News from Old Town Merchants & Residents Association

Old Town Merchants & Residents Association

4/30/10

April Showers Bring May Flowers

DEAR OLD TOWN NEIGHBOR,

Well, we've been patient and the weather seems to have caught up with our expectations. Everyone is running around anticipating the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. Take a breather! Have a seat and read what's been going on in the neighborhood.

Night Out In Old Town

On May 18th, OTMRA has another neighborhood partenrship to announce! Second City Theatre and Dinotto Ristorante have teamed up to offer OTMRA membership the second "Night out in Old Town."

If you were fortunate enough to be at the last night out, you know how much fun it is to be a local getting great deals at your neighborhood hot spots.

This time around Second City is offering tickets to their mainstage performance at 8:00 p.m. and Dinotto will treat you to dessert and coffee across the street immediately following the show.

If you'd like to join us, call today as spaces are limited. The cost is $25.00 a person. If you'd like to make a reservation simply call the office. We can accept credit card payment over the phone, check or cash. Due to the popularity of the last event, we need to collect payment at the time of reservations.

Keep your eyes peeled for more events like this. If you have ideas for an event you'd like to see planned or have access to discounted offers for members, don't hestiatte to contact the office at 312-951-6106 or email otmra@oldtownchicago.org.

Would You Like a Bike Rack in Front of Your Business?

The Chicago Department of Transportation's Bicycle Program installs and maintains bike racks in Chicago and provides free consulting services to building owners as part of the Bike 2015 Plan and Mayor Daley's vision to make Chicago the most bicycle-friendly city in the nation.
Click here to request a bike rack near your business. Please contact your Alderman with any questions.

CAPS MEETINGS

Wednesday, May 5th, 6:30PM: Beat 1821 at the Near North Library, 330 W Division for 43rd Ward residents between North Avenue and Division from LaSalle to Larrabee.

Wednesday, May 5th, 3:00pm: Hospitality Sub-Committee at Shenanigans, 16 W. Division. Attendance Required for all late-night liquor licensees. All interested parties encouraged to attend.

Feel free to contact the OTMRA office with any questions!

Thanks for your continued support of the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association! The Association takes pride in the neighborhood and works tirelessly to support and promote it's member residents and businesses. If you have any questions, would like to learn more about membership, or just get involved in the neighborhood; stop in or give us a call!

Sincerely,

Old Town Merchants & Residents Association

In This Issue

Night Out in Old Town

Request a Bike Rack

CAPS Meetings

Business Sign Amnesty

SBIF Roll Out Meeting

Spring Social at Suite Lounge

Business Sign Amnesty Workshop

As you may already know, the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is embarking upon a six month amnesty program geared towards helping Chicago businesses become compliant with existing public way use regulations.

If your existing business has a sign, awning, banner, or marquee on, over, or under the public way it must be permitted by the City. Your business is eligible to apply for amnesty if you have never applied for a public way permit in the past. The amnesty program runs from April 15, 2010 through October 15, 2010.

If you apply for amnesty during the six month window you will receive free permitting for the first year and will avoid fines for unpermitted structures.

For more information, visit the City's website

Please be advised that sandwich boards on the sidewalks are illegal. You will be fined for any sandwich boards in the public way.

As always, if you require assistance the office is here to do what we can to help.

Small Business Impovement Fund Roll Out Meeting May 20th

If your business is located in the Near North TIF and you're wanting to remodel the exterior or interior of your business, you're considering expanding your business, or you're looking to improve fixed assets, you should plan to attend the upcoming rollout meeting for the Near North SBIF.

SBIF is the Small Business Improvement Fund, a city of Chicago grant program administered by SomerCor. The SBIF program offers grants to businesses and commercial landlords of 25% to 75% of project costs for fixed assets.

The Near North Meeting will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Near North Branch of the Chicago Public Library on Thursday May 20th.

More information will follow shortly. If you have immediate questions or concerns, please contact the office.

Spring Social At Suite Lounge

This past Wednesday, April 28th, Sean and Michelle O'Looney and the rest of the team at Suite Lounge (1446 N. Wells) played host to the membership of OTMRA at the Spring Social.

Guests had the opportunity to mix, mingle, and meet their neighbors over complimentary beverages courtesy of the house.

Trattoria Roma, Fudge Pot, O'Briens, Fireplace Inn, and Orso's stepped up to make sure there was plenty of food available.

Response was tremendous -- there were about 70 people in attendance. Take a look at some of the photos and be sure not to miss the next social -- the Art Fest Preview!

Thanks much Sean and Michelle!