tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61966732011-04-21T16:06:05.837-07:00First CityA Chicago weblog.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comBlogger991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1137279494065292612006-01-14T14:57:00.000-08:002006-01-14T15:05:08.376-08:00THE FIRST CITY CAN NOW BE FOUND AT: www.firstcity.typepad.com. Eventually, this should work also: www.thefirstcity.net.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1136782522790012362006-01-08T20:53:00.000-08:002006-01-08T21:00:15.720-08:00An UpdateI'm currently working on a new design for the site. In the meantime, here's a link to a BBC report on community policing in Chicago, most of which takes place in Uptown.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1134182645872107202005-12-09T18:42:00.000-08:002005-12-09T18:44:05.876-08:00Broadway Building getting TIF money for rehabThis is like three months after the fact, but still:The city will subsidize a developer's $4 million renovation of the Uptown Broadway Building, on the northeast corner of Leland Avenue and Broadway.The 3-story Uptown Broadway Building, 4703-17 N. Broadway, is part of the Uptown Square Historic District. The Community Development Commission earlier jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1096362889315328192004-09-28T02:02:00.000-07:002004-09-28T11:52:56.393-07:00The White Flag
I don't want this blog to die. It's just that I'm in school now, and whenever I actually direct time toward anything not heavily hopped or consumption, I feel like I should be studying. Which is to say that I just surf the internet and consume.
Either way, I can't keep up with the blog. It'll return, though, in a similar although expanded form, eventually. Probably when I allow jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1095376140469774162004-09-16T16:03:00.000-07:002004-09-16T16:10:02.606-07:00September's the new summer. Here are the highs and lows from the past week. No rain, either.
87 67
86 68
87 65
85 61
82 63
80 61
73 58
This is how it was last year. Summer didn't start until mid- to late June and didn't get hot until September. Thejhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1094857949572264702004-09-10T16:09:00.000-07:002004-09-10T16:14:00.890-07:00Lawrence and Hermitage
I hate this building. There's nothing nice to say about it. It's awful.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1094850708634904272004-09-10T14:10:00.000-07:002004-09-10T14:11:48.636-07:00The most extensive surveillence camera system in the world? Right here in Chicago? That's unsettling.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1094762713085156472004-09-09T13:42:00.000-07:002004-09-09T13:45:13.086-07:00The Trib editorializes about Wilson Yard. Also, has anyone heard that part of this plan involves removing street parking on Broadway?
"You can always tell a neighborhood is changing by the squabbling.
The wealthy worry about too many poor people. The poor fear they're being pushed out by the wealthy. Tattoo parlor owners complain their traditional clientele of bikers might be driven away by a jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1094158443008065882004-09-02T13:46:00.000-07:002004-09-02T13:54:03.010-07:00Wilson Yard Meeting
There's a meeting on Wednesday, September 8th, at Truman College regarding the Wilson Yard project and Ald. Shiller's highly contentious plan to build affordable housing units within the project. Dissenters would rather see artist housing.
I can't make it to this meeting, which means I'll continue to sit on the fence for this issue. I tend toward Shiller's proposal, though.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1094067010999736542004-09-01T12:28:00.000-07:002004-09-02T03:52:51.693-07:00Chicago's Boulevard Lakefront Tour is Sunday, Sept. 12.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1093916137670680492004-08-30T18:30:00.000-07:002004-08-30T18:35:37.670-07:00The proposed CTA Circle Line would recieve funding for its initial phase if Congress approves a new federal transportation plan. According to the Trib, final agreement is near.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1093574555334473622004-08-26T19:40:00.000-07:002004-08-26T20:13:05.570-07:00
I swear this lot at Damen and Lawrence once advertised for condos. It doesn't seem to be doing so any more. There is, however, a sign for a CVS.
I can barely contain myself.
It better look more like this than this.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1093318776688998322004-08-23T20:36:00.000-07:002004-08-23T20:49:11.073-07:00Sign an online petition for the Uptown Theatre: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/uptown04/petition.html
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1093222745259484412004-08-22T17:38:00.000-07:002004-08-22T17:59:05.260-07:00Blue Angels, my ass
The damn air show is finally over, which means I get a whole year's reprieve from nearly pissing myself awake when a Navy war plane decides to scream over my apartment. One just doesn't dream very well after being awakened by an F/A-18 Hornet.
I was told these things warm up/practice/burn thousands of gallons of fossil fuels around Gary, IN, before heading up here on jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1092859758737972462004-08-18T13:00:00.001-07:002004-08-18T13:12:37.313-07:00... and our Ansel Adams prints are falling off the walls!
"The people who are failing us are the city. Our granite counter tops are shaking."
--condo owner, TomDiLisio, on why he's spearheaded a movement to make the 3rd precinct of the 46th ward dry in order to close down nightclub Circuit. DiLisio bought the condo near Circuit two years ago.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1092820066372303622004-08-18T01:20:00.000-07:002004-08-18T02:07:46.373-07:00My new computer needs a name
Okay. I have a new computer. And, man, do I love it. Faster than Michael Johnson. I'll be posting again.
Begin.
This summer, I worked for an organization called the Chicago Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers. For the last two months, we've been working to get an advisory referendum on the November ballot on the Northwest side. This, of course, means I jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1091479372159448672004-08-02T13:41:00.000-07:002004-08-02T14:12:25.460-07:00Not directly from the horse's mouth, but I've been hearing that parts of the new Batman movie will be shot in Uptown in early August. Hope it's true.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1091122135028883262004-07-29T10:27:00.000-07:002004-07-29T10:28:55.026-07:00A Sun-Times piece on Suellen Long and Uptown.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1091045358349422482004-07-28T13:07:00.000-07:002004-07-28T13:40:19.756-07:00I'm not lying. I'll have a new computer soon. Blogging will return apace.
In the meantime, here's a link to Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention yesterday. He good.
~jjh
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1089921331821330642004-07-15T12:54:00.000-07:002004-07-15T12:55:31.820-07:00New computer coming soon. Blogging will remain sporadic until then. Sorry.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1089491014063352472004-07-10T13:19:00.000-07:002004-07-10T13:23:34.063-07:00The Uptown Neighbors Council has created an online petition opposing the housing proposal for the Wilson Yard project. The council specifically opposes the current plan to build high-density low-income units on the site, especially since Chicago is moving toward a mixed-income, lower-density model.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1089407577221674402004-07-09T14:10:00.000-07:002004-07-09T14:12:57.220-07:00I-GO, one of Chicago's car-sharing organizations, has two new cars in Lakeview, parked at the Ann Sather on Belmont. This pleases me. jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1089132060659277332004-07-06T09:39:00.000-07:002004-07-06T09:41:00.660-07:00Montrose Beach is one of eleven city beaches http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0407060129jul06,1,605653.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1088574204298516862004-06-29T22:33:00.000-07:002004-07-01T10:58:11.980-07:00Vindicated
I've speculated before that 46th Ward Alderwoman Helen Shiller has advocated isolated, low-income housing instead of mixed-income housing because there are so many new condos in Uptown and the only way to balance them out is to build large blocks of low-income housing. Apparently, this is the case. Here's an excerpt of her response to a questionnare from the Uptown Chicago Commission jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1088361524555643462004-06-27T11:37:00.000-07:002004-06-27T11:38:44.556-07:00How about this? A gray line for the El. And it could be run on existing tracks.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1088193549987708422004-06-25T12:54:00.000-07:002004-06-25T18:53:50.900-07:00A wall
This is the wall that runs along the south end of the St. Boniface Cemetary. Anybody know why they built it like a goddamn fortress? Seems to me that a more "permeable" fence would be just as effective, security-wise, and it wouldn't ruin a perfectly could stretch of Lawrence. I know you can't really advocate getting rid of a cemetary, but man would St. Boniface and Graceland make great jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1088191701014284072004-06-25T12:20:00.000-07:002004-06-25T12:28:21.016-07:00Here's an article on the first developments going on in Madison, WI since the city passed a law that requires that developments with more than 10 units make 15 percent of them affordable to households earning less than the county median income. It will be interesting to see how this law--which is in no way a panacea--shapes the city.
And: I guess if Wal-Mart's not gonna do it, and unions can't,jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1088101062798568842004-06-24T11:10:00.000-07:002004-06-24T11:17:42.800-07:00Looks like the mayor is leaning toward expanding the recycling sticker program to the rest of the city: City recycling program may be retooled
And a short report on the status of residents who've been relocated by the City's overhaul of public housing: Mixed tale for former residents of demolished CHA buildings
The article highlights one of the main obstacles the City faces as it converts jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1087928838353173942004-06-22T11:15:00.000-07:002004-06-22T11:27:18.353-07:00I started a new job yesterday that will be taking up a good chunk of my time for the next eight weeks. And, as always, my computer isn't cooperating. I will try to post as much as possible, though.
I hear the "Positive Loitering" at Leland and Malden went well, by the way. Sounds like at least 50 people attended.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1087496565728912472004-06-17T11:20:00.000-07:002004-06-17T11:22:45.726-07:00Positive Loitering
From the Buena Park Neighbors Message Board:
"Please join your neighbors for an hour of Positive Loitering this Friday evening at the corner of Leland & Malden, 6:30 -7:30 PM.
Spend a few minutes or stay for the full hour but please come out!
Bring a neighbor, bring a friend, bring your dog!
Sponsored by 23rd District Community Policing."jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1087262383360096112004-06-14T18:08:00.000-07:002004-06-14T18:19:43.360-07:00Festival weekend
I attended two of the City's many street festivals this weekend, North Center's RibFest and Andersonville's Midsommarfest. Of the two, I definitely preferred Midsommarfest. Not that I didn't enjoy Ribfest--I did--but Andersonville's street fest felt like more of a community celebration. Much of that had to do with the community and political organizing that went on during the jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1087006369895868442004-06-11T18:39:00.000-07:002004-06-11T19:12:49.903-07:00Gang fight at Malden and Leland
This week wasn't a good one for the people who live around Malden and Leland. Residents have known for a while that gangbangers have been dealing crack on that corner, but it's been a while since any violence occured. A few days ago, though, a brawl between 15-20 gangbangers with baseball bats broke out early in the afternoon. A few hours later, 6-8 shots were jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1086978328609826962004-06-11T11:20:00.000-07:002004-06-11T12:12:12.156-07:00Cab fare increases?
Chicago cabdrivers plan to present to the City Council their petition to raise cab fare. They are proposing the following changes:
Cost of entering a cab: from $1.90 to $2.50
Extra passengers: from $.50 to $1.00
Per mile: from $1.90 to unknown
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1086819130840080692004-06-09T14:59:00.000-07:002004-06-09T15:26:39.636-07:00Uptown's new affordable housing
I support Uptown's emphasis on creating affordable housing and its willingness to maintain the course in the face of loads of criticism, but I'm confused about the way new housing is being constructed. The city has made it clear that it endorses and plans to build mixed-income housing instead of the isolating, stigmatizing high rises of the past. Uptown's new jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1086722606993796012004-06-08T12:08:00.000-07:002004-06-08T12:24:35.516-07:00I discovered yesterday that, per a 1996 Chicago ordinance, it's illegal to advertise garage sales with flyers except where the sale is taking place. Gimme a break. I can't be sure exactly why the city enacted this, but I imagine it has something to do with the words "ugly" and "messy." In fact, allowing flyering is another small thing that makes cities nicer to live in. They serve as little formsjhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1086368322538516622004-06-04T09:52:00.000-07:002004-06-04T10:20:47.660-07:00From Newtopia Magazine: "Building the Greenest City in America"
This is a somewhat lengthy feature/assessment of Chicago's attempt to become a sustainable, "Green City." It's worth reading. Uptown and the new Border's get a mention near the end of the article.
Also, Chicago cabs are now required to accept credit cards. jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1086291930194505892004-06-03T12:43:00.000-07:002004-06-03T12:45:30.193-07:00My computer died the other day. Not sure yet if I'm going to be able to fix it. I'll do my best to keep posting, but it may be more sporadic than I'd like. I'll keep y'all posted, pun intended.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1085787484171505062004-05-28T16:28:00.000-07:002004-05-28T16:38:04.173-07:00New zoning ordinance
From the Tribune:
"The Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved a landmark zoning ordinance, setting the stage for a potentially contentious zoning remap of the city, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood..."
And these wonderful changes are included in the new code:
"Among the many changes in the revamped code, new driveways and curb cuts will be outlawed in muchjhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1085685074993079642004-05-27T12:09:00.000-07:002004-05-27T12:11:14.993-07:00A quick note:
I plan on attending the next Wilson Yard meeting and reporting back in full in this space. Just don't want anyone to think I've forgotten about the neighborhood.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1085684988869204432004-05-27T12:03:00.000-07:002004-05-27T12:09:48.870-07:00Starbucks
Damn the evidence. I'm slowly coming around to tolerating Starbucks. I just can't find any real justification for why I should hate it as much as Wal-Mart or Home Depot. This article from Willamette Week Online dispels several myths about the coffee giant. I'll never love the place, but I think there's more worthwhile villians to villify.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1085633349337022682004-05-26T21:34:00.000-07:002004-05-26T21:49:09.336-07:00West Side to get Wal-Mart (and Chili's, Applebee's, TGIFriday's, Panera, Lowe's, Border's, 4 Starbuck's, Crate & Barrel, Kohl's, and 200 million square foot parking lot w/ a possible 50,000 more as stores begin to close down five years from now).
The City Council voted in favor of building a Wal-Mart on the West Side, but rejected a South Side proposal. Uptown alderwoman Helen Shiller is quoted jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1085507461599284492004-05-25T10:45:00.000-07:002004-05-25T10:51:01.600-07:00I'll be in Michigan all week, so I may or may not post. A quick observation, though: Lving in Chicago, I sometimes "forget" that Bush supporters/Republicans actually exist outside of my television. Not so. I actually have to defend my opinions here. jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1085348550041401252004-05-23T14:36:00.000-07:002004-05-23T14:42:30.040-07:00This week is Andersonville Bike Week.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1085177657906949062004-05-21T15:01:00.000-07:002004-05-21T17:11:29.200-07:00Bike Chicago
The Tribune writes about biking this week. Here's a disturbing bit of information from the article:
"The biggest obstacle to all this, however, is a backward Illinois law that creates disincentives for cities and villages to designate bike lanes and post signs. The law stems from a 1998 Illinois Supreme Court ruling that bikes are "permitted" but not "intended" users of the roads, jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1085017571150412912004-05-19T18:32:00.000-07:002004-06-09T14:26:19.786-07:00Graffiti
Graffiti at Lawrence and Paulina. This appeared sometime this weekend. Notice that some of the paint is darker than the rest. It was added a couple days ago. I'm no expert, but one if not both taggers is a Latin King. There's more graffiti in the alley behind my apartment, also.
In all likelihood, this is simply the work of a few harmless teenagers. Still, it's slightly unnerving to jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1084929569888750432004-05-18T18:05:00.000-07:002004-05-18T18:19:29.886-07:00Public transportation news
A few public transportation items of note from today's Sun Times:
The first is an article about the new brown line cars the city is testing. They're designed like New York's subway cars. Instead of two rows of double seats, one side of the cars have a single row of seats facing the side of the car and hanging loops for standing passengers. The idea, I think, is to jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1084841428703903772004-05-17T17:21:00.000-07:002004-05-17T17:50:28.703-07:00The Gap III
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. That's half a century, and our schools are still highly segregated.
I'm not going to get into what I believe would remedy the situation (partly because I'm not quite sure what I believe), but I'd like to use the enduring existence of racially-segregated schools to reiterate a very obvious point about how segregated jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1084250303315134802004-05-10T21:21:00.000-07:002004-06-09T15:30:51.050-07:00
Is this really worth posting on your front gate? Did they commission it? Who makes "No Posting of Flyers" signs written in caligraphy? For some reason, this really annoys me.
This is the north side of Winona, looking down toward Ashland. A classic, traditional neighborhood street where people can feel comfortable walking and interacting with their neighbors.
This is the same view, except jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1083974514943703962004-05-07T17:01:00.000-07:002004-05-07T17:06:23.716-07:00Low-income housing
This is worth paying attention to, for sure. From the Sun Times: " ... a South Side alderman today will introduce a revised affordable housing ordinance that requires developers of new and rehabilitated housing to set aside 15 percent of their units for low- and moderate-income buyers."
This percentage is down from the original 25 percent that some aldermen originally sought jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1083870420225533792004-05-06T12:07:00.000-07:002004-05-06T12:19:08.530-07:00
Andersonville is very pedestrian friendly. The stretch of Clark St. that runs through it often feels as if it was made for pedestrians not cars. Obviously every street can't be like this since many of us do have cars and need to use them, but it'd be nice if more streets were built like this. Above is the crosswalk at Clark and Foster.
A half a block west down Foster is this entranceway. jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1083612651320619872004-05-03T12:30:00.000-07:002004-05-03T18:43:04.530-07:00According to the Tribune, the Fannie May on Motrose is one of 30 stores that will re-open this autumn.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1083270976189499782004-04-29T13:36:00.000-07:002004-04-30T13:00:59.890-07:00
I really like Chicago's newest bus stops. They all look like the one above. My favorite feature is their transparency, which allows the bus stop to blend naturally into the corner. Most of the old ones are transparent also, but these ones seem to work better. Perhaps they are built with a different material. Not sure. The curved roof and support poles also work way better than the flat, jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1083115630908818012004-04-27T18:27:00.000-07:002004-04-27T22:06:40.030-07:00April in Chicago
Whenever I don't post for a few days I feel obligated to at least post a "Hey, I'm still here don't leave"-message. It's been a slow week for planning/neighborhood news--at least as far as I can tell--and it's been too chilly to wander around with a camera. I'm sure I'll post later this week because, in true Chicago spring form, it's supposed to be like 25 degrees warmer jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1082571932298949082004-04-21T11:25:00.000-07:002004-04-21T11:40:41.263-07:00Tax assessment relief?
Ask and you shall recieve, I guess. Not 24 hours after I take a swipe at the state and city governments for not caring enough about residents and businesses getting priced out of their neighborhoods the Illinois Senate passed a bill that supposedly will restrict property-tax assessment increases to 7% annually. (Here's the Sun-Times article. And here's the Tribune one.)
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1082515406691640892004-04-20T19:43:00.000-07:002004-04-21T11:37:55.966-07:00Uptown's new franchises
The Borders attracts the most attention, but plenty of other chain/franchise businesses have moved to or are in the processing of moving to Uptown. They include Jimmy John's, Planet Smoothie, and a few others that I'm forgetting right now. It's a safe bet that more are on the way.
I disapprove of a lot of these franchises, but much of that stems from their ability to jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1082328980329586012004-04-18T15:56:00.000-07:002004-04-18T16:00:22.170-07:00God Bless the federal government
The city announced last week that the CTA has matched federal funding for the brown line renovation project. I don't have the patience or time to wade through which department worked with which authority, but suffice to say that the CTA now has $530 million in guaranteed funding, with most of it coming from the federal government. The project will include jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1082278956725857432004-04-18T02:02:00.000-07:002004-04-18T02:06:38.530-07:00Wait, I can't go the Green Mill after work?
The new Borders at Lawrence and Broadway is open. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get photoshop.
Also, Ocean's 12 is filming all week on the same corner. The Green Mill will be closed for the week. jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1081895765251800702004-04-13T15:36:00.000-07:002004-04-13T15:40:00.483-07:00New flats and big-box closings
From an article on www.loftliving.com:
"... [In] the 4700 block of North Clark, developers Morrisey & Morrisey recently received permits for a new development of five eight-flats with retail at street level. A corner of the parcel, formerly occupied by Flash Cab Co., has been bought by North Community Bank for a new branch."
A bank across from Carol's. That oughtjhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1081593803982895832004-04-10T03:43:00.000-07:002004-04-10T03:48:06.483-07:00I have a plan
Obviously this weblog has a liberal slant. At least I think that's obvious. But since I've recently been extra annoyed with the Bush administration I want to emphasize how non-partisan I believe planning issues should be. Well, that's not entirely true, since planning deals with economics and all. But mostly, when we talk about planning, we are talking about quality of life--that jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1081291489616412642004-04-06T15:44:00.000-07:002004-04-06T18:43:37.860-07:00
These are the corners of Lawrence and Malden, and Lawrence and Magnolia. Two observations. I really like the triangular islands. When they're not filled with plastic bags and hamburger wrappers they're really nice. They add to each street's charm, et cetera. However, the fact that they're even there is annoying. I've been nearly hit several times while crossing these intersections. They are jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1080784738700434432004-03-31T17:58:00.000-08:002004-03-31T18:02:35.936-08:00City Council authorizes rehab of Leland Hotel
From the city's website:
"Leland Apartments
The first ordinance authorizes the rehabilitation of the Leland Hotel, 1201-13 W. Leland Ave. in Uptown, into a $14.8 million Single Room Occupancy (SRO) supportive housing facility called Leland Apartments for very low-income and formerly homeless individuals. The City is investing $1.6 million in jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1080753011431081482004-03-31T09:10:00.000-08:002004-03-31T10:13:19.513-08:00A radio flyer?
Air America Radio premiered today. Actual liberal shows on major radio networks. Good Lord.
Who knows if it'll be any good. The first thing they played was a very predictable Bob Dylan song. Chuck D. has a show. You can find it at 950 on your AM dial in Chicago.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1080751466044839572004-03-31T08:44:00.000-08:002004-03-31T08:48:02.996-08:00Daley hearts Wal-Mart
A Tribune article today reports that Mayor Daley is breaking ranks with aldermen and labor leaders to support the proposed Wal-Mart on the West Side. He argues that people want to shop at Wal-Mart and that people need jobs on the West Side.
It's bothersome that the big box blueprint is not even an issue here. It's also bothersome that I can't come up with a solid rebuttaljhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1080727866968624412004-03-31T02:11:00.000-08:002004-03-31T02:14:44.013-08:00
These two storefronts sit next to each other along Damen near the Brown Line stop. They couldn't provide clearer illustrations of how buildings should and shouldn't be constructed. On the left, is a bare blank building with almost no window space and no connection whatsoever to passersby. Next to it is a "permeable" building that ensures a natural connection between pedestrian and business.
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1080611362877957882004-03-29T17:49:00.000-08:002004-03-29T21:29:46.450-08:00Dawn of the Dead II: Wal-Mart to build in Chicago?
Well, that didn't take too long. Wal-Mart and their big-box ilk have finally stuffed enough stores into the suburbs that they are beginning to aggressively move into cities, or as they call them "underserved urban areas." Chicago currently has no Wal-Marts (which makes my heart patter with joy), but that is bound to change in the near future. jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1080274752334943502004-03-25T20:19:00.000-08:002004-03-26T01:50:43.360-08:00
I found this community message board down in Southport. Wish we had more of this sort of thing around here. jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1080224007316447052004-03-25T06:13:00.000-08:002004-03-26T01:51:02.686-08:00We love Chicago II
There are a lot of reasons to love Chicago, but one that I consistently hear (and voice myself) is that it's a big city that still feels like a small town. There are many reasons for this, I think, including the style of the city's neighborhoods and it's Midwestern location. It struck me today, though, that one of the most significant reasons for this feeling is the huge jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1079965446872790282004-03-22T06:24:00.000-08:002004-03-23T22:46:50.060-08:00I enjoyed posting the following post, so I think I'm going to try to periodically put up pictures of planning-related whatevers to help illustrate points I'm trying to make. Below is a small series of pictures I took around the neighborhood, with some commentary added.
I get the idea from these two books: "City Comforts: How to Build an Urban Village," by David Sucher, and "Suburban Nation: Thejhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1079493596620502732004-03-16T19:19:00.000-08:002004-03-22T06:30:59.996-08:00jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1079491214712357932004-03-16T18:40:00.000-08:002004-03-16T19:02:54.326-08:00Early voting results for some local referendums:
REFERENDUMS
48th Ward - Repeal the Patriot Act Updated: 8:42 p.m.
No 25 5.2%
Yes 140 84.8%
48th Ward - Relinquish Control of Iraq Updated: 8:42 p.m.
No 38 22.8%
Yes 129 77.2%
48th Ward - Universal Health Care Updated: 8:42 p.m.
No 10 5.9%
Yes 160 94.1%
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1079265855896246222004-03-14T04:04:00.000-08:002004-03-14T04:09:36.796-08:00I use the self-indulgent weblog to be self indulgent
Sorry to do this, but I've been lazy about publishing both of these, so I'm just gonna put them up here until I find someone to do it for real.
First, is the last short story I wrote. It's getting near that point where I hate the thing. But not yet. "The Flutter"
And then, my thesis, which I wrote in college. It's about deindustrialization jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1078972232174867812004-03-10T18:30:00.000-08:002004-03-10T18:33:41.046-08:00Recycling II
Recycling stickers for the Sticker & Bag Tie Pilot Program can be downloaded here.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1078717960367776632004-03-07T19:52:00.000-08:002004-03-07T19:55:44.920-08:00Recycling
The 47th Ward, which comprises most of Ravenswood (my neighborhood!) and Lincoln Square has been chosen to host the Sticker & Bag Tie Pilot Program for recycling. Presently, Chicagoans in single-family homes and one, two, three, and four flats must purchase blue bags in order to recycle. The new program will allow residents to use standard garbage bags, replacing the hassle of buying jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1078388447012731122004-03-04T00:20:00.000-08:002004-03-04T00:25:13.170-08:00Brown bags bagged
This was posted on the Buena Park Neighbors message board:
Voluntary Liquor Restrictions
The UCC has been working with Aldermen Shiller, Shulter and Smith (46th, 47th, and 48th wards) and
Liquor Commissioner Winston Mardis to remove from retail shelves the kinds
of alcohol typically consumed in public.
We are very pleased to announce that concensus has been reached, and 28
jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1078278791777337362004-03-02T17:53:00.000-08:002004-03-02T17:56:09.326-08:00Wilson Yard Project
More news from yet another proposed Uptown development project, this time for the Wilson Yard Project on acreage bordered by Broadway on the east, Montrose on the south, the Red Line on the west, and Wilson on the North. After more than a year of some community input along with whatever it is that happens in the alderwoman's office, the planning rooms (wherever they are), jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1077917829737135692004-02-27T13:37:00.000-08:002004-03-05T13:35:08.983-08:00A meeting
Not sure who's reading this weblog, but if anyone in the area is interested in getting together to talk about Uptown/Ravenswood and see if anything comes out of it, email me at johnhonkala @yahoo.com
Getting Cubs tickets is impossible this year. I've been in front of the computer and on the phone for almost six hours and I've got nothing. Just watching the list of sold-out games grow jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1077792552773138302004-02-26T02:49:00.000-08:002004-02-26T02:52:02.640-08:00Kohls?!
The Tribune reports today (or yesterday for those of you who are keeping tack) that Kohls is jumping on the "let's build stores in *underserved* urban areas" bandwagon. This trend is an awful one. People move to Chicago in part because they're attracted to life without these one-stop big box stores. A Kohls? Sheesh. Ain't nothing Chicago about that.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1077702023603451702004-02-25T01:40:00.000-08:002004-02-25T01:43:12.140-08:00Harold's Chicken Shack
Finally ate at Harold's Chicken Shack down in Hyde Park. Four seventy for half a chicken, fries, and two pieces of Wonder Bread. You get two choices, hot or barbeque sauce. Fried chicken is one of my favorite meals and Harold's may be my new favorite place to get it.
There are like five of them on the South Side. Apparently there used to be one at Lawrence and Sheridan jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1077701771262938292004-02-25T01:36:00.000-08:002004-02-25T01:38:59.843-08:00Funny this was in the Business section ...
The New York Times wrote up the Borders development at Lawrence and Broadway, along with a new Borders in my other favorite city, Detroit.
Here's an excerpt, followed by a link to the full article:
"The Chicago project, called Uptown Square, is also an attempt to bring retail life to a blighted commercial district. Situated in Uptown, a North Side jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1077242088841963122004-02-19T17:54:00.000-08:002004-02-19T17:59:00.496-08:00The old Rainbo site and future of Clark St. in Uptown
I’ve found some information on the old Rainbo site.
Some history
Over a century old at the time of its demolition, the Rainbo was one of Chicago’s more storied and lively buildings. At various times throughout the 20th century, the building housed a jazz club, a garden café, jai alai courts, boxing rings, a bowling alley, roller and ice jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1076984665644055482004-02-16T18:24:00.000-08:002004-02-16T18:27:03.030-08:00Sheesh...I'm behind
I'm doing my best to find information on the new condo developments on the former Rainbo Bowl site (Clark and Lawrence) and at Clark and Leland. I should have something to say by Wednesday. Although not as major as the Borders/condos development at Lawrence and Broadway, I think these developments could really have a huge affect on the face of Uptown. Which face depends on jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1076530341137901922004-02-11T12:12:00.000-08:002004-02-11T12:16:23.950-08:00We chose "juicy lime" for the bathroom
I've been busy painting the apartment all week. Will post again once I get the paint out from under my nails and a newspaper in my hand.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1076085042551866502004-02-06T08:30:00.000-08:002004-02-06T08:33:21.153-08:00Tax refunds
From the latest newsletter of community organizing group Association of Communities Organizing for Reform Now (ACORN):
"ACORN is demanding that H&R Block put an end to their aggressive marketing and sales of high-cost tax Refund Anticipation Loans or RALs in our neighborhoods, particularly to low-income families eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. In 2001, H&R Block sold 43%jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1076075186344962192004-02-06T05:46:00.000-08:002004-02-06T05:49:47.810-08:00We heart Chicago
One thing about Chicago that sets it apart from nearly every other city I've lived in or spent quality time in: we Chicagoans are proud of our city. I rarely hear people complaining about how they live in a lame city or how such and such city is so much cooler. In fact, we usually get a little indignant at that kind of talk. We think our city's the best (thus, the name of this jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1075897255164013782004-02-04T04:20:00.000-08:002004-02-04T04:23:15.310-08:00
Happy Birthday, Mr. Vice President
It's Dan Quayle's birthday. Don't ask why I know this. I just do.
Really, I feel sorry for the man. Spelling "potato" wrong means nothing, ultimately. 'Specially compared to our current president's screw ups.
Ah, well.
I endorse an amalgation of Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich in the Democratic primaries. That seems like it'd do the trick.jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1075896825464316392004-02-04T04:13:00.000-08:002004-02-05T03:11:42.076-08:00Call of duty
My friend Josh --a teacher-- has a brilliant idea to make communities and schools better: adopt the jury duty idea and make tutoring mandatory for adults with children. It makes a ton of sense. Require parents to take a few evenings out of the year to teach whatever they can in their local school districts. Get Congress to compensate employers at least a bit and make it mandatory. jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1075428100304584562004-01-29T18:01:00.000-08:002004-01-30T11:17:11.623-08:00Kiss it goodbye
Man. Just a day after the Wrigley proposal, comes news that Chicago has lost one of its most recognizable landmarks, the Magikist lips. There used to be three of these huge signs, one on each side of the city. One week away from making Preservation Chicago's list of Chicago's seven most-endangered landmarks, the final sign stood off the Kennedy (I-90) at Montrose.
This is a jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1075336795325656932004-01-28T16:39:00.000-08:002004-01-29T03:39:31.966-08:00Preserving like a Twinkie
Pending City Council approval, Wrigley Field will soon become a historical landmark. Well, at least half of it anyway. The committee that makes these recommendations—the Committee on Historical Landmarks and Preservation—went half-hog and decided to ensure only that the exterior and Wrigley’s unique historical features remain untouched by the greedy hands of the Tribunejhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1074566911181389492004-01-19T18:48:00.000-08:002004-01-22T18:14:01.733-08:00Park and walk
Last week's Chicago Reader's lead story about Notre Dame architecture student's redevelopment proposals for Chicago's "ugliest intersection" (Ashland and Archer) raised some interesting ideas. First of all, their professors forbade them from tearing down any existing structures, and "wherever possible they had to use existing buildings and existing spaces--including the gargantuan jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1074377780369082822004-01-17T14:16:00.000-08:002004-01-17T14:18:16.326-08:00The Tour de Wisconsin is over, so I'll post again by Monday. jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1073638417686580812004-01-09T00:53:00.000-08:002004-01-09T01:01:10.820-08:00The Gap II
While looking through 2000 census data, I found some interesting numbers for the 60640 area code (which is bounded by, approximately, Lake Shore Drive on the east, Montrose on the south, Damen on the west, and Bryn Mawr to the north).
Total population: 74,030
Of the people who claimed one race (95.7%) here's the racial makeup compared to the total U.S. population:
White 52.4%jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1073269479126638322004-01-04T18:24:00.000-08:002004-01-04T18:24:57.970-08:00The Gap
Here's a link to a Sun-Times article about a recent study showing that blacks still earn lower salaries than their white counterparts, even when they have advanced college degrees. I hesitate to point to a singular cause for the disparity, but it's a safe bet that one of the root causes is a segregated society whose resources are distributed disproportionately. Sure, there's still overt jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1073034600069166342004-01-02T01:10:00.000-08:002004-01-02T01:10:18.400-08:00Fair and balanced
Here's an idea: car sharing. I was talking to someone the other day who lives down in Printers Row and apparently he knows several people who use a car sharing service. Here's a website that explains the concept and has links to sevices in the U.S., Canada, and Europe: http://www.eartheasy.com/live_car_sharing.htm.
Also, if you happened to flip to channel 19 -- a public accessjhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1072776455198862182003-12-30T01:27:00.000-08:002003-12-30T01:27:52.516-08:00We'll just stick a Burger King here, and then a Crate and Barrel here...maybe a cul de sac...
Cable internet is the new black. I've been without it for the past week and a half, and it's been a chore to say the least. Lots of solitaire. I was in Michigan, where I visited the Pure Detroit store in the Fisher Building. We went on a Saturday night at like six. Nary a soul on the streets. Someday, jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1071721483959434562003-12-17T20:24:00.000-08:002003-12-17T20:27:06.846-08:00Fare thee well, dear transit rider
The Sun-Times reports that the city is close to offering a universal transit card that riders could use for Metra, Pace, and the CTA. Very nice.
Also, I'm starting a list of Chicago bars that have pleasant bartenders. Pleasant bartenders make the night so much more enjoyable. Here's the first two, and they happen to be on the same corner.
The Long Room 1612jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1071535436649247742003-12-15T16:43:00.000-08:002003-12-15T16:44:09.980-08:00Pay for it, and they will come
From Inside Publications:
"The historic renovation of the century-old Chicago Brown Line is on track after receiving a Full Funding Grant from the United States Dept. of Transportation. It is now awaiting the CTA's matching funding and approval to get the reconstruction of the Northwest Side line underway. The CTA has as yet made no announcement as to a target jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1071357923143658412003-12-13T15:25:00.000-08:002003-12-13T15:33:10.963-08:00We don't need no stinking Ikea
Mayor Daly on Ikea's decision to build in the suburbs instead of near the Riverside Park development: "I sleep at night. I don't worry about Ikea. It's just another company. ... If Ikea wants to go out to wherever they want to go out to, so be it. That's up to them. They're a foreign-held company. They must understand where they want to go. We won't miss them. We jhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1071266570916208702003-12-12T14:02:00.000-08:002003-12-12T18:06:51.123-08:00Johnny from the block.
I love the block I live on. I live in a three flat between an apartment building and a single-family home. We squeeze a lot of people into the block. There may not be any parking after 11 PM, but it still looks and feels like a leafy suburban street. And although I see more white people than anyone else, we have a nice enough mix here that I don't feel like I'm in Lincolnjhonkalanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196673.post-1071203108996048492003-12-11T20:25:00.000-08:002004-01-02T01:16:57.706-08:00Broad shoulders, indeed.
There ain't no city quite like Chicago. Which is to say that Chicago looks like a lot of cities at first glance, but step off an el train or out of Union Station or whatever got you into town and you know you're in Chicago. It could be the smell or the wind or Lake Shore Drive or the taverns or the people. Could be the hotdogs. Whatever it is, though, it's there, as jhonkalanoreply@blogger.com