The closed St. Maria Addolorata church, 528 N. Ada. 'A winning solution will be found' East Village Association membership meeting April 9, 2025, at Roots Pizza, 1924 N. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Bob Zwolinski, president The East Village Association voted April 9 to support preservation of the closed St. Maria Addolorata church, 528 N. Ada, and opposing its demolition. "St. Maria Addolorata Catholic parish and school were a vibrant part of our community for almost a century," EVA's letter of support says. "Santa Maria parish served countless thousands of neighborhood immigrants and families, many of whom still live in its shadow. Even after its closure, the structure remains an anchor within the community and a landmark clearly visible from outside it." Arcitect Joseph Bagnuolo used stained glass windows throughout his Midcentury Modern design. Preservation Chicago named the building threatened after the Archdiocese of Chicago listed the prop...

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 ...

Congressman states his priorities in Zoom session East Village Association membership meeting May 4, 2020, via Zoom. Presiding: John Gantner, president U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley says recovery from the COVID-19 lockdown might require $2 trillion to $3 trillion in infrastructure spending–not only roads and bridges but also schools, parks, Blue Line improvements, broadband access and shoreline protection. "It's a little surreal we're over $3 trillion right now" in federal aid, Quigley told EVA members from his Washington office in a May 4 Zoom meeting. Quigley offered his staff's help navigating the Paycheck Protection Program and other small business initiatives. "They say it's a stimulus bill and it's not. It's really a survival bill." Nursing home residents and people at high risk will need more protection, he said, with summer COVID-19 transmission expected to drop by only 20%. Quigley noted the budget sent to his House subcommitte...

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...

Dimitrios Christopoulos, Cherlyn Pilch and Andrew Miller address Happy Village neighbors. East Village Association membership meeting 7pm Monday, Oct. 1, Bath House Cultural Center, 1019 N. Wolcott Ave. Presiding: Michael VanDam, president By a show of hands, neighbors agreed with a prospective new owner's plans to add food service at the Happy Village tavern, with homes replacing the adjoining game room. "There are still some questions," said Ald. Brian Hopkins, who must guide a liquor license transfer through the Liquor Control Commission and City Council. "If you live near Happy Village we absolutely want to hear from you." The vote was opened to all 55 people attending the Oct. 1 East Village Association membership meeting, many of whom lived near the bar at 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Hopkins said he would reimpose a license freeze and downzone the adjoining building, leaving the bar as the block's only commercial property. Lawyer Dimitrius C...

Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. East Village Association members will take a vote Oct. 1 advising Ald. Brian Hopkins on plans for Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Members meet at 7pm down the block at the Bath House Cultural Center , 1019 N. Wolcott Ave. The 2nd Ward alderman must decide whether to introduce a City Council ordinance permitting a liquor license transfer to prospective buyers Andrew Miller and Addison Thom. At EVA's Aug. 6 membership meeting, Miller and Thom described their plans to renovate the property, add restaurant service and sell the connected building at 1057 N. Wolcott Ave., now the bar's pingpong room.

Ald. Brian Hopkins and EVA president Michael VanDam discuss landmark buildings at the Happy Village patio. Ald. Hopkins asked EVA to find threatened structures that should be preserved, and gave details on his attempt to shore up the landmark ordinance. East Village Association membership meeting Oct. 2, 2017 Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Ald. Brian Hopkins hopes to discourage neglect of landmark buildings. East Village Association members Monday gave him feedback on his plan to add teeth to the city's landmark ordinance. In calling the meeting at Happy Village to order, president Michael VanDam said member Rich Anselmo had proposed an EVA committee to monitor and prevent teardowns. In discussing the issue, 2nd Ward staff brought up Hopkins' draft ordinance , now in the city's Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards committee. A damaged Logan Square landmark spurred Hopkins to action. The owner proposed that the structure was beyond saving and should be raz...

Architect Ramiel Kenoun and lawyer Nick Ftikas show plans for the Pure Dairy site. East Village Association minutes for Aug. 1, 2016, by Daniel Navarro Call to order 7:05pm at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Augusta Dairy developers EVA Planning, Preservation and Development chair introduced Nick Ftikas from the Samuel V.P. Banks law office, Ramiel Kenoun of Space Architects and Todd Mullen of MCZ Development to describe plans for the former Pure Farm Products dairy and Leona's restaurant building at 1936-44 W. Augusta Blvd. Foote: EVA has been working with the development team for a couple of months, have had comments and revisions to incorporate the community desire for the initial building with the developers needs. Ftikas: 10,000 sq ft site all residential. Important to maintain the initial façade. Have set that up to retain the front portion of that building and building the back. Kenoun: Playing off the site's building within a building. Will put a set b...

A developer pleges to save the milk-white Art Deco storefront of the old Pure Dairy building. But that doesn't mean a new building will be built on top. East Village Association members on Monday will see MCZ Development's plan for 1938 W. Augusta Blvd., most recently a Leona's restaurant. Renderings presented to EVA show the facade fencing in a 14-foot private yard and trellis, with a 5-story building behind it. EVA's planning committee worked with Space Architects + Planners on a concept that restores the facade and extends it to connect with the new building. MCZ will ask EVA members to consent to a smaller backyard without a loading area, which would require city approval. Otherwise, the 16 condos would be built within current zoning limits, with 16 parking spaces and 8 bicycle spots. The 3-bedroom units would be 1,535 square feet in size.

Developer plans 12 condo units at 1936-44 W. Augusta Blvd., razing building built in 1881. Update: The City Council on April 13 denied a demolition permit for the historic property at 1936-44 W. Augusta Blvd. "My office has been in conversation with the current owners," Ald. Brian Hopkins told aldermen . "They have been negotiating in good faith. They believe there's a way to save the structure. We need more time to continue those negotiations." East Village Association board minutes for April 11, 2016, by Daniel Navarro Welcome Peter Gariepy and KK Goh in touch to transfer treasury responsibility Membership list may pass to secretary Commercial Park Earth Day Event April 23 cleanup, no kids' activities, looking for assistance Looking to have a block party on Rice, maybe work together Flier on Facebook pages Getting money from various locations, looking for volunteers Ald. Proco Moreno also posted a clean and green for April 16 August...

"It's pretty rare to be in a community meeting where it's just a unanimous consensus," said Ald, Brian Hopkins. "Let's just pause and savor that moment." East Village Association minutes for April 4, 2016, by Daniel Navarro President's Welcome Business Minute: Sean Murty and Lisa Muscato from Paperish Mess Opened 3 years ago improvements in Chicago developments has helped their business 100 or so different artists, local/emerging artists, gallery openings once a month (to restart) Custom framing Woodshop in basement for custom furniture (commercial projects) i.e., Steel petal press Goal is to as makers give other makers space to showcase work Operates as a consignment shop for other artists

The former Leona's restaurant facade was built around a Victorian two-flat. East Village Association minutes for March 7, 2016, by Daniel Navarro Leona's demolition Ald. Brian Hopkins signals that the City Council as early as March 16 could allow the former Leona's restaurant building at 1936 W. Augusta Blvd. to be razed. The site operated as the Ukrainian-owned Pure Farm Products dairy at the turn of the 20th century. The white glazed-brick facade was built in phases around a Victorian two-flat. Volunteers are looking for photos from the 1920s, a decade represented in the East Village landmark district. Should the building be razed, Hopkins will ask that developers review plans with EVA. The city requires the design to be keeping with the district. MCZ Development plans a larger condo building on the site and has said it will consider retaining the façade.

A city ledger logs building inspections for a dairy at 1936-44 Augusta. Volunteers are making a last push to preserve a longtime dairy and restaurant building before the City Council acts on a demolition request. Ald. Brian Hopkins has deferred action on a demolition permit at 1936-44 W. Augusta Blvd., but chief of staff Steve Niketopoulos says without new information March 16 vote is likely. MCZ Development plans to raze the building, initially proposing condominiums. From 1985 to 2015, the site was a Leona's restaurant. Local historians have been trying to flesh out the site's emergence as Pure Farm Products, "the only Ukrainian dairy in Chicago," in the words of a 1924 ad in the Newberry Library's collection.

Volunteers are researching construction of the closed Leona's glazed-brick front. East Village Association minutes for Dec. 7, 2015, by Michael VanDam Business Minute Aussie Pet Mobile provides mobile pet grooming services to the larger West Town area. In addition to offering his services, owner Tim Shannon is looking for experienced groomers to join his team. Planning, Preservation & Development Leona’s update: While the Landmark Commission did not designate the Leona’s property at 1936-44 W. Augusta Blvd. as significant and contributing to the East Village district, Ald. Brian Hopkins continues to work to preserve the building, and EVA members are researching its history. While the developers’ final plans have not been released, they may try to integrate the façade into the final project.

Rituparna Raichoudhuri and Ernesto Matias of Chicago Public Schools East Village Association minutes for Nov. 2, 2015, by Michael VanDam Wells High School Principal Rituparna Raichoudhuri and former principal Ernesto Matias discussed the current state of Wells High School. Topics included academic improvements at the school, the impact of charter schools on public high schools and the potential to add a World Language Academy track to the high school. Raichoudhuri urged parents to visit the school and to consider it seriously. She would like the school to remain a vital part of the neighborhood and a school of choice.

Ald. Brian Hopkins addresses members of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Plans to raze and rebuild the Leona's restaurant in East Village are moving to the City Council for approval. But Ald. Brian Hopkins says he'll work to preserve the building, a former dairy in the East Village landmark district . The Commission on Chicago Landmarks recommended the city approve demolition at 1938 W. Augusta Blvd. Hopkins told commissioners before the Nov. 5 vote that the community wanted to preserve the structure, a 1920s-style glazed-tile facade around an 1895 two-flat. "There's grandparents and great-grandparents that'll talk about ordering products from Pure Dairy," Hopkins said. "Many of them do believe the building as it stands today is a legitimate symbol of their success as a community." Hopkins could block demolition in the City Council, but Commissioner James Houlihan asked Hopkins not to defer the issue. He noted the commission would have to...

A permit to raze the Leona's restaurant on Augusta, a converted historic dairy, comes up for review at the Commission on Chicago Landmarks today. Here's why the East Village Association opposes the demolition. The hearing is at 12:45 p.m. today at City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street, in the 2nd floor City Council Chambers.

Milbury Architects' revised plan for 1062 N. Ashland Ave. East Village Association board minutes for Aug. 10, 2015, by Michael VanDam Planning, Preservation and Development 1062 N. Ashland Ave.: Developer Mark Sutherland presented revised plans to build apartments behind the Ashland Church of God's existing façade. A smaller building would have 4 studios, 16 1-bedrooms and 13 2-bedroom apartments. The developer agreed to provide the city-required 10% ratio of affordable housing, and will not buy out of the requirement. They may move one or two of the units offsite, but will keep them within the West Town community. The proposal should go to the general EVA membership at the next meeting on Sept. 14. 1612 W. Chicago Ave.: The Shapiro Ballroom has announced plans to renovate the old Alvin Theater for a ballroom dance school and event space. Neal McKnight will reach out to see if we can help with any necessary permits or zoning changes. 1824 W. Augusta Blvd.: EVA ...

Rehab will begin soon at 1947 W. Chicago Ave. Work is expected to begin in the next three or four weeks on a landmark storefront at 1947 W. Chicago Ave. A new owner worked with the East Village Association and Chicago Grand Neighbors Association to follow architectural best practices in restoring the Italianate facade. Both groups consented to upzoning to allow three residential units above a storefront. The building sustained significant damage after a previous rehab was abandoned. It's listed as significant, or "orange rated," in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey . The project was discussed at tonight's EVA board meeting at West Town Bakery, 1916 W. Chicago Ave. Before the meeting, the owner at 1531 W. Haddon St. asked the planning committee to weigh in on an upzoning request. Attorney Mark Kupiec claimed the original single-family zoning was in dispute, but did not present documentation. Newly elected 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins will speak at the May 4...

St. Adalbert Church in Pilsen is on the 2014 Chicago's Seven list. Do you know a building worth saving? Preservation Chicago is calling for nominations to its Chicago's Seven list of most endangered buildings. The list raises awareness about threats facing some of Chicago's most at-risk architectural treasures. Nominees can include a single building, an entire neighborhood or a category of buildings such as warehouses or religious structures. An endangered building is important to the community, or architecturally or historically significant. Risks must be present, such as some degree of owner neglect, a proposed demolition, rezoning or redevelopment. Download the nomination form, gather photos and other evidence, and make a nomination by Feb. 1.