approved of exceptions such as the Forbidden Root taproom planned for 1746 W. Chicago Ave.

East Village Association's annual summer event brought neighbors together for food and drink, plus a bounce house for the kids. Find more photos on the EVA Facebook page.

Catherine Garypie and Gladys Anselmo review photos destined for the Chicago History Museum. In its 30-plus years, the East Village Association has generated a substantial paper trail: Countless letters to city officials tell the stories of everything from graffiti paint-outs and crime watches to landmarking and tree plantings. And there were barbecues, holiday parties and protest marches. It's quite a history. But it was also likely to have disappeared into obscurity. Organizing these files is a formidable task, and the documentation was scattered in the basements, attics and garages of various former officers. Early EVA outreach on the Pizza Hut corner at Division and Ashland. Now, that history will be available in perpetuity to future researchers of urban development, as part of the archives of the Research Center at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. The Research Center is interested in East Village’s role in citizen action movements and community and neighborhoo...

Another week, another election: East Village Association members will vote Monday, March 2, for the group's president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. There'll also be details on the runoff for 2nd Ward alderman. EVA will co-sponsor a debate between finalists Brian Hopkins and Alyx Pattison March 24 at Columbus School, 1003 N. Leavitt St. Crain's Chicago Business political editor Greg Hinz will moderate. The city runoff election is April 7.

Craft brewer Forbidden Root tapped a rich seam last year. EVA backed its plans for a brewery and tap room, now headed toward a May opening. Curious readers came to the East Village Association website for months preceding a May community vote to allow a tavern license and commercial rezoning at 1746 W. Chicago Ave. Half the 10 most-viewed pages on the site were devoted to the issue. Two longtime development issues were also in the top 10: apartment plans for the onetime AAA Distributing warehouse at 1850 W. Chicago, and a bid to lure a Trader Joe's grocery to the former Miller Lumber site at 1815 W. Division St. A site refresh added popular topic pages on EVA, its development review process and a community resource list. Here are EVA's top 10 pages from 2014: Chicago Avenue zoning crafts a better community Planning, Preservation & Development About EVA Shopping for solution to Trader Joe's traffic Forbidden Root alternatives brewing EVA seeks Fifield a...

Preservation Chicago's Erica Ruggiero briefs EVA members at Happy Village. East Village Association minutes for Nov. 3, 2014, submitted by Catherine Garypie HISTORIC PRESERVATION: Erica Ruggiero, Preservation Chicago advocacy director Chicago's demolition delay ordinance relies on properties identified in the 1995 Chicago Historic Resources Survey . The survey's original purpose wasn't to support the ordinance, yet that's how the city identifies properties to preserve. Buildings are identified by color: RED properties possess some architectural feature or historical association that made them potentially significant in the city, state or nation. About 300 properties are categorized as Red. ORANGE properties possess some architectural feature or historical association that made them potentially significant in the community. About 9,600 properties are categorized as Orange. GREEN, YELLOW-GREEN, and YELLOW properties are generally considered either too al...