Graceland West Community AssociationThe goblins are haunting, the monsters will mash, it’s time to get ready for a Halloween bash!
The Graceland West Halloween party returns to Warner Park after a two year hiatus; Saturday October 29th at 10:30 AM. Come in costume and be ready for spook-tacular games, pumpkin decorating, candy apple creation and more.
We are still looking for volunteers to help with the event. Please email info@gracelandwest.org if you’re willing to lend a hand.
You’ve always wanted to see the inside of LVHS…now’s your chance! The “anchor” of our neighborhood has graciously welcomed us to have our meeting on campus THIS THURSDAY, 9/29 at 6:30 PM. We’ll try to keep the meeting brief, focusing on neighborhood updates, council elections and then we’ll learn about LVHS Robotics and STEAM programs from Dr. Mahesh Alur, the sponsor and coach of the LVHS Robotics Team. Enter the school via the student door on Ashland and email info@gracelandwest.org if you have any questions.
Thanks for a fantastic Graceland West Neighborhood Fest on September 11, 2022. We were delayed past our 3 pm start by a super cell that brought heavy rain and a squall that flooded several blocks of Greenview. Fest Committee and volunteers set up in a downpour and then held on to tent legs to keep them from going airborne. Randy started the Fest with the magic we all craved, Lisa B kept our hearts warm with song. Once weather lifted enough, neighbors began to fill the 4100 block of Greenview until it was packed with attendees from families with infants to a neighbor in his mid 90’s who walked through the rain to renew his membership. Neighbors kept baked goods coming and Peg’s Bake Table sold out. Kids sported painted faces, one dad held umbrellas in each hand to keep kids dry. Many volunteers went home and changed to dry clothes more than once. Mid-Fest, just when we were all hungry, Big Star Taco arrived with three kinds of tacos and a margarita, and then the juggler brought fire to warm us up.
Kudos to the Fest Committee, which included Barb Sullivan, Sarah Maxwell, Brad Pierce and more. They planned the perfect Fest and executed brilliantly, given the challenges mother nature sent their way. Thank you to the 25+ GWCA Members and Block Reps who helped with spreading the word about the event and a very special than you to LVHS students who braved the weather all day.
Because we were unable to properly thank our sponsors during the event, they are recognized below.
THANK YOU SPONSORS!
homemade craft cocktail sponsor
wine & beer sponsor
Brad & Melanie Pierce
pony ride & petting zoo sponsor
Marlene Granacki
juggler sponsor
soda & water sponsor
Chris McGowan & Sandy Wang
game prize sponsor
Tim & Barbara Sullivan
face painting sponsor
tie dye sponsor
bounce house sponsor
Jennifer Brown
port-a-potty & sanitization station sponsor
Dr. Lee Francis & Dr. Michelle Gittler
Hello,
Our office is proud to announce the installation of new traffic calming measures on Ashland Ave between this week and next. Over the past couple of years, Alderman Martin has been pushing the Department of Transportation (CDOT) to implement measures that slow vehicles making left turns across pedestrian crosswalks. CDOT has agreed to pilot left turn softening measures at the following intersections:
Yesterday, crews installed hardened centerlines at these intersections. These consist of rubber speed humps and plastic posts placed on either side of a crosswalk in the center of the street. These centerlines encourage drivers to make wider left turns, which serves to slow vehicles and improve pedestrian visibility in crosswalks. During a previous CDOT pilot of these improvements in River North, CDOT found that they increased the share of drivers yielding to pedestrians from 80% to 98%. Please refer to the attached PDF for more information on these measures.
Next week, crews will also be installing paint-and-post bump-outs at all four intersections to encourage wider turns near sidewalks and further slow vehicle speeds.
These improvements are part of Alderman Martin’s ongoing efforts to improve safety for pedestrians throughout the ward, including along major arterials. Our office has heard about safety concerns regarding all four of the intersections above, including from parents walking children to and from the Gardner School on Wilson.
Best,
Joshua Mark (he/him/his)
Director of Development and Infrastructure
47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin4243 N. Lincoln Ave
While the weather forecast unfortunately isn’t looking favorable for the Graceland West Neighborhood Fest, our annual festival and most of its offerings including the Big Star taco truck is on as planned. We’ll have coverage from the rain throughout the event as needed. Your participation from 3-7pm, today, September 11th, is appreciated and helps support Graceland West’s initiatives throughout the year ahead. Hope you can join!
Please contribute to our neighborhood festival on Sunday (9/11) by baking something for our Bake Sale Table. Drop it off any time after 2:30 pm on Sunday – on Greenview just south of Warner. Look for the tent labelled ”Bake Sale”
Hope to see you there! Sunday 3-7 pm on Greenview, between Warner & Belle Plaine. Come out and meet some neighbors, buy a drink (both adult beverages & soft drinks available) or a snack & enjoy the day
Three 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.
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.
