The Kedzie Elston Business Industrial Council

Topics / Agenda and materials considered

1. Current Status of Pertinent 33rd Ward Efforts
2. Property Tax Workshop
3. Status of 33rd Ward Community and KEBIC Planning Efforts
4. Planned Community Events
5. Debriefing the Community Planning Workshop
6. Major Themes Raised by the Workshop
7. New Library
8. Workshop Report and Action Plan

Attendees:

Chuck Lamonto, 33rd Ward; Mari Gallagher, MCIC; Mike Cevasco, KEBIC; Brian Sandstrom, Horner Park West Neighbors Association; Sally Katona Smith; Maureen Duffin, UNITE; Bill Ystrom, HPWNA; Bill Murphy, KEBIC.

Chuck Lamonto called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.

Agenda and Materials Considered:

Mari Gallagher distributed an agenda for the session. Mike Cevasco distributed packets of write up materials from the Vision Committee Community Planning Workshop held on Saturday, June 28, 2003 at Regency Bank 3515 W. Irving Park Road. These materials, previously emailed to all Vision Committee members, included:

• A Narrative Summary of the Community Workshop.
• Outline of the Breakout Session Discussion topics.
• Summaries of community input from each session and session topic.
• Flip Chart detail from presentations by the Discussions Groups.
• Mike also distributed an inventory of businesses, residences and vacancies on Irving Park developed by KEBIC as well as an interim planning feedback document of input from the workshop prepared for the 33rd Ward.

Current Status of Pertinent 33rd Ward Efforts:

Chuck began by giving a status of the street landscaping planned for Irving Park from Kedzie to Elston. A contract has been let to Summit Industries for the project and work will begin in the spring of 2004.

Chuck reported that a number of new angle parking sites had been constructed in the Ward and in some instances only awaited final paint striping to complete the zones. Diagonal parking can increase the number of parking spaces in a given zone from 4 to 9 spaces. – adding 5 spaces per zone. One of the constraints that every ward in the City of Chicago deals with is that only 20 trees can be cut down in each ward per year. This is an issue since parkway spaces to be used for diagonal parking typically contain a number of trees that have to be removed. Adequate space on adjacent side streets also limits the number of new diagonal spaces that can be implemented annually. Examples of new diagonal spaces recently added are on the 2800 blocks of Nelson and Barry streets; by the Our Lady of Mercy School at Troy and Montrose; and on Sacramento.

These initiatives help to address calls by community members at the workshop for more streetscaping, beautification and parking on Irving Park.

Property Tax Workshop:

Chuck also announced a Property Tax Appeal Workshop sponsored by Aldermen Mell and Laurino as well as County Assessor James Houlihan and County Board of Review Commissioner Joseph Berrios at Roosevelt High School on Tuesday November 18, 2003 at 7:00 pm. Chuck personally found that the appeal process works and intends to challenge his new assessment. Brian Sandstrom attended an earlier such workshop and found the assessors staff to be engaging, knowledgeable and helpful in assisting local residents. The Ward is attempting to arrange another workshop in the near future possibly at Gordon Tech High School. These tax relief workshops can help residents address the issues of affordable housing raised in the workshop.  

Status of 33rd Ward Community and KEBIC Planning Efforts:

Mike noted that nearly 50 surveys of Irving Park businesses had been completed over the summer. The surveys will supplement input from the Community Planning Workshop. A third set of feedback comes from notes of the volunteer workshop facilitators assigned to each group session. Mari noted that the surveys are in the data entry and quality assurance unit at MCIC to be processed. A report by MCIC consolidating input from the surveys and workshop is anticipated by the end of the year.

Mike indicated that the KEBIC (Kedzie Elston Business Industrial Council) is setting up a 501C3 Corporation. This new not for profit corporation is intended as a vehicle to gain funding from foundations, public entities and other sources to create community resources for the local area including the Irving Park Corridor.

Planned Community Events:

The KEBIC board has already approved a business fair for the spring of 2004, possibly to be held at Regency Bank, which will give local businesses an opportunity to showcase the products and services they offer. It will also be an opportunity for community residents to become familiar with the businesses and meet owners and employees. 

Also planned by KEBIC is a “Taste of Irving Park” for the fall of 2004. The first “Taste” will be a modest effort that can be fine-tuned and expanded in subsequent years.

KEBIC is also considering a community planning effort for businesses on Belmont next year, similar to the Irving Park planning workshop and survey.

Debriefing the Community Planning Workshop:

Discussion then turned to debriefing the June 28th Workshop. Brian stated that Regency Bank proved to be an ideal venue for the workshop with adequate space, good parking, air conditioning and easy accessibility. Vision committee members reiterated their gratitude to Betsy Lazar and Regency Bank for its hospitality.

Brian thought that the process of reconstituting new small groups for each of the three breakout sessions was an excellent way to ensure that every individual in the groups had a chance to contribute to the sessions; was a way to enhance the interplay among participants and helped participants meet and network with more community members. Having breakout sessions in a single large space rather than in separate rooms, rather than being distracting because of noise, instead added to the excitement and feeling of inclusiveness. Also appreciated was the competent leadership of Mari and her assistant to pull last minute details together and prompt volunteers and facilitators to confidently perform new roles.

Vision committee members were grateful for the excellent input and many new ideas received from the Workshop. Mike cited the voluminous documentation of the input distributed to the committee. The challenge for the Vision Committee now was to use this input to define next steps in the planning process to create both a short-term and longer-term plan for the Irving Park Corridor.

Major Themes Raised by the Workshop:

Discussion then turned to specific feedback from the Community Planning Workshop. A relative lack of minorities in the workshop was something to be addressed through increased outreach for on-going planning efforts. Two key community needs were raised that the workshop may not have adequately emphasized. One is to maintain and create more affordable housing, especially for seniors. The second is a more concerted effort to preserve businesses and buildings that give the area its unique character and identity. Brian gave the examples of the Bloodshot Recording Label, which is internationally known, and the Music Store, which has a wide variety of sheet music and supplies for musicians. Maureen noted the desire to attract businesses that add to the vitality and diversity of the area such as the new Dharma Thai Restaurant.

Much workshop input validated and amplified community concerns, needs and desired enhancements raised in Vision Committee meetings, other community forums and numerous informal discussions. Committee members recognized their leadership role in driving the plan forward and responding to input from workshop attendees. Ensuing discussion focused on the longer-term “big picture” for Irving Park and the “one big thing for impetus” noted on a workshop flipchart.

Other models for development were considered such as what has taken place at North Center, on Southport and on Lincoln between Irving Park and Lawrence. Each of these areas has a longstanding ethnic identity, major community assets and/or destinations around which recent developments have taken place. Examples of assets that create community identity, destinations and foot traffic are the Sulzberger regional library and park at Lincoln and Montrose; the Music Box Theatre on Southport; and the “L” stops on Southport, at Irving near Damen and at Western near Lawrence and three street intersections at North Center and Lincoln, Lawrence and Western. Sally noted that such community focal points help create opportunities for nearby businesses as people go to meetings, movies, theatre or performances then look for places to dine or have coffee before or after and also become aware of shopping or services opportunities as they walk near the “event venue”.

New Library:

One thing cited repeatedly in the workshop and voted for by over 40 of the participants was the need for a new library. Chuck indicated that the Ward and the City have recognized this need and that funding for a new library is planned for 2006. Mike Cevasco noted that workshop participants also cited desires for a cultural center; performance spaces; senior housing, services and activities; and more community meeting places. A consensus developed that the Library project/ development should be fashioned to incorporate some or all of these elements in the design. In short, the project should be a “Library Plus…”

While Irving Park does have Horner Park and McFetridge Sports Center as assets for the community, the creation of a central focal point or anchor for community development for the Irving Park Corridor would provide the destination that exists in the comparison communities. Thus a “Library Plus…” proposal for Irving Park takes on added significance. Such a development would have the benefit of being designed from the ground up to address the needs identified by the community. It would also have the constraints of funding, space availability and the capacities to adequately utilize and manage a multi-functional project.

The most likely site for a Library /community/ cultural center complex is the intersection of Irving Park and Kedzie at the center of the corridor. Mike emphasized that a first step in developing this site might be to expand the existing redevelopment area. Focusing on both sides of Kedzie north of Irving Park would provide enough space to ensure adequate parking, green space, traffic flow and for fostering complementary adjacent developments and activities such as senior center and housing, store-front theatre space, and Internet cafes.

The Vision committee agreed that general site parameters need to be determined. Existing local or area community organizational assets need to be identified such as social service agencies, theatre groups, community groups and local businesses that could and would utilize the spaces / facilities being contemplated. The committee also agreed with Mike that continued involvement by community groups and local organizations is needed in the planning process. Their input and support for a plan will be crucial. Mike will begin to speak with these groups on Dec. 1 at the Unite meeting.

Workshop Report and Action Plan:

Mari Gallagher committed to incorporate a preliminary action plan with both near-term and longer-term elements into the MCIC report to be completed by year-end.

 The meeting adjourned at 9:30.