As you may recall, in April 2013, CTA and CDOT announced a vision for a center running Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system on Ashland Avenue between Irving Park Road and 95th Street to provide a fast and reliable north/south transit connection for 16 miles through Chicago. The vision reflects the planning process and community engagement undertaken in 2012.

Over the summer, CTA and CDOT met and heard from various key stakeholders about this plan.  They are now holding two public open house meetings as an extension of this outreach to gather additional input from the public. CTA and CDOT are still developing the Ashland BRT design, and considering options and modifications, including the implementation of additional left turns, based on continued feedback from the public.

The public open house meetings will summarize studies of the project impacts, including traffic analyses, which have been performed as part of the formal Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with federal government requirements.  The Environmental Assessment is now complete and available on CTA's website and in hard copy at several community locations, listed below.  CTA and CDOT would like your comments on the Environmental Assessment, which can be made at the public open houses, by mail, or by e-mail (AshlandBRT@transitchicago.com).   The formal public comment period for the Environmental Assessment ends on December 20th, 2013.

CTA and CDOT will consider the results of the analyses, potential impacts and strategies for mitigation, and all public comments before moving forward with the next phase of the project.  In addition, there will be additional public input solicited as part of the next design phase, scheduled to occur in 2014.

Details of the public meetings and how to access the Environmental Assessment are included below.  Additional information about the project can be found at www.transitchicago.com/ashlandbrt.

The times and locations for the public meetings are:

Tuesday, December 10, 2013   6:00 - 8:00 P.M.

BENITO JUAREZ COMMUNITY ACADEMY

1450 W. Cermak Road

Chicago, IL 60608

Served by Pink Line (18th Street) and CTA Bus Routes #9, #21, #60

And the closer to our ward, approx. 2 miles south:

Wednesday, December 11, 2013  6:00 - 8:00 P.M.

PULASKI PARK FIELD HOUSE

1419 W. Blackhawk Street

Chicago, IL 60642

Served by Blue Line (Division) and CTA Bus Routes #9 and #56

The Environmental Assessment is available on CTA's website OR 

If you would like a hard copy, contact Bill Higgins in our office and he will give you the info on how to get one. 

Alderman Pawar has supported the study of the proposal to determine if it can be modified to minimize the impact to our community while providing the greatest transit benefit.  To date the CTA or CDOT has not required any formal opinion from the Alderman or City Council but we have relayed the comments, questions and concerns to them and will continue to do so. We do encourage all residents with any comments to submit them directly to AshlandBRT@transitchicago.com or at the meetings.

Bulerias Tapas is happy to announce the Grand Opening at their new 47th Ward location. Bulerias is excited to bring you to Spain without taking a plane. They are an authentic Spanish European restaurant full of culture, art, performance, music and diverse flavors from food that has been passed down through generations of families. The combination of food, ambiance and a little bit of sangria or wine makes for a pleasant meal that will make you happy and full. In our upper and lower levels they have the ability to serve groups or private parties for any occasion, and they will be open all major holidays. Also on our website you can sign up for their VIP Rewards Program and receive discounts and announcements of special occasions such as live Flamenco performances, Spanish guitar, and broadcasts of many of the Barcelona, Real Madrid and Spanish football team matches in HDTV and full surround system making you feel right in the middle of the game.  Bulerias is a casual eatery where you can feel free to dress as you please. Parents should have their children try the cheese empanadas or the Spanish meatballs among other kid-friendly items. And if you want to bring Bulerias to your home they can cater any event for you including their famous bacon wrapped dates or delicious Paella.  Visit www.buleriastapas.com to make your reservations today.

The double passions of service to seniors and honoring veterans are what inspires and motivates the staff at Big Hearts Home Care. Seniors who can stay in their homes are often happier and healthier, so Big Hearts Home Care wants to keep it that way. Whether someone needs companionship or whether they are recovering from an injury, Big Hearts wants to cover all your in-home care needs. With a grandfather that recently turned 98 and passed his driving test, President Matthew Calcagno preaches that the key to a long healthy life is staying busy and surrounding yourself with family and caring individuals. This is a staple that all caregivers hired by Big Hearts Home Care live by. When their clients aren't socializing with other seniors, they encourage them to take some time to learn something new, even play video games.  In addition to Big Hearts expertise in dementia care and prevention, helping wartime veterans navigate the Aid and Attendance benefit is a big priority. Big Hearts Home Care is VA Accredited to assist veterans obtain up to 20 hours of free home care. The benefit could even be used to pay a friend or family member that is already providing assistance. Matthew Calcagno joined the U.S. Navy in 1994 and after completing three years of active service, spent five years in the active reserves. He now serves the community through volunteering and as a member of the local American Legion Tattler Post. Please visit Big Hearts Home Care on Facebook  www.facebook.com/BigHeartsHomeCare) or www.bigheartshomecare.com. Call 1-800-616-6730 to speak with a Senior Care Advisor if you, a friend, or family member needs home care assistance now.

After 10 years in North Center for 10 years, Inside Out Art Studio ("Serious Fun for Artists of All Ages!") will be relocating to 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue Suite 302 in Portage Park's "Six Corners". Continuing to make and sell the "Finest Most Comfortable Hand Made Masks ANYWHERE!," the new location doubles their space for Art Parties, Camps and Classes. They will also continue to visit schools with art augmentation and we hold classes and one on one sessions with special needs children and adults. They will miss having a visible location in the thriving neighborhood we were in and hope people will find us 3 miles west in on Milwaukee Avenue directly across for the Portage Theatre. Inside Out Art Studio will hold a grand opening soiree on Sunday December 1st from noon to 4:30pm to celebrate their new location. Attendees will have the opportunity to make a mask. For more information on their programs and custom made masks, visit www.insideoutarts.us, email Jeff@maskartists.com or call 773.697.5012.

Alderman Pawar's vision of highlighting the works of local artists in his office has been realized through the OpenWall initiative curated by Patricia Larkin Green. Every quarter the OpenWall committee determines a theme, then selects and displays artwork in this public space.

The latest exhibit, 1+1=Community, features the artwork of OpenWall committee members (the first 1) plus one artist of their choice (the second 1) who lives or works within the 47th Ward. The show runs from November 18th  to January 3rd.

This new installation features a stunning array of paintings, pottery and photography, and it attests to the depth and breadth of the talent of the artists living and working in the neighborhood. The public is invited to mingle with the alderman and his staff, the local community and the artists to discuss their works at the opening reception on Friday, December 6th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Featured Artists:  Maria Ponce Berre, Tam Dillman, Kelly Feldmiller, Patricia Larkin Green, Nicole Hollander, Jayson Lawfer, Rachel Lechocki, Bill Moran, Melisa Oro,  Petr Poliak, Maggie Rife Ponce, Diane Ponder, Carolina Reyes, Agustina Diez Sierra, SPEstes and Bonnie Zak. To learn more about the artists and the event, please check out the OpenWall blog at http://openwall forartists.blogspot.com/ and leave your comments.

Curator Patricia Larkin Green said, "I am a fast believer that artists thrive in a supportive community. As artists we are most vulnerable when we are taking risks. Artists need to create, to exhibit and see each other's work.  OpenWall supports our artistic community."

Alderman Ameya Pawar said, "This is how transparency looks to me. I want the office to be a place where people feel they can come inside and interact. The walls are for the artists."

Coyotes are being sighted in the neighborhood.  They have been sighted at multiple locations including along the river, Grace and Lincoln, and Wrigley Field.  For more information on Coyotes, please see our website.  Please know that there has not been a documented attack by a coyote on a human in more than 30 years in Illinois.  If you see an aggressive coyote or one that returns regularly to the same location please report that to our office or 311.  

Recognized nationally as an ideal place for employees to work, C4 is pleased to announce they have been honored for a second year as one of The Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces. Also for a second year, C4 has been selected as one of Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, and one of the National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. The Top Workplaces awards are determined by WorkplaceDynamics, an independent research company. More than 70,000 employees were surveyed about how they feel about their workplaces. The highest response, 68 percent, of those surveyed said that they feel genuinely appreciated at their company. This response far exceeded other evaluating factors like pay and benefits. C4 employees are their backbone; they are so grateful to each and every one of them for their professionalism, commitment and dedication to our mission. For more information about C4 workplace honors, please click here.

Two lucky children from Chicago's 47th Ward have been selected to join 40 professional dancers from the esteemed Moscow Ballet in the 2013 production of the "Great Russian Nutcracker." The young Chicago dancers join 54 other talented youngsters and their professional counterparts at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 8, 2013, at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont, Illinois.  

The afternoon performance also features a concert of holiday songs and carols by Chicago's Southport Performing Arts Conservatory's (SPACE) choir. Tickets start at $26 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-320-1733.

Sulzer needs your old games.  Thanks to our neighbors who have donated games for the Sulzer's Game Night!  If you have games that your family no longer uses, please bring them to the 47th Ward Office or to Sulzer Library. Their ever-popular "Game Night" could use a few more board games like Sorry, Chess, Life, Uno, Jenga, Rummy Cube, etc.   

Check out the infrastructure map on our webpage!

The Chicago Cubs have provided some additional funding for some infrastructure improvements in the 44th 46th and 47th Wards.   In the 47th ward we will be getting new residential street lighting on: W Byron (Clark to Ashland), N Janssen (Addison to Irving Park) and N Greenview (Addison to Irving Park).

Lawrence Avenue Streetscape

The Lawrence Avenue Streetscape is underway.  We have posted a draft of the streetscape design on our website if you would like to review the details.    

Brick paver installation is underway.  Some work on the Claremont Plaza and adjacent alley was delayed to confirm an engineering issue which has been resolved.

Chicago River Work (east side) Berteau to Montrose (from Riverbank Neighbors) 

The project will be funded and supervised by the MWRD, the public entity in charge of treating our wastewater and managing the North Branch and North Channel of the Chicago River.  Riverbank Neighbors has had stewardship along this section of river bank for many years. The goal of this project is to stabilize the eastern bank, especially the northern end, from Montrose to Berteau Street. They will do this by inserting seawalls, corrugated sections of heavy iron deep into the bank some feet off shore, and pinning them into deep strata of clay with long iron holdfasts.

The top of the seawalls, when installed, will rest at normal water level, leaving them inconspicuous in their important task. From the edge of the seawall limestone fill will be added to armor the bank against scouring from flood events.  This newly created contour will also be planted with appropriate native species of forbs, grasses, shrubs and trees to provide bank stability, habitat for wild things, and beauty (for us).

All work will be done from the river side, using barges, so as not to badly impact existing plantings.  Temporary construction fencing will seal off the work area from November 17th until springtime. Pathways will not be open and access to the river's edge will not be permitted. Riverbank Neighbors understands this safety precaution and appreciates the District's plan to perform the work during the wintertime, when the site is less visited by families and friends. In the end, the project will hopefully secure the eroding bank and provide large new areas for planting, new paths and river access, more beauty and happiness for neighbors and visitors. 

Western Avenue from George Street to School Street will be reciving spot repairs over the next few weeks. This is part of the Chicago Department of Transportation's Arterial Street Resurfacing - Term North Area Project, in the 47th Ward. 

Construction has begun.  The work will include ADA sidewalk, curb and gutter removal and replacement, milling the existing asphalt pavement, asphalt paving, bus pad concrete pavement construction, and pavement markings.

NOTE: NO DEMOLITION OR REPAIRS WILL BE DONE TO THE OVERPASS AT THIS TIME.  Demolition of the Belmont overpass and reconfiguration of the streetscape has been planned and is awaiting funding approvals.  This is not expected to begin until 2015.  

For more information, visit the infrastructure section of our website or contact Bill Higgins at bill@chicago47.org or 773-549-2745.