Come, Hear Alderman Michael Scott’s Vision for the Proposed Douglas Park Music Venue

Posted on by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

Reminder: The Parks, Recreation and Open Space and Arts and Culture subcommittees will host a public meeting in which Alderman Scott can present his vision of a proposed music venue in Douglas Park. The meeting will be held on September 7, 2016 at 6:00 pm at the Douglas Park Cultural Center (Field House), 1401 South Sacramento. Please come prepared to listen and ask questions and provide your thoughts in an open forum. We have provided links to recent articles to provide you with background information.

Douglas Park may take swing at outdoor concert venue to replace golf course

 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-douglas-park-outdoor-concert-venue-ravinia-met-0423-20160423-story.html

Is Emanuel behind Ravinia-style music venue in Douglas Park?

http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/is-emanuel-behind-ravinia-style-music-venue-in-douglas-park/

Why A West Side Ravinia Would Be Great For Douglas Park: Ald. Scott’s Case

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160505/north-lawndale/why-west-side-ravinia-would-be-great-for-douglas-park-ald-scotts-case

City parks and the sweet sound of silence

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-music-in-the-parks-edit-0715-md-20160714-story.html

NLCCC in the Media: Involve Community Residents in the Development of Roosevelt and Kostner

Posted on by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

We thank those of you who have taken the time to comment on the Crain’s letter regarding the proposed development on Kostner and Roosevelt. Your comments are insightful and, it gave us pleasure to see the love and support from you. Some of you were not able to read the letter because you don’t have a subscription.  Here is the text to the letter we shared.

August 16, 2016

Last week, Crain’s Chicago Business wrote that the developer Clarius Partners had proposed an industrial development at the northeast corner of Roosevelt Road and Kildare Avenue that would total 320,000 square feet, including 61,000 square feet of retail space. The source was a report prepared for the Chicago Community Development Commission, which unanimously approved the sale of the 21-acre city-owned development site to Clarius.

As the North Lawndale Coordinating Council, we have an interest in this development. We’re a group of community leaders, business owners and elected officials who have long been working to improve the built environment in our neighborhood and to increase the capacity of local organizations to make a positive impact on the community.

It should be noted that North Lawndale has not had a comprehensive planning process in over 50 years, and this particular site has been the source of community angst for decades. The site was one of the illegal dumping sites associated with Operation Silver Shovel back in the 1990’s. Later on, a movie studio was proposed for the site, and then a major grocery store. Neither development came to fruition. Most recently, this site was selected for the UIC-North Lawndale Obama Presidential Library bid. When the site was not selected, the community was disappointed once again.

Such rejection hurts us more than most communities, since we have had very little success attracting large scale sustainable development that benefits local residents.

We’re cautiously optimistic that there is a proposal, and we’re eager to know more about it. Our council supports development that is consistent with our core values of transparency, accountability and sincere and authentic community engagement. We invite Clarius Partners to provide input into our comprehensive planning process currently under way. We urge them to share more details about their proposed development with the community in public settings and we demand that they are open to questions and input.

But there are conditions that any developer seeking support from our community should deliver upon—conditions that maximize opportunities for current residents and local business owners. This includes:

• adhering to an agreement to prioritize local hiring;

• taking advantage of tax credits for hiring ex-offenders and very low income people

• tapping into TIFWorks funding to train and hire local residents to work in the business concerns that will be developed there

• helping these local businesses take advantage of federal HUB Zone certifications

• putting legally-binding mechanisms in place so that local residents, minority contractors, women-owned businesses and other disadvantaged businesses get a chunk of the contracting opportunities.

We don’t just want promises. We ask that Clarius track progress towards these goals and share updates with the community from time to time. In fact, we’d be more than happy to provide links to these reports on the NLCCC website (http://nlcccplanning.org)

In closing, we look forward to a development process that is transparent, inclusive and impactful to the North Lawndale community.

Sincerely,

Members of the NLCCC Executive Subcommittee:

Valerie F. Leonard, consulting@valeriefleonard.com
Rodney Brown, rodney@new-covenantcdc.org
Dennis Deer, drdeer@deerehabservices.com

Chicago Department of Planning and Development Staff Report Regarding Roosevelt and Kostner

Posted on by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

Clarius Partners proposes to purchase the Roosevelt and Kostner site from the City of Chicago, in the event there is no responsive alternative bidder.  A public meeting was held by the Community Development Commission on Tuesday, August 9, 2016. Embedded below are a copy of the Power Point presentation and the response to our FOIA request.

North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council Remarks on the Proposed Sale of the Roosevelt and Kostner Site

Posted on by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

The City of Chicago proposes to sell the site of Roosevelt and Kostner to Clarius Partners, LLC. Some of you may recall this was the site on which the North Lawndale Presidential Library Committee and UIC proposed that the Obama Presidential Library be built. At any rate, there was a public meeting of the Community Development Commission on Tuesday to discuss the matter. Clarius proposes to purchase the site for a combination of industrial and commercial use, the development of which will, hopefully, be completed in 3 phases over 4 years. This is a speculative deal and no tenants have entered into any leases.  While the land is in the Roosevet/Cicero TIF, no TIF funds will be used at this time.  Proceeds of the sale of the land will go into the TIF, and TIFWorks funds will be used to train workers for jobs that will be created as a result of the new development.

Crain’s Chicago Business ran an article the following day. We have submitted a request for further documentation under the Freedom of Information Act to get a copy of the developers presentation, staff report and other information that may be helpful to better understand the transaction and potential opportunities for community involvement. The developer will be present at the next Alderman’s meeting (August 25th at 6:00 at United Baptist Church, 4242 West Roosevelt) and the Westside Music Festival (Douglas Park August 20, 12 noon-9 pm, 1401 South Sacramento. They will more than likely be there early on in the program, around noon or so).  Clarius will do a series of presentations to community groups, and we (NLCCC) have indicated a desire to host a public meeting so that residents may ask questions and voice concerns.   We will keep you informed as we learn more.  In the meantime, we have attached a copy of the NLCCC remarks regarding the proposed land sale.

The meeting was well attended, considering short notice. (We learned of the meeting Monday afternoon, and shared information as soon as we got it.)  There were at least 30 people from North Lawndale, in our estimation.  Most people were supportive of the transaction, particularly given the fact that the land has been vacant over 30 years.  The major concerns include the fact that the developer has no women or minorities on staff; there are no apparent targets or guidelines for minority contracting and hiring; a desire for the community to have been better informed earlier; a need for better understanding of how the developer would follow through on local hiring; the difficulty in knowing what jobs to train people for, given the fact that it is not clear what tenants will occupy the space; the fact that the developer indicated they will come back to the community when the deal is “feasible”, versus ongoingly to get input into the project scope; desire for local hiring and construction contracting opportunities and questions about how to enforce developer incentives tied to job creation, salary level and local hiring. 
 
I couldn’t type as fast as the presenters were speaking so I don’t have exact numbers and terms. The incentives are also focused on the 60624 zipcode and 8 surrounding zipcodes. The incentives are a sliding scale, and I don’t have specific zip codes. Rather than write anything inaccurate, I will wait for the staff report and/or presentation and share it with you.  Generally speaking, the developers will purchase the land up front and get rebates phased in over time based on the degree to which they adhere to the hiring benchmarks.  The rebates will be passed through to the tenants.
 
Overall, this could be a great opportunity for the community, provided the developer and tenants adhere to local targets and folks from 60624 and 60623 are adequately represented in the labor force. It is very important that the community be proactive, and work with the developers to create win-win strategies for the community, developer, the tenants and the City of Chicago.
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie F. Leonard
 

Westside Presidential Library Property for Sale: Attend CDC Tomorrow’s Community Development Commission Meeting‏

Posted on by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

The Community Development Commission will be holding its monthly meeting tomorrow, August 9, 2016 to discuss the proposed sale of the Roosevelt and Kostner site. (The site of the proposed Obama Presidential Library in North Lawndale.)  An agenda is embedded, and the meeting time and location are outlined below.  The interested purchaser is Clarius Partners, LLC, a full-service real estate investment and development firm. http://www.clariuspartners.com/aboutUs There will be an opportunity for public comment should you desire. PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WIDELY. This project could have a significant impact on the community and could anchor future development. Your assistance is most appreciated. 


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
121 North LaSalle Street
Council Chambers, Second Floor City Hall
Regular Meeting, 1:00 p.m.
August 9, 2016

North Lawndale Arts & Cultural Festival Aug 6 in Douglas Park

Posted on by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council
We thank the Austin Weekly News for following the North Lawndale Arts Festival.  Here is an excerpt from their latest story.

A colorful day of visual arts, music, dance and drama to Douglas Park will run allday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m at the cultural center/field house at 1400 S. Sacramento. It’s free and people of all ages from anywhere in the world are welcome.

North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, the not-for-profit group responsible for a unique citizens planning process in this West Side neighborhood, aims to bring out the area’s sometimes-hidden cultural assets, said festival chair Sheila McNary.

Artists and vendors so far include: BGLH, Sweet Beginnings, Maxwell Street Foundation, the NLCC, Celestial Ministries, MUSIC, Madd Rhythms, Momma Kemba, Painter Cory of 345 Gallery, Rickie Brown, Dametrius, Jaclyn Jacunski of SAIC, Free Spirit Media, Able Electropolishing, Bee Boys, Artsy Marcey Jewelry, Jamiah Calvin, and Eddie Hudson.

Read more here

 

North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council Accomplishments and Work in Progress

Posted on by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

The North Lawndale Coordinating Council  (NLCCC) is a group of North Lawndale stakeholders, including community-based organizations, business owners, elected officials and individuals, that guide comprehensive planning and implementation in North Lawndale. We started in April, 2015, with a goal of developing an authentic community-driven process that engages stakeholders “early and often”. As we prepare to take our efforts to the next level, we thought that we would take stock of what we have been able to accomplish to date. We thank everyone who has had anything to do with our success. This includes working on a committee, participating in events, making cash and in-kind donations, spreading the word about us, et cetera.

To date, we have achieved, or are currently working on the following:

  1. Developed a successful application for CMAP technical assistance resulting in an award valued in excess of $100,000
  2. Initiated relationships with Cinespace, Sinai Health System and Top Box
  3. Held NLCCC kickoff event that attracted over 150 people when we’d hoped to get 50
  4. Increased membership from 50 people in October, 2015  to 265 in August 2016
  5. Developed website, Twitter page, Facebook page and private Facebook group with over 4,200 views, over 1,700 visits and over 50 followers within 5 months of being launched in March, 2016
  6. Developed an occasional newsletter whose circulation has increased from about 143 to 268 between October, 2015 and July 1, 2016
  7. Held the first annual community development conference, which attracted over 300 people
  8. Developed 9 preliminary program logic models that will be used to inform our agenda and increase the capacity of North Lawndale residents, businesses and institutions to take advantage of the opportunities the planning process will bring
  9. Participated in several On the Table conversations in North Lawndale and with LISC to discuss ways of bringing about commuity unity
  10. Completed a preliminary North Lawndale Snapshot Survey to begin to assess the capacity of our member organizations individually and collectively
  11. Held an informational meeting with the Chicago Community Trust to get an overview of their programs as well as the Benefit Chicago Initiative.
  12. Applied for LISC Quality of Life Funding and hosted a very successful site visit and tour for LISC representatives
  13. Initiated relationship with the North Lawndale Kinship Initiative to foster job creation, economic development and capacity buildingWill be hosting the first annual North Lawndale Arts Festival in August
  14. Assessed potential for creating employment pathways leading to industry recognized credentials
  15. Hosted a transportation town hall meeting
  16. Attracted over $15,000 to this work. Proceeds were used for the conference, arts festival, copies and collateral materials. The vast majority of the funds came from our members and North Lawndale based organizations
  17. Will be hosting a town hall meeting on the health status of North Lawndale this fall
  18. Will be hosting a TIF town hall meeting in September
  19. In the process of replicating the Promise Neighborhoods model in North Lawndale Hosted a transportation town hall meeting
  20. Will be hosting a town hall meeting on Alderman Scott’s proposal for a music venue in Douglas Park on August 23, 2016
  21. Will be hosting a two-part workshop on Robert’s Rules of Order in October
  22. In the process of developing programs to improve local business and customer service, including a local flash mob to descend upon selected North Lawndale businesses, targeted for November or December

We will keep you posted on our progress from time to time.

There is Still Time to Sponsor the North Lawndale Arts Festival!

Posted on by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

Thank you for your ongoing support of the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council. Because of your generous support, we have been able to successfully produce our first annual North Lawndale Community Planning Conference back in April. We are now winding down the planning and fundraising efforts for our next big event–our First Annual North Lawndale Arts Festival, to be held on August 6, 2016, from 10 am – 7 pm at Douglas Park Cultural Center, located at 1401 South Sacramento.

We need your support as we enter the final stretch. If you, or a local artist, small business or representative of a public or nonprofit agency are interested in showcasing your artwork, business or organization, please contact Shiela McNary, our Arts and Culture Subcommittee Chair, at sjmcnary1@aol.com and she will forward you a registration packet that outlines the fees and requirements. I have attached sponsorship packets for individuals and organizations wishing to sponsor the festival, as well as a jpeg file of the promotional flyer. A copy of a message from Sheila is found below.

Please, share this email widely. We still need to cover costs for equipment and furnishing rentals and light refreshment.

In closing, we thank the following North Lawndale stakeholders for their generous cash and in-kind contributions:

Alderman Michael Scott-Cash donation and technical assistance with event planning, marketing and outreach
Country Financial-Cash donation
Foundation for Homan Square-Cash donation and strategic partnerships with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Mia Gamble-Cash donation
Corry Williams-Cash donation
Mary Ellen Dragon-Cash donation
Kevin Sutton, Vice President, The Foundation for Homan Square-Technical assistance for event planning
Alysia Slusser,Graphic Artist-Logo deign and assistance with collateral material/social media design
Alexie Young, Visual Artist-Community Canvass (workshop in which participants will all have an opportunity to complete a painting during the event) and assistance with collateral material design
Reneau Diallo, Quilt Artist-Facilitation of quilt workshop in which participants will have an opportunity to design and complete a quilt block, to be fashioned into a community quilt

Sheila McNary
Sheila J. McNary, 

Dear Friend of North Lawndale:

The North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council (NLCCC) cordially invites you to be a sponsor of our first annual North Lawndale Arts Festival. The Arts Festival will be held at Douglas Park Cultural Center, 1401 S. Sacramento Ave., on Saturday, August 6, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be no charge to patrons of the Festival and sponsorship proceeds will be used to offset the cost of the event.

The Arts Festival will showcase the works of local artists and talents of local entertainment including blues musician Larry Taylor, jazz musician Ronnie G. and tap dance group M.A.D.D. Rhythms. The NLCCC plans to use the Festival to bring the already rich culture of North Lawndale to a broader audience. We expect over 1,000 people to attend including elected officials, heads of public agencies, leaders of community-based organizations and local residents.

Your investment in the Arts Festival is a win-win for you and the community. Your organization will have the opportunity to establish and nurture relationships with a broad base of influential North Lawndale stakeholders that have access to even broader networks that would be beneficial in strengthening your brand. The Arts Festival will unify the community around arts and culture, attract more arts and cultural activities, encourage economic development and help make the case for improving the entire community.

In closing, we invite you to review our sponsorship packet and respond with your tax deductible donation and print ready logo no later than July 15, 2016. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at 312.907.7701 or sjmcnary1@aol.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Sheila McNarry,
Chairman, NLCCC – Arts and Culture committee