Graceland West Community Association
Today is the last day to sign up to show your garden at this weekend’s garden walk. If you’d like to show your front or back yard or know a neighbor who should be on our 40th Annual Garden Walk, please give Donna a call at 773.742.3939 or send her an email at donnaforsberg@sbcglobal.net.
40th-Annual-GWCA-Garden-Walk-FlyerThree safe streets improvements in Graceland West were discussed at our meeting on June 23rd and all have very important opportunities for community involvement.
Pedestrian Safety Improvements to the Belle Plane and Greenview Intersection
Two proposed options were presented and we need the community’s feedback ASAP. Either one of the options has already been budgeted by the 47th Ward and designed by CDOT. For information on the options and to provide feedback, see this survey. This survey will close at noon on Wednesday, June 29.
Clark Street Complete Streets Improvements
Join the 46th and 47th Ward offices and CDOT staff for a virtual meeting on June 28 from 6-7 p.m. to learn more about plans to implement safety improvements to make Clark Street between Irving Park Road and Montrose Avenue safer and more comfortable for people walking, biking, riding transit, and driving. This plan includes fully protected bike lanes. Register here.
Speed Hump Petition – 1400 Block of W Cuyler
GWCA Member Mitchell Norinsky is looking for residents of the 1400 W Cuyler block to sign a petition for speed humps to be installed. To be considered for speed hump installation you must have the approval of 75% of the residents on a given block. GWCA is happy to help if other blocks are interested and have an individual willing to lead the effort.
If you have questions about any of these improvements, please email info@gracelandwest.org for more information.
Join GWCA this Thursday 6/23 at 7:00 at Warner Park and Gardens (1444 W Warner) for a great meeting which will include:
The council is looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday. Don’t hesitate to reach out to info@gracelandwest.org if you have any questions.
There was a carjacking in the 1400 Block of Cuyler on Saturday, May 28th at 1:05 pm.
Did you see anything between 12:30 and 1:20 or do you have video? If so, please email marcus.mudd@chicagopolice.org. We ask everyone in the neighborhood to check their video, especially those who live on Cuyler as well as Southport or Greenview from Irving Park to Berteau or if you’re near a near a neighborhood entrance or exit. Do not contact the district seeking information, only to provide information. They cannot give information about an ongoing investigation.
Suspect vehicle: Grey Jeep Cherokee. Suspects: 2 males, 20 – 28, wore black masks, displayed handguns. Victim vehicle: Silver Lexus SUV. Victim: male.
GWCA Members,
A developer has submitted a request for upzoning the property at 1444-46 Irving Park Road from RS-3 to RM-5. For information on the differences between the zoning designations see the Chicago Zoning Ordinance (https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicagozoning_il/0-0-0-48902).
The proposal is to build an eight unit condo building that is 4.5 floors (47′ tall). The proposal razes the existing greystone at 1446 Irving Park and combines the gravel lot at 1444 Irving Park. You can see the developer’s plans at this link https://gracelandwest.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/1446-W.-Irving-Park-Plan-Package-RM5Initial-02-22-22-4.pdf
The GWCA Council supports this development, but will take your comments and/or concerns via email at info@gracelandwest.org. GWCA Council will consolidate comments and will be submitting a response on behalf of the community to the Alderman’s office no later than May 31, 2022.
The weather this Saturday (4/23) is shaping out to be fantastic. At 9:00 AM meet up at Lake View High School (corner of Belle Plaine and Greenview) and join members of GWCA to celebrate Earth Day and beautify the neighborhood. We will be cleaning up litter on the LVHS Campus and surrounding streets, and cleaning leaves and other debris from storm drains at flood-prone intersections on Greenview. Gloves and trash bags will be provided.
Please see the meeting minutes from the meeting that took place on March 31, 2022 here.
Our next event will be held on Saturday, April 23 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at Lake View High School. The event will celebrate Earth Day and focus on cleaning up litter on the Lake View High School Campus and surrounding streets, and cleaning leaves and other debris from storm drains at flood-prone intersections on Greenview. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Meet at Belle Plaine and Greenview.
A complete archive of meeting minutes can be found on our website’s Archives page.
Join GWCA this Thursday, 3/31 at 7:00 at The Piggery (1625 W Irving Park Rd.) for an exciting agenda for our first quarterly meeting for 2022.
Special guests include:
The 2022 calendar of events will be detailed and we’ll also be awarding the first ever Golden Rake award for efforts during last year’s leaf cleanup and presenting scholarship funds to LVHS. The council is looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday. Don’t hesitate to reach out to info@gracelandwest.org if you have any questions.
Dear neighbor,
Join us for the first in a series of community conversations about the impact of deconversions and demolitions of two- and three-flats in Lincoln Square and Northcenter. In the past five years, both community areas have lost affordable homes at a faster rate than nearly every other neighborhood in Chicago. And the deconversion and demolition of small multi-unit buildings continues to contribute to that rapid loss of affordability.
>> RSVP for virtual conversation on Deconversions and Demolitions <<
One of the first events I attended after being elected in 2019 was a community discussion hosted by the Northcenter Neighborhood Association (NNA) about the loss of two- and three-flats. Now, we’re building on that important work. On Tuesday, March 15 at 6 PM, come join experts from DePaul University’s Institute for Housing Studies, the city’s Department of Housing, and the Preservation Compact as they discuss efforts and ideas to preserve affordability. Throughout this series of community conversations, my office will seek neighbors’ feedback on potential solutions through a public survey and discussion.
Yours in service,
Alderman Matt Martin
Any active GWCA members that are interested in running for LVHS’s Local School Council (LSC) Community Representative position should submit their paperwork to the school by Friday, March 4, in person (nominee IDs must be checked).
The LSC is a great way to get involved in Chicago Public Schools and are an important vehicle for participatory democracy.
All the documents required to run for the position can be found on the CPS website at https://www.cps.edu/about/local-school-councils/lsc-elections/ — there are four forms that need to be submitted (1-22, 2-22, 3-22, and 4-22).
