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Dear Friends,
I hope this newsletter finds you well. If you weren't able to make it to this month's 2nd Ward meeting, below is a recap of what you missed. 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 to our meeting this month, including Assistant City Manager/CFO Martin Lyons, representatives from Valli Produce, Dempster St. Starbucks Coffee Store Manager Will Schultze, 2nd Ward PST Officer Reggie Napier, Community Engagement Specialist Patrick Deignan, and Community Partners for Affordable Housing Executive Director Rob Anthony.
Next month, in place of our regularly scheduled ward meeting, I'll be hosting a special Penny Park Renovation Project Public Meeting with the City's Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Community Services Departments and staff from design firm Leathers & Associates. The meeting will take place on Thursday, December 11, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the J.E.H. Education Center/District 65, 1500 McDaniel Ave. The goal of the meeting is to reach consensus on park
improvements and to develop the final budget and schedule. More information on this meeting is below. I look forward to hearing from you.
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: cityofevanston.org/newsletter.
Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!
Ald. Peter Braithwaite
 Thank you again to representatives from Valli Produce for attending our 2nd Ward meeting.
Valli, which specializes in providing high-quality produce and a wide variety of imported foods, anticipates opening a
70,000-square-foot store in the renovated and expanded former Dominick's space
in May or June of 2015. In advance of the opening, Valli will host a job fair to help fill the more than 100 new jobs that the store will create. Please stay tuned to this newsletter for more information.
Having
purchased the entire shopping center and bought out Safeway’s lease on the
former Dominick’s space, Valli has a vision to improve the
overall shopping experience at Dempster and Dodge. Parking and
tenant restrictions that existed under Safeway’s lease will no longer apply. This winter, with the property's current vacancies, residents will be able to utilize the parking lot in the event of Snow Route Parking Ban and Snow Emergency even/odd parking restrictions. As the property's development continues and new tenants move into vacant spaces, I look forward to working with Valli to find parking solutions benefiting all parties.
Assistant City
Manager/CFO Martin Lyons provided an overview of the Dempster Dodge tax increment
financing (TIF) district and the estimated $20 million TIF budget that will be used to help fund
improvements and redevelopment of the area over the next 20+ years. The redevelopment plan and project objectives include infrastructure and utility improvements; landscaping, streetscaping and beautification; job training, and more. View the redevelopment plan >>>
Please stay tuned to this newsletter for future updates on Valli Produce and Evanston
Plaza.
 Dempster St. Starbucks Store Manager Will Schultze stopped by our 2nd Ward meeting to provide an update on the store, which has been open for about two months. Business has been good! Will noted that sustainable landscaping is planned for the exterior property after this winter. On Friday, December 12, the store will host its official grand opening. All community members are invited to attend.
 Assistant City Manager/CFO Martin Lyons provided an overview of the City's 2015 Proposed Budget. The $260 million budget includes a balanced General Fund without a net increase in property taxes and with no planned staff layoffs. I encourage you to visit cityofevanston.org/budget to view a breakdown of the General Fund by City department, proposed distribution of Capital Improvement Plan spending, and budget memos detailing staff responses to the City Council's budget discussion.
 Problem Solving Team (PST) Officer Reggie Napier provided an update on crime in the 2nd Ward. In October and November, garages have been the most frequent target of burglaries, with snow blowers, lawn mowers and other motorized items being the most taken. Officer Napier reminded residents to reduce crimes of opportunity by locking cars, garages, storage sheds and homes.
As we enter the holiday season, Officer Napier encouraged residents who plan to be out of town to notify him of their vacation plans in order for him to complete a vacation "special watch" form. Special watch does not mean that an officer will stop by your property to check doors and windows, but it does provide the EPD with valuable information in the event that there is a problem at your residence. Please contact Officer Napier via email, at rnapier@cityofevanston.org, and provide the following:
- Your name
- Your address
- Contact phone number
- Dates your house will be vacant (date you leave and date you return)
- Which lights you plan to leave on
- A key holder to your house (neighbor or family member who has your keys) in the event that there's a problem at your residence
- Any authorized people that may happen to enter your house and set off an alarm (i.e. dog walker, maid, etc.)
- Any animals that you will be leaving at home that may accidentally set off your alarm
 This winter, you can find out if snow parking restrictions are in effect by texting SNOW to 847-448-4311. The automated service is available 24/7!
In addition, there are many other ways to find out if parking restrictions are in effect, including signing up for convenient email and text alerts, visiting the City's homepage, following the City on Facebook and Twitter, calling or texting the City's 311 Service Center at 847-448-4311, and many more. Visit cityofevanston.org/snow to review snow parking regulations and the many notification methods. Thank you in advance for your assistance keeping Evanston roads safe.
 I invite all community members to support local businesses and get their holiday shopping started in Downtown Evanston with the Holiday Tree Lighting on Small Business Saturday on Sat., Nov. 29. Take advantage of special offers, discounts and more in shops, cafés and restaurants in Downtown Evanston throughout the day, and then stay downtown and kick off the holiday celebrations with the Holiday Tree Lighting. Entertainment in Fountain Square begins at 5 p.m., and the Tree Lighting will take place at 5:30 p.m., followed by live music performances. More >>>
 Help local families in need this holiday season by providing food, toys and financial donations through Mayor Tisdahl's Holiday Food & Toy Drive. Donations will be accepted at Evanston community centers through Friday, December 12. Read more and see donation locations >>>
 Rob Anthony, executive director of the nonprofit Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH), stopped by our 2nd Ward meeting to provide an update on the work the organization is doing in Evanston. CPAH's mission is to provide access to quality housing that is permanently affordable for current and future generations. The organization has purchased and restored several homes in Evanston, working with community volunteer groups and local contractors to turn vacant and dilapidated properties into beautiful homes for low- and moderate-income families. If you know of a property or a person who could be assisted by CPAH, please contact Rob at ranthony@cpahousing.org. Learn more about CPAH at cpahousing.org.
 E2 Apartments, a mixed-use development featuring ground-floor retail space and 356 residential units, is expected to open in the spring of 2015! The two midrise towers are located at 1890 Maple Ave. and 1881 Oak Ave. Visit e2apts.com for more information, and please join me in welcoming E2 to the 2nd Ward.
 Please join me, staff from the City's Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Community Services Departments, and design firm Leathers & Associates for a Penny Park Renovation Project Public Meeting on Thursday, December 11, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the J.E.H. Education Center/School District 65, 1500 McDaniel Ave. From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., there will be a workshop to further refine Penny Park design improvements. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the design will be presented and public feedback will be gathered.
Leathers
& Associates and City staff will present the following:
- Design
Day schematic
- 3-dimensional rendering
- Site plan layout with optional restroom and shelter
- Play equipment comparison
The goal of the meeting is to reach a consensus on park
improvements and to develop the final budget and schedule. Please spread the word about this meeting, and visit the project website for more information.
 Valli Produce store owners speak to a crowd of roughly 100 residents at our 2nd Ward meeting on
November 13. Thank you to Valli and all those who attended or participated in
the meeting!
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