Foster Ave Sewer Project, and Mariano's Fresh Market

Funny how I was just talking about the need for more sewer construction projects, and alderman Laurino (of the 39th ward) sends out a community news blast with the Foster Avenue Sewer Project as the first thing mentioned.

Laurino's staff member writes the Foster Ave sewer line was installed in 1928, so they're 90 years old. Construction begins THIS MONDAY.

The neighborhood is also getting a new grocery; Mariano's Fresh Market, a Milwaukee-based chain run by a former Dominic's CEO.

The news blast:

I Found Neighbors That Like Picking Up Trash! (Also, Chicago's Underground Infrastructure Needs Your Help)

While I was walking to the Global Garden to care for my lot there of vegetables and herbs, I came across a  handmade sign in the grass. I promptly lost it. 

As in, I lost it in the sense that I got insanely happy, not in the "I lost it because I went crazy" sense.

(But hey, that too maybe? I mean, who my age really enjoys working within their community to make the neighborhood better? I literally get an intellectual  lady boner, if you don't mind me being vulgar, by these communal activities. How do I explain my desire to make my surroundings better, to be part of something that is bigger than me, without sounding like a freak? This is real life, okay?)  

And now, to make this post less about me and Generation Y and more about the city and people of Chicago...

Driving Along Lawrence (Photos)

Lawrence Ave (and Kedzie too) is the commercial heart of Albany Park. It's also an incredibly bizarre street.

You've got the shady businesses, and you've got the legitimate businesses all reflecting the diversity of the neighborhood on one street. The Admiral Club strip joint sits next to a Muslim clothing attire shop, and Korean bakeries are intermixed with Mexican groceries. Stores that really want to buy your gold and/or sell you fuzzy blankets at the same time operate out of old buildings with crumbling but still beautiful facades.

Lawrence also regularly has a traffic problem, as it feeds into a couple of highways at Cicero. Traffic will only get worse as the Lawrence Ave Streetscape project goes into effect. For those unfamiliar, this plan reduces traffic lanes on Lawrence from four to two, and only between Western and Clark. This is being done to add more sidewalk and tree-planting space, because apparently, Chicago doesn't think Lawrence has enough of a congestion problem.

Lawrence could arguably be the worst street in all of Chicago, in more ways than one #traffic #roadrage
— Stephanie Johnson (@esjay__) August 23, 2012

Twitter user (and amateur photog) Bill Schwartz, who likes to share photos he takes while driving around the city, recently drove down Lawrence Ave. While Schwartz could have easily Instagramed photos of the gorgeous old buildings, he instead focused on the multiculturalism on display.
   

Iron Cycles has moved!

by camerainmyhand.com

Their new location is 3136 Montrose, off Kedzie and across the street from Basa Roja.

According to the owners, they moved because their prior location (2860 Montrose) was broken into 3 times. Matt (pictured right) says their new store has "a safer layout". The new store also has a lot more room, which they needed.

And here are the Yelp reviews (all stellar!) for Iron Cycles.

NBC Chicago is lazy...

NBC Chicago included Albany Park in their "Food for Olympic Thought" article, and they say Albany Park has the best Korean food. Korean? That's old news. That is Albany Park 5 + years ago. How many great middle-eastern restaurants are there in this neighborhood? What about Dawali's falafel?

found this yesterday-

Daley stencil sticker on a newspaper box, off Kedzie and Montrose

Original picture here

Help Eugene Field Park, just by clicking-

Eugene Field Park is one of 14 parks eligible in Staples Dream Park Challenge, meaning if Eugene gets enough votes, they'll receive $25,000 for park improvements. You can vote every day, or if you want to you can pick up a staples card (free) that counts for 10 votes. In order to vote you need to register (free) which means you enter some basic information about yourself like name and address. Eugene Field Park is currently winning by a large margin (64%) but that doesn't mean you shouldn't vote! Voting continues until November 16th.

Oh yeah, and if Eugene Field Park wins, Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears will throw a celebration party at the park.

...and here is a petition by the Friends of Eugene Field Park to get their playlot renovated.

what say you on gentrification?

So, you know the building under construction at 3300 W Lawrence? The one that had a gas leak and exploded in September of 2007, with the explosion destroying half of the building? And then they had to level the rest of the building and start all over again? The one right across the street from the best thrift store in the neighborhood, Village Discount?

According to Liz Griffiths, the Executive Director of the Lawrence Avenue Development Corporation (LADCOR) and the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce, the building at 3300 W Lawrence will be a mixed- use condominium building, offering 24 condo units with 6 units of 5,000 square feet for retail use. The condo units will cost more than 300 K, with the lay-out being 3 bedrooms/2 baths. Each condo unit will include hardwood floors, granite countertops, 10' ceilings, fireplaces, and terraces. The building is being constructed in three parts, and the outside façade will "mimic the former buildings architectural elements".

So far, an estimated 10 million dollars (!!!) has been invested in that building, and there are 34 other developments/projects in Albany Park and Mayfair for 2008- 2009. Over 200 million dollars has been pumped into Albany Park (and Mayfair) in the last 2 years.

When I asked Rebecca Rico, the Project Coordinator of the North River Commission about gentrification, she said they view it more as a "positive", and that they do substantial work with local landlords to keep the rent affordable.

more from those interviews to come.....

-soluble