Hi neighbors,

Throughout my time as 47th Ward Alderman, neighbors have frequently contacted my office to complain about traffic safety at our six-corners intersection at Lincoln, Damen, and Irving Park. Since 2020, there have been nearly 50 car crashes at this intersection -- more than one per month -- as well as numerous near misses involving pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. And many residents fear the conditions of the intersection so much that they avoid it altogether. 

In response to these concerns, my office has been working closely with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) on redesigns of the intersection. Earlier this week, we jointly hosted in-person and virtual community meetings to share CDOT's two alternative designs and solicit community feedback. You can view the designs and fill out a short survey here. I hope you'll take the time to fill it out, and please note that the survey closes on Wednesday, October 25th.

On Wednesday, Mayor Johnson released his proposed 2024 City budget. For two weeks beginning this coming Monday, I'll be at City Hall for daylong budget hearings during which my City Council colleagues and I will ask questions of each of our departmental leaders about their operational goals for next year. I'll have more to share on this in the coming weeks. 

I hope you all have a safe and dry weekend. If you're looking for something to do, consider visiting one or more architecturally significant Chicago sites as part of the annual (and free!) Open House Chicago festival tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday. And if you haven't yet received your flu or Covid-19 shots, please consider swinging by our office's annual Flu Clinic tomorrow from 12:30pm to 4:30pm at Sulzer Library. You can find more details on this event below. 

Yours in service,

Lincoln, Damen, and Irving Park Intersection - Traffic Safety Improvement Survey

This week, our office hosted both in-person and virtual community meetings to solicit feedback from residents regarding plans to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety at the intersection of Lincoln, Damen, and Irving Park. Please visit the following page on our website to watch a recording of the meeting, access the presentation materials, and fill out our survey (survey closes 10/25): aldermanmartin.com/safer-intersection

Leavitt Neighborhood Greenway

Contractors are striping the contraflow bike lane on the first part of the Leavitt Neighborhood Greenway from Montrose south to Diversey. This involves painting a contraflow lane on the one-way portions of Leavitt to allow cyclists to travel in both directions and take advantage of traffic lights at major intersections on this calm north-south street. You can read news coverage about the project here.

Clark Street Protected Bike Lane

CDOT’s contractor aims to start work late next week to construct a protected bike lane on Clark Street from Irving Park to Montrose. This work, which will involve the removal of parking along the cemetery, will create a curb-protected bike lane on the east side of Clark and parking-protected bike lane on the west side of Clark. It will also include several floating bus boarding islands, which will speed up bus speeds. You can read press coverage on this project here.

Broadway/Winona Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Improvements

Work will begin late next week on improvements to the intersection of Broadway and Winona, where a constituent was hit and killed by a driver earlier this year. The improvements will include a new refuge island in Broadway on the north leg of the intersection, curb extensions on the west side of the street, and a raised crosswalk across Winona west of Broadway. The bike lane on the west side will be raised up to sidewalk level for a stretch as well. I am thankful to Ald. Manaa-Hoppenworth for her office’s collaboration on this safety project that straddles the boundary between our wards.

Irving Park Rd Pedestrian Safety Improvements

City crews are working to construct concrete pedestrian safety improvements at six intersections on Irving Park Rd located near 47th Ward parks, schools, and senior centers. These improvements are the direct result of our office’s work with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), state elected officials, and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) following the tragic death of a ward resident hit by a driver crossing Irving Park at Hoyne last summer. We are very proud that this collaboration resulted in an unprecedented agreement between IDOT and CDOT to further pedestrian and cyclist safety on State routes.

Crosswalks at the following intersections will receive additional pedestrian protections:

• Irving Park & Hoyne (a new pedestrian refuge island)
• Irving Park & Bell, by Coonley Elementary and St Ben's (a pedestrian refuge island)
• Irving Park & Greenview, by Lake View High School (curb extensions)
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At the following intersections, IDOT has agreed to create brand new crosswalks with both curb extensions and pedestrian refuge islands, to improve access to neighborhood amenities and improve safety over existing nearby crosswalks:

• Irving Park & Maplewood, by Revere Park
• Irving Park & Claremont, by the North Center Senior Campus
• Irving Park & Hermitage

Street Repavings

The Department of Transportation is resurfacing the blocks below funded through Alderman Martin’s annual “Menu” infrastructure fund:

• 1200-1300 W Carmen
• 1400 W Berteau (completed except bike lane striping)
• 4100 N Bell

The work involves grinding down the existing asphalt and repaving the street; it is expected to last around 3-4 weeks on each block.

19th and 20th Police District Community Conversations

This week, our office attended the 19th Police District’s Community Conversation, where the District asked residents for feedback on how the District can collaborate with and serve the community. Attendees shared that they would like to see the District tackle violent crime, increase proactive youth programming, and develop innovative technological solutions. The 19th and 20th Districts will each hold another Community Conversation in October, information below.

19th District Council Meeting

The next meeting of the 19th District Council will be held on Tuesday, October 24th at 6:30pm at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1218 W. Addison. The 19th District ranges from Lake Michigan to the Chicago River, Fullerton to Lawrence. You can RSVP here.

Zoning Advisory Council

The following proposal was heard by the 47th Ward's Zoning Advisory Council this month. To view all development proposals and decisions, and to provide your feedback, go to the Development page on our website.

1406-1408 W. Cuyler Ave: proposed zoning change from RS-3 to RM-4.5

The parcel currently includes a vacant 4 unit building and vacant lot. The applicant is proposing to bring the existing vacant 4 unit building at 1408 W. Cuyler into compliance with the zoning code and to construct a new three-story three flat on the vacant lot at 1406 W. Cuyler. Two of the units would be 3-bed, 2-bath condo units selling for $550-590,000. The remaining unit would be a 4-bed, 3-bath condo unit selling for $680-740,000. The building would also include EV charging stations and bike parking.