Chicago Police 12th District Cmdr. James M. Baier is joined by Officer Ozzie Caravallo and Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) speak to EVA members on March 12 at Roots Pizza. East Village Association membership meeting March 12, 2025, at Roots Handmade Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Bob Zwolinski A Grand Avenue site is earmarked for a satellite Chicago Police station, the new Near West police commander and a West Side alderman told East Village Association members on March 12. The second location would pay "huge dividends," said James M. Baier, a Mount Greenwood resident and former Lincoln District (20th) commander. "This is a target rich environment," Baier said. "The whole area is booming, thriving. This is where people want to come to." The district hosts 130 street festivals, the most in the city, and a Bally’s Casino is set to open at the end of 2026 at the former Chicago Tribune printing plant site. In a November 2024 advisory referendum, a sa...

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) offers information on volunteer donations. East Village Association membership meeting Nov. 9, 2023 at J&M Tap, 957 N. Leavitt St., Kinberly Shannon presiding By Jennifer Goldsmith In a joint meeting with the Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association, EVA members met with Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), discussed Augusta Boulevard bike lanes and rezoning options for Damen Avenue, and learned about a new local restaurant. Ald. Villegas Q&A Villegas joined directly from City Hall and was excited about the passing of a new paid time off ordinance, which he called the most progressive in the country. Discussion turned to housing Chicago's migrants. Chicago has received over 22,000 migrants since last year with little state and federal support. A new shelter is going in at 526 N. Western Ave. to house 55 families, including 55 women, 45 men and 100 children. Assessments are in progress to discover areas for volunteerism, donations and oth...

Leo Quintero (from left), William Guerrero and 36th Ward aldermanic candidate David Herrera talk to EVA members after the Roots Pizza West Town meeting. Feb. 28 vote to launch Chicago accountability boards East Village Association membership meeting Feb. 6, 2023 at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Presiding: Stephen Rynkiewicz, director Chicago voters on Feb. 28 will choose citizens to follow through on neighborhood public safety concerns. East Village Association members heard Feb. 6 from three Police District Council candidates who hope to act as a check on West Side police. Down-ballot from mayor and alderman races, six candidates are competing to fill three seats on a board that will meet monthly to "build connections between the police and the community." Atttending the Feb. 6 meeting, John Donatelli, William Guerrero and Leonardo Quintero pledged to report to EVA members and take their concerns to 12th District Commander Beth Giltmier. Donatelli , a Roscoe Villa...

1st Ward alderman-elect Daniel La Spata accepts congratulations from 2nd Ward chief of staff Jose Rivera. East Village Association membership meeting March 4, 2019, Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Presiding: Michael VanDam, president 2nd Ward public safety Ward chief of staff Jose Rivera says police Cmdr. Stephen Chung has responded creatively to crime patterns in the north edge of the 12th District. Community policing will change under a court-supervised consent decree now in effect. Officers will receive additional training in impartial policing and crisis intervention under a federal monitor. Detectives will have more time to clear cases. Friends of Eckhart Park Volunteers on April 27 will clean Eckhart Park, 1330 W. Chicago Ave., to mark Earth Day, said Ben Beadles of Friends of Eckhart Park. Garden plots are tended the first Tuesday of the month from May till September. Fundraising will support youth sports and purchase park benches, said Claudia Sainsot. More in...

1st Ward alderman-elect Daniel La Spata will join us Monday and likely field a few questions. Jose Rivera, chief of staff to 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins, will give an update on safety and security, and we'll talk about next steps for the Shake-It bar-restaurant at 820 N. Damen. Join us at 7pm Monday at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott. Also on the agenda: Update on 2nd Ward safety and security from Jose Rivera, chief of staff to Ald. Brian Hopkins Volunteer opportunities with Eckhart Park, from Ben Beadles and Claudia Sainsot Preliminary discussion on Shake-It restaurant at 820 N. Damen Officer elections for 2019. Proposed slate: Michael VanDam, President Michelle Hayward, Vice President John Gantner, Treasurer Neal McKnight, Secretary Schools/CAPS Updates

Paul Nickerson of the Tree House Humane Society and Ald. Brian Hopkins prepare to address members at Happy Village. East Village Association membership meeting April 2, 2018 Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Presiding: Michael VanDam, president Business Minute: Cats at Work Paul Nickerson of the Tree House Humane Society gave a presentation on the Cats at Work program. Nickerson shared personal anecdotes of his introduction to the program and how it addressed a severe rodent problem in his neighborhood. Feral cats are trapped, neutered and released in proper shelters where there is a rodent problem. Nickerson noted that feral cats are usually placed in groups of 2 or 3. The placement by Tree House comes with appropriate shelters that can be placed in garages, under porches or in unused gangways. Placement costs $725 for 3 cats and $650 for 2 cats. A cat eating a rat who has been poisoned is unlikely to suffer ill effects. More than 650 feral cat colonies and more than 3,500 ...

Drew Bayley updates EVA members on Polish Triangle plans. East Village Association membership meeting March 5, 2018 Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Presiding: Michelle Hayward, VP By Neal McKnight Business Minute Bar Biscay is a Spanish brasserie restaurant at 1450 W. Chicago Ave. that features cuisine from the northern coast of Spain and western coast of France such as Galicia, Gascony and Brittany. Partner Scott Worsham explained the restaurant's concept and passed out menus. Bar Biscay’s chef is Johnny Anderes, previously of Avec. Hours Pintxos: Tues - Sat 3pm-5pm Dinner: Tues - Sat 5pm-10pm Bar open until 1:00 am Telephone: 312-455-8900 Web: barbiscay.com Main Presentation: Polish Triangle Coalition Design for the Polish Triangle (Ashland, Milwaukee and Division) polishtrianglecoalition.org Stephen Rynkiewicz, EVA board member, webmaster and Polish Triangle Coalition representative, explained that that the coalition is a group of neighborhood organiza...

As Chicago aldermen debate the city's 2018 budget, a skeptic gives the East Village Association on Monday a community development perspective on municipal finances. Tom Tresser, a founder of the activist CivicLab group, will speak at 7 pm in the Happy Village, 1058 N. Wolcott Ave. Tresser is editor of "Chicago Is Not Broke," a collection of budget reform essays. Chicago's $8.6 billion budget is a 3% increase from current spending. The 2018 proposal adds 425 new police officers, detectives and sergeants and kicks in another $63 million in police and fire pension contributions from new taxes, including higher phone charges on 911 service. A public hearing is set for 11am Wednesday at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. While Mayor Rahm Emanuel calls the plan gimmick-free , it pulls $40 million from the city's Tax Increment Financing property-tax earmarks. TIFs also shore up the school budget. Tresser's TIF Illumination Project calls TIFs a $1.4 billio...

Capt. Phil Kwasinski addresses an Aug. 31 public safety meeting with Aldermen Proco Joe Moreno and Brian Hopkins. Two aldermen signed a pledge to fight for West Town police staffing at a Aug. 31 East Village Association special meeting. But they pushed back on notions of what they could get done. The community letter they signed seeks return a police presence at the old 13th District Police Station within a year, and a return to more than 400 officers in the 12th District by the end of 2018. While signing the letter, Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st Ward) argued that it would take the votes of 26 aldermen to reopen the 13th District police station, which closed in 2012 . "I don't sign anything that I'm not going to do. I'm going to fight for that," Moreno said. "But I like wins as well. And I think the win we could have now, with your support, is to increase the number of police offers and the transparency within the department. I'll take that fi...

A public safety meeting Thursday will discuss personal safety, crime prevention and advocacy to increase police presence. Capt. Phil Kwasinski will be guest of the East Village Association and Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association in a special meeting at 6:30pm in Bath House Cultural Center, 1019 N. Wolcott Ave. Aldermen Proco Joe Moreno (1st Ward) and Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) will attend. We're asking our members to write letters demanding urgent action on crime. Sample letters will be available to sign at the meeting, and letters will be collected to be presented to city officials. Those who can't attend can download and send letters directly to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and their alderman ( find your ward here ). Sample letter to Mayor Emanuel Sample letter Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st Ward) Sample letter to Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) Sample letter to Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th Ward)

A packed Feb. 6 community meeting prompted a joint response from neighborhood groups. Organizers of the West Town Public Safety Committee thank the neighbors who came to the initial March 4 meeting in the Goldblatt's Building, 1625 W. Chicago Ave. It was an outstanding meeting with all attendees providing insights on their interest and how they thought they could assist our community and the Chicago Police Department in reducing crime. Among initiatives discussed were development of an app that could be downloaded by neighbors and would push out alerts of suspicious person, crimes, etc. Things like this are possible when you have a theoretical physicist and a technology company professional in the room. One volunteer, who could not attend but sent a letter, is a Guardian Angel and wants to help organize "citizen patrols" in the area. Other participants have connections to elected officials and will use those relationships to lobby for passage of appropriate legi...

State Rep. Cynthia Soto addresses a Feb. 6 meeting at the West Town Branch Library. East Village Association board minutes for Feb. 13, 2017, by Daniel Navarro EVA president Dan Johnson will ask for volunteers for a safety committee. Community group leaders are forming a working group following a series of Chicago Police town-hall meetings. The group will check in with police, aldermen and other leaders to keep tabs on measures to deal with crime. Anne Shaw, who organized a 2011 effort to save the 13th District police station , expressed interest. The West Town SSA is considering private security for the Chicago Avenue business district. Vice president Michael VanDam asked if EVA would take a position. The concern is that police may redeploy its officers elsewhere. VanDam said private security should not be a long-term solution. The tax district offers rebates for private security cameras. Public safety issues will be featured in future EVA meetings. Ald. Ameya Pawar , a candidate...

In lieu of the regularly scheduled East Village Association meeting, please join your neighbors Monday at a West Town Community Meeting on Public Safety. Participants include Alderman Joe Moreno, Alderman Roberto Maldonado, State Rep. Cynthia Soto and 12th District Chicago Police Cmdr. Edward Kulbida. Meet at 6 in the Lower Level Conference Room of the historic Goldblatt's Building on Chicago at Ashland. Ald. Moreno Q

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...

The city's comment period ends this week for 4am liquor license application at Cleos, 1935 W. Chicago Ave. Managing partner Scott Floersheimer made presentations Feb. 1 to the East Village Association and Jan. 19 to Chicago Grand Neighbors Association. Neither group took an advisory vote; both encourage raising concerns directly with city authorities. Floersheimer told EVA members he's motivated to make make late hours a success: A second shift and security will nearly double his personnel, and problems could jeopardize his license to serve liquor, whatever the hour. Here are where to direct comments by Feb. 12.

The Cleos street view extends from 1935 W. Chicago Ave. to the building next door. A late-night license at Cleos pub, 1935 W. Chicago Ave., will be reviewed at the Feb. 1 East Village Association meeting. Cleos managing partner Scott Floersheimer will make his case, which is likely to echo his Jan. 19 presentation to the Chicago Grand Neighbors Association at Output lounge, 1758 W. Grand. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno's office requested the CGNA review; an EVA vote is not scheduled. Both Moreno and Chicago Police Cmdr. Edward J. Kulbida must approve the license. Kulbida also seeks neighborhood feedback. Residents can contact Sgt. Rebecca Arguelles, who reviews liquor applications, by e-mail or at 312-746-8306. The 1st Ward office can be reached via email or at 773-278-0101. The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, which issues liquor licenses , is at 312-744.6249.

The new 12th District police commander will discuss police and community relations Friday, July 10 in Ukrainian Village. The meeting with Cmdr. Edward J. Kulbida starts 6pm in the auditorium at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, 1127 N. Oakley Blvd. Kulbida replaced Melissa Staples on April 27 as commander of the city's largest police district. As a captain in the Englewood District on the South Side, he was shot last October in a six-hour fugitive standoff. Staples is now second in command of the Area North detectives division.

Jeff Liberman of Asado Coffee unwinds with Dan Johnson at the Happy Village. Police will address foot patrol staffing on Division and Chicago avenues, CAPS coordinator Molly Murray reports to East Village Association members. Cmdr. Melissa Staples had not known beat cops were filling in elsewhere and said she "will take care of it." Tonight's meeting ended long before the Wisconsin-Duke game tipoff. Here are notes from the Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave.: Extra remodeling incentives are available for buildings with electric heat through Elevate Energy. The nonprofit offers free energy advice to apartment owners and a $99 assessment to homeowners. John Rutherford of Smoke Daddy will lease the former Moonshine space at 1824 W. Division St. to Mike Bisbee of Parlor Pizza. Plans will be presented at a future EVA meeting. Asado Coffee is opening another shop at 363 W. Erie; the local chain roasts in East Village at 1651 W. Chicago. Red Apple Convenience’s appe...

East Village marked 417 violent crimes and 1,186 property crimes in the less than two years since 2013, according to an EVA analysis of Chicago Police statistics. Half took place on a sidewalk, street or alley; fewer than a quarter in an apartment or residence. Two out of five violent crimes were reported on the four main streets: 18% on Ashland Avenue, 12% each on Milwaukee and Chicago avenues, and 10% on Division Street. Violent crimes include homicide, criminal sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault or battery. Property crimes (burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and arson) hit closer to home. Among 1,186 property crimes, 39% were in a home or apartment building, garage or yard. Streets and sidewalk accounted for 38%; 11% were on CTA trains, buses, platforms or bus stops. Through Nov. 17, fewer crimes have been reported this year than at this time last year. Violent crime's down 11% in this tally; property crimes are 10% and lower lifestyle crimes (including c...

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