Reconnecting Neighborhoods will hold its final community meetings in November. At these meetings, Reconnecting Neighborhoods will discuss final recommendations for neighborhood retail and transportation improvements with the community.
The meetings for the Mid-South and Near North study areas have been scheduled. The meeting on the Near West Side is to be scheduled. Details follow. Please help spread the word by inviting friends and neighbors to join you at the meeting in your neighborhood, where you'll learn how you can help make top recommendations a reality.
Mid-South Meeting
In 2008, the Reconnecting Neighborhoods community planning project talked to many Mid-South Side residents who said improvements like express service along Cottage Grove to the Loop, safer pedestrian crossings on Martin Luther King Drive, and weekend service on the #39 bus route would make the Mid-South neighborhood a better place. Come to the final meeting to learn how you can help turn top recommendations into reality.
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
King Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Near North Meeting
In 2008, the Reconnecting Neighborhoods community planning project talked to many Near North Side residents who said improvements like a new CTA Brown Line station at Division and Orleans, the return of the Clybourn bus, and better pedestrian and bicycle routes on Halsted, Chicago, and Division would make the Near North neighborhood a better place. Come to the final meeting to learn how you can help turn top recommendations into reality.
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Near North Public Library, 310 W. Division Street
Parking is limited; walking and public transit is encouraged
To learn more about the meetings, please contact info@reconnectingneighborhoods.org or call 312-922-5616.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
What's Your Neighborhood's Walk Score?
The Walk Score Web site allows users to rate the “walkability” of a specific place, on a scale from 1 to 100, by simply entering in a local address. According to its creators, the Walk Score Web site is being used by everyone from real estate agents to would-be business owners to determine just how walkable a particular community is.
Take a moment to plug in your home address and find out how your neighborhood fares.
Surprised by its score? Across Chicago, Walk Scores for different neighborhoods range from fabulous to dismal.
With gas prices climbing and people spending more time than ever stuck in traffic – as evidenced by a recent report from the Metropolitan Planning Council – the timing is right for communities to plan for easier access for pedestrians and transit users. Reconnecting Neighborhoods is working in three communities to help improve retail, transit, and, yes, walkability -- which ultimately will also improve local Walk Scores.
Take a moment to plug in your home address and find out how your neighborhood fares.
Surprised by its score? Across Chicago, Walk Scores for different neighborhoods range from fabulous to dismal.
With gas prices climbing and people spending more time than ever stuck in traffic – as evidenced by a recent report from the Metropolitan Planning Council – the timing is right for communities to plan for easier access for pedestrians and transit users. Reconnecting Neighborhoods is working in three communities to help improve retail, transit, and, yes, walkability -- which ultimately will also improve local Walk Scores.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
West Haven Looks to Increase Retail
After residential comeback, West Haven looks to increase its retail
http://www.nearwestgazette.com/Archive/2008/0708/News0708i.htm
By Lisa R. Jenkins
The West Haven community has been experiencing a residential property boom in recent years, and locals now are hoping for a commercial renaissance as well.
While new single-family dwellings have sprung up in the old Henry Horner Homes area and other parts of West Haven, the area still is missing that balance between residential and commercial that is the hallmark of a healthy neighborhood. Although the area has seen a 61% increase in the price of houses and new buyers who on average make 41% more than their counterparts in the area’s pre-boom days, West Haven still lacks basics such as enough grocery stores, dry cleaners, and hardware stores.
The Madison Retail Revitalization Initiative (MRRI) is pushing to make West Haven the viable neighborhood it has the potential of becoming. The Near West Side Community Development Corporation (NWSCDC), the driving force for change in the area for the past 20 years, recently joined with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and local investors to develop MRRI.
The MRRI program’s primary goals are to manage and organize business district revitalization initiatives within the West Haven community. Its initial implementation objectives are to oversee a real estate market study; implement key street beautification elements, streetscape cleaning, and enhancements; and launch marketing, promotions, and incentives.
“Using an analysis of retail spending prepared by MetroEdge, the NWSCDC plans to aggressively market the neighborhood to local and national commercial developers and retail corporations using the information from the MetroEdge study,” according to an LISC statement. The MetroEdge study focused on alternate market analyses for inner city neighborhoods and highlighted the experience of successful ventures such as the United Center, the new Walgreens located at the corner of Madison Street and Western Avenue, and other commercial entities in the area.
Joel Bookman, director of the New Communities Program at LISC/Chicago said, “We see MetroEdge as an invaluable tool in our efforts to bolster business development in communities that are intent on becoming stronger.” The report calculates money spent by residents and the estimated retail sales in that same area. The NWSCDC and LISC then use this information to determine how much money residents spend outside the neighborhood in specific venues such as drug stores, restaurants, grocery stores, and department stores. “Communities use the market research from MetroEdge to demonstrate to investors that there is, in fact, money to be made in urban areas,” Bookman commented.
The MetroEdge analysis looked at 2005 figures and revealed that West Haven residents spent $70 million for goods and services outside the West Haven community and that the area represents $91 million in concentrated buying power. Those figures indicate West Haven residents must leave their neighborhood for basic necessities such as to purchase groceries, have their cars serviced, and eat at full-service restaurants.
West Haven also has experienced a dramatic increase of 275% in its median income, and the area has acquired $425 million in residential developments since 2000. NWSCDC personnel feel that, with residential growth at an all-time high, now is the time to focus their attention on retail and commercial development.
“Attracting more and better retail services is a key strategy for increasing the quality of life in West Haven,” said Michael Quinlan, MRRI program manager. “It is the community’s vision to bring retail services to West Haven, mapping out key corridors and nodes along transit and attracting a healthy mix of shops, restaurants, and other businesses that will provide products, services—and jobs.
“Segments of our retail sector are hurting and have been for decades,” Quinlan continued. “The once-teeming Madison Street corridor presently supports few businesses, and other nearby commercial areas continue to be vacant.”
MRRI appears to be taking shape, as the Gazette has learned that City construction permits have been submitted for Sweet Dreams Café, to be built on the corner of Western Avenue and Madison Street. A retail store, Misaki Denim, is scheduled to open on the same block. Also, West Haven businesses have displayed self-portraits and other artwork by Crane High School students in their windows, sprucing up the commercial spaces in the area.
For more information about MMRI or the NWSCDC, visit http://www.nearwestsidecdc.org/ or call (312) 738-2280.
http://www.nearwestgazette.com/Archive/2008/0708/News0708i.htm
By Lisa R. Jenkins
The West Haven community has been experiencing a residential property boom in recent years, and locals now are hoping for a commercial renaissance as well.
While new single-family dwellings have sprung up in the old Henry Horner Homes area and other parts of West Haven, the area still is missing that balance between residential and commercial that is the hallmark of a healthy neighborhood. Although the area has seen a 61% increase in the price of houses and new buyers who on average make 41% more than their counterparts in the area’s pre-boom days, West Haven still lacks basics such as enough grocery stores, dry cleaners, and hardware stores.
The Madison Retail Revitalization Initiative (MRRI) is pushing to make West Haven the viable neighborhood it has the potential of becoming. The Near West Side Community Development Corporation (NWSCDC), the driving force for change in the area for the past 20 years, recently joined with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and local investors to develop MRRI.
The MRRI program’s primary goals are to manage and organize business district revitalization initiatives within the West Haven community. Its initial implementation objectives are to oversee a real estate market study; implement key street beautification elements, streetscape cleaning, and enhancements; and launch marketing, promotions, and incentives.
“Using an analysis of retail spending prepared by MetroEdge, the NWSCDC plans to aggressively market the neighborhood to local and national commercial developers and retail corporations using the information from the MetroEdge study,” according to an LISC statement. The MetroEdge study focused on alternate market analyses for inner city neighborhoods and highlighted the experience of successful ventures such as the United Center, the new Walgreens located at the corner of Madison Street and Western Avenue, and other commercial entities in the area.
Joel Bookman, director of the New Communities Program at LISC/Chicago said, “We see MetroEdge as an invaluable tool in our efforts to bolster business development in communities that are intent on becoming stronger.” The report calculates money spent by residents and the estimated retail sales in that same area. The NWSCDC and LISC then use this information to determine how much money residents spend outside the neighborhood in specific venues such as drug stores, restaurants, grocery stores, and department stores. “Communities use the market research from MetroEdge to demonstrate to investors that there is, in fact, money to be made in urban areas,” Bookman commented.
The MetroEdge analysis looked at 2005 figures and revealed that West Haven residents spent $70 million for goods and services outside the West Haven community and that the area represents $91 million in concentrated buying power. Those figures indicate West Haven residents must leave their neighborhood for basic necessities such as to purchase groceries, have their cars serviced, and eat at full-service restaurants.
West Haven also has experienced a dramatic increase of 275% in its median income, and the area has acquired $425 million in residential developments since 2000. NWSCDC personnel feel that, with residential growth at an all-time high, now is the time to focus their attention on retail and commercial development.
“Attracting more and better retail services is a key strategy for increasing the quality of life in West Haven,” said Michael Quinlan, MRRI program manager. “It is the community’s vision to bring retail services to West Haven, mapping out key corridors and nodes along transit and attracting a healthy mix of shops, restaurants, and other businesses that will provide products, services—and jobs.
“Segments of our retail sector are hurting and have been for decades,” Quinlan continued. “The once-teeming Madison Street corridor presently supports few businesses, and other nearby commercial areas continue to be vacant.”
MRRI appears to be taking shape, as the Gazette has learned that City construction permits have been submitted for Sweet Dreams Café, to be built on the corner of Western Avenue and Madison Street. A retail store, Misaki Denim, is scheduled to open on the same block. Also, West Haven businesses have displayed self-portraits and other artwork by Crane High School students in their windows, sprucing up the commercial spaces in the area.
For more information about MMRI or the NWSCDC, visit http://www.nearwestsidecdc.org/ or call (312) 738-2280.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Do You Feel Safe on the CTA?
This Wednesday's Green Line derailment left some El riders' confidence shaken. Yet the truth is, people who travel by train are 40 times safer than people riding in cars, and those taking buses are 79 times safer, according to the National Safety Council.
That doesn't mean improvements can't be made to prevent future accidents and improve overall safety on the CTA.
Reconnecting Neighborhoods is interested in hearing from people living in and traveling to the three study areas - Near North, Mid-South and Near West - to find out what they'd like to see improved to make their rides, and their waits at local bus stops and train stations, even safer. Leave a comment, or give us a ring! We'd love to hear from you.
That doesn't mean improvements can't be made to prevent future accidents and improve overall safety on the CTA.
Reconnecting Neighborhoods is interested in hearing from people living in and traveling to the three study areas - Near North, Mid-South and Near West - to find out what they'd like to see improved to make their rides, and their waits at local bus stops and train stations, even safer. Leave a comment, or give us a ring! We'd love to hear from you.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Listen to Community Meetings Online
Did you miss the first round of Reconnecting Neighborhoods community meetings? If so, you can catch up on what you missed by downloading an audio recording of the Mid-South community meeting from the Chicago Amplified page on Chicago Public Radio's Web site. There, you'll also find combined polling results from all three Mid-South meetings.
Reconnecting Neighborhoods will host another series of public meetings later this summer, where people will have the opportunity to review preliminary recommendations drawn from the first round of community meetings. If you share your e-mail with us, we'll be sure to give you a heads up about future meetings, and we'll stay in touch via monthly e-mails and a summer newsletter.
Reconnecting Neighborhoods will host another series of public meetings later this summer, where people will have the opportunity to review preliminary recommendations drawn from the first round of community meetings. If you share your e-mail with us, we'll be sure to give you a heads up about future meetings, and we'll stay in touch via monthly e-mails and a summer newsletter.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Walkers Deserve Improvements, Too
We were heartened to hear that the Chicago Dept. of Transportation will be improving pedestrian access along the Chicago River. It’s a sign that the city recognizes the need for people to have a full range of options for how they get around, including walking.
Yet we know there’s much work to be done to improve the pedestrian environment in city neighborhoods. Have you ever wanted to walk somewhere in your community, but because of dead-end streets, poorly lit areas, or broken sidewalks, didn’t feel like you could?
Since every trip starts with your feet, Reconnecting Neighborhoods is not only examining the state of bus routes and El lines in your community, but also whether improvements could be made to make sidewalks and walking conditions better for people. So, when you fill out the community questionnaire, please be sure to let us know if there are places in your neighborhood where you don’t feel welcome as a walker.
Yet we know there’s much work to be done to improve the pedestrian environment in city neighborhoods. Have you ever wanted to walk somewhere in your community, but because of dead-end streets, poorly lit areas, or broken sidewalks, didn’t feel like you could?
Since every trip starts with your feet, Reconnecting Neighborhoods is not only examining the state of bus routes and El lines in your community, but also whether improvements could be made to make sidewalks and walking conditions better for people. So, when you fill out the community questionnaire, please be sure to let us know if there are places in your neighborhood where you don’t feel welcome as a walker.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Near West to Convene Around Transit Monday, April 28, 2008, from 5:30 to7 p.m
If the West Side truly is the “best side,” we have saved the best for last. Concluding the first round of community meetings, the Near West Task Force of Reconnecting Neighborhoods will be holding a meeting Monday, April 28, 2008, at the “Major” Adams Community Center, 125 N. Hoyne.
The meeting will feature a series of presentations and interactive exercises to solicit substantive input from community residents about how they would like to see transit and retail options improved in their community. Previous meetings on the North and South sides have been invaluable in directing this project’s outlook on community needs. A second round of meetings will be held this summer to vet a preliminary draft of improvement recommendations arising from this first round of meetings.
We hope to see you and your neighbors on Monday, and in your community this summer.
The meeting will feature a series of presentations and interactive exercises to solicit substantive input from community residents about how they would like to see transit and retail options improved in their community. Previous meetings on the North and South sides have been invaluable in directing this project’s outlook on community needs. A second round of meetings will be held this summer to vet a preliminary draft of improvement recommendations arising from this first round of meetings.
We hope to see you and your neighbors on Monday, and in your community this summer.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Transit Access Helps City Residents Save Money
Rent or a mortgage payment, and the cost of transportation (including, for many families, a car payment, insurance, maintenance, and gas) tend to go head-to-head as the largest household expense. Experts suggest that no more than 45 percent of a household's total income should be eaten up by these two expenses. Yet rising costs mean many families are stretched beyond their means just to put a roof over their heads and get around.
The good news for people with access to a bus, subway or El line is that studies show transit can significantly improve the bottom line for families - yet another reason Reconnecting Neighborhoods is working to ensure mixed-income neighborhods have quality transit options.
The Center for Neighborhood Technology, a national nonprofit based right here in Chicago, recently posted a Housing + Transportation map of the Chicago region on their Web site, which shows that families living in the City of Chicago are more likely to spend 45 percent of their income or less on transportation and housing costs than families living in the suburbs.
That may come as a surprise to those who think it's impossible to find an affordable home in the city. But, even if families moving to the suburbs are saving money on their housing costs, many are finding that a lack of access to transit combined with the need to drive long distances to run errands and go to work is completely eroding the dollars saved on their rent or mortgage.
The good news for people with access to a bus, subway or El line is that studies show transit can significantly improve the bottom line for families - yet another reason Reconnecting Neighborhoods is working to ensure mixed-income neighborhods have quality transit options.
The Center for Neighborhood Technology, a national nonprofit based right here in Chicago, recently posted a Housing + Transportation map of the Chicago region on their Web site, which shows that families living in the City of Chicago are more likely to spend 45 percent of their income or less on transportation and housing costs than families living in the suburbs.
That may come as a surprise to those who think it's impossible to find an affordable home in the city. But, even if families moving to the suburbs are saving money on their housing costs, many are finding that a lack of access to transit combined with the need to drive long distances to run errands and go to work is completely eroding the dollars saved on their rent or mortgage.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Would Accurate Travel Times Encourage You to Ride CTA?
One of transit riders' most common complaints is their lack of certainty as to when the next train or bus will arrive. The CTA is responding with plans to provide more real-time travel information to riders by expanding GPS tracking to more bus routes and installing 1,300 digital screens in El and subway stations.
The digital screens will be installed within the next four months.
Reconnecting Neighborhoods wants to know: would you be more likely to take public transportation if you could be certain that the next bus would pull up in, say, five minutes?
No matter what you think about these innovations, they could mean big money to support transit: CTA estimates it will pull in about $100 million over the next 10 years by selling advertising space on the digital screens.
The digital screens will be installed within the next four months.
Reconnecting Neighborhoods wants to know: would you be more likely to take public transportation if you could be certain that the next bus would pull up in, say, five minutes?
No matter what you think about these innovations, they could mean big money to support transit: CTA estimates it will pull in about $100 million over the next 10 years by selling advertising space on the digital screens.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Transit Riders Have a New Home on the Web
The Transit Riders' Alliance, which represents transit riders in the Chicago area, recently announced its spring meeting and launched a new Web site.
Transit riders and others interested in regional transit issues should mark their calendars for a free meeting on April 26, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the DePaul University Chaddick Institute, 243 S. Wabash, 9th Floor, Chicago. Guest speaker Stephen E. Schlickman, executive director of the Regional Transportation Authority, will discuss the future of regional transit. The audience will have the opportunity to share ideas for improving transit in metropolitan Chicago - and as we know from Reconnecting Neighborhoods meetings, people have lots of great ideas to share!
In case you're not familiar with the Transit Riders' Alliance, the group is working to unite local transit riders, railroad passengers and intercity bus riders into a group powerful enough to change transportation policy at both the state and federal levels. They want to expand and enhance transit throughout Illinois, with better buses, faster trains and more universal coverage.
That's a tall order, and you can help: Check out the Transit Riders' Alliance's new Web site, and subscribe to their mailing list for updates on transit news.
Transit riders and others interested in regional transit issues should mark their calendars for a free meeting on April 26, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the DePaul University Chaddick Institute, 243 S. Wabash, 9th Floor, Chicago. Guest speaker Stephen E. Schlickman, executive director of the Regional Transportation Authority, will discuss the future of regional transit. The audience will have the opportunity to share ideas for improving transit in metropolitan Chicago - and as we know from Reconnecting Neighborhoods meetings, people have lots of great ideas to share!
In case you're not familiar with the Transit Riders' Alliance, the group is working to unite local transit riders, railroad passengers and intercity bus riders into a group powerful enough to change transportation policy at both the state and federal levels. They want to expand and enhance transit throughout Illinois, with better buses, faster trains and more universal coverage.
That's a tall order, and you can help: Check out the Transit Riders' Alliance's new Web site, and subscribe to their mailing list for updates on transit news.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
New program reconnects neighborhoods to transit
Reporter Claire Bushey covers Reconnecting Neighborhoods for Chi-Town Daily News...The City of Chicago is trying to reverse a decades-old policy of isolating public housing with a new program to improve and expand public transportation in three neighborhoods near downtown..
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
What Stations Need Improvements in Your Neighborhood?
On her newish blog, The Ride, Chicago Sun-Times transportation reporter Mary Wisniewski poses a question we, too, would like your answers to:
What CTA stations in your neighborhood and along your transit route need a little spit and polish?
Reconnecting Neighborhoods is collecting input not only to find out what new transportation connections and retail you’d like to see in the Mid-South, Near North, and Near West communities, but also to learn what types of improvements would make it more likely for you to use existing public transportation, sidewalks, streets and shopping areas. Too often, crumbling sidewalks, dimly lit transit stations, and litter-strewn shopping areas turn people off from using local neighborhood amenities. Help us identify areas in your community that need improvement by commenting on the blog and filling out this community questionnaire.
What CTA stations in your neighborhood and along your transit route need a little spit and polish?
Reconnecting Neighborhoods is collecting input not only to find out what new transportation connections and retail you’d like to see in the Mid-South, Near North, and Near West communities, but also to learn what types of improvements would make it more likely for you to use existing public transportation, sidewalks, streets and shopping areas. Too often, crumbling sidewalks, dimly lit transit stations, and litter-strewn shopping areas turn people off from using local neighborhood amenities. Help us identify areas in your community that need improvement by commenting on the blog and filling out this community questionnaire.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Public Transportation 'Saves Energy, Time and Money'
Public transportation benefits more than just riders, according to a report released March 25 by Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).
In Chicago, the CTA saves city residents and businesses $474 million a year, reduces our oil consumption by about 181 million barrels, and improves the air we breathe by keep nearly 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
“This report shows that transit saves Illinoisans energy, time, and money,” said Brian Imus, Illinois PIRG state director, at a news conference at the Clark and Lake station in the Loop. Imus challenged lawmakers in Springfield to “stop dragging their feet” and develop a capital investment plan that funds transit rehabilitation and expansion projects. Peter Skosey, vice president of external relations for the Metropolitan Planning Council, added that the state should develop a set of objective criteria for choosing projects funded by the capital plan.
Ill. Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), chair of the Illinois House Mass Transit Committee, said she is hopeful that Springfield will approve a new capital plan this session. According to U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), state lawmakers risk losing more than $4.1 billion in federal money if they fail to come up with a state match.
Read Illinois PIRG’s report, A Better Way to Go: Meeting America’s 21 st Century Transportation Challenges with Modern Public Transit.
In Chicago, the CTA saves city residents and businesses $474 million a year, reduces our oil consumption by about 181 million barrels, and improves the air we breathe by keep nearly 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
“This report shows that transit saves Illinoisans energy, time, and money,” said Brian Imus, Illinois PIRG state director, at a news conference at the Clark and Lake station in the Loop. Imus challenged lawmakers in Springfield to “stop dragging their feet” and develop a capital investment plan that funds transit rehabilitation and expansion projects. Peter Skosey, vice president of external relations for the Metropolitan Planning Council, added that the state should develop a set of objective criteria for choosing projects funded by the capital plan.
Ill. Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), chair of the Illinois House Mass Transit Committee, said she is hopeful that Springfield will approve a new capital plan this session. According to U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), state lawmakers risk losing more than $4.1 billion in federal money if they fail to come up with a state match.
Read Illinois PIRG’s report, A Better Way to Go: Meeting America’s 21 st Century Transportation Challenges with Modern Public Transit.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Article Highlights Benefits of Transit...3.26 Meeting
As a new report spells out the benefits of rail and bus systems in northeast Illinois, three Chicago communities are meeting to discuss improving their pedestrian environment and access to mass transit in order to make their neighborhoods more convenient and vibrant...find out more.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Seniors Ride Free on CTA Starting This Week
Senior citizens can ride Chicago's busses and trains free of charge starting this week.
News reports in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times suggest many seniors appreciate the opportunity. For some, the savings on transit fare will help balance rising prices for groceries and medications. Others say they plan to get out more -- to see relatives, spend time at the community center, and even take in the opera!
If you're a senior, do you plan to use public transportation more often now that it's free? If so, tell us where you plan to go.
Also, if you're 65 years of age or older, and you want to take advantage of free rides, visit one of nearly 200 locations across the city where you can register. Learn what you'll need to bring with you by reading the Regional Transportation Authority's Free Rides for Seniors registration guide.
News reports in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times suggest many seniors appreciate the opportunity. For some, the savings on transit fare will help balance rising prices for groceries and medications. Others say they plan to get out more -- to see relatives, spend time at the community center, and even take in the opera!
If you're a senior, do you plan to use public transportation more often now that it's free? If so, tell us where you plan to go.
Also, if you're 65 years of age or older, and you want to take advantage of free rides, visit one of nearly 200 locations across the city where you can register. Learn what you'll need to bring with you by reading the Regional Transportation Authority's Free Rides for Seniors registration guide.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Community Meetings Capture Mid-South Residents’ Transit, Retail Concerns
Change is not only inevitable, but a necessary and healthy part of the life cycle of any city. Change is not coming in the Mid-South – it is here. However, as longtime residents remind us, as we plan for the future of the Mid-South, we must remember, honor, and preserve the history, institutions and traditions established in these Chicago neighborhoods. It is in this spirit that Reconnecting Neighborhoods is working to support the restoration of a once-vibrant area to its rightful place as one of Chicago’s flagship communities.
On Feb. 20 and 27 and March 5, 2008, Reconnecting Neighborhoods held its first round of community meetings in the Mid-South study area. Thank you to all who participated in these meetings.
The communities in this study area, spanning 35th to 43rd streets and King Drive to the Lake, are rich with assets and opportunities. Residents living in and near the study area eagerly shared their views on how to maximize the resources of their community.
Hosted by Ald. Toni Preckwinkl (4th Ward) and Bernita Johnson-Gabriel of Quad Communities Development Corporation , the meetings combined an overview of existing conditions with discussion and mapping exercises to determine community desires for the future of the Mid-South. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) helped the Metropolitan Planning Council facilitate the meetings, and provided keypad polling technology to record the sentiments of those in attendance.
Some highlights from polling conducting at the meetings were:
Security, distance and reliability were the top impediments residents cited to using public transit
Location, history and diversity were seen as the community’s top assets.
More businesses, especially retail and entertainment, ranked atop the list of community desires, with improved transit a close second.
Please encourage your neighbors to participate in Reconnecting Neighborhoods by filling out the community questionnaire on this Web site. Starting in May, we will begin compiling your input into preliminary recommendations to present for your critique in a second round of meetings this summer. Stay tuned!
On Feb. 20 and 27 and March 5, 2008, Reconnecting Neighborhoods held its first round of community meetings in the Mid-South study area. Thank you to all who participated in these meetings.
The communities in this study area, spanning 35th to 43rd streets and King Drive to the Lake, are rich with assets and opportunities. Residents living in and near the study area eagerly shared their views on how to maximize the resources of their community.
Hosted by Ald. Toni Preckwinkl (4th Ward) and Bernita Johnson-Gabriel of Quad Communities Development Corporation , the meetings combined an overview of existing conditions with discussion and mapping exercises to determine community desires for the future of the Mid-South. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) helped the Metropolitan Planning Council facilitate the meetings, and provided keypad polling technology to record the sentiments of those in attendance.
Some highlights from polling conducting at the meetings were:
Security, distance and reliability were the top impediments residents cited to using public transit
Location, history and diversity were seen as the community’s top assets.
More businesses, especially retail and entertainment, ranked atop the list of community desires, with improved transit a close second.
Please encourage your neighbors to participate in Reconnecting Neighborhoods by filling out the community questionnaire on this Web site. Starting in May, we will begin compiling your input into preliminary recommendations to present for your critique in a second round of meetings this summer. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Service Extended on #43 Bus Route
Starting March 23, the Chicago Transit Board is extending service to midnight for the #43 bus route, which runs along 43rd Street. The improved service is a direct result of the Quad Communities Development Corporation’s (QCDC) Quality of Life Plan. The plan outlines several strategies for creating a “vibrant, safe and diverse” Quad Communites, including “improving community infrastructure,” such as public transportation access.
According to a media release on the CTA’s Web site:
“Hours of operation on the #43 route will be expanded to midnight during weeknights, with service intervals of every 20 minutes. The #43 connects the residential area along 43rd Street with the 47th Street Red Line station and the #3 King Drive and #4 Cottage Grove bus routes. Currently no east-west service exists east of the Red Line between 39th Street/Pershing Road and 47th Street after 7 p.m. The additional service will go into effect on Sunday, March 23, and is being funded by the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development.”
The Quad Communities Quality of Life Plan was the result of a 16-month effort involving some 500 community members. QCDC is represented on the Mid-South Task Force of Reconnecting Neighborhoods.
According to a media release on the CTA’s Web site:
“Hours of operation on the #43 route will be expanded to midnight during weeknights, with service intervals of every 20 minutes. The #43 connects the residential area along 43rd Street with the 47th Street Red Line station and the #3 King Drive and #4 Cottage Grove bus routes. Currently no east-west service exists east of the Red Line between 39th Street/Pershing Road and 47th Street after 7 p.m. The additional service will go into effect on Sunday, March 23, and is being funded by the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development.”
The Quad Communities Quality of Life Plan was the result of a 16-month effort involving some 500 community members. QCDC is represented on the Mid-South Task Force of Reconnecting Neighborhoods.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Near North meeting scheduled for March 26
The Clybourn corridor between North and Ashland avenues has adapted from a manufacturing hub to a diverse and bustling commercial center. Meanwhile, residential development in the neighborhood continues apace, including a new mixed-income community at Division and Clybourn being created by the Chicago Housing Authority's Plan for Transformation. The need for transportation to evolve along with residential and commercial development is all too clear for anyone who travels to the area – whether to shop on a sunny Saturday afternoon or to deliver the trendy goods beckoning shoppers.
The Near North Task Force of Reconnecting Neighborhoods invites community members to a public meeting on Wednesday, March 26, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Evergreen Towers Apartments, 1333 N. Cleveland Ave., Chicago, to:
- Voice their opinions about how to make their neighborhood more convenient and vibrant.
- Plan improvements that will increase access to transportation, shopping and jobs.
- Learn more about transportation and retail amenities in the Near North, Old Town, Goose Island, River North and former Cabrini Green neighborhood.
This is the first community meeting on the Near North side for Reconnecting Neighborhoods. The meeting is public and open to everyone. RSVP on the Reconnecting Neighborhoods Web site, by e-mailing info@reconnectingneighborhoods.org, or by calling Brandon Johnson at (312) 863-6046.
The Near North Task Force of Reconnecting Neighborhoods invites community members to a public meeting on Wednesday, March 26, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Evergreen Towers Apartments, 1333 N. Cleveland Ave., Chicago, to:
- Voice their opinions about how to make their neighborhood more convenient and vibrant.
- Plan improvements that will increase access to transportation, shopping and jobs.
- Learn more about transportation and retail amenities in the Near North, Old Town, Goose Island, River North and former Cabrini Green neighborhood.
This is the first community meeting on the Near North side for Reconnecting Neighborhoods. The meeting is public and open to everyone. RSVP on the Reconnecting Neighborhoods Web site, by e-mailing info@reconnectingneighborhoods.org, or by calling Brandon Johnson at (312) 863-6046.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Locations for Upcoming Mid-South Meetings
Meeting locations in previous posts were jumbled - the upcoming Reconnecting Neighborhoods public meetings for the Mid-South study area are:
Wednesday, February 27, 6:30-7:30 PM
West Point Baptist Church
3566 S Cottage Grove Ave.
DIRECTIONS
Wednesday, March 5, 6:30-7:30 PM
Kennicot Park
4434 S Lake Park Ave.
DIRECTIONS
For more information, email info[at]reconnectingneighborhoods[dot]org.
Wednesday, February 27, 6:30-7:30 PM
West Point Baptist Church
3566 S Cottage Grove Ave.
DIRECTIONS
Wednesday, March 5, 6:30-7:30 PM
Kennicot Park
4434 S Lake Park Ave.
DIRECTIONS
For more information, email info[at]reconnectingneighborhoods[dot]org.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Reconnecting Neighborhoods featured in Chicago Journal
The Reconnecting Neighborhoods project was featured in a story by Hayley Graham in last week's Chicago Journal. The Metropolitan Planning Council's Robin Snyderman highlighted how the project will include the input of community members:
"We're saying to all residents, 'We're moving forward as a city. How can we make improvements to best serve you?'" said Robin Snyderman, housing director for Metropolitan Planning Council, which is coordinating the public outreach component of the project.Make sure to check out reconnectingneighborhoods.org and this blog for updates on how you can speak up about transit and services in your area.
Monday, January 28, 2008
New Location for Mid-South Meeting
The March 5th Reconnecting Neighborhoods meeting has been moved to the West Point Baptist Church at 3566 South Cottage Grove Avenue. You can RSVP for a meeting by emailing info[at]reconnectingneighborhoods[dot]org or calling 312-863-6046.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Mid-South Meetings Scheduled
Public meetings have been scheduled for the first phase of the Reconnecting Neighborhoods program - folks in the Mid-South area may attend meetings to review initial research by planning experts and give their input about the transportation and services in the neighborhoods. Meeting dates and times are:
Wednesday, February 20, 6:30-7:30 PM
Kennicot Park
4434 S Lake Park Ave.
Wednesday, February 27, 6:30-7:30 PM
King Community Center
4314 S Cottage Grove Ave.
Wednesday, March 5, 6:30-7:30 PM
Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church
600 E 35th Street
With your stories, we can help explain the transportation and retail needs of the Mid-South. You can RSVP for a meeting by emailing info[at]reconnectingneighborhoods[dot]org or calling 312-863-6046.
You can also let your church, block club, or other neighbors know about the meetings with our downloadable flyers.
Wednesday, February 20, 6:30-7:30 PMKennicot Park
4434 S Lake Park Ave.
Wednesday, February 27, 6:30-7:30 PM
King Community Center
4314 S Cottage Grove Ave.
Wednesday, March 5, 6:30-7:30 PM
Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church
600 E 35th Street
With your stories, we can help explain the transportation and retail needs of the Mid-South. You can RSVP for a meeting by emailing info[at]reconnectingneighborhoods[dot]org or calling 312-863-6046.
You can also let your church, block club, or other neighbors know about the meetings with our downloadable flyers.
Help Reconnect Your Neighborhood!
Thanks for visiting Reconnecting Neighborhoods online - you'll find information and resources to help you improve transportation and services in the Mid-South, Near West, and Near North areas of Chicago. Most importantly, you'll be able to speak out about what your changing neighborhood needs to be reconnected with transit and services.
So attend a meeting, comment on the blog, fill out the survey, and encourage your neighbors to speak up. Check back for project updates, downloads, and a continuing conversation about getting around in your neighborhood.
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