Candidates for the 4th District House seat in the March 20 Illinois primary election share a progressive outlook. But the four women had time to spell out their differences during a Feb. 21 forum at Rowe Middle School, 1420 W. Augusta Blvd. CAN-TV recorded the event for cable broadcast . Organizer Our Urban Times posted candidates' answers to off-camera questions. Here's the "too long, didn't watch" guide to how Iris Millan, Alyx Pattison, Delia Ramirez and Anne Shaw responded to questions from East Village Association members and an overflow audience of about 125. Top priority Millan and Pattison put revenue first, largely from a progressive income tax that would require amending the state constitution. Ramirez and Shaw stress the need to raise school subsidies.

East Village Association membership meeting Feb. 5, 2018 Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Chicago Avenue would be trimmed to three motor-vehicle lanes in a "road diet" proposed by the West Town Chamber of Commerce. Program manager Kace Wakem told East Village Association members Feb. 5 that the Chicago Department of Transportation and Chicago Transit Authority are studying the proposal, part of the West Town Master Plan produced in 2017. CDOT has identified Chicago Avenue east of Paulina Street as a "high-crash corridor" in its Vision Zero safety plan, while the CTA is tracking performance of the #66 bus route. The plan would reduce the two center lanes to a single left-turn lane. Bike lanes would be added in either direction. Chicago Avenue was identified in the city's 2012 plan to create crosstown bike routes . Grants for tree planting, considered in meeting a sustainability goal, would require volunteers to plant and care for trees. Other maste...

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley speaks to East Village Association, Jan. 8 at the Happy Village. Other speakers included Sameena Mustafa, Mike Skoulsky and Alyx Pattison. East Village Association membership meeting Jan. 8, 2018 Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Three candidates in the March 20 primary election answered questions from EVA members Jan. 8, and the builder renovating St. Boniface Church as condos gave a progress report. Sameena Mustafa gave a critique of incumbent Rep. Mike Quigley. Although Mustafa agrees with the Democrat on many issues, Quigley voted to increase military spending and accepts PAC donations from from companies like Caterpillar that support fracking. Developer Mike Skoulsky is awaiting city review of a redevelopment agreement. St. Boniface church at 1358 W. Chestnut St. to 17 condos. A new building next door would have 24 condos. All would be 2- and 3-bedroom units. The former rectory lot will become a two-story building for Northwestern Settlem...

Redevelopment of the St. Boniface Church grounds is proceeding with a new partner: Stas Development is working with Northwest Settlement on a new mixed-use building for the former rectory site at 921 N. Noble St., replacing the Chicago Academy of Music. Builder Mike Skoulsky will give an update at Monday's East Village Association meeting. Skoulsky plans to convert the church at 1358 W. Chestnut St. to 17 residential units and build 24 units at the former school and convent site, 1340 W. Chestnut St. Saint Boniface Info has been posting news on discussions with neighbors.

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.

East Village Association membership meeting Dec. 4, 2017 Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Ald. Proco Joe Moreno expects a Chicago police satellite presence in East Village in the next few months. The 1st Ward alderman told EVA members Dec. 4 that Cmdr. Eddie Johnson during November budget hearings pledged to set a timeline at yearend for using vacant space in the former 13th District station at 937 N. Wood St. The building now houses the Cook County Sheriff's central warrant unit. Moreno saw positive signs in the appointment of Stephen C. Chung as 12th District commander and addition of 12 new officers in 2017. He admitted that staffing remains below 2015 levels, and suggested that business districts in the ward should consider hiring private security. Noting that new ballfields were nearly complete at Wells and Clemente, Moreno said he hoped that within five years neighborhood parents would appreciate having the high schools as default choices for incoming freshmen....