Graceland West Community Association

Hello neighborhood associations,

As the weather gets nicer, many of you have likely witnessed crowded sidewalks in the ward, and seen people walk or run in the street to stay the required 6 feet away from others. 

You may have seen what many other cities cities have done to address the public health concern posed by congested sidewalks: namely, turning certains streets (particularly residential streets), into “shared,” “slow,” or “open” streets – where car traffic is still allowed, but pedestrians are allowed to expand onto the street to have more space. You have also likely noticed that Chicago is one of the only cities left that has not implemented anything of the sort.

Our office is interested in hearing from constituents where they think there is (or isn’t) a problem tied to pedestrian overcrowding. Once we have gathered this data, we are talking to CDOT about following other cities’ lead. Since many people are already walking in the streets, this would largely amount to ensuring that they can do so safely, and that drivers know to expect pedestrians walking or running on specific streets. Naturally, none of this would be done on larger arterials that have buses running on them.

To that end, we have put together the following interactive map for residents to identify specific streets or intersections where they experience pedestrian congestion:

https://arcg.is/9Cji5

I would greatly appreciate it if you could help share this resource with your members and neighbors ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. I know that this particular map software isn’t always the most intuitive, so residents can also send your comments straight to info@aldermanmartin.com.

Please note that nothing being considered would impact residents’ ability to access – or park on – their own block. The concept that CDOT is exploring with us boils down to “No Through Traffic – Local Traffic Only” signage to alert cars to the presence of pedestrians. Residents, delivery drivers, garbage trucks, and (of course) emergency vehicles would retain full access.

Best,

Joshua Mark (he/him/his)

Director of Development and Infrastructure

47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin

4243 N. Lincoln Ave

aldermanmartin.com

Cell: (312) 391-9755

Office: (773) 868-4747

josh@aldermanmartin.com

A reminder from Lake View High School and Alderman Matt Martin and Graceland West Community Association (GWCA)

Dear GWCA Members, Graceland West Neighbors and Visitors,

Thank you to all neighbors and visitors who are carefully adhering to 6’ social distancing and the state and city “stay at home order” criteria.   These actions are taken to help contain the spread of Covid-19.  We are reminding everyone that:

• Mayor Lori Lightfoot closed all city play lots, including the one at Lake View High School, five weeks ago on March 21, 2020.
• The Lakeview High School campus, track, field and seating were closed for all use and barricades installed about April 3, 2020.
• Dogs have not been permitted inside the Lake View High School campus fence since 1995.

With increased time at home, many individuals and families in Graceland West have been working on #GWCAGrows, #GWCABlooms and #GWCAGreens ideas.  Would you like to join in?  We invite everyone to check out the posts and share their related photos and videos at https://www.facebook.com/gracelandwest/ 

Thank you all!

Police are working on recent neighborhood crime incidents and are in contact with GWCA.

They are thanking all neighbors who have made reports or shared security camera images or video with Police.  Here’s how you can help.  If you have security or video cameras, please keep your equipment working and updated and look now at tape for …

• 4/13 and 4/14 until 2:30 am.   Video or still of a dark green small SUV with a tire on the back.  Please send the video to Sgt Edwards (tracy.williams@chicagopolice.org) and Officer Giannoni (monique.giannoni@chicagopolice.org), at 19th District CAPS.
• 4/5 4:30 to 5:15 pm.  Light colored SUVs including a Subaru on Ashland, Cullom, the n/s alley east of Ashland, Belle Plaine, Greenview, Pensacola and maybe even other neighborhood streets.  Police cannot access photos or video posted to Next door, so if you posted there, please email that photo to Sgt. Edwards and Officer Giannoni too.
• If you don’t have video, but remember information not yet shared with police, please contact Sgt. Edwards or Officer Giannoni.
• If you see graffiti, even the miniature stuff, tagging, vandalism; i.e. damaged signs, bent signs, knocked down signs, please photograph them and use the Chicago Works app and send them to 311 and send to GWCA too.
• Please maintain your GWCA phone tree, which is contact information for your neighbors on all four sides.  If you need to call 911, it is helpful if you use your name.  Next call or text your phone tree.  Your neighbor may have a better view of a suspect than you.  Alert GWCA Block Reps, then feel free to post to Next door.
• Report all crime and take the time to obtain a report number.  Report all suspicious activity happening “NOW” to 911.  Include a description of persons and vehicles (including license number if possible).
• GWCA Crime Prevention Tips are on our website.  If you meet new neighbors, they may not know that everyone needs to participate in their “Neighbors Watching” Program to maintain a safe neighborhood.  Can you please share  https://gracelandwest.org/neighborhood-safety/

Thank you from 19th District Police and GWCA.

Please park vehicles in ways to avoid potentially flooded streets and intersections.  Please also clean up sewer drains and street leaves as you are able.  With Covid-19, it is important to maintain social distancing of 6′ while liberating remaining street leaves.

Thank you everyone.  Wishing you and you family good health.

All playgrounds in Chicago are closed.  This includes the Children’s Play Lot on the Lake View High School Campus.

The LVHS track, field and benches are open for neighbors to use as long as they practice social distancing of 6′ and don’t gather in groups.

Dogs have not been permitted inside the campus fence at any time since 1995.

This message is brought to you by Alderman Matt Martin, Lake View High School and the Graceland West Community Association 

Both GWCA and LVHS will put out reminders that people can walk on the track, sit on the benches and play on the field while not gathering in large groups and while practicing 6′ social distancing. We’ll also communicate that all Chicago playgrounds are closed, which includes the Play Lot at LVHS.

Dogs have not been permitted inside the LVHS campus fence since 1995. There is current signage prohibiting dogs, we have posted about this frequently and LVHS is adding even more signage on Friday but we are even encountering people from west of Ashland and South of Irving Park crossing those busy streets to bring their dogs to the campus. Nothing has worked, including talking to dog owners and reminding them that dogs are not permitted. Is it possible for you to work with 19th District Police to have dog owners ticketed?

https://www.aldermanmartin.com/volunteer.
Some GWCA residents and GWCA Block Reps have offered to help with food delivery to households that need it. Here is a sign-up form if you are interested. They are screening for healthy individuals with no travel history.