Editor

The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Finance deferred a proposed ordinance to amend the Wilson Yard TIF District to Wednesday, Feb. 10.

The proposed ordinance requesting a second amendment to the Wilson Yard TIF Redevelopment Plan and Project was held in a committee at the request of Ald. Helen Shiller (46^th) at the finance committee’s Monday meeting.

The ordinance amends the Wilson Yard TIF District boundaries to create a new TIF district encompassing the former Columbus-Maryville property at 810 W. Montrose and a portion of Clarendon Park.  

Sedgwick Properties Development Corporation wants to build a private, $350 million mixed-use, planned development tentatively named “Lakeview Station.”  Plans call for two residential towers up to 30 and 39 stories of market-rate condominiums and rental units, a bank of five-story townhomes along Agatite, and a 10-story affordable senior housing building facing Clarendon. The development will also include a high-end supermarket and health floor on the ground floor of the residential towers, and a boutique hotel across the street.

Sale of the property is contingent upon getting a new TIF district and other zoning changes. Sedgwick is looking to close the sale with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by spring. The developer, which will gain between $40 million and $50 million in tax increment financing, has promised the community an immediate infusion of $6 million to the Chicago Park District for restoration of Clarendon Park, including improvements on its aging field house.

Jay Feeley, director of business development for Sedgwick, said he did not know why the proposed amendment was deferred on Monday. The recommendation to execute authority to redraw the Wilson Yard TIF District boundaries is expected to clear the finance committee on Wednesday, before the regular City Council monthly meeting.

“I’m not sure why it happened, but everything is moving forward as planned,” Feeley said. “Everything is still on track.”

The developer has been meeting with neighborhood condominium associations and block clubs over the past several months to discuss its plans for the project and get community feedback,. 

Sedgwick President Marty Paris said the company hopes to start demolishing the existing buildings by May or June, with plans to begin construction by the end of the year. Before that can happen, the project is subject to approvals by the Chicago Plan Commission and the Community Development Commission.

A draft of a TIF eligibility study needed to gain approval by the CDC as new TIF district has already been completed.

Paris has said that without TIF financing, proceeding with the retail and residential development will be difficult.

Students dressed as their chosen grown-up vocations and had a blast learning stage make up (black eyes were the most popular), mad science, money management, origami, baton twirling, cooking and dancing.

The highlight of the day was fifth grade teacher Ashley Geyer’s demonstration of machete twirling. The theme of this year’s National Catholic Schools Week was “Dividends For Life” promoting the benefits of neighborhood Catholic schools around the country.

St. Margaret-Mary has been a fixture in the Rogers Park neighborhood since 1926. The school will host a parent coffee from 9:45 a.m. to noon on Feb. 26 where parents of prospective students can tour the school and view St. Margaret-Mary’s many amenities. Coffee tours are also available by appointment.  For more information or to schedule a tour, contact 773-764-0641.

St. Margaret Mary Celebrates Catholic Schools Week

Editor

St. Cajetan, patron saint of the unemployed (also gamblers, job seekers and good fortune)

Unemployed? Discouraged by doors slamming in your face and not hearing back from companies after you’ve interviewed there once, twice, three times? You might try asking St. Cajetan, the patron saint of the unemployed, gamblers, job seekers and good fortune.

The Evangelical Catholic Church of the Holy Family will be holding novenas to St. Cajetan starting this Sunday, Feb. 7, and every Sunday thereafter, from 2:30 to 2:50 p.m. The novenas are ecumenical (you don’t have to be Catholic to attend) and take place at the Resurrection Chapel of the Atonement at 5749 N. Kenmore Ave. Visitors are welcome to stay after the novena for the 3 p.m. mass.

“We want to raise an ecumenical awareness for the needs of the unemployed and those who are struggling,” said Bishop Jim Wilkowski. “It would be a grave moral wrong for us to ignore the needs of the unemployed. We need to reach out and do whatever we can financially, socially and politically, and most important, call on the political community who led us into this mess and lead us out.”

Cajetan was a priest who lived and worked in Italy in the 16^th century. He was a clerk of the court under Pope Julius II. After Julius’s death, he became an ordained Catholic priest according to Catholic Encyclopedia of Saints. His interest was “spiritual diseases.” He started a hospital for “incurables” and a bank for the poor so they wouldn’t have to borrow money from local loan sharks, which later evolved into the Bank of Naples. Cajetan died in 1534. Rather than a soft bed, he chose to die on wooden boards.

Wilkowski is reaching out to all the labor unions to spread the word about the unions to unemployed members. He hopes to generate donated gift cards from supermarkets and ask representatives from governmental agencies to share information about job training, tuition and health care clinics for those who have lost their health insurance before the novenas.

“We just can’t turn a blind eye to the unemployed,” Wilkowski said. “We hope in a modest way that our community can bring support and comfort. We’re not afraid to say the social statement that our community wishes is to make to chide those with the political power to get off their butts and do it.”

The Evangelical Catholic Church is a Catholic faith community that follows the same liturgical, sacramental and spiritual teachings of Catholicism independent of the Roman Catholic Church. The Evangelical Catholic Church welcomes married priests – male or female – to the ranks of its diocesan clergy, and unconditionally welcomes all individuals and families, regardless of race, income or sexual orientation.

Scott Lee Cohen’s job fairs aside, Cajetan should be better known than he is. He has his own blog, and you can buy St. Cajetan prayer packages to help you in your job search.  According to the testimonials of those who’ve used them, they work.

If you’ve been looking for a job for a while, a novena to St. Cajetan wouldn’t hurt.

“My vocation is to always try,” Wilkowski said. “God won’t fault us for trying, but he will fault us if we don’t.”

“Positive loitering” is a community action where residents make their presence known by hanging out in troubled areas, such as parks or street corners, in an attempt to deter gang and other criminal activity.

Some of the more successful positive loitering events that took place last year included neighbors who gathered in the Leland-Lawrence-Sheridan area on Friday evenings after a resident filmed a gang fight taking place on Leland and Sheridan.

In Edgewater, community members gathered every Monday evening throughout the summer at Thorndale and Broadway where all residents were welcome to come and play board games and cards, and socialize with their neighbors.  

The seminar focuses on how residents can organize similar positive loitering events in their neighborhoods.

For more information and to RSVP, contact the North Side Community Justice Center by e-mail at ltrier@cookcountygov.com or by phone at 773-334-4066.

Contributing Editor

"Artists In Motion" is an innovative program launched by the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce that showcases original works by neighborhood artists while at the same time promoting storefronts for leasing to prospective new businesses. (PHOTO/JACK BESS)

With the recession putting a damper on business openings, Edgewater community groups have turned vacant storefronts into opportunities to showcase local artists.

Currently, 22 store windows that would otherwise be blankly facing passersby are now alive with colorful paintings, drawings and photographs and trimmed with strings of holiday  lights.  That’s the result of Edgewater Artists in Motion (AIM), an initiative that started last summer and is supported by the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, Edgewater Community Council, and Edgewater Development Corporation .

Edgewater civic leaders say the project has multiple benefits, such as raising the profile of local artists and attracting more shoppers to business strips, where store vacancies began to rise.

“I was in the Edgewater Community Council office and within two weeks there were four pieces of property where the leases were not renewed,” said Rae Ann Cecrle, chairman of AIM and board member of the chamber and the development corporation.

Cecrle, who is credited as the prime mover and shaker of Artists in Motion, said that once the property owner has agreed to let artists show their work in the window, the community groups can hit the ground running and get the storefronts cleaned and lit and the artwork mounted fairly quickly, which means their commercial strips see an almost immediate improvement. That was the case last December when the CTA, after months of negotiation and the purchase of liability insurance by the local groups, finally allowed AIM access to vacant storefronts at the Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale and Granville stations.

5350 Broadway on Balmoral side (PHOTO/JACK BESS)

“What’s special to me is that we can do it and do it now,” Cecrle said. “In December, the CTA gave us seven storefronts and within 10 days we had those stores lookin’ good.”

The project appeals to local artists because it gives them an opportunity to exhibit their work, said John Garrison, an Edgewater resident whose paintings can be seen at 5501 N. Broadway, 1150 W. Catalpa, and 1206 W. Rosedale. That appeal is so strong that AIM now has more artists who want to participate than available storefronts, Cecrle said.

“It started off quite modest but in short order, artists were knocking on the door asking how they could get into it,” Garrison said. “I hope this brands the neighborhood because there is so much talent here. By providing all this, someone might look at a storefront and say: That’s a good place to open a gallery.”

If the property owner signs a tenant, AIM will remove the exhibit to another storefront, hence the word “Motion” in the group’s name. If it comes to the point where every storefront is rented, AIM could even “transition inside” the businesses, the way coffeehouses display artwork on their walls, said Tina Travlos Nihlean, EDC president.  For the present, the art-adorned storefronts serve to attract shoppers to existing stores as well as attract prospective business owners, she said.

“We find that is people are looking to open a business and they see a district that looks better, they are more likely to take a risk and open a business there,” Nihlean said.

5350 N. Broadway (PHOTO/JACK BESS)

Larry Eaton, EDC vice president, added that, “For years, a goal of ours has been to make the streets more pedestrian-friendly. I think this project makes the whole community an outdoor walking gallery.”

The project may also help develop a new identity for Edgewater as an arts destination, much the way Wicker Park is branded, said Jay Delaney, chamber of commerce president and CEO whose photographs are on display at 1117 W. Granville.

“I’ve been living here since September 2008 and it’s been really clear to me that there’s a really strong artistic community in the neighborhood,” Delaney said. “That’s what’s exciting to me. There’s a lot of creativity here and I don’t think people outside the neighborhood always realize that.”

For more information about “Artists In Motion” windows, click here.

State Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago) last Thursday held a Greening Your School Principals Breakfast to provide local school principals with information regarding state a local grants and programs that their schools could take advantage of in their efforts to go green and make their school more environmentally efficient. Pictured above:  [clock-wise from far left] Principal Richard Norman of Senn High, Kimberly Danna of Northside Catholic Academy, Rep. Osterman, Administrator Luke Goodwin of Chicago Waldorf School, and Sarah Herman of the Edgewater Community Councils Green Schools Committee.

Adam Robinson, Republican challenger for the 7th Senate District.

To my friends and neighbors in the Illinois 7^th Senate District,

First and foremost, please join me in congratulating State Senator Heather Steans for her win in yesterday’s Democratic primary election.  I would also like to take a moment to congratulate Jim Madigan for his vigorous and people-centric effort to win the nomination.  Both campaigns fought hard, and the community benefitted from their exchange of ideas.

In November, you’ll choose your next State Senator.

For the first time in a generation, the IL-7^th Senate seat will be legitimately contested in the general election.  As an independent-minded, fiscally responsible, and socially moderate candidate for this office, I am honored to have the opportunity to earn your trust over the next nine months.  The days of the Chicago political machine being able to take your vote for granted are over.  

The citizens in our community are hurting.   Jobs are scarce, and the ineptitude of our state government has led Illinois to the brink of financial insolvency.  Meanwhile, your elected officials enrich themselves and their insider friends with fat pensions and lucrative government jobs.  Budgets for entitlement programs explode, while Springfield balances the budget on the backs of those without political clout.

In short, the system is broken.  But I’m running to change that.

I believe in my heart that there are things upon which we can all agree, regardless of political affiliation:

• People come first, always.
• We should be creating jobs, not destroying jobs.
• Elected officials should be honest and forthright.  No exceptions.  Ever.
• Our public education system is a mess, and it’s failing our kids.  It’s time to address this problem with actions, not words.
• Our government must ensure equality for all citizens, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation.
• The level of violent crime in our community is simply unacceptable.  We need more dollars for public safety, now.
• Our social service programs should focus on our neediest residents, extending a helping hand to these individuals and families.

Finding common ground – that’s what my campaign is all about.  I don’t care about political ideology, I care about good ideas.  And I’m prepared to listen to and act upon good ideas, no matter the source.  You deserve nothing less from the people whom you elect to serve your interests.

How’s that for a change?

So, here’s to you, the residents of the IL-7^th, and to a new beginning for our community.  Together, let’s unleash the potential of our neighborhoods and work together to solve the enormous challenges before us.   Let’s find common ground.

It would be my great honor to serve as your next State Senator, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.

Sincerely,

Adam Robinson
Candidate for Illinois State Senate, 7^th District

adam@adamrobinsonforsenate.com

www.adamrobinsonforsenate.com

Police are seeking the public's help in finding Donald Stockstill, 18, who was last seen near Lawrence and Sheridan on Wednesday evening.

Chicago Police issued an alert for an 18-year-old man who fled a vehicle near Lawrence and Sheridan while he was being transported to River Edge Hospital in Forest Park on Wednesday evening.

Donald Stockstill is considered to be an endangered and at risk. He was last seen wearing a dark hoodie, dark jeans and dark shoes.

He is five feet, six inches tall and weighs 175 pounds.

Anyone who can assist in safely locating Stockstill or has seen him is asked to call 911 or the Area 3 Special Victims Unit at 312-744-8200.

For full details, go to http://local.nixle.com/alert/1064248/.

Center Square Ledger

Ann Williams won the Democratic nod in the 11^th Illinois legislative district race yesterday, taking 5,352 votes or 46 percent of the votes cast with 96.9 percent of the precincts counted. A delighted Lisa Madigan said, “I’m very happy Ann won. She’ll be a great state rep for the district.”

Williams said “I’m very excited to be one step closer to representing the 11^th district.” Williams said she was going to use the next few months to focus on issues important to 11^th district voters, naming property taxes, “getting the state back on track,” environmental issues and job creation as four areas of concern.

“I look forward to spending the next several months getting to know the district and focusing on issues that are important,” she said.

Ed Mullen, who lost to Williams reflected on the campaign, saying “the things that strike me the most were the reception I got from people at their doors.

“There was a cynicism about not being able to change politics in Chicago. Then there was a sense of possibility. I really think it is important to cultivate that sense of possibility in the district,” he said.

Opponent Dan Farley and 47^th Ward Alderman Eugene Schulter did not return messages asking for comment.

Democratic candidate for 11^th Illinois Legislative District. No incumbent. The results at 11 PM, with 94 out of 97 of the precincts reporting (96.9 percent) were:

In the Democratic primary in the 12^th Cook County Board of Commissioners race, John Fritchey ran away with 75.3 percent of the vote, with 96.4 percent of the precincts reporting.

Fritchey said “it is a clear statement that voters want to reform Cook County and the politics that got us here. In the 32^nd Ward it’s a repudiation of the politics that dominated the ward.” Fritchey said the vote demonstrated the demand for reform.

Democratic candidate for 12^th Cook County Board of Commissioners. No incumbent. The results at 11 PM, with 265 out of 275 of the precincts reporting (96.36 percent) were:

Greg Harris, who is not currently opposed by anyone in his election bid said, “Democrats need to focus their attention on giving support to Democrats in Collar Counties and state-wide. We need to support progressive causes.” Harris named three issues he hopes to focus on with his win, marriage equality, health care reform and education.

In other contested races with residents from the NorthCenter area:

Democratic candidate for Illinois Governor at 11:14 PM with 97 percent of the precincts counted, based on AP reporting:

Republican candidate for US 5^th Congressional District at 11:08 PM with 96 percent of the precincts counted, based on AP reporting:

Green candidate for US 5^th Congressional District at 11:08 PM with 96 percent of the precincts counted, based on AP reporting:

This entry was updated at 12:29 AM to include Greg Harris’ comments.

Shadow of corruption, Illinois Primary Day, Edgewater.