September / October 2001
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Pumpkin
decorating, a costume parade, spooky treats and perfect weather are predicted
for this year’s annual Halloween Party. Pumpkins of all sizes will be
available for decorating and taking home.
There won’t be any carving but there will be plenty of decorating
supplies to make each pumpkin a special work of art. Bring your cameras so you can take
pictures of each little ghost and goblin during the costume parade at 1 pm. Neighborhood families are invited to stop
by anytime during the party to celebrate the season. With help from the
students at Louisa May Alcott School, your children are sure to enjoy a fun
filled time. And don’t forget
daylight savings ends on that day so check your watch before you come. For more information, please call Pam
Prosch at 935-9324. |
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
With September upon us, a change of seasons will soon be here, a new school year has begun, and, so too, a change of Presidents for the Park West Community Association. Having served as Membership Chair, Recording Secretary and Donations Chair, this year marks my seventh as a member of the Board of Directors.
New individuals have joined with seasoned veterans on the Board this year. Each one is an enthusiastic and energetic Park West resident who is committed to representing the community’s interest in proposed and ongoing development projects, traffic congestion, personal safety, neighborhood beautification and the improvement of the appearance of our major thoroughfare, Clark Street. We all stand as advocates for a quality of life in our community which we have all become accustomed to and which we will never relinquish.
Working in collaboration with our 43rd Ward Alderman on community issues, notices will be posted in the neighborhood whenever public meetings are convened to address proposed developments or other matters of concern to the Park West community’s quality of life. Please share the information with your neighbors, especially those living in high-rise buildings where distribution of news bulletins is not always accessible.
Our goals this year are tri-fold -- to do greater outreach in the community; to keep you abreast of the work that the Park West Community Association does to maintain and preserve the unique character of our neighborhood; and to turn up the volume on the association’s voice, by increasing our membership ranks, so that we can be heard, loud and clear, in advisory meetings and at the negotiation table.
The Board is always
available to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Our voice mail number is 773.506-4460 and
you can email us at info@parkwestcommunity.com. Share this newsletter with your friends and
neighbors and encourage them to show their support of Park West, “A Great Place
to Live,” by becoming a member of the Association.
-Gale D. Klein
About This Newsletter Common Ground is published six times a year for members of Park West.
Park West Community Association (PWCA) is a voluntary association of residents and merchants dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of the Park West neighborhood. The geographic area of Park West is framed by the rectangle of Diversy Parkway, Halsted Street, Fullerton Parkway and Lakeview Avenue.
Annual Membership dues are minimal:
- Individuals - $15 per year
- Families - $20 per year
- Senior Citizens - $5 per year
- Businesses, Professional
Groups, Condos, Coops, Apartment Buildings - $25
EDUCATION
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
2625 North Orchard (773) 534-5460
The tuition-based preschool program at Alcott proved to be so successful this year that negotiations are currently underway to open a second classroom. The program, developed for community families, runs for 49 weeks, from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and costs $122.00 per week. For more information contact the school or the program’s teacher, Lyn Andreczyk at 773.534-5926.
Principal David Domovic reports a higher enrollment of neighborhood children entering Alcott this fall. It’s possible these students and their families have been attracted by the preschool program or the school’s new International Scholars (IS) program. The IS program has an upgraded curriculum and includes foreign language study as well. Plans to invite the community to see the kindergarten and 1st grade scholars perform a medley of international nursery rhymes and the 6th and 7th grade scholars put on a performance of Greek mythology are currently being discussed.
An on-site cooking lunchroom is expected to begin on November 1st. The lunchroom staff will prepare breakfast and lunch for students and staff. Also just arrived on the school campus is a brand new trash compactor in the parking lot. The compactor replaces the unsightly garbage dumpsters.
The Alcott school facility is attracting a lot of interest in the community. The school generously donates space for public meetings and open forums. And, as reported by Mr. Domovic, the Chicago Sports Club will rent the gymnasium for ten weeks, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., for community residents to join a volleyball sports league. The program begins the week of September 17th. For more information, contact the school office.
PWCA Events
Everyone had a great time at
the annual end-of-summer barbeque!
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Pictured above: John Klein and Don Coquillette |
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Neighborhood Improvement
“Streetscape”
Coming to a Street Near You!
On September 6th Alderman Vi Daley hosted a meeting to present and discuss plans for the long awaited Clark Street Streetscape Project. The meeting was attended by: Vi Daley’s Staff, Project Managers from the City’s Department of Transportation and Department of Planning, Consultants from Hayden, Bulin, Larson/Design Group, Directors of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, Representatives of Mid-North Community Association and Committee Members from Park West Community Association’s Clark Street Initiative.
The conceptual design was presented by Janet Attarian, AIA, Project Director, Streetscape and Urban Design, Department of Transportation. The scale and scope of the project includes major improvements and rebuilding of the sidewalks, curbs, streets, lighting, fixtures, trees and plants along Clark Street from Armitage to Diversey.
Janet started her presentation and discussion by displaying recent random photographs of Clark Street. This display served as a reminder that Clark Street is currently in serious need of design and renovation through the Streetscape Program.
After capturing everyone’s interest, Janet presented pictures and drawings of new light stanchions, street benches, trash receptacles, etc. These materials are all approved as standard fixtures for Streetscape Projects. Similar street furniture and materials can be seen at several of the completed Streetscape sites along Halsted, Wells and Lincoln. The new Street lighting is currently being installed along Stockton, near the Zoo. In addition, she spoke of various surface finishes that can be applied to concrete sidewalks giving a customized appearance.
The highlight of Janet’s presentation was an artist’s rendering of a preliminary design for Clark Street. The participants in the meeting were impressed with the visual and with Janet’s in-depth knowledge of the design and her relevant project management experience. Janet was very specific about all the components of the plan and engaged in a discussion about the decisions the community will be making prior to implementation the project.
The single most important decision, “ the lynch-pin”, appears to be deciding the width of the sidewalk and street surface. This decision will drive many of the other design considerations and decisions. For discussion purposes Janet proposed 44-foot wide street surface and 10 foot wide sidewalks on both sides of the street. These dimensions provide for one full lane of traffic in each direction, parallel parking on both sides of the street and pedestrian and retail merchant friendly sidewalks. Curbside loading zones would be utilized during the day to allow deliveries to the retailers and restaurants and the zones would be returned to parking spaces during peak business hours. The improved sidewalk width does allow for trees, planters, trash receptacles and newspaper kiosks. Bike lanes cannot be accommodated under this plan. In theory, the narrower street will discourage double parking. Many residents believe that double parking along Clark Street contributes to a very unsafe pedestrian environment.
The design also highlighted pedestrian crosswalks, making them more visible and identifiable to pedestrians and drivers. Safer crossing may also result from having fewer marked crossing areas. A meeting participant suggested the addition of two stop signs strategically added to Clark Street, one north and one south of Wrightwood to slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety. Fewer bus stops might also have some benefit.
The City is proposing a two or three phase project with Phase I beginning, at best, in August 2002. The total budget is projected to be $5.5 million. Funding has not been committed or approved. Obviously, establishing funding and sponsorship is crucial to the timely success of the project.
The Park West Community Members present at the meeting were impressed with the initial proposal and the planning completed to date by the Vi Daley and the Streetscape Team. The plan starts to address a more pedestrian friendly environment, potentially slows or controls traffic flow and the improved surroundings may have a very positive effect on Clark Street merchants.
The Alderman will be conducting a community wide meeting in the future to present more details and gather additional input for final planning. Vi Daley will need the support of the entire community to ensure the project gains momentum for project funding and timely approval, as well as addressing the community’s requirements. Please tell Vi how important you think Streetscape is to our community. As you may know, Streetscape Projects have been completed in many of our surrounding neighborhoods and these communities are enjoying the benefits of the improvements. Clark Street Streetscape has been on the drawing boards for several years and needs your support to become a reality.
In upcoming editions of “Common Ground” the PWCA Clark Street Initiative Team will share some actionable ideas and plans for improvements that can be implemented prior to “Streetscape” and suggestions on helping PWCA and the City build momentum for these important community projects.
Special Services Area Program:
The Park West Community Association is in full support of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce’s application to the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development to establish and administer a “ Special Service Area” (SSA) for the Clark Street Area.
The SSA is an economic development tool that utilizes the levy of the real estate property tax in raising funds to provide special services for a targeted area. Examples of these special services included: maintenance, snow removal, landscaping, security, business recruitment and development, security and advertising.
Property owners choose to tax themselves in providing these services. Typically, only commercial and/or industrial parcels are included in the SSA and are subject to taxation of approximately 1%.
The combined potential of the “Streetscape Project” and an established and properly administered “Special Services Area” can be a strong one-two punch to add more quality to Clark Street.
Let the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce know that you support their important initiative. Drop a note of support to the Chamber’s President Kim Klausmeier, e-mail address info@lincolnparkil.com or Bruce Longanecker at the Lincoln Park Market.
Pedestrian Safety Forum:
Alderman Vi Daley will host a Pedestrian Safety Forum at 12:00 PM on Sunday September 30, 2001 at Alcott School. The meeting will feature several speakers who are nationally recognized experts in pedestrian traffic planning. The discussion is very timely relative to decisions that the community must consider prior to Clark Street Streetscape Projects.
All members of the Park West
Community Association are encouraged to attend this important meeting. For
additional information please contact the Alderman’s Office at 327-9111.
Citywide
Clean-up
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October 13th, Saturday |
Citywide Clean-up |
9am to noon |
Meet at the Park West Playlot located at Wrightwood and
Burling |
Donations
The funds generated by the annual Antiques Fair are used to benefit these same groups by way of not-for-profit organizations that serve the Park West and Lincoln
Park communities.
The grant process begins in October when application forms are mailed to suitable organizations. If you know of an organization that should receive such an application please call Phyllis Waye at 327-2041 with the details. Please note that innovative programs that promote education and programs providing critically needed human services will be given first priority.
Park West Community Association
Board of Directors: Officers and Committee Chairs
PWCA Board meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month and are open to the public. If you would like to attend, please call President Gale D. Klein at (773) 506-4460, at least 24 hours in advance.
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President |
Gale D. Klein |
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1st Vice President & Playlot |
Bill
Cullen |
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2nd Vice President Donations |
Norm Wolfe Phyllis Waye |
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Recording Secretary |
Judy
Metzger |
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Treasurer |
Sandra Matson |
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Antiques Fair |
Chuck Werner |
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Corresponding Secretary/Newsletter |
Paul Carlson |
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Membership |
Joan Leber |
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Neighborhood Improvement |
Tom Flynn Shirley Weese Young |
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Planning/Traffic/Parking |
Don Glickman |
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Crime & Safety |
Don
Coquilette |
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Social |
Pam Prosch |
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Schools |
Deirdre
Koldyke |
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Public Relations ChairLiaison to Diversey
Harbor/Lakeview Preservation Assoc. |
Melinda Sigal Eugene Fisher |
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Directors-At-Large (Class 1) |
Gordon
Dillon Laura
Stern |
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Ray Carso |
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Rae
Dyer |
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