2nd Ward December eNewsletter

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Season's Greetings!


Dear Friends,
I hope this newsletter finds you well during this holiday season. As always, my goal is to keep all neighbors in our ward informed about upcoming events and opportunities they can benefit from. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please feel free to contact me directly at pbraithwaite@cityofevanston.org, or 847-801-9386.

A special thank you is due to the guests and residents of the 2nd Ward who came out to our ward meeting last month, including Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl, Police Chief Richard Eddington, Assistant City Manager Marty Lyons, and City Engineer Sat Nagar. If you were unable to attend the Nov. 14, 2013 2nd Ward Meeting, below is a summary of the meeting, notes and information, prepared by Kelley Elwood.

As a reminder, I host monthly ward meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Ward meetings are your opportunity to share concerns and discuss issues that impact our ward and the greater community. Please join us on Tues., Jan. 14, 2014, when we will dedicate time to review 2013 and set goals for 2014.

I ask that you please spread the word in the community about this newsletter. If you or someone you know would like to be added to this newsletter, please follow the link: www.cityofevanston.org/newsletter.

I wish you all a happy, safe and prosperous New Year!

Ald. Peter Braithwaite


Grandmother Park is OPEN

Grandmother Park

Congratulations to Gay Riseborough and her entire Board of Directors for their hard work in bringing a new toddler park to Evanston. Grandmother Park officially opened on Nov. 1, 2013 at 1125 Dewey. Go to the park website for photos of the opening day, the history of the park, and more. A special thank you goes to our City staff, WestEnd Business Association, Nature’s Perspective and the many donors who helped make this project a reality.


New Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center Up and Running

Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center

Dr. Avery Hart, Medical Director of the Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center, encouraged residents to visit the brand new, state-of-the-art health center that opened in November at the southeast corner of Dempster St. and Hartrey Ave.  The center, which was located in the basement of the Lorraine Morton Civic Center during construction, offers primary care and pediatric dentistry services to all without concern for the ability to pay; insured and uninsured patients are welcome. The center will help residents enroll in the Affordable Care Act and has bilingual providers as well as access to interpreters. Visit the Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center website for more information, or call 847-666-3494.


2nd Ward Safety Report

EPD

Reggie Napier, PST Officer for the 2nd Ward, shared an update from Crimereports.com, the online tool that tracks crime incidents by location. Between Aug. 1 and Nov. 1, 2013, the 2nd Ward boasted the lowest burglary rate in the City of Evanston. Crimereports.com also allows residents to text a crime tip using the site. Anyone who submits a tip that leads to an arrest will receive $100. 

Thank you, Officer Napier, for all that you do for the City of Evanston and the 2nd Ward.


2013 - 2014 Capital Improvement Projects: Resurfacing, Bike Paths, Street Lights and Crosswalks

Work Zone

Special thanks to Sat Nagar, who reviewed the completed 2013 street resurfacing projects on McDaniel Avenue and Lake Street, and discussed the proposed projects for 2014. These include:  

Proposed 2014 Street Resurfacing: 

  • Davis Street – Florence Ave. to Wesley Ave.
  • Washington Street – Dodge Ave. to Dewey Ave.
  • Clark Street – Ridge Ave. to Oak Ave.
  • Oak Avenue – Church St. to Clark St.
  • Fowler Avenue – Greenleaf St. to Dempster St.
  • Grey Avenue – Cleveland St. to Washington St.
  • Hartrey Avenue – Dempster St. to Lake St.

There are plans to create a protected bike lane on Dodge Ave. from Howard St. to Church St. next year as well.  

New street lights are being installed at Church St. and Pitner Ave., Church St. and Hartrey Ave., and at Church St. and Darrow Ave. Additionally, new energy efficient 200-watt induction fixtures are being installed at the following locations:

  • Greenwood Street – Dodge Ave. to Pitner Ave.
  • Hartrey Avenue – Greenwood St. to Greenleaf St.
  • Dempster Street – McDaniel Ave. to Dodge Ave.

To address concerns of residents living in close proximity to the new Food 4 Less gas station, a new pedestrian crossing will soon be installed at Main St. and McDaniel Ave. 

Please call 3-1-1 with any traffic engineering concerns.


Economic Development – Evanston Plaza

Dollar signs

Representatives from Bonnie Management gave an update on Evanston Plaza. The parking lot has been resurfaced, with lighting maximized and trim painted. Three new tenants now occupy space: DaVita Dialysis (with added parking), Kazoom (used children’s items) and a four-doctor pediatric practice.  

Bonnie Management is optimistic that the outgoing Dominick’s store will be replaced with another grocer. There are also other potential tenants waiting in the wings to see what becomes of the mall’s anchor store.  

West Village Business Association on the Move
Dickelle Fonda, member of the West Village Business Association, said Dodge/Dempster area residents will see new planters, funded by the City of Evanston Merchants Grant. The association is working to make the area more pedestrian friendly, and is also in the process of creating a website.