A chessboard overlooks the playground at Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice St. East Village Association membership meeting July 10, 2023, at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Christina Slaton, president By Jenifer Goldsmith The Commercial Park Advisory Council joined EVA to discuss upcoming events in the park, followed by plans for the East Village Block Party on Saturday, Aug. 19, a brainstorming session about engaging local artists and galleries, and an open floor discussion of neighborhood news. Commercial Park Advisory Council President Michelle Hitsch and Treasurer Amy Bilton presented all the upcoming fall and winter events at Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice St.. There are many opportunities to get involved and enjoy the park and your neighbors! These include: Rhonda Locke Movies in the field: Puss in Boots, 7/22 at 8:15 pm; Top Gun: Maverick, 8/17 at 8 pm (bring a blanket or chair; concessions benefit the committee) Block Party: The Commercial Park party on 9/9...

EVA is supporting Earth Day with a cleanup and COVID-safe crafts April 17 at Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice St. Gloves and tools will be available. There'll be water, juice boxes and Dark Matter coffee, and we'll be giving away 2 Christy Webber Farm & Garden swag baskets. From 10am until noon we will be cleaning Commercial, Honore, Superior and Snowberry parks, as well as the surrounding neighborhood. We will provide lunch at noon for our volunteers (from the awesome Takorea Cocina!) and from noon until 2 pm there will be spring themed crafts at the park for kids. All cleanup participants must stop by Commercial Park before heading out to clean in order to sign a waiver and pick up bags and gloves. (You must wear a mask in the parks!) We ask that you sign up so we can maintain social distancing (and so we know how much food to order). Please make sure that all members of your group are included on the signup. Last minute attendees are welcome, but we can't guarante...

East Village Association board meeting minutes, April 14, 2014 Submitted by Catherine Garypie Fifield project, 1822-50 W. Chicago Ave. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno stated that the Fifield Cos. can build 39 units as of right, but the new plan is to upzone for 59 units. The Fifield position is: We can do more bedrooms at the higher zoning but we’re not, and we can do a higher floor-area ratio but we’re not. Fifield does not feel it can build a connection to Commercial Park as requested at the last EVA board meeting. Fifield wants to build a larger building than allowed, so the law requires on-site affordable units on-site or a donation to the Chicago Low-Income Housing Affordable Trust Fund. Fifield wants to make a donation to the fund. The city has determined that legally this donation cannot be a space donation to a nonprofit, as EVA has discussed . Moreno expressed a general concern with developers donating to the fund instead of providing affordable housing, absence extreme circumsta...

East Village Association membership meeting minutes, January 13, 2014 Submitted by Meghan Quinn Planning, Preservation & Development: Forbidden Root, 1746 W. Chicago Ave. A new brewery and taproom is interested in moving into the former Hub Theater space at 1746 W. Chicago Ave. They will need the liquor moratorium lifted in order to sell packaged goods, and they also need zoning changed from B to C to produce beer on site. EVA has worked to purposefully downzone from C to B in a lot of the commercial strip areas to keep out unwanted light industry uses such as dry cleaning and auto services. Additionally, from an urban planning standpoint, commercial zoning adjacent to residential zoning and spot zoning are not ideal practices. There are some existing C zoned areas close by on Grand Avenue that would work well for a project such as this one. At this point, the planning committee is against the upzone and moratorium lift, as it goes against what they have been working toward f...

1822-50 W. Chicago Ave., January 2013 rendering Revised plans for a vacant stretch of Chicago Avenue would build additional apartments without enclosed parking across from Commercial Park. Developer Chris Fifield, of Fifield Construction & Realty, proposes 59 apartments and added retail space in a four-story building at 1822-50 W. Chicago Ave. The East Village Association board meets Monday to review the proposal at 6:30pm, a block away from the site at West Town Bakery & Diner, 1916 W. Chicago Ave. First-floor retail spaces are still planned on either side of a central entrance, topped by three apartment floors. But instead of enclosed parking, the latest drawings from the Pappageorge Haymes Partners architectural firm indicate 58 angle parking spaces and a trash enclosure accessed from the brick-paved Commercial Park alley. Only three parking spaces are reserved for the stores. Units range from 498 to 1,438 square feet and include 5 studio, 18 1-bedroom, 24 2-bedroom and...

By Ronda Locke Midnight Circus' child-friendly show returns to Commercial Park in October. The big top will rise in our little park at 1845 W. Rice St. for shows Saturday, Oct. 12th at 2 & 5pm and Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 & 4pm. The fund-raising performances for Chicago parks will be staged at Commercial Park and 10 other city parks this year. See it in our park! Tickets are on sale at circusintheparks.org The Commercial Park Advisory Council is looking to help a local nonprofit and subsidize some of the bulk ticket purchases, and is looking for volunteers the weekend of the event. "Men In Black 3" is showing in the park gym Friday, Sept. 13. Advisory council members successfully applied for PLAYS equipment grants for all three local playlots: Snowberry (Huron at Wolcott) Superior (at Hoyne) and Honore (just north of Iowa). If you live in the area and have ideas, please let me know so that we can connect you with leaders for each project. LaSalle II Outdo...

Western Park, 907 N. Western Ave. By Ronda Locke Four local playgrounds are scheduled for renovation next year, Ald. Proco Joe Moreno announced Thursday. Monticello (1814 N. Monticello), Snowberry (1855 W. Huron), Superior (2101 W. Superior) and Western (907 N. Western) playlots were selected. "Our communities made a superior case to the Chicago Plays! program, which is run by Friends of the Parks," Moreno said. "The commitment and enthusiasm of our community was clear to the Chicago Park District and Friends of the Parks." The Commercial Park Advisory Council helps to oversee three local playlots: Honore, Superior and Snowberry. We applied for three grants offered up by Chicago Park District and helped facilitated by Friends of the Parks. We received a note about a month or so ago among some 50 granted across the city, all three of our requests were granted. We are still waiting for details, but per the alderman, we understand that he is willing to kick in and...

The East Village Association is joining the Commercial Park Advisory Council Aug. 3 to produce the Ultimate Block Party. EVA's annual barbecue will extend from 2 till 7 pm on the 1800 block of West Rice Street as part of a Commercial Park community event rescheduled from June 15. ` Two bounce houses, a dunk tank and more entertainment are in the works. Bring a side dish to share – grilled meats and drinks will be provided. Last year's EVA summer barbecue followed the block-party format and generated much lively conversation with neighbors and a bit of envy from Chicago Avenue passers-by.

East Village Association board neeting minutes for June 17, 2013 Submitted by Meghan Quinn Upcoming Speakers Peter Locke suggested we approach businesses we would like to see in our neighborhood to speak at a membership meeting. We could ask questions as to what it would take to bring them to the neighborhood, perhaps a second location of their business. Eckhart Park is having Shakespeare in the Park. A coordinator will come speak at the July membership meeting. A Bus Rapid Transit representative will hopefully speak at the July membership meeting about the Ashland BRT plans. Neal McKnight will follow up. EVA Block Party Since the Commercial Park block party was cancelled due to weather, the suggestion was made to team up and schedule our block party to coincide with the rescheduled Commercial Park party and have one larger party. Peter Locke will coordinate, more info to come.

Volunteers studying the future of the 13th District police station are paying close attention to a second online poll on new uses for the site. In circulating the survey, working group member Ronda Locke takes note of one option the EVA board continues to investigate: leveraging the police property to expand Commercial Park . Ald. Proco Joe Moreno "is supportive" of a land swap, Locke says, but unless the poll backs housing on the police site "it will be a hard sell regardless of EVA's recommendation." The working group advising Moreno is committed what the "community most wants," Locke said. The first survey circulated in August before the city revealed that it would raze the 937 N. Wood St. building soon after police move to a new station at 1412 S. Blue Island Ave. A land swap is one of 16 options in the new poll, ranging from community garden to electric vehicle charging station. A police substation is not among the choices. The survey asks p...

Minutes for Sept. 17 East Village Association board meeting submitted by Stephen Rynkiewicz Upcoming Meetings: Oct 1 - Energy Impact Illinois; Nov 5 - Cook County Board of Review Pedestrian Designation: Motion passes to recommend city extend Chicago Avenue pedestrian street designation east to Noble Street (moved by Scott Rappe, seconded by Neal McKnight). West Town Chamber/SSA Expansion: McKnight will schedule meeting with Ald. Waguespack. 30th Anniverary Celebration: Event raised $3,000 for West Town library; expenses estimated at $750. Frankie Machine Community Garden: EVA will contribute to build birdbath. Planning, Preservation & Development: Villa shoe store at 1555 W. Division has been rezoned B3-2. Following an inquiry, a developer will be invited to present a plan to upzone AAA Distributing Co. site at 1834-50 W. Chicago to B3-3 for first-floor retail and 70 residential units. EVA directors discussed an alternative plan: to swap the Chicago Avenue prope...

By Ronda Locke How exciting! Circus in the Parks is winner of Time Out Chicago Kids' Hipsqueak award . If you have not gotten tickets yet, you better soon. All eight shows over the first two weeks were sold out. Don't forget, Commercial Park hosts Circus in the Parks on Oct. 6 & 7.

By Ronda Locke We were lucky last year to get Circus in the Parks at Commercial Park and will have it for at least one more year: Oct. 6 & 7. It is an incredible two-hour performance with top-notch performers from as far as Montreal and Europe. Last year we sold out two of our four weekend shows and expect to sell out this year. Ticket proceeds are split between seven participating parks for improvements. Commercial Park's advisory council, for which I have volunteered for the last eight years, offers free weekly programs such as gardening, storytime, art sessions and free annual holiday parties. We strive support park staff in improving Commercial Park at 1845 W. Rice St. plus three local playlots; Snowberry (Huron & Wolcott), Superior (at Hoyne) and Honore (just north of Iowa). While Commercial has a new playground as of 2008, the three pocket parks need help. Please give back to your community by attending and sharing show details with anyone who wants to see an in...

Chicago will demolish the Wood Street police station in October to make way for a city park. "The city determined that it was too costly for anyone to renovate the 13th district building," Moreno said in an Aug. 9 statement. Architects Peter Frisbee and Grace Rappe set a ballpark estimate of $4 million to $6 million to upgrade the building at 937 N. Wood St. As members of the alderman's working group with Catherine Garypie, Ronda Locke, and Audrey Rath, they met Aug. 7 with representatives of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the park district, police and the city's buildings and Housing and Economic Development departments. A majority of 351 respondents to the working group's online survey would raze the station for outdoor use, Moreno noted. The group will lead community meetings and poll residents on park uses. Its report is due as police move in October to a consolidated station house at 1412 S. Blue Island Ave. The goal is to have a new park installed this spring, wit...

Commercial Park HUGE two day garage sale March 31 and April 1, 10am-3pm. Rent a table for $30 and sell their own stuff OR donate items to the park at 1845 W. Rice Street. Tax letter available upon request. Contact Georgiaburke@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

By Ronda Locke The Commercial Park Advisory Council has worked hard to be a part of the Circus in the Parks tour this year. On Oct. 15 & 16, Midnight Circus will give four shows in the little big top at Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice St. Proceeds will go toward improvements at Commercial Park and the two playlots the advisory council oversees, Snowberry (1851-57 W. Huron) and Superior (2101 W. Superior). Midnight Circus gives an incredible show, and I am certain it will be the most fun you will have doing good. Performances are 2 & 5 pm Oct. 15 and 1 & 4 pm Oct. 16. Tickets are $15 at circusintheparks.org .

Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice, hosted the annual East Village summer social event. August 8, 2011 board minutes submitted by Dana Palmer Annual BBQ follow-up Picnic raised more than $350 for new East Village signs. KK Goh will e-mail Greg Nagel the attendance list and Nagel will email those who attended to invite them to attend an EVA meeting. Dana Palmer will send thank-you letters to all businesses who donated for the raffle: Wicker Park Fitness, Tres Biene Nail Salon, The Boundary, Greenheart, Moonshine, Black Dog and Super Dog Walking. A thank you also will be sent to the Commercial Park Advisory Council for allowing EVA to reserve the park for the occasion.

Bring the family to enjoy the film "Toy Story 3" at Commercial Park on Friday, Jan. 28. Doors open for dinner at 5:30 p.m. and a movie at 7 in the gym at 1845 W. Rice. A donation of $1 is suggested for the screening and pizza is available for $1.50 a slice. The event is being underwritten by the law firm of McKnight, Kitzinger, McCarty & Pravdic and 1st Ward Ald. Proco Joe Moreno, said Rhonda Locke of the Commercial Park Advisory Council.