Higher taxes and fees are up for discussion at Ald. Manny Flores' two open meetings on the city's 2008 budget: Thursday, November 1, 2007 Goldblatt's Building , 1615 W. Chicago Ave. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 6, 2007 Bucktown-Wicker Park Library , 1701 N. Milwaukee Ave. 6:30 p.m. Christopher Johnson, the alderman's community affairs director, also invites residents to send comments to Ald. Flores . The city's 2008 budget is posted on the Office of Budget and Management website.

Plans for a one-story (with mezzanine) Walgreens drugstore design for the corner of Division and Ashland are to be presented at the November 6 EVA meeting. Justin Schultz, from Interra-Vision Development, requested an opportunity to speak to the group. EVA has proposed a development of the size and quality of the MB bank building across the street. Bobby Burrelson, who is opening a Southwest-theme at the old Andy's Deli location, also is scheduled to make a presentation. Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado has canceled a scheduled appearance, indicating a need to join a budget hearing in Maywood. The 8th District commissioner had planned to present some of the recent activities that he has been successful in initiating in the 8th District as well as countywide.

Bob Ranquist & Jack Guthman will attend the October meeting to discuss Ranquist Development's request to change the zoning at 1916-24 2West Chicago Avenue The following is an excerpt, edited for brevity, from Ranquist Development’s submittal to the Planning, Preservation & Development Committee: Ranquist Development is requesting a technical amendment to the zoning boundary that currently divides the properties into two separate zoning classifications, the North section of the properties (approximately 20%), is situated in the RT-4 zoning district, the remaining South section (80%) is situated in the B3-2 zoning district. To remedy this highly unusual circumstance, we request that the zoning line be moved north to the existing alley, thereby placing the property entirely within the B3-2 zoning district, consistent with the existing zoning along Chicago Avenue to the west. Ranquist Development has a contract to purchase the property from the current owner. The project propo...

by Scott A. Rappe Special Service Area #33 includes the commercial properties on Division, North, Western, Damen, and Ashland in the area roughly bounded by those streets and the Kennedy Expressway on the North. The property taxes paid by these buildings include an additional assessment which funds targeted community improvement projects within the area. Recently I met with SSA #33 Commissioner Claudia Skylar to discuss several issues where EVA and SSA interests overlap. The SSA has commissioned Philadelphia urban planning firm Interface Studio to prepare a commercial master plan. When completed next spring, this plan will serve as a roadmap to guide the SSA’s capital improvements. The importance of such an effort cannot be understated; for all its world-class recognition, Chicago has suffered greatly for the lack of comprehensive planning. This is demonstrated repeatedly by frequent zoning changes, major development battles and minor scuffles like the tree pit fiasco on Divisio...

by Aaron Bilton For the last two years the East Village Association has been working with community groups, park advisory councils, schools, and the chamber of commerce from the area in order to bring a much needed new branch library to the West Town neighborhood. These groups have formed the Coalition for a West Town Library. The Coalition has met on a regular basis with the four aldermen in the area in order to bring our concerns to City Hall. All of the aldermen (Ald. Flores, Ald. Burnett, Ald. Ocasio former Ald. Matlak and new 32nd Ward Ald. Waguespack) recognized the need for a new library and voiced their support for the library. Some time ago the aldermen met with the Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library, Mary Dempsey, to ask her to bring a new library to the neighborhood. They also brought this concern to Mayor Daley last winter, and the Mayor has expressed his support. The current plan is to consolidate the existing storefront branches at Eckhart Park and the 2300 b...

by Scott Rappe As reported in last month’s newsletter , Boundary, a new Division Street bar, has removed two tree pit fences and paved over the planting area. The tree pits contribute to a unified streetscape giving Division Street a cohesive identity and were installed during Division Street's low point as a shopping district in the hope that it would one day be revitalized.It is ironic that now that the area has become a 'hot'destination individual merchants, would erode this unity and consistency. In the ensuing uproar, I contacted Janet Attarian, project manager with the Chicago Department of Transportation. In order to prevent streetscape improvements being decimated by subsequent construction, CDOT has instituted moratoria in areas where such improvements have been made.Ms. Attarian confirmed that our stretch of tree pits on Division Street is one of the protected streetscapes. In cases where work is necessary, CDOT requires that the property owner sign a 'relea...