May 8 Meeting and Newsletter

Posted on , updated on by Steven Stern

Meeting Info

Tuesday, May 8
Athenaeum Theatre
2936 N. Southport
6:30pm: Member socializing
7:00pm: Meeting begins

Special stuff

  • Complimentary drink for Meeting Attendees, with proceeds benefiting The Athenaeum Theatre Restoration Fund
  • Cubs game ticket raffle (winner must be present)

Meeting Agenda

  • Chicago Cubs Community Relations
  • 1216 W. George zoning change
    Back until the late 1990’s, the Acme Meat Packing Plant and other smaller meat operators dominated this area. When that plant was demolished, many of the nearby existing home owners sold to Developers. The house at 1216 George was a hold-out. This is a really tiny house with a garden apartment that has been purchased out of foreclosure. This property is currently zoned M1-2, which is a Manufacturing zoning leftover from the meat packing days. The Developer is requesting RT-4 zoning, which is consistent with the 1200 block of George, in order to build a single family house. The home entrance will be on the side of the building. There are plans for a garage deck. This will be a voting issue and the results will be forwarded to the Alderman for his final decision
  • 1712 W. Barry zoning change
    This property currently has a coach house sitting on the back of the lot. The lot is currently zoned RS-3. 95% of the 1700 block of Barry has the RS-3 zoning which allows for “normal size” single family homes only. Under a special exception for the rezoning of four or more contiguous lots, the west end of the block received a RT-4 zoning in order to convert commercial property to residential some 20-30 years ago. The Owner of 1712 W. Barry, who intends to live in the new Project originally requested RT-4 zoning upgrade to build a large single family house. That was rejected by the NDRC. The owner has now requested an RT-3.5 zoning upgrade. This will allow for a slightly larger house than RS-3 zoning. However, that zoning would also accommodate the building of a 2-unit building and could set a precedent for future zoning requests. The RT-3.5 zoning is the overall zoningfor the residential area Lincoln to Ashland and Belmont to Diversey, formerly known as the Overlay District. This will be a voting issue and the results will beforwarded to the Alderman for his final decision
  • Lakeview Historical presentation by Victor Giustino
    SLN member, Chicago/Lakeview historian, tour guide, talk radio host and general neighborhood raconteur will give an unrehearsed presentation relating to the history of the SLN area.
  • Election of Officers and Directors
    Here is the slate to be voted on for the 2018-19 term:
    President: Sam Samatas
    1st Vice President: Bob Blitstein
    2nd Vice President: Fionn McManigal
    Recording Secretary: Bill Haderlein
    Treasurer: Ann Sychowski
    Corresponding Secretary: Steve Stern
    Directors: David Duggan, Greg Brown, Bob Taugner, Susan Radzinowicz
    New directors: Harvey Levin, Caty Norman-Burke and Ed Silverstein.Candidates for all positions can be nominated from the floor.

 

Newsletter

Do you know what  a “P Street” is?  There’s a proposal from the Lakeview Chamber to make Lincoln Ave, from Belmont to Diversey a “P Street” under the Pedestrian Street Ordinance.

Also at the April meeting, a zoning change proposal for 1214 W. Fletcher was voted on by the membership.

Read more in the newsletter.

April Newsletter and Meeting Announcement (Tuesday, April 10)

Posted on , updated on by Steven Stern

Meeting Announcement

Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Athenaeum Theatre
2936 N. Southport
6:30 PM – Socializing
7:00 PM – Meeting Begins

Why is the image for this meeting a Pedestrian Crossing sign?

At the meeting, Lee Crandell, Executive Director of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce is introducing a proposal to change to  zoning on Lincoln Avenue, from Belmont to Diversey to a “Pedestrian Designated Street” (a “P-Street”).  This has significant impact on what can be built on the street, especially when combined with the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zoning rules.  Please read the longer description of this in the President’s section at the start of the April Newsletter. Consider this homework to prepare for the meeting, as well as a review of https://chicagocode.org/17-3-0500/.

The Meeting Agenda

  • 1214 Fletcher – zoning change
    This lot is 6 lots west of Racine. It is zoned C1-1, which is commercial. The zoning is a remnant of the olden days when various types of businesses were spread throughout the neighborhood, even on the side streets. Currently a 2-flat with a dilapidated coach house sits on the site. The Developer is requesting a zoning change to RT-4 in order to build a 3-story, 2-unit duplex, slightly over-sized condo building. This zoning is consistent with the current zoning on the 1200 block of Fletcher. This will be a voting issue and the results will be forwarded to the Alderman for his final decision

    Image from Google Street View

  • Pedestrian Retail – Designated Street Ordinance for 2800-3200 Lincoln Ave.

What happened at the March meeting?

These were the issues discussed in March:

  • 1357-59 W. BARRY – ZONING CHANGE for conversion of commercial space to residential
  • TEMPLE BAR – 3001 N. ASHLAND – RESTART OF BUSINESS AND LIQUOR LICENSE

Read more in the April Newsletter.

Also in the newsletter:

  • LINCOLN/BELMONT/ASHLAND Reconstruction Project Update
  • Primary election results
  • CAPS news
  • News from our elected officials

Be sure to read the April Newsletter.

 

Posted in SLN

March 13 Meeting, March Newsletter: Zoning & Candidates

Posted on by Steven Stern

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb*.  Read more in the March Newsletter. Regardless, our regular March meeting is coming up!

Meeting Info

Tuesday, March 13
Athenaeum Theatre
2936 N. Southport
6:30: Socializing
7:00 Meeting begins

Agenda

1357-59 W. BARRY
ZONING CHANGE for conversion of commercial space to residential This building is a beautiful brick 3 story rental property on the southeast corner of Barry and Southport with Fine Cleaners occupying the corner commercial space. The top trim is ornate and deserves a look at the next time you go by. There is a small commercial space (currently a photographer) in this building east of the corner. The Owner wishes to convert this space to a residential unit. However, in order to convert this space, the building would have to be up-zoned to a more lucrative B-2-3.

If that zoning was permitted, the Owner could put in a higher number of units in the building then current zoning allows. SLN’s Neighborhood Development and Review Committee (NDRC) does not support this zoning change. The NDRC feels allowing an up-zoning would set a precedent for Developers in the future to ask for the same high density zoning.

This will be a voting issue and the results will be forwarded to the Alderman for his final decision.

TEMPLE BAR
3001 N. ASHLAND – SIDEWALK/OUTDOOR CAFE
The owners of the former Temple Bar have been leasing out the business at this site. After several restaurant failings, the owners have decided to restart and run a reincarnation of the Temple Bar. The owners will be presenting their plans for the outdoor area in the parkway.

This will be a hand-voting issue and the results willbe forwarded to the Alderman for his final decision.

U.S. CONGRESS PRIMARY CANDIDATES
Around election time, the non-incumbent candidates contact SLN looking for some opportunities to meet people in the neighborhood face-to-face. The candidates will be there for the 6:30-7:00 premeeting socializing. They will also be given time to make a brief presentation to the members.

Expected to attend: Steve Schwartzberg, Benjamin Wolf and Sameena Mustafa, all Democratic candidates opposing incumbent Mike Quigley. The election is Tuesday, March 20.

What happened at the February meeting?

  • SLN presentent the Athenaeum with a check matching $1,000 in gifts to the theatre’s restoration fund.
  • There was a vote supporting a zoning change for the southwest corner of Greenview and George.
  • There was a vote supporting a zoning change for 1246 W. George.
  • There was a vote supporting a zoning change for 1211-1213 Belmont.  (There was much sadness over the upcoming loss of Murphy’s.)

Where can I learn more? What’s happening in the neighborhood?

Both excellent questions. You can read more in the March Newsletter.  The newsletter includes news about

  • CPD Community Relations Strategy
  • Recently sold real estate
  • The role of SLN’s NDRC  (Neighborhood Development Review Committee)

* March comes in like a lion and goes out like a ….kangaroo?

 

March 13 Meeting pre-announcement

Posted on , updated on by Steven Stern

Save the date: Tuesday, March 13.

Meeting agenda (tentative):

  • Temple Bar outdoor seating. (Yes, they’re coming back.)
  • 1357-59 W. Barry zoning issue
  • 1214 W. Fletcher zoning issue.
  • 3 Democratic challengers to Mike Quigley will drop in: Ben Wolf, Steve Schwartzenberg, and Sameena Mustafa.

And in April….

Homework: The April meeting will begin a discussion on a proposal from the Lakeview Chamber to make Lincoln from Belmont to Diversey a Designated Pedestrian Street. You can read the ordinance at http://chicago47.org/wp-cont…/…/Pedestrian-Street-Zoning.pdf. Pedestrian Street Designations have a major impact on density, especially as it relates to Transit Oriented Development.