Dear Third Ward Resident, This edition of the Third Ward Newsletter contains a 2014 Year in Re-view and current information. As you can see, 2014 was a very busy year. There were many improvements made to Third Ward infrastruc-ture, parks, schools, and transit. More commercial and residential de-velopment projects were underway. Additionally, several pieces of legis-lation were passed that will benefit the entire City of Chicago. These improvements were shaped by the input of Third Ward residents through a series of Town Hall and other public meetings that were de-signed to gather feedback from my constituents and relay important information about new and existing resources that can assist them and their neighborhoods. With the inevitable snowfall coming this winter, I want to remind our residents that clearing the snow in front of your home and business is not only courteous, but it is the law. There are serious financial penal-ties for not doing so. Fortunately, there are programs available to assist those who are physically unable to shovel their sidewalks. See the "Important Announcements" section of this newsletter to learn more about the law and assistance programs. With the coming of the Hadiya Pendleton Park, XS Tennis Facility, Rosenwald Redevelopment, McCormick Place developments, and several other projects, 2015 promises to be another big year for the Third Ward. I look forward to continuing to serve our communities by working with you. I wish everyone a happy and productive 2015!!! Sincerely,

Pat Dowell Alderman, 3rd Ward

Third Ward Newsletter

January, 2015

In This Issue

2014 Year in Review 2-18

Third Ward Update 19-21

Important Announcements 22-23

January CAPS 24

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2014 Year in Review

Community Engagement Third Ward Town Hall Meetings Affordable Care Act On January 9th, Alderman Dowell hosted a Town Hall Meeting specifically dedicated to the new Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Representatives from the Illinois State Health Insurance Marketplace were there to provide important information about how the new law impacts individuals and small businesses. Additionally, information about find-ing an eye care provider and assistance with enrollment was provided.

McCormick Place Development On January 28th, Alderman Dowell hosted a Third Ward Town Hall Meeting at McCormick Place regarding the development of the McCormick Place Event Center and Convention Headquarters Hotel. An overall presentation was given by the Department of Planning and the Metropolitan Pier and Exhibition Authority, which was followed by information specifically regarding the event center and the hotel. Community feedback was solicited on several topics including traffic, parking, open spaces, and retail. The meeting was well at-tended despite the bitter cold and the feedback will be considered as the plan moves forward.

Development on 43rd Street On March 26th, Alderman Dowell hosted a Town Hall Meeting at Leg-ends South (4448 S. State St.). The meeting was held to provide infor-mation to residents and gather their input regarding proposed devel-opments near the 43rd St. Green Line Station. Representatives from the Chicago Park District discussed a number of proposals for the expansion of Buckthorn Playlot Park, which is cur-rently located at 4345 S. Calumet. The completed park would be named in memory of Hadiya Pendleton who was a Third Ward resident

and whose 2013 shooting death garnered national attention to gun violence in Chicago. Additionally, initial proposals included plans for a dog friendly area and a walking track with fitness stations. The Department of Planning and Development gave a presentation on proposals for six vacant lots along 43rd Street. By capitalizing on the nearby El station and other community assets, the proposals are designed to create an eco-nomic engine for the surrounding area. Complimentary to these developments is the rehabilitation of the historic Forum building at 318-328 E. 43rd St. Bernard Loyd from Urban Juncture discussed the status and progress of this project. Finally, Third Ward community member Don Krause from Midwest Consultants discussed franchising op-portunities for local entrepreneurs.

Obama Library and Rosenwald Updates On May 22nd, Alderman Dowell hosted another Third Ward Town Hall Meeting. The agenda included presentations on proposals for the Obama Presidential Library from the University of Chicago and Chicago State University, the Chicago Police, an update on the Rosenwald redevelop-ment, and Streets and Sanitation. The Lawyer's Committee for Better Housing was on hand to provide information to residents about the rights of tenants and homeowners, the Chicago City Clerk's Office provided im-portant information regarding changes to city sticker sales, and the Uni-versity of Illinois, Chicago provided important information on access to health care. Additionally, the attendees were treated to an impromptu history lesson from African-American Historian, Timuel Black and Dr. Carol Adams, President of the DuSable Museum. The meeting was very well attended. Special thanks to the Washington Park Arts Incubator (301 E. Garfield) for being our gracious host.

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Hadiya Pendelton Park, XS Tennis, 43rd/Prairie Developments On August 20, 2014, Alderman Dowell hosted another Third Ward Town Hall Meeting. Representatives from the Chicago Park District provided an update on the Hadiya Pendleton Park, which will be an expansion of the Buckthorn Playlot located at 4345 S. Calumet. The construction for this over $1 million pro-ject is expected to begin in the spring of 2015. Kamau Murray from XS Tennis was there to discuss the latest developments for their new athletic facility to be located at 53rd/State. The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) talked about their latest efforts to improve pedestrian safety and install new streetscape improvements along 47th St. between King Dr. and State St. Representatives from the City's Department of

Planning and Development discussed developments relative to the 43rd St. Prairie/Calumet RFP. They also dis-cussed the acquired area around the former Attucks school at 39th/State, which could potentially be a mixed-use project with retail.

Weatherization, IPRA, Revitalization, Financial Resources

On November 18th, Alderman Pat Dowell held another Third Ward Town Hall Meeting to hear from her constituents and pass along information about valuable resources and initiatives. Brit-tany Gifford from the City of Chicago provided an update on the City's SmartGrid Program and gave away free compact fluores-cent light bulbs. Larry Merritt from the Independent Police Re-view Authority provided information about what people can do if they feel their rights have been violated by a police officer. Carol Hill from CEDA was on hand to provide information and resources about weatherization. Bobbi Ball form Partners in Com-munity Building spoke about their Micro-Market Recovery and other programs. Bernita Johnson-Gabriel spoke about Quad Communities Development Corporations' Bronzeville revitalization efforts. Tracie Hall from the Depart-ment of Cultural Affairs gave an update on the restoration of the George Washington statue located outside of Wash-ington Park. Finally, Kimberly Coleman-Thomas from San Mar Financial gave a presentation about how Third Ward residents can make better financial choices.

2014 Year in Review (Continued)

18th Street Connector Community Meeting On April 10th, Alderman Pat Dowell hosted a meeting on the structure repair and painting of the Chicago Transit Authority's 18th Street Connector that connects the Red and Orange Lines to the loop. The project included water-proofing the tracks to prevent leakage, painting support beams, and the rehabilitation of CTA Orange Line elevated tracks between Clark and State Streets. The total cost of the project is $25 million.

2nd District Business Meeting On April 24th, 2nd District Commander Terence Williams, Alderman Pat Dowell, and representatives from the De-partment of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection discussed licensing, permits, and other things people need to know as a business owner in Chicago.

Garfield Corridor Advisory Services Panel On August 5th, 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell, 20th Ward Alderman Willie B. Cochran, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Chicago, in partnership with World Business Chicago, held a public meeting to discuss the ULI Panel recommenda-tions from the Garfield Corridor Advisory Services Panel, which took place in February 2014.

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Bud Billiken Day Parade and Picnic August 9th, 2014 was the 85th annual Bud Billiken Day Parade and Picnic. This is a tremendous event that draws visitors from all over the country and helps get our students ready for the new school year. This year was Alderman Dowell's eighth appearance in the parade. If you've attended the parade in years past, you know she has the most rockin' float in the parade. This year was no different as parade goers near Alderman Dowell's float were treated to DJ Farley Jackmaster Funk. This is one of our favorite events of the year and it was great to see everyone out there. Unfortunately, there was an incident involving gun violence and a few other safety issues. Contrary to rumors in the community, Alderman Dowell is not calling for an end to this historic event. Instead, she is working with stakeholders to de-velop strategies like tightening up the parade so it moves more

quickly without large gaps. More preventative strategies will have to be taken in regards to violence across the city. In the meantime, there is no reason to allow the actions of those involved in the violence to destroy an 85 year tradition that brings our communities together and celebrates our youth.

Alderman Dowell's Eighth Annual Back to School Extravaganza On August 16th, Alderman Dowell hosted her Eighth Annual Back to School Extravaganza at Fuller Park. As in years past, this was a great event filled with fun, games, prizes, school supplies, food, and resources for students and par-ents. Several attendees won raffle prizes including two lucky students who are now the proud owners of brand new bicycles. Everyone who attended had a good time and was given a backpack filled with supplies. Special thanks to Bernie's Book Bank, Peace on Earth Film Festival, Walgreens, Pepsi, Comcast, Michael Brown and Fuller Park, and of course, all of the wonderful volunteers who helped make this event great. Additionally, Alderman Dowell gave away school supplies and raffled bicycles to students at Wentworth Gardens and Dearborn Homes.

McCormick Place Event Center and Hotel Community Meeting Recap On August 19th, Alderman Pat Dowell hosted another community meeting to share updates with residents and hear their input and concerns. Representatives from the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority discussed traffic and safety issues regarding the construction of the McCormick Place Event Center and Hotel. Demolition of the buildings on the hotel and data center site including the parking garage at the southeast corner of the event center site (Indiana/Cermak) was completed in November, 2014. The completion of the 1200 room hotel and convention center with the event center is expected for the fall of 2016

Community Meetings for 47th/Halsted and 47th/King Grants The Tax Increment Financing-Neighborhood Improvement Program (TIF-NIP) is a Department of Planning and Development (DPD) pro-gram that provides home repair grants for single-family residences (1-4 units). Homeowners earning up to 100% of the area median income (AMI) are eligible. The TIF NIP Program is administered by the Department of Planning and Development and Neighborhood Housing Services who in con-junction with Alderman Dowell, hosted community meetings to pro-vide more information and distribute applications.

47th/Halsted TIF NIP - September 9th at Hendricks Academy (4316 S. Princeton) 47th/King TIF NIP - September 16th at Mt. Pisgah (4622 S. King Dr.)

2014 Year in Review (Continued)

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2014 Year in Review (Continued) Eighth Annual Third Ward Senior Update

On September 18th, 2014, Alderman Dowell hosted her 8th Annual Third Ward Senior Update at King College Prep (4445 S. Drexel). Over 400 senior citizens attended from all over the ward. They were treated to a delicious lunch, music, dancing, games, prizes, and information about important resources for seniors.

Flu Shot Clinic On October 17th, Alderman Pat Dowell collaborated with the Chicago Department of Public Health and Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church to provide free flu shots.

Alderman Dowell's Third Ward Principal's Breakfast Meetings On March 14th, 2014, Alderman Dowell hosted another Principal's Breakfast Meeting. These meetings provide an opportunity for schools to connect with services and have their concerns heard by Alderman Dowell and representatives from Chicago Public Schools. Network 9 Chief Harrison Peters, Family and Community Engage-ment managers Mike McGehee and Carl Hurdlik were on hand from CPS to hear about challenges our schools are facing and discuss CPS' parent engagement strategies.

Short presentations were given by YouMedia, Intonation Music Workshop, the Girl Scouts. the B.I.G. Baseball Acad-emy, Shimer College, the Hall Branch Library, Sacred Keepers, and the Bronzeville Community Action Council. All of these programs provide recreational, academic, and/or social services to youth in the area. The meeting was very well attended and everyone was treated to a delicious buffet at Pearl's Place (3901 S. Indiana). Very special thanks to all of the organizations who attended and to Pearl's Place for the excellent service and hospitality. On November 14th, Alderman Dowell hosted another breakfast meeting for the Principals of the schools in the Third Ward. In addition to a great breakfast, our Principals were given information regarding Metra's Safety Poster and Essay Contest, the University of Chicago's Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program, and Chicago Pub-lic School's Department of Health and Nutrition initiatives. Also on hand were Associate Director of CPS Office of Safety and Security Willie Sims, CPS Network Chief Dr. Janice Jackson, and Angelique Harris of the Bronzeville Community Action Council. Special thanks to Pearl's Place and all who presented.

Buckthorn Park Expansion Community Meeting On December 11th, after several months of collecting input from community members through outreach and previous community meetings, the Chicago Park District was ready to unveil its latest draft of the expansion plans for Buckthorn Park. The Park District and Alderman Dowell are proposing a $1.2 million expansion of the small park at 4347 S. Calu-met Ave. that will be renamed for Hadiya Pendleton who is the King College Prep student killed by gunfire in 2013 a few blocks away from the expansion site. A final meeting on the park design will be held in February, 2015. Alderman Dowell and representatives from the Chicago Park District were on hand to answer any questions and listen to any concerns community members may have. This is part of an ongoing effort to make sure the park's expansion meets the needs of the community.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued)

Infrastructure Improvements

Road Complete Streets Project Installation of the Pershing Road Complete Streets Project between King and Oakwood began September 29th. Upgraded pedes-trian crosswalks, buffered bike lanes and new motor vehicle lane lines will be in-stalled as part of the project.

Cermak Road Green Line Station

Construction is nearing completion for the new Green Line Station at State and Cermak. This $50 million project is creat-ing a new elevated station that will be ADA-accessible. The platform will accommodate an eight-car train and will have canopy cov-erage for six cars. The station will also have direct transfer connections to buses on Cermak Road and three entrance points on each side of Cermak Road and at 23rd Street. It will serve residents, Motor Row patrons, and people coming and going from McCormick Place and is expected to be opened in early 2015.

18th/Calumet Pedestrian Bike Bridge The Prairie District Neighborhood Association (PDNA) worked closely with Alderman Dowell's office and the Chi-cago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to address issues for pedestrian safety & bike access. A new 10' wide dual lane offset bike ramp on to Calumet to and from the pedestrian underpass that will allow access from the path directly to Calumet Ave. has been installed. There will be a slight jog where bikes will have to slow down, and the ramp will allow access Northbound or Southbound on Calumet. Additional signage at the curb ramp to direct bicyclists to the ramp and bike Green directional markings on Calumet and 18th. Green Street Bike Markings to better distinguish bike path direction and location from Indiana Ave to the Lake Front Pedestrian Bridge & Tunnel.

ADA Ramp Construction Construction began on August 26th for an ADA ramp construction project on S. Halsted Street from W. Garfield Blvd. to W. 58th. The work included ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement, minor milling of the existing asphalt pavement at the intersections of affected ramps, asphalt paving, and striping. The con-crete work will take place first followed by the milling and paving of the intersections.

2014 Street Resurfacing

Street From To

E. 30th St. S. State St. S. Federal St.

E. 35th St. S. State St. S. Lake Park Ave.

E. 46th St. S. Indiana Ave. S. King Dr.

S. Federal W. 19th St. S. Archer

S. Federal W. 29th St. W. 30th St.

E. Garfield Blvd. 150 E. Garfield 400 E. Garfield

S. King Dr. 37th St. 51st St.

S. Lowe St. 51st St. 55th St.

E. Roosevelt Rd. S. State St. Lake Shore Dr.

S. Wabash Ave. E. 51st St. E. 53rd St.

2014 New Alleys

15th St. -16th St./ State St.-Wabash Ave.

44th St.-44th Pl./St. Lawrence Ave. - Vincennes Ave.

(Concrete)

Cullerton Ave.-21st St./Calumet Ave.-Prairie (Concrete)

Curb and Gutter Repairs

Princeton Ave. /W. 48th Pl.

Princeton Ave. /W. 50th St.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued)

Infrastructure Improvements (Continued)

New Traffic Light at 47th/Racine The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) replaced the traffic signals at the intersection of Racine Avenue and 47th Street.

Traffic Signal Modernization at 14th/Wabash The project scope of work included the removal and replacement of the existing pavement, curb and gut-ter, sidewalk, pavement marking, signage, street light-ing and installation of new traffic signal poles, signal heads, and equipment. The value of this project is $325,000.

2014 New Residential Lighting

Street From To

E. 44th St. King Dr. Prairie Ave.

E. 44th St. Prairie Ave. Indiana Ave.

S. Calumet

Ave.

43rd St. 45th St.

E. Oakwood

Blvd.

Vincennes Ave. King Dr.

S. Prairie

Ave.

43rd St. 45th St.

S. Shields

Ave.

46th St. 48th St.

W. Swann

St.

Princeton Ave. Dead End

2014 New Water Mains

Street From To

E. 23rd St. S. Wabash Ave S. Indiana Ave.

E. 32nd St. S. Michigan S. King Dr.

E. 33rd St. S. State St. S. King Dr.

E. 48th St. and 48th Pl. King Dr. S. Vincennes

E. 53rd St. S. Indiana Ave. S. King Dr.

W. 53rd Street S. Morgan Street S. Halsted St.

S. Forrestville Avenue E. 45th Street E. 46th Street.

S. Washington Park Ct. E. 49th St. E. 51st St.

2014 New Sewer Mains

Street From To

E. 53rd St. S. State St. S. King Dr.

S. Langley Ave. E. 40th St. E. Oakwood Blvd.

E. Oakwood Blvd. S. Langley Ave. S. Vincennes Ave.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued)

Infrastructure Improvements (Continued)

2014 Sewer Main Improvement Projects

Street From To

S. 16th St. S. Wabash Ave. S. Indiana Ave.

E. 53rd St. S. Prairie Ave. S. King Dr.

E. 53rd St. S. State St. S. State St.

E. 53rd St. S. Michigan Ave. S. Prairie Ave.

E. 53rd St. S. Wabash Ave. S. Michigan Ave.

E. 53rd St. S. State St. S. Wabash Ave.

E. 57th St. S. LaSalle St. S. Lafayette Ave.

Calumet Ave. Garfield Blvd. 2 sec north of Garfield

Calumet Ave. E. 40th St. E. 41st St.

Clark St. 16th St. 17th St.

Forrestville Ave. 50th St. 51st St.

S. Lafayette Ave. E. 57th St. E. 56th St.

E. Langley Ave. East 40th Street East Oakwood Blvd.

E. Oakwood Blvd. S. Langley S. Vincennes

S. Perry Ave. E. 57th St. E. 56th St.

Pershing Rd. Normal Ave. 2 sec west of Wells

South Prairie E. 43rd St. E. 44th St.

South Saint Lawrence Ave. East 43rd St. East 45th St.

South Wabash Avenue 4010 S. Wabash 4100 S. Wabash

Wallace St. Garfield Blvd. 57th St.

Wallace St. 58th St. 59th St.

Wells St. 53rd St. Garfield Blvd.

Wells St. Swann St. 48th Pl.

Wells St. 36th St. 37th St.

2014 Sewer Main Repairs

40 E. 13th St. 30 E. 36th Pl. 51 E. 36th Pl 420 E. 43rd St. 4036 S. Calumet Ave

4053 S. Calumet Ave. 221 E. Cullerton

St.

4848 S. Forestville

Ave.

340 W. Garfield

Blvd.

3898 S. Giles Ave.

5300 S. King Dr. 5500 S. King Dr. 405 E. Oakwood

Blvd.

300 W. Pershing

Rd.

311 W. Pershing Rd.

4455 S. Shields Ave. 1300 S. Wabash

Ave.

2031 S. Wabash Ave. 2550 S. Wabash

Ave.

3766 S. Wentworth

Ave.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued)

Infrastructure Improvements (Continued)

Commercial Development

McCormick Place Headquarters Hotel At the February 5, 2014, City Council Meeting, Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced a financial proposal that would utilize $55 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the development of the planned 1200 room hotel adjacent to McCormick Place. The total cost of the project for the hotel, which will include banquet/meeting rooms, restaurants, retail space, and offices is $390.9 million. The construction of the hotel is expected to create 3,700 temporary jobs and 600 permanent jobs. The ordinance authorizes a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) that includes goals for minority and women-owned busi-nesses and community hiring. The CBA also contains plans for

traffic, parking, truck loading, security, capacity building, and financing and bond assistance for emerging firms. There will be opportunities to build a new community park at 21st/Prairie and tourism activities. A committee of stake-holders, affected residents, and elected officials will monitor adherence to the CBA. The hotel is projected to generate more than $66 million from lodging fees and $11 million in hotel taxes every year. The McCormick Place Entertainment District is expected to include venues for dining and entertainment. This activity will serve as a further catalyst for the revitalization of the historic Motor Row along South Michigan Avenue and other Near South Side areas. During the construction period for these projects it is expected that more than 7,400 temporary jobs will be created. Upon completion, MPEA projects that an additional $250 million per year will be spent in the area, which should support more than 2,500 jobs. MPEA expects to break ground on the event center and hotel in the second quarter of 2015, with completion antici-pated in 2017.

2014 Catch Basin Cleanings

11 W. 23rd St. 18 E. 28th St. 62 E. 28th St. 72 E. 37th Pl. 73 E. 37th Pl.

154 E. 37th Pl. 330 W. 42nd Pl. 201 E. 43rd St. 201 E. 44th St. 418 E. 44th St.

418 E. 45th St. 43 E. 47th St. 421 W. 47th St. 401 E. Bowen 3608 S. Calumet

3702 S. Calumet 3708 S. Calumet 3848 S. Calumet 1800 S. Indiana 1815 S. Indiana

3804 S. King 3911 S. King 3947 S. King 5258 S. King 5500 S. Lafayette

1605 S. Michigan 401 E. Oakwood 300 E. Pershing 3813 S. Prairie 3850 S. Prairie

4631 S. Princeton 4635 S. Prince-

ton

4413 S. Prince-

ton

4640 S. Prince-

ton

5342 S. Shields

2259 S. State 2300 S. State 3050 S. State 5001 S. Union 3746 S. Wabash

4913 S. Wabash 3220 S. Wen-

tworth

3726 S. Wen-

tworth

3842 S. Wen-

tworth

4458 S. Wentworth

5214 S. Wentworth

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2014 Year in Review (Continued)

Bronzeville Artists Lofts and Gallery Guichard On June 24, Mayor Emanuel and Alderman Dowell joined Francis and Andre Guichard and members of the community to cut the ribbon on the new Bronzeville Artist Lofts and new home of Gal-lery Guichard located at 436 E. 47th St. This project is part of Al-derman Dowell's efforts to revitalize 47th street corridor and the area's rich cultural and arts history. The new Bronzeville Artist Lofts is a 33,614 square foot mixed-use building with 12,233 square feet of commercial space on the first floor with 16-unit residential apartments on the upper floors and a 3,000-square-foot artist incubator.

Ultimate Gas & Mini Mart Car Wash- 4248 S. Wentworth A small retail building and car wash will be built in the Fuller Park community through a City-owned land sale was approved by City Council. Three vacant parcels at the northwest corner of 43rd and Wells streets will be sold to Ulti-mate Gas & Mini Mart Inc., which operates a gas station and retail complex directly east of the site. The nearly quarter-acre of land will be used to construct a 6,100-square-foot commercial building to house a laun-dromat and an automated car wash. The proposed sale price is the appraised value of $33,000. The $822,000 pro-ject will create 19 full-and part-time positions.

Lakeside Bank Headquarters in the Third Ward Lakeside Bank will be building a new headquarters at 14th and Michigan that will feature full service banking and a three-lane drive-thru. The location of the bank compliments Lakeside's six other locations and fills a need for con-veniently located banking options in that area. Designs for the two-story brick structure were made with respect to resident's concerns regarding the height of the building. At the request of Alderman Dowell, architect George Pappa-george presented plans to the Greater South Loop Association, the Prairie District Neighborhood Association, and the Near South Planning Board at a community meeting.

Central Arms Hotel The Central Arms Hotel is under new ownership. The previous owner did not want to deal with the violations and requirements imposed by the city. The new owner has agreed to adhere to these requirements and will be meeting with Alderman Dowell and 2nd District Commander Terence Williams to provide updates to ensure the problems are being addressed quickly.

Mariano's Coming to Bronzeville On May 14th, 2014, Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Alderman William Burns, Alderman Pat Dowell and Roundy's, Inc., a leading grocer in the Midwest, to announce a new Mariano's grocery store that will be built in Chicago's Bron-zeville neighborhood at 39th and King Drive. The new store will bring approximately 400 jobs to the local economy. Following the approval and permitting process, construction is expected to begin in 2015.

43rd Street Redevelopment RFP The City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development requested submission of proposals from develop-ment teams to purchase and redevelop one or more of various properties located along E. 43rd St. between Indiana Ave. and King Dr. This consists of five city-owned properties and two privately-owned properties; all within the 47th/King TIF. The objectives are to create a vibrant community area to serve the community with distinct qualities, characteristics, and ambience as well as an active street presence with ground-level retail that includes mixed uses to enhance and relate to the existing neighborhood. Additional goals are to take advantage of the sites' close proximity to the CTA Green Line and provide innovative and environmentally sustainable design that meets the City's Sustainable Devel-opment Policy and requirements.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued) RFP for Overton School Building

After several community meetings and feedback from area residents, a Request for Proposal (RFP) has been released for the redevelopment of the former Overton school building located at 49th/Indiana. All or a portion of the former Overton main building site must be used as one or more of the following: (1) youth and/or adult recreational, educa-tional, entrepreneurial, counseling and/or mentoring programming; (2) trade and/or entrepreneurial training pro-gramming; (3) market rate housing; (4) retail; and (5) manufacturing and/or technology space. In addition, the site may not be used for: (1) the retail sale of liquor; (2) public or subsidized housing; (3) primary place of religious or non-profit worship; or (4) k-12 public, charter or tuition free school purposes. The deed for the property will include this restriction and cannot be waived without prior written approval from the Chicago Board of Education. Title to the property will revert back to the City of Chicago, in trust for use of schools, or the Public Building Commission of Chicago, as the case may be, as legal title holder of record for the benefit of the board if this restriction is breached without the board's prior written approval. It is important to note that this building will be for community use and will not be used for a charter school or enter-tainment venue. Additionally, all proposals will be vetted by the Bronzeville Community Action Council and other members of the community.

Dunkin Donuts City approval has been granted and financing has been set for the building of a drive through Dunkin Donuts on the Northwest corner of Garfield and State. Construction starts in the spring of 2015. For more information or to register for one of the workshops, please visit www.wbdc.org or call (312) 853-3477, ext. 100.

Housing Developments

New Construction of Park Boulevard Expansion Construction of 108 units of mixed income, multi-family residential rental development and ground floor retail on four parcels along 37th and Dearborn and 37th and State was underway in 2014. The developer, Stateway Associates and Interfaith Housing Development Corporation broke ground on the $42.7 million development in early February and construction is scheduled to be complete by April 2015. The building mix includes 1 five story mid rise, with rear parking, totaling 72 units and 3 three story 12 flats totaling 36 units with rear parking. One of the three story buildings, to be located on State Street will also contain over 4,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail space. Of the 108 units, 37 will be leased to public housing residents, 34 units will be tax credit units and 37 are unrestricted market rate units. The buildings are being constructed by Walsh Construction and will be managed by The Habitat Company. The de-veloper will exceed the City's MBE and WBE commitments of 24% and 4% respectively and the Chicago Housing Au-thority's Section 3 business commitment of 10%.

Newly Rehabbed Senior Units at Lincoln Perry The Lincoln-Perry Senior Apartments and Annex located at 3245 S. Prairie Ave., feature a recreation room with tele-vision, exercise room, laundry room on every floor, and 24-hour front desk security. Their regular senior activities include, Golden Diner hot meal services, a weekly exercise class sponsored by the city's Department of Aging, a weekly grocery shuttle to Jewel-Osco store, weekly bible classes, and an on-site resident service coordinator to assist and plan activities. Alderman Dowell worked closely with the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) on this project to get input from the seniors and secure funding. The first group of seniors will begin moving from their old units into the newly rehabbed units began the week of March 10th, 2014.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued) Legends South Phase C-3 Update

Legends South, formerly known as Robert Taylor Homes, is a 92 acre site is located between 39th Street to the north and 54th Street to the south, between State and Federal Street Streets to the west and east. The redevelopment con-struction has already begun on this project and upon completion the breakdown of locations and unit types will be as follows:

Between 47th and 49th Streets (on the west side of Calumet) there are a total of 35 units:

Four (4) 3-unit buildings at 4724, 4728 and 4744 and 4830 S. Calumet Ave.

Three (3) 6-unit buildings 4716, 4736 and 4826 S. Calumet Ave. One (1) 5 unit building at 4742 S. Calumet Ave.

Between 43rd and 44th Streets there are a total of 36 units:

One (1) 6-unit building at 4312 S. Michigan Ave.

Two (2) 5-unit buildings at 4325 and 4335 S. Michigan Ave.

One (1) 3-flat at 4332 S. Prairie Ave.

One (1) 2-unit + commercial space at 119 E. 43rd Street

One (1) 15 unit building + management office at 109 E. 43rd Street.

Visit http://www.thecha.org/pages/Legends_South/50.php?devID=187 for more information.

Ickes Redevelopment RFP In 2014, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was released for the redevelopment of the former Harold Ickes CHA housing site at Cermak and State. A successful RFP must include:

High quality urban design and architecture commensurate with best in class mixed-income, mixed-use neighbor-hood developments throughout the country.

Ability to obtain funding and structure deals for similar large scale private/public development projects.

A highly visible, attractive, and defined mixed-income, mixed-use development that reinforces the strong identity of Cermak Road and State Street and takes advantage of the new CTA Green line station.

A high quality mix of retail and commercial tenants with both national and local operators.

Strategic uses at the ground floor of appropriate buildings to promote street level pedestrian retail and commercial activity with the objective of attracting patrons from surrounding communities through a creative mix of retail and services that provide a strong catalyst to create the "destination" draw for the new development. A minimum of 200 public housing units with no more than a third of the total number of residential units set aside as public housing.

Market-Rate Developments There have been new single family homes and town homes built and planned on 45th/Prairie, 40th/Indiana, 44th/Vincennes, 19th/Calumet, and 18th/Prairie. Additionally, market-rate rentals are being built at 13th/Wabash and 14th/Michigan.

Park Developments Lowe Park Field House Ribbon Cutting

Alderman Dowell secured over $1 million to make needed improve-ments to Lowe Park. The historically small field house received an expansion that includes new basketball courts, bathrooms, a com-puter room, and storage. Special thanks to the Lowe Park Advisory Council and their Presi-dent, LaRessa Williams, Lowe Park Supervisor David Reed, and to all the residents of the Lowe Park community who joined Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Dowell for the ribbon-cutting event on August 23rd.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued) Interior Minor Rehab Project at Fuller Park

Alderman Dowell worked with the Chicago Park District and Fuller Park Supervisor Michael Brown to bring this re-hab project to Fuller Park. The scope of work included but was not limited to repairs and upgrades to the fitness cen-ter closet, drinking fountains, the raceway in the front lobby, pipe insulation, floors, walls, ceilings, elevator, exhaust fans, windows, lockers, baseboards, tile in the dance room, the kitchenette area, and doors. Additionally, walls were plastered and painted where necessary and graffiti was removed.

Chicago Plays! Third Ward Park Improvements The goal of the Chicago Plays! Program is to ensure that every child in Chicago will be within a ten-minute walk of a world-class park or playground. Alderman Dowell was happy to report that Anderson Park located at 3748 S. Prairie and Lowe Park located at 5203 S. Lowe, which are both in the Third Ward were included in the 103 parks to be re-habbed in 2014. Community investments into our parks are essential because they promote active and healthy lives for our residents.

Buckthorn Playlot Park-4345 S. Calumet Ave. Buckthorn Park in Grand Boulevard will be expanded by the Chicago Park District onto 1.24 acres of adjacent, city-owned land through $1.14 million in Open Space Impact Fees. The funding would be used to design and construct amenities within the expansion area, which is planned to increase the park's size by five times. The balance of the $1.2 million project would be paid by the Chicago Park District. The completed park would be named in memory of Hadiya Pendleton whose 2013 shooting death garnered national attention to gun violence in Chicago. Additionally, expansion proposals included plans for a dog friendly area and a walking track with fitness stations.

Washington Park Arts Incubator Pavilion In conjunction with Alderman Dowell, Theaster Gates, the University of Chicago, and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, the Washington Park Arts Incubator located at 301 E. Garfield Blvd. are adding an out-door pavilion in the vacant lot adjacent to it. The project includes grading, landscaping, installation of a fence, instal-lation of a rain garden, and the construction of a 60' x 15' pavilion. The new addition features year-round program-ming for the community and is coordinated by the University of Chicago's Arts + Public Life Initiative.

Chicago Women's Park and Gardens Field House Renovations and Winter Programs In early 2014, final touches were put on the Field House at Chicago Women's Park and Gardens located at 1801 S. Indiana as part of a phased multi-year year renovation with the help of Third Ward Al-derman Pat Dowell and the Chicago Park District. The final phase added 3 additional multi-purpose club rooms, a fit-ness studio, and restored the outdoor patio that serves the café space. Additionally, in late 2013, Kids Science Lab, a privately run science educational organization, completed build out of the 3rd Floor.

Youth Developments Hall Library Teen YOUmedia Center Opened in September YOUmedia Chicago is an innovative, 21st century teen learning space at five Chicago Public Library locations. YOUme-dia connects young adults, books, media, mentors and institutions throughout Chicago in a dynamic space designed to inspire collaboration and creativity. YOUmedia was created to connect young adults, books, media, mentors, and institutions throughout Chicago. Chicago Public Library librarians and Digital Youth Network mentors lead workshops to help teens build their skills and create digital projects - from songs to videos to photography to podcasts. YOUmedia operates as a drop-in, out-of-school learning environment for teens to develop skills in digital media, STEM and making. YOUmedia applies the practice of connected learning to our programming model. We encourage partici-pants to create rather than consume, and teens are encouraged to learn based on self-interest through intergenera-tional and peer collaborations.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued) Bronzeville Bike Builder Bicycle Give-A-Away

Throughout the month of May, Alderman Dowell's office collected new and used bicycles to distribute to community members who needed them. On Saturday, May 24th, 2014, Alderman Dowell attended the Bronzeville Bike Builder's event at Phillips High School. Over 500 bikes with helmets and water bottles were distributed and important safety information and demonstrations were available at the event. The Bronzeville Bike Builder's Project was sponsored by the TAG Foundation, the 2nd Dis-trict Police, and Third Ward Alderman, Pat Dowell.

XS Tennis Facility The development of a state-of-the-art tennis center and sports facility in Washington Park would be supported through a $2.94 million Tax Increment Financing (TIF) pro-posal introduced to City Council in November. Planned for the northwest corner of 54th and State streets, the 13.8-acre project would feature 19 outdoor courts, eight indoor courts, and parking for 160 cars. Basketball courts, training space, a pro shop, running track, fitness center, and classrooms would also be included in the 151,000-square-foot indoor portion of the complex. "This facility will be a tremendous asset to the youth of our community, and it will also help to attract new businesses and foster continued economic growth along State Street and in Washington Park," said Alderman Pat Dowell. The $9.81 million project would be built by XS Tennis Village LLC, headed by Chicagoan, Kamau Murray. Following project completion, the TIF assistance would be allocated in three installments to help pay for site preparation ex-penses. Other project funding would come from bank loans and donations. The project would create 30 temporary jobs and double XS Tennis' full-time employment to 40 positions. XS Tennis operates the country's largest minority-owned tennis club from a leased facility on East 47th Street, where it hosts collegiate teams and provides instruction to hundreds of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students. The new facility would help double its investment in CPS programming, increasing the number of participating schools to 20 and exposing more than 4,000 CPS students to the sport of tennis. Construction begins in 2015.

Education Three Third Ward School Buildings Scheduled for Modernization

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will be investing a total of $727,000 at three schools in the Third Ward. Beasley Ele-mentary School (5255 S. State St.) will be receiving upgrades to their playlot. Hendricks Elementary (4316 S. Prince-ton) will receive upgrades to their air conditioning system. The Princeton Eyeglass Lab (245 W. 51st) will be getting exterior improvements. The lab is run by the Illinois Eye Institute and offers eye care for CPS students and their families.

Learning Gardens at Two Third Ward Schools Beethoven

On May 29, 2014, Beethoven Elementary School located at 25 W. 47th St., hosted an opening ceremony for their new learning garden. Several students took part in the event as they read poems about the importance of plants and na-ture, cut the ribbon, and planted vegetables. Additionally, an African Violet was given to Crispus Attucks Elementary School (5055 S. State) to symbolize the growing partnership between the two schools as they prepare to consolidate. Alderman Dowell's office advocated for the school garden at McCorkle to be relocated to Beethoven when those schools were consolidated. After working out a design for the garden that worked for the school, we are excited that Beethoven now has this wonderful resource. Additionally, Alderman Dowell's office was able to donate several plant starters for the garden. Special thanks to Richard Dobbins, Principal Shirrie Jackson, Beethoven students, and every-one else who was involved in this project.

Wells Prep IB

The students, parents, teachers, principal, and other community members rolled up their sleeves to participate in the Wells Prep IB Beautification Day on May 29th, 2014. Wells Prep IB is located at 249 E. 37th St. The school and sur-rounding area got a good cleaning, flowers were planted, and the school's garden was officially dedicated. It is great to see committed community members who are willing to volunteer their time to be involved in projects that benefit the school, community, and environment. Special thanks to all who participated

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2014 Year in Review (Continued) $500,000 in Cuts Restored to Third Ward Schools Chicago Public Schools' 2014-15 budget cut funding to schools throughout the city. Alderman Dowell advocated on behalf of all of the schools in the Third Ward. Of particular concern, was the loss of resources to the neighborhood schools that welcomed an influx of students from nearby school closures. After Alderman Dowell heard from the principals at Wells Prep, Mollison, Attucks, and Drake/Williams, and then met with CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, CPS agreed to fund several positions relative to the arts, counseling, and libraries.

Phillips High School Football Team Goes to State Championship On November 28, 2014, the Wendell Phillips Wildcats played in the State

Championship game against Rochester High School at the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL. They did not come away with a victory at the state championship game, but had an excellent season as they outscored their opponents 468-107. Their final record was 12-2. Upon their return to Phillips High School located at 244 E. Pershing Rd., they were greeted by a large crowd of fans and supporters. It looks like Wendell Phillips High School football is on the rise and we look forward to seeing them in action again next year. Go Wildcats!!!

Landmarks Unity Hall Saved from Wrecking Ball

In 2012, Unity Hall located at 3138-40 South Indiana was on Preservation Chicago's Most Endangered Buildings list. This building is a Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and over the years was threatened with demolition by neglect. Unity Hall is one of eight buildings and a monument that compose the National Register's Black Metropolis Historic District in Bronzeville. Thanks to Tom Boney, a resident of the 3rd Ward and local developer, with the active support of Alderman Dowell, Unity Hall will not face the wrecking ball. After weeks of negotiation and public presentations, the building was re-zoned on March 5, 2014 by the City Council from RS-3 to RM-6 to allow for the rehabilitation of the building to in-clude 21 units of market-rate student housing. The historic legacy of Unity Hall will be preserved in the common areas throughout the building.

Chicago Defender Building to Get Facade Renovation This former Jewish synagogue located at 3433-35 S. Indiana was home to the Chicago Defender from 1920 until 1960. Founded by Robert S. Abbott in 1905, the newspaper became nationally known for its outspoken editorial poli-cies on behalf of civil rights issues. The "Great Migration" of the early-20th century was largely initiated by Defender editorials urging African-Americans to leave the poverty of the South for new opportunities in the North. It is one of nine structures in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville Historic District.

The Historic Preservation Unit of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development reviewed the plans and con-cluded that they will meet the criteria for the preservation of historic buildings as long as conditions are met. This means the project will not have an adverse effect on the significant historical and architectural features of the land marked property. Read more about the building's history at www.cityofchicago.org. The preliminary plans were approved based on conditions that require the replacement or reconstruction of the ma-sonry, windows, metal beams, decorative rosettes, doors, and other elements of the building to match the original design. Alderman Dowell is committed to preserving this historic landmark. This is an important step towards accomplish-ing that goal.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued) Relocation of the Historical Harriet Rees House

The Rees House was at 2110 S. Prairie Avenue is located in the Near South Side community area of Chicago, approxi-mately two miles south of the Loop. The residence was constructed in 1888 for Harriet Frances Butler Rees (1817-1892), the widow of real estate pioneer and land surveyor James H. Rees. James H. Rees (1813-1880) was an east coast native who moved westward at the age of 21 seeking real estate surveying opportunities. He settled in Chicago, then a fledgling city, where he became the first City Surveyor in 1836. He furthered a career in real estate when he joined the firm of Mayor William B. Ogden in 1839, serving as a draftsman and clerk at his office. Read more about the building's history at www.cityofchicago.org. The Commission on Chicago Landmarks reviewed a proposal to relocate the Harriet Rees House previously located at 2110 S. Prairie to the vacant lot at 2017 S. Prairie. The Rees House is being moved to make way for the construc-tion of the MPEA Event Center. The Commission found that the project met their historic preservation criteria as well as those set forth by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings so long as the relocation is approved, the final plans are approved by the Historic Preservation Division, and the salvaging and re-installation of historic elements.

Wholesale Furniture Exposition Building Landmarked The Wholesale Furniture Exposition Building located at 1323 S. Michigan Ave. is a seven-story commercial loft struc-ture built in the Chicago School architectural style with Prairie-style brick details. Designed by Hugh M.G. Garden and constructed in 1904 using the structure of an 1894 apartment building, the building is a rare surviving example associated with the Near South Side's "Furniture Row," which was the epicenter of Chicago's furniture manufactur-ing and exhibition industry in the early 20th century. The designation will protect all building elevations, including rooflines, from significant alteration or demolition.

Legislation Plastic Bag Ban

On April 30th, 2014, the City Council of Chicago overwhelmingly passed an ordinance banning the use of plastic bags by large retailers. The ban will go into effect in August 2015 and apply only to chain stores (three or more that have the same owner) or franchise stores of more than 10,000 square feet. Smaller stores have an additional year to com-ply with the ban. Alderman Dowell's office received numerous phone calls regarding the ordinance in the days before it was passed. It was obviously an issue that deserved careful consideration as to address environmental and sanitation concerns without harming small businesses. After much negotiation, common ground was found among supporters and non-supporters in the City Council to accomplish this goal. This is why Alderman Dowell voted in favor of the ordinance. The city's Department of Streets and Sanitation cur-rently spends a lot of money and man hours cleaning these plastic parachutes out of trees, vacant lots, fences, and other places. In addition to being unsightly, the Department of Water Management must clear the bags out of sewers, which is also costly. Furthermore, the negative impact on the environment is significant as they sit in landfills or find their way into rivers, streams, and lakes. The ordinance successfully addresses these issues without having a negative impact on smaller retailers. Additionally, the delayed implementation of the ordinance gives stores and consumers ample time to prepare and make adjustments. The ordinance does not go far enough. Many stores and consumers will switch to using paper bags. Although they do not pose the same sanitation issues as plastic bags, the natural resources used in their production means they are not a sustainable option to plastic. Along with several of her colleagues, Alderman Dowell is working on incentivizing the use of re-usable canvass bags.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued)

Good News for High Rise Owners State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitas is announcing he will work with the Illinois General Assembly to find a legislative solution to the issue of installing sprinklers and fire safety in Illinois high-rise buildings. Previously, installation was going to through a statewide mandate that drew criticism from building owners, members of the state legislature, and several Aldermen for being cost-prohibitive and potentially unnecessary. Last March, the Illinois State Government Administrative Committee passed House Bill 4609 Amendment 1 by a vote of 17-2. The legislation was introduced by 12th District State Representative Sara Feigenholtz and supported by numerous members of the State Legislature, the Chicago City Council including Alderman Dowell, and the general public for its ability to prevent the passing of unnecessary, cost-prohibitive fire-related legislation such as the sprin-kler mandate. The legislation and commitment from Fire Marshal Matkaitas means there will be greater community engagement in regards to implementing sprinklers and other fire safety measures. A 21 member Task Force of diverse interests has been assembled to review potential legislation and ensure it reflects the best interests of all affected parties.

Hazardous Materials Resolution Alderman Dowell was a co-sponsor of an important piece of legislation designed to prevent disasters caused by the railway transportation of hazardous materials through the City of Chicago. This resolution is in response to several recent accidents in the U.S. and Canada and declares that the U.S. Department of Transportation adopt more strin-gent protections for the transportation of hazardous materials in High Threat Urban Areas (HTUA).

These protections include:

Defining High Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFT) having 15 or more tank carloads of flammables

Requiring the implementation of sampling and testing programs

Requiring rail carriers to perform a routing analysis for all HHFTs notification to the City of Chicago regarding the transport of flammable materials

Enhanced tank car standards and a 35 MPH speed limit for those that do not meet these standards

Requiring all HHFTs to be equipped with alternative brake signal propagation systems

Imposing a hazardous material transportation fee

The resolution was adopted on September 10th, 2014. You can read the resolution in its entirety by visit-ing www.chicityclerk.com/legislation.

City of Chicago 2015 Budget The Chicago City Council voted to approve the City of Chicago 2015 budget at the November 19, 2014 council meet-ing. After several weeks of engaging Third Ward constituents and relaying their concerns in public hearings and through deliberations with her colleagues, Alderman Dowell voted to approve the 2015 budget. One of the reasons she helped created the City Council Office of Financial Accountability and the TIF Accountability Ordinance is because she firmly believes sound fiscal policy must come with public input and scrutiny. Alderman Dowell is happy to have announced that the 2015 budget balances the city's finances, reduces current deficits, and focuses on issues important to residents of the Third Ward without raising property, sales, or gasoline taxes. This is quite remarkable considering the city was recently facing a deficit if over ½ billion dollars. As a result of significant reforms, this deficit has been reduced by more than 50%, and the City Council passed a balanced budget. The budget increases funding for city services like tree planting, trimming, and removal, rodent control, and graffiti removal to help beautify the city while creating more jobs. Funding was doubled for pothole and street repair that will significantly help keep our infrastructure safe and sound. This is especially important considering the harsh win-ter we had last year and the damage it caused many of our roads and streets. Funding for the creation of more sum-mer jobs and the expansion of early childhood development programs were also a key part of the 2015 budget. There is still a lot more work that needs to be done to ensure the City of Chicago stays fiscally sound while addressing the many needs of its diverse communities. However, the 2015 budget is a significant step in the right direction that required sacrifices and collaborations by all of our city departments and elected officials. You can view the entire budget at www.cityofchicago.org.

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2014 Year in Review (Continued)

Other Third Ward Improvements

Statue at 51st/King Rehab Project The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is proceeding with the rehabilitation of the George Washington statue at 51st and King Dr. The base is unstable and the statue needs to be cleaned. DCASE will absorb those expenses, which will cost about $100K. Per the City's process, they will need to solicit for bids for the removal and the expenditure will have to be approved by budget. In total, the expected cost of the job is about $300K. DCASE will work with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to reinforce the fencing and barrier to better en-sure public safety until they can find all the necessary resources for conservation. The statue will be returned upon the rehabilitation of the statue and replacement of the base.

Third Ward Spring Clean and Green The Third Ward had more volunteers for this spring's Clean and Green Event than in previousyears. Its great to know we have so many individuals and organizations in the ward who are dedicated to keeping it beautiful. Special thanks to Progressive Baptist Church, GoodSeed Ministry, OUR Block Club, 46th/Vincennes Block Club, Centers for New Horizons, Pilgrim Baptist Church, the Bronzeville Retail Initiative, the Bronzeville Neighborhood Collaborative, Quad Communities Development Corporation, Minnie Riperton Senior Building, Top Ladies of Distinction, Wen-tworth Gardens, the Oakwood Boulevard Neighborhood Association, Comcast Cares, the Renaissance Collaborative, Noel Mickelson and Bernard Loyd and the 43rd St. Forum group. Also, thanks to our Streets and Sanitation office for supplying to tools and materials. The Spring Clean and Green is a great way to clean up the mess left behind after the snow melts. However, your group can obtain tools for cleaning and greening any time of the year. Just call Streets and Sanitation at (312) 745-2243.

Fall Clean and Green The Fall Clean and Green day of service was Saturday, November 8. Through the Clean and Green day of service, residents cleared curb lanes, parkways, areas around storm drains, vacant lots, and other community areas that were in need of a good clean before the first heavy snowfall. Streets and Sanitation provided bags, rakes, shovels and brooms.

Dinah Washington Honorary Street Renaming Ruth Lee Jones (aka Dinah Washington) moved to the south side of Chicago at the age of three. Like many other accomplished musicians, she attended DuSable High School. At the age of fifteen, her talent was noticed after she won a talent contest at the Regal Theater formerly lo-cated at 47th and Grand Boulevard (now King Dr.). She then began performing with many jazz greats like Lionel Hampton, Wynton Kelly, Cannonball Adderley, and Joe Zawinul among others. She also enjoyed a successful solo career that yielded a 1959 Grammy Award for "What A Difference A Day Makes" and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. On August 29th, Third Ward Alderman Pat Dowell was joined by Al Carter Bey, WHPK Radio, the DuSable Alumni Coalition, and others for the honorary street re-naming of the 3800 block of South Prairie Avenue to celebrate the accomplishments of one of Bronzeville's legends.

Nat King Cole Mural Dedication Alderman Dowell, the Bronzeville Alliance, Quad Communities Development Corporation, and Centers for New Ho-rizons worked together to install a mural celebrating the life of Nat King Cole at 4301 S. King Dr. Nathaniel Coles (aka Nat King Cole) was originally from the Bronzeville community before going on to have one of the most distinc-tive and talented voices in music history. The dedication of the mural took place on August 23rd, 9am and is the first installment of several murals that will make up the Bronzeville Identity Project

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Third Ward Update

Motor Row Brewing Coming to Third Ward On December 19th, 2014, Alderman Dowell announced a $2.7 million project that will redevelop the former Federal Motor Car Company showroom at 2337 S. Michigan Ave. into a craft brewery. Motor Row Brewing is a craft brewery specializing in lager beers. The company expects to produce around 3,000 barrels of beer for distribution to bars and restaurants in Chicago and to be sold on site. Along with the construction of the Cermak Green Line Station and the McCormick Place project, Motor Row brewing will help revitalize a once bustling historic part of the Third Ward. "Establishments such as Motor Row Brewing can bring jobs and other economic and social

opportunities here in our community," said Third Ward Alderman Pat Dowell. In February 2013, the City approved up to $628,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for interior and exterior repairs of the Federal Motor Car Company building, which has been transformed to in-clude brewing operations, distribution space, a retail/tasting room and a full taproom. Motor Row Brewing will open to the public starting in January 2015. You can learn more by visiting http://www.motorrowbrewing.com.

Water Main Construction- S. Washington Park Ct. The Department of Water Management (DWM) will soon installing 995 feet of 8-inch water main in S. Washington Park Court, from E. 49th Street to E. 50th Street and S. Washington Park Court, from E. 50th Place to E. 51st Street. The old main consists of a 6-inch pipe and we want to expand capacity. Further the old pipe dates back to 1894 and needs to be replaced. DWM will begin installing the new water main shortly, and expect the water main work to be completed in early February 2015. Restoration will follow in mid April 2015. Dates may change depending on weather and other factors. If there is any appreciable change, you will be notified. DWM will allow traffic to flow on S. Washington Park Court outside of their working hours. When they are working in the street, they have to close it to traffic for reasons of safety. You will always be able to reach your home or business, even if it means putting a metal plate in place. Outside of working hours, a lane will be left open for local traffic only. DWM will post their work area for "No Parking" as needed, during work hours (7am- 4pm). They are agreeable to park-ing outside of those hours, but will have to insist that cars be moved by the start of the next workday. They will try to preserve as much parking as they can.

Buckthorn Park Expansion Community Meeting On December 11th, Alderman Dowell hosted the latest of a series of public meetings to gather community input on the $1.2 million expansion of Buckthorn Playlot located at 4345 S. Calumet, which will be renamed after Hadiya Pendleton. The meeting was well-attended and was held at at Hans-berry Square (4034 S. State). Amalia Turkewitz from the Chicago Park District presented the final master architectural plans for the park that includes landscaping, fitness areas, a splash fountain, benches, lighting, drinking fountains, creative play areas, and a Bronzeville walk that will celebrate the community's rich cultural his-tory. Alderman Dowell and Ms. Turkewitz answered questions regarding

functionality, safety, potential disruptions to area residents during construction, and the multiple benefits the finished park will have for the community. The expansion of Buckthorn Park is just one component of Alderman Dowell's efforts to revitalize the 43rd Street corridor. Construction is expected to begin in early 2015. To view the final master plan visit Alderman Dowell's Third Ward office at 5046 S. State St.

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Third Ward Update (Continued)

47th/Halsted TIF-NIP Drawing

Last September, Alderman Dowell hosted a community meeting to inform eligible homeowners about the appli-cation process for receiving Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to use for making repairs to their homes via the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP). When-ever there are more applicants than funds available, an-other community meeting is scheduled where a public lottery drawing is held. This time, there were 33 applicants, but funding as avail-able for 23 eligible homeowners. The 47th/Halsted TIF includes areas in the Third Ward, the Eleventh Ward, and the Twentieth Ward. The drawing was held on De-cember 2nd at Dewey Elementary School (5415 S. Un-ion). We are happy to announce that several Third Ward homeowners had their names drawn to receive home im-provement funding.

Third Ward Toy and Food Drive

Alderman Pat Dowell hosted a Toy Drive in December, 2014 to help families in need have a happier holiday season. The Third Ward Toy Drive has been very successful in past years and has provided toys to many Third Ward families who would have otherwise not have been able to afford them. The event was free of charge and relied heavily on the generosity of others to help as many families as possible. In addition to toys, food was collected to assemble holiday food baskets for families who could not afford to have had a nice holiday dinner.

Special thanks to William Towns of the University of Chicago, Jewel-Osco, City Sport, the Mobil Gas Station on Per-shing/Wells, the Oakwood Boulevard Neighborhood Association, Walsh Construction, Riteway Construction, Jobs in the Hood, Toys for Tots, Comcast, and the CHADE Foundation for their generosity and commitment to the Third Ward communities. The holidays were a lot brighter for so many children and their families because of you!

Blue Cart Recycling in the Third Ward The Blue Cart recycling schedule is now available online at www.cityofchicago.org. Please call my office for the sched-ule in your area. The Department of Streets and Sanitation wants to let you know that you can recycle cartons by dropping them into your Blue Carts. These include milk, juice, soup, and broth cartons. For more information, visit www.chicagorecycles.org.

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Third Ward Update (Continued)

Service Calls in the Third Ward

There were 615 calls for service made to 311 for the Third Ward in the month of November. These numbers only reflect calls made to 311 by land lines and do not reflect calls made from cell phones, calls made to Alderman Dowell's office, or calls made to 911. Therefore, the num-bers are actually much higher.

Alderman Dowell Receives Two More Awards for Community Service Elected Official Award for Support of Bud Billiken Day Events

In December, Col. Eugene Scott, President and Director of the Chicago Defender Charities, presented Alderman Pat Dowell with the Elected Official Award in apprecia-tion of her outstanding contributions to the Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic. Every year, Alderman Dowell's office plays a major role in planning the historic event by working closely with the Chicago Defender Charities, the Chicago Police, Streets and Sanitation, the Department of Transportation, and several community groups to make sure the historic parade and picnic is a success. 2014 marked the 85th anniversary for the Bud Billiken Day Parade and Picnic, which is organized by the Chicago Defender Charities. Alderman Dowell's eighth appearance in the historic parade.

Diamond Award for Community Service Also in December, Alderman Dowell was presented with the Diamond Award for Com-munity Service by the 51st Street Business Association. Along with other areas of the Third Ward, the redevelopment of the 51st Street corridor has been a priority for Alderman Dowell. Helping small businesses obtain Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds, creating a Special Service Area (SSA) for 51st Street, work-ing with the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) to penalize businesses that are hurting the community, and working with the Chicago Transit Authority to modernize the 51st Street Green Line Station are just a few steps Alderman Dowell has taken to accomplish this goal.

311 Calls for Third Ward November 2014

Department Re-

quests

Completed

Animal Care and Control 43 39

Buildings 93 45

Business Affairs and Consumer

Protection

7 4

Family and Support Services 135 126

Fire 1 1

Health 6 3

Parks 1 0

Planning and Community Devel-

opment

2 2

Police 2 0

Streets and Sanitation 145 105

Transportation 92 76

Water Management 43 3

Top Ten Streets and Sanitation Requests

for November, 2014

Weed Removal 125

Neighborhood Improvement 82

S.W.A.P. 70

Tree Trim 64

Graffiti Removal 52

Relocated Vehicle 49

Debris Removal 45

Immediate Tow 45

Recycling Pick Up 28

Vehicle Impoundment 20

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Important Announcements

Shovel Your Sidewalks-Its the Law! We are all pedestrians and benefit from having safe sidewalks that are cleared of snow and ice. Without a wide and clear path, it is difficult for people, especially those with disabilities, seniors, and children to walk. Property and busi-ness owners are responsible for clearing a five foot path on the sidewalks in front of their buildings per the City of Chicago's Municipal Code (4-4-310 & 10-8-180). Individuals who do not comply can face daily fines of $50 while business owners can face daily fines of $1,000. You can get a copy of the Sidewalk Snow Removal Guidance for Resi-dents and Businesses at my office.

Report Violations

If you know of a building where the sidewalk has not been cleared, you can either get a door hanger to remind build-ing and business owners of the law or call 311 to report them. Door hangers can be obtained at Alderman Dowell's Third Ward office at 5046 S. State St. The law only applies to sidewalks and is not applicable to snow that is in the street.

Winter Wonder Award

The Chicago Department of Transportation and the Mayor's Pedestrian Advisory Council want to recognize busi-nesses and organizations that do an excellent job of clearing their sidewalks. The public can nominate a business or organization by calling (312) 744.5819 or completing a nomination form, which can be found at www.cityofchicago.org.

Request a Snow Corp Volunteer

Chicago Snow Corps is a program that connects volunteers with residents in need of snow removal - such as seniors and residents with disabilities. To request a volunteer to shovel your block in case of extreme snowfall, call 311. This is a volunteer-matching service. The City will do its best to match those who have requested assistance. Visit the Snow Corps website at www.cityofchicago.org. For the most complete information on clearing sidewalks, violations, reporting, and assistance visit www.cityofchicago.org.

Shared Cost Sidewalk Program The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) administers the Shared Cost Sidewalk Program, which is an ex-tremely popular program in which homeowners share the cost of sidewalk repair with the City. Thousands of Chica-goans have been a part of this program, taking advantage of the low cost, exceptional value and ease of participa-tion. For 2015, property owners pay $4 per square-foot for sidewalk replacement. That cost is well below what a private contractor would charge. Senior citizens and those with disabilities may qualify for a further discounted rate. Participation will proceed on a first-come, first-served basis. Note that the program typically reaches capacity quickly, so you are encouraged to apply early. Please note that if you applied for the program in previous years, you must apply again in 2015. Residents can call 311 or visit www.cityofchicago.org to apply. The application for the 2015 program is Tuesday, January 13, 2014 at 12:01am. For more information please call my office.

Christmas Tree Recycling City of Chicago Christmas Tree Recycling program will run Saturday, January 3 through Saturday, January 17. Resi-dents can drop off their Christmas tree at any of the participating 23 park districts locations to be recycled. Free mulch will be available at 6 locations starting Tuesday, January 6, quantities will be limited. Please remove any ornaments or lights prior to dropping them off. Call my office for complete information about participating parks and where you can pick up free mulch.

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Important Announcements (Continued)

Business and Consumer Protection The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) wants you to know some important in-formation regarding your rights, starting a small business, public nuisances, and predatory lending. You can find out more information by clicking the links below, visiting the BACP website, or by picking up a flier at Alderman Dowell's Third Ward Service Office located at 5046 S. State Street.

Foreclosure Rights and the Keep Chicago Renting Ordinance

Find out more about who is protected, new owner responsibilities, tenant options and more from my office or from the Lawyer's Committee for Better Housing and the Metropolitan's Tenants Organization.

Public Nuisance Ordinance Find out what constitutes an illegal act and objectionable conditions, the community meeting process, information about liquor license revocation and more at www.cityofchicago.org

Obtaining a Business License

Find out more about how to determine your legal entity, registering your business, applying for a license, and more at my office or by visiting www.cityofchicago.org.

Microloans for Small Businesses

Microloans for small businesses can be used for businesses operating in service, retail, wholesale, and manufacturing that are licensed in Chicago. Please visitwww.accionchicago.org, the Women's Business Development Center, and the Chicago Neighborhood Initiative for Microfinancing Group for more information.

Predatory Lending

Find out how to recognize a predatory lender, where to find reputable lenders, and more by visiting www.cityofchicago.org/sbc

Taxicab Fare

BACP wants you to know that senior citizens and children under the age of 13 ride for free when accompanied by a full fare in Chicago's taxicabs.

IT Career Lab Accelerated Program National Able Network's IT Career Lab offers an accelerated multi-credential path where students can earn up to three globally-recognized credentials in just 14 weeks. They recently received a grant award and are partnering with the Illi-nois Department of Employment Security to recruit eligible unemployed residents of Cook County for a limited time. IT Career Lab Students Receive:

Three credential opportunities for: CompTIA Network+, Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT), and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Hands-on training in a live Cisco lab

Exclusive job leads emailed directly to you each week

Certification preparation through Test King

Unlimited support from our team of Career Coaches and Instructors

Who Should Apply?

If you have between 1-3 years of help desk or entry level IT support (tech support, desktop support), OR cus-tomer support/troubleshooting in a fast paced environment supporting end users using technology

Experience supporting users in a Windows environment

Associate's degree in technology (or related field), OR a combination of previous formal IT training

Must be able to lift 20+lbs frequently, bend, stand and crouch (lifting and hooking up computers)

This opportunity is only offered for a limited time. To join their program, please call (855) 994-8300 to apply. Learn more by visiting www.itcareerlab.org.

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January CAPS

Attending and participating in the Chicago Police's Community Policing Program (CAPS) is one of the best ways to ad-dress crime and quality of life issues in your neighborhood. By attending CAPS meetings, you can share important in-formation with the police that will assist them in making arrests and preventing crime as well as receive valuable infor-mation about resources that promote homeowner and community safety. Visit www.chicagopolice.org to find out what district you live in and click on each district title to learn more about what is happening in your neighborhood.

1st District 2nd District 7th District

131/132 Jan. 20th @ 7pm 1st Dist. Police HQ (1718 S. State)

133 Jan. 21st @ 7pm Trinity Episcopal

Church

(125 E. 26th St.)

No Meetings in January,

2015

711/712 Call (312) 747-8223

9th District

915 Jan. 13th @ 6:30

9th Dist. Station

(3120 S. Halsted)

924/931/933 Jan. 6th @ 6pm

Park Federal Bank

(1823 W. 47th)

925 Jan. 21st @ 6pm

St. Gabriel's Church

(4500 S. Wallace)

934/935 Jan. 20th @ 6pm

Westhaven Homes

(850 W. Garfield)

Third Ward Alderman Pat Dowell | 5046 S. State St. | Chicago, IL. | (773) 373-9273 | ward03@cityofchicago.org www.dowellforthirdward.com | Facebook.com/aldermanpat.dowell | Twitter: @aldpatdowell3rd

Hours: Mon.—Wed.: 9am-5pm Thurs.: 12-8pm (Ward Night from 6-8), Fri.: 9am-1pm, Every Third Sat.: 10am-1pm