Portage Park

I look forward to the answer JennS gets on work scope appeal because only the main sidewalk is broken and sinking. Reducing the work to just the main sidewalk would cut my share by $141.

Got my proposal May 19 in response to my January 2, 2012 on line application. The estimate was divided into parts for the main sidewalk, the courtesy walk from the street to the main sidewalk, and the two landings (little runners along the curb for people to step into/out of car). Acting on a first impression the square footage estimates were significantly over inflated , my own measurments confirmed their rough accuracy. Am shovel ready.

PS I think if I did not already have the courtesy walk, getting one put in for $66 is a pretty good deal.

Police have to use extreme caution. Spaying a large group of people is a good way to start a riot.

It is always best to deal with the individuals that are non compliant to peaceful protest, that way it does not seem like the group is being attacked and individuals know what to expect if they get overly aggressive.

Police intent is not to use excessive force to control the situation and keep people from hurting themselves or officers or others.

It is everyone's constructional right to peaceful protest. The Police are there to make sure it remains peaceful.

Lets commend our officers for their restraint in maintaining law and order and that the Police continue to do their job in keeping the peace, and all people safe.

According to Ald. Suarez at a community meeting on 1/11/12, the owner is now Planet Fitness (which bought the property for $8MM), which was supposed to begin work on landscaping & development "within the month", meaning by 2/11/12. B.S. I'd much rather have an urban farm there than [yet another] fitness joint, non-grocery dollar store or an empty lot, and so would a lot of us neighbors. I don't know if it would be feasible, given the expense of breaking up the concrete and putting in arable dirt, but it's worth a try, and if you ask about it, it might light a fire under Planet Fitness. Frankly, I'd even prefer WalMart to Planet Fitness or the big fat nothing that sits on the SW corner of Belmont/Pulaski.

Thanks Maz, given the age of the parking lot I would not pursue breaking it up due to the environmental hazard posed by the dirt under it. I'd need to test to make sure, but more than likely it is so contaminated with heavy metals and other toxins from leaded fuel usage, etc, that it all have to be taken away for about eighteen inches down and then properly disposed of off site. Also with the possibility of that dirt leading to dust, and the senior's village next door, it be better to isolate it. So I'd have to engineer a way to put some type of barrier down over it, than adopt an approach to build on top of that, while limiting the possibility of further contamination. A lot of work, and additional cost, but possibly needed given what the situation might be like there.

It would be nice to provide the taggers with some legitimate space, we don't really have much in the way of public art in our community, perhaps we could find or erect a wall where it would be nice to have something interesting and have rotating taggers showcase their work with permission.

Or we can ask them to do some, well, I don't know what you call it, maybe sneak art, something like this, small and in a spot you don't expect it:

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Blagojevich-anonymous-chicago-street-artist-depicts-former-governor-graffit

There are lots of examples of other artists doing similar things and also some faux works in the slideshow, some of which appear to be on paper that is affixed to the wall rather than painted so maybe not as big a project to undertake. Some depict guns and of course we don't want that but the Easter egg hunt one is pretty comical.

I actually think the pieces that are somewhat hidden are more powerful, you go down an alley because you got turned around and you are not expecting to see original artwork and there it is. The backs of many buildings are pretty ugly, just part of the urban landscape we pass every day, and a faux scene would stand out. People might come to the neighborhood to do a scavenger hunt to find it all, we could become known as the place for surreptitious art.

@ Six Corners Association’s information earlier…. What you have already found is a starting point. Perhaps the Association could write on its letterhead to several Chicago area University departments of Sociology, Urban Studies, and Criminal Justice alerting them to the grant potential. Those departments are naturals for this kind of thing.

With the Six Corners Association as a (non funding) partner, both the granting body and the schools might have more interest. And there’s every opportunity for the Association to contribute its reality based experience.

Because the grants amounts are small, the project could be divided into funding phases. The first phase could be a graduate student devising and carrying out a data gathering method to isolate tagger demographics. Another grant later to use the data to discover motivations among that demographic. A third grant to devise what the trade calls interventions – the devising maybe consisting in a search of previous projects to spot what works and does not among our demographic. A fourth grant could tie all that together with a proposal for the actual, targeted program.

And there's no reason/expectation to rely only on this one funding source over multiple years. Once the first phase starts, all sorts of organizations might become interested.

well just got my estimate for shared sidewalk program, so for those of you that made the deadline should be receiving it sometime soon if not already. comes out to $3 per square foot or $280 per average sidewalk square. senior citizens and those with disabilities will continue to receive a 50% discount.
if you have questions about the program you can e-mail: cdotnews@cityofchicago.org or calling 312-744-1746.
the program opens in january for those that missed this year's request. you can put in a request through the city's 311 system (phone or website) when it is reopened, there are only so many request that are accepted each year so you must get it in early.
the construction season runs from april to november.

You can text police. However if you see a crime in progress you are encouraged to call for an immediate response.

https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/Communities/Crime%20Prevention/TXT2TIP

https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/Communities/Crime%20Prevention/TXT2TIP-Flyer.pdf

https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/Communities/Crime%20Prevention/TXT2TIP-Brochure.pdf

CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
HELP FIGHT CRIME ANONYMOUSLY

CASH REWARDS UP TO $1,000*

The Chicago Police Department created the TXT2TIP program so that YOU can anonymously and SAFELY help rid your community of crime by sending information to the Chicago Police Department via a text message from your cellular phone. Follow these easy steps to submit a tip via text message:

1. Create a new text message or SMS text on your cellular phone
2. Enter the number 274637 (CRIMES) in the “TO” line
3. In the message box, type the word CPD, a space, and then your crime tip information
4. Hit “send” to send the text message You will automatically receive a system generated message back on your cell phone acknowledging your tip.

Your identity will not be sent to the Chicago Police Department.

IF YOU SEE A CRIME IN PROGRESS OR NEED TO REPORT AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911

For more information on TXT2TIP, please visit the Chicago Police Department website at www.chicagopolice.org/txt2tip
*The cash reward is provided by Cook County Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest.

TXT2TIP allows the public to send tips (including pictures, video or audio) via text message about criminal activity to the Chicago Police Department from any cell phone. Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 dollars for information leading to arrests.

TXT2TIP Arrests
Community members recently sent a text to 274637 (CRIMES), leading to the arrest of offenders. Thank you for your continued support!

Ok ok....Uptown theater is different. Its nice to read flattering comments about Uptown for a change.

My comparison was a very limited one for sure. However it seems what to do about a historic theater in the heart of a neighborhood is a recurring theme.

Each scenario is different so you have to find your own way. Another example would be the Remova in Bridgeport, very different but still. Like the Portage its fate remains to be determined.

The Renova, Uptown, and Portage have a chance because people are focused and care about what happens. When the opposite is true we get outcomes like the once great Nortown off Devon, now an empty lot.

Or like the Granada, torn down and sold for scrap. A structure with the same name was built on that site and has the soul of a suburban or Soviet office building.

So I am optimistic about the Portage, its in good condition, the Alderman and the community are engaged so it looks good.

One last non-6 corners fact...The Uptown is on the upswing too with $63M slated for the renovation. Gotta like that!

When I was at the Chicago Cultural Plan 2012 meeting at Copernicus Ctr in March the Portage came up more then once, obviously it is important to your community. They passed out some buttons and I still have mine.....

Save the Portage!