DevCorp North What's Now: Rogers Park, Chicago

Celebrate Clark Street Festival

SAVE THE DATE

DevCorp North, the Clark/Morse/Glenwood Special Service Area, the Clark Street Merchants Association and 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore are organizing the first “Celebrate Clark Street Festival.”  This event will be held on Sunday, June 25th from 12 to 8pm on Clark Street between Morse and Touhy.

We are looking for sponsors, food vendors, merchandise vendors and entertainment.  If you are interested in participating in the event, contact Rene Camargo at (773) 508-5885.

Role of a Special Service Area

What is a Special Service Area?

Special Service Areas (SSA) have been used for over 30 years nationwide as a funding tool primarily used to protect and promote neighborhood shopping districts.  An SSA allows for a property tax levy to underwrite special services in addition to those generally provided by local municipal government.  The SSA tax provides benefit as all funds are locally managed and can only be used for SSA services within the boundaries.

Why do we need a Special Service Area?

As the north side gateway to the City, Rogers Park is home to the second busiest transit hub in Chicago and has a diverse population. Howard Street Special Service Area #19 and Clark/Morse/Glenwood Special Service Area #24 provide programs and services to increase the neighborhood’s competitive edge.  The Street Special Service Areas were established to provide maintenance and beautification services, to coordinate promotional and advertising activities, and to provide security and other technical assistance to promote commercial and economic development.

In light of government funding cuts, the SSA's are filling the funding gaps and putting decision-making in local hands.

How is an Special Service Area held accountable?

When an SSA is approved in Chicago, a local SSA Commission is created.  The Mayor appoints local business and/or property owners to the Commission pending City Council confirmation.  These Commissioners provide local management and oversight by authorizing expenditures and evaluating program performance.  DevCorp North serves as the Sole Service Provider of these SSA's and streamlines management and administration of SSA programs.  DevCorp North is also accountable to the state of Illinois and the City of Chicago through annual certified audits and budget reviews.

For more information, contact DevCorp North at (773) 508-5885.

New banners on Clark Street

After much discussion about the branding of Clark Street, the Clark Street Merchants Association and the Clark/Morse/Glenwood Special Service Area Commissioners unanimously approved the street pole banner design for Clark Street.  The banner was created by graphic designer Liz Vogel, a Rogers Park resident and approved by the City of Chicago for the required permits.  Banner text is in both English and Spanish.   Banner installation was completed last week.  Drive down Clark Street to see the colorful display.

New banners for Morse Avenue and Glenwood Avenue will be displayed this Spring.  For more information, contact Rene Camargo at (773) 508-5885.

The New Chicago Clean Indoor Air Ordinance

On Monday, January 16, 2006, the new Chicago Clean Indoor Air Ordinance went into effect.  The ordinance, which was passed in December 2005, regulates smoking in and near the entrances to public buildings and enclosed workplaces and facilities.  It establishes an immediate prohibition on smoking in specified public facilities; provides an opportunity for owners of restaurants with bar areas and owners of bar/taverns to allow smoking until July 1, 2008; and exempts exclusively private residences, some hotel and motel sleeping rooms, retail tobacco stores and certain private clubs or lodges from regulation.

Today, smoking is prohibited in:
 All enclosed workplaces;
 All restaurants without a bar area;
 All restaurant areas more than 15 feet from the bar counter;
 Public places including government buildings, convention facilities, laundromats, public transportation facilities and shopping malls;
 Public restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways and other common use areas in public buildings, apartment buildings and condominium buildings;
 Within 15 feet of the entrance to enclosed public places;
 Recreational areas including enclosed sports arenas, stadiums, swimming pools, ice and roller rinks, arcades and bowling alleys; and
 City government vehicles.

For more information or for sample copies of signs to post within your establishment visit the City's web site at www.cityofchicago.org/business affairs.  Signs are also available at DevCorp North, 1557 W. Howard Street.

Continue reading "The New Chicago Clean Indoor Air Ordinance"

SSA crews keeping the district walkable

Beginning at 3:30pm on Thursday afternoon, Mark Somen, DevCorp North’s Director of Maintenance, was out on the tractor doing his best to keep the sidewalks clear in spite of the fast-falling snow.  An estimated 1000+ pounds of salt was spread throughout the Howard Street and Clark/Morse/Glenwood Special Service Areas, as nearly 8” of snow blanketed the community. 

Before he finally went to bed last night around 11pm, Mark had covered the entire 7.1 mile route (3.5 miles of sidewalks on both sides of the street) three times with the plow.  Filling in where the tractor couldn’t reach, Clark/Morse/Glenwood SSA Manager Rene Camargo was out clearing Glenwood Avenue by shovel and snowblower.   

As of noon today (Friday), Mark had already plowed the sidewalks of the entire route twice, and Rene had cleared the same general area he worked on the night before.  The maintenance crew has been out with shovels in hand since early this morning, breaking up ice and clearing the way for pedestrians on Clark, Morse, Glenwood and Howard. 

The maintenance crews will be out on the streets with the snow plow in accumulations over 2" (anything less will damage the blades) and salting for any snow accumulations over 1".  Any merchants or property owners within the Special Service Area boundaries can call DevCorp North if they have any additional need for snow or ice removal.

Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival

Don't miss the Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest & Rogers Park Open Studio Walk

The festivities begin on Friday, Sept. 30, with a Festival Opening Party at the Heartland Cafe (7000 N. Glenwood) from 6-9pm.  Meet other participants and view "MOMENTS" A group art show, opening at the Heartland.  Stay to listen to Chicago Samba (Latin/Samba) beginning at 9pm.

On Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, 2005, the cobble-stone streets of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District in the Heart of Rogers Park will bustle with the sights and sounds of the fourth annual GLENWOOD AVENUE ARTS FEST taking place both days from 11am until 5pm.  The street festival features booths of artists, merchants, and other exhibitors accompanied by live entertainment. Experience art, theatre, music, and delicious food and drink in the streets of Chicago’s historic Rogers Park neighborhood.  Admission is free.

At the north end of the festival, new local favorite MORSELAND (www.morseland.com) and the long famous HEARTLAND CAFÉ (www.heartlandcafe.com) are sponsoring a music stage with two days of live music hosted by DJ TEEBOT & DJ MR. D and featuring performances by ZUTANO, MELANIE’S WAITING, FREEBASIC, THE MAD HORNET AFTER HOUR, and others. (see schedule addenda) . MORSELAND and HEARTLAND will be selling
food, hot drinks, and beer & wine from booths nearby.

Parents and children will enjoy KidFest at the south end of the festival sponsored by LIFELINE THEATRE (www.lifelinetheatre.org). KidFest features hands-on arts activities and an outdoor stage.  Performances for kids of all ages include drum group Kokyo Taiko, folksinger William Reedy, and excerpts from Lifeline's current KidSeries show, Stuart
Little.  Lifeline is especially excited bring to the stage Rogers Park neighbors Tyego Dance Project and Midwest Shorei-Ryu Karate Center.

Friends of art, neighbors, and fest goers should explore the ROGERS PARK OPEN STUDIO WALK, showcasing the neighborhood’s many studios in a full color map suitable for self-guided walking tours.  Local studios and galleries will be open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday from 11am until 5pm.  Maps are available for pick up at the street fest, or in
advance at any participating studio, Morseland (1218 W. Morse), Lifeline Theatre (6912 N. Glenwood Avenue), and the Heartland Cafe (7000 N. Glenwood Avenue).

Guided tours of the Artists' Studios will be offered on Saturday, October 1, beginning at 2:00pm and Sunday, October 2, at 4:00pm.  Learn about the artists and hear their stories, and then view their work on the Open Studio Tour. Reservations required; contact Sharon Hyson: sharonhyson@hotmail.com or 312-409-3258.

The Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest takes place on Glenwood Avenue (between Farwell and Lunt), steps from the Morse Ave stop on the CTA Red Line. Outdoor fest and many art studios are handicap accessible.

The festival was made possible with the support of Lifeline Theatre, Morseland, Heartland Cafe, Al Goldberg - Artspace RP, DevCorp North, SSA#24 Clark-Morse-Glenwood, Devon Bank, First Commercial Bank, Ald. Joe Moore, Rep. Harry Osterman, and countless volunteers and artisans.

For more information, contact Dorothy Milne at 773.262.3790 or dorothy@lifelinetheatre.com.

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Powerwashing Demonstrations

Special Service Area #24 Commissioners and DevCorp North are demonstrating powerwashing equipment as the next step in their commitment to bring more beautification and maintenance services to the Clark, Morse and Glenwood business districts. Bids from three equipment supply companies have been received and compared to cost estimates for one-time powerwashing on the three streets by local powerwashing companies.

The first demo was held on Morse Avenue on Friday, Sept. 16, 2005. The next demo will be held on Clark Street on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2005.

When the equipment finally is purchased, workers will powerwash all sidewalks in the boundaries of both Special Service Areas at least once per year.

Special Service Area #19 purchased non-industrial grade powerwashing equipment approximately four years ago.

Tree grates are being cleaned and mulched

The City of Chicago delivered 25 cubic yards of mulch, which was used to beautify the tree grates on Morse Avenue and Glenwood Avenue.  The old mulch and garbage was removed and the soil was turned to retain moisture.  Then the new mulch was added. 

Another 20 cubic yards of mulch is expected.  Once delivered, the same procedure will be done for the tree grates on Howard Street followed by Clark Street.

The mulch was ordered and the clean up administered by the maintenance crew for the Howard Street and Clark/Morse/Glenwood SSA's.

For more information on other SSA services, contact DevCorp North at (773) 508-5885.

Private secutity starts on Clark, Morse & Glenwood

On July 1, 2005 North Central Security started patrolling the Clark-Morse-Glenwood Special Service Area #24 with two off-duty Chicago police officers.  The officers will come from a diverse background and will be concentrating on gang and drug loitering in some of the trouble spots within the Clark-Morse-Glenwood SSA boundaries.  The security program began with two night shifts and one afternoon shift during the fourth of July weekend.  The identification of the trouble spots was determined by DevCorp North, based on conversations with residents and merchants.

DevCorp North and SSA #24 will start visiting all the merchants to update an Emergency Information Card from the 24th District Police District.  This card will permit the police department and the security company to have access to information when it is needed in case of an emergency.  If any resident within the SSA wants to complete an Emergency Information Card to be kept on file at the 24th District, please call DevCorp North at (773) 508-5885.

Clark Street merchants get organized

The merchants of Clark Street came together in late April with the assistance of DevCorp North to discuss shared concerns about their commercial corridor. Some of the topics discussed at the meeting were safety, collective marketing, business promotion, strategies to increase foot traffic and parking problems and regulatory issues, such as licenses and permits.

DevCorp North organized a second meeting, at the request of the merchants, which resulted in the creation of the Clark Street Merchants Association.  This association will unify efforts to improve the business climate and prioritize the immediate needs of the business owners and residents. Alderman Joe Moore (49th Ward) attended the second meeting and addressed the group, answering questions about various topics. Alderman Moore also encouraged the merchants to visit his service office when they need assistance.

DevCorp North and the SSA commissioners see this as a major step in the improvement of one of the most stable commercial corridors in Rogers Park, and as an initiative to make a better and more marketable Clark street.

At this time, the Clark Street Merchants Association is looking at the possibility of creating a promotional event for the summer or fall. The association is also planning to work together with the Clark-Morse-Glenwood Special Service Area  commissioners and DevCorp North to develop a business discount booklet in order to generate more customers for businesses within the SSA commercial corridors.   

For more information on the Clark Street Merchants Association, contact Rene Camargo at (773) 508-5885. 

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