Come meet your neighbors and Ald. Hopkins to discuss community development and other issues. Learn and see what’s happening at Art on Sedgwick too!
Monday, 10/23 6:30-7:30 pm @ Art on Sedgwick, 1408 N. Sedgwick
TOPICS INCLUDE- Private and public developments nearby, zoning requests, park space, community and crime.
West Old Town Neighbors 
Look forward to it!
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West Old Town Meeting Summary, 10/23/17 @ Art on Sedgwick
Guest: Alderman Hopkins
Over 50 people turned out for the West Old Town Neighbors community meeting with 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins on a rainy Monday evening. During the town hall meeting, Alderman Hopkins addressed a wide range of questions from the community including development and zoning changes, crime & safety, garbage clean up, policing, street lighting and the dog park development process.
Many of the questions and discussion revolved around the Near North Park proposed for the 1500 block of North Larrabee. Alderman Hopkins described several options in park planning that included active and passive parks, community use, and potential ways to expand the park at the old Ogden road to the north and Blackhawk to the south of the Near North field. He stressed the value of the WestOldTown (WOT) neighbors association and other community organizations working together with Aldermen and other city officials.
There will be follow ups with Alderman Hopkins office and West Old Town Neighbors for the areas discussed. Specific Topic Notes include:
633 West North Avenue
-Father & Sons has indicated they plan to move in the next 3 months to new location in community
-Developer has not resubmitted yet, nor provided any guidance on what direction they will take.
Community Park at Larrabee-
Alderman would like to see active use for space and multi-sport setup-Alderman indicated that park is not under his supervision unless connected to Ogden Corridor
-Alderman has received verbal commitment to connect Ogden Corridor to park, thus making park a joint ward park, allowing him input and control. Alderman Burnett refused CPS money and wants to limit organized sports use.
-Alderman has now received verbal approval for park from HUD, CPS and CHA, just waiting on the documentation to be complete. There is no time frame
-Julie Myers would like to see a Dog Friendly Committee
-There is discussion about making the Blackhawk road connect through as a roadway or being incorporated into the park-Need to form a neighborhood committee for the Park Design, somewhat like Stanton Park
Other Topics
-No updated status on CDOT Turn lane at North & Wells, traffic study pending
-There is an increase in street crime and drug sales in the community
-It is important to call 911 for all incidents, this assists the Alderman in getting a higher allocation from budgeting for cops and patrols-Budget is currently in discussion for Cops for upcoming year.
-There are fewer cops on beat and there is a ‘No Pursuit Policy” making it more difficult to stop crime
-There has been success in South Side community’s with strong coordination between community and police
-There has been success with undercover operations at Division and Clark
-CAPS program could be informed by making the complaints brought to meetings formal documents/reports that require a follow-up by an On Duty Police officer at the next meeting
-There are several websites that allow reporting on Crime: DNA Info,Every block,CAPS Mailing List, Hopkins Alert, ClearMap
WOT would like to thank Charlie Branda, founder of Art on Sedgwick, for graciously providing the meeting space and explaining the mission and activities of the Art on Sedgwick
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