November 2012
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Third Ward Newsletter November, 2012 Dear Third Ward Resident, Inside this It's November, which means the holiday season is upon us. During this time of year, it is important to recognize the blessings we have while doing what we can to share them Third Ward 1-5 with others who are less fortunate. In conjunction with Greater Harvest Missionary Bap- tist Church, I am hosting a food drive. Until November 16th, you can drop off non- Update perishable food items to my Third Ward office at 5046 South State Street. Events in and 5-8 This November, it is also time to cast your vote for President of the United States and around the Ward several local offices. As your Third Ward Democratic Committeeman, I can assure you I Important will work diligently to ensure everyone's voting experience is pleasant and fair. The most 8- important thing you can do is vote! Announcements 12 I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great start to the holiday season! Third Ward Star 12 Sincerely, November CAPS 13 Pat Dowell Alderman, 3rd Ward Third Ward Update New Ward Boundaries For the last three decades, the City of Chicago City Council has engaged in a remapping process in accordance with state law to redraw the city's ward boundaries as dictated by the most recent census. At this point in time, the Chicago Board of Elections has com- pleted its changes and the No- vember Election will reflect the new ward boundaries. Visit http:// library.constantcontact.com/ download/get/ file/1101917229909-900/ Old+Ward.pdf to see a larger map of the old Third Ward. Visit http:// library.constantcontact.com/ download/get/ file/1101917229909-901/ New+Ward.pdf to see a larger map of the new Third Ward. Third Ward Update (continued) September Calls for Service According to 311 City Services, 680 calls were made to 311 from the Third Ward, which generated 815 city service requests in September, 2012. These figures do not include calls made to 911, from cell phones, or requests made directly from Alderman Dowell's office, which means the numbers are likely significantly higher. Norfolk Southern Retaining Wall Crews from Norfolk Southern recently finished repairing and restoring the retaining wall along Stewart Avenue between 42nd Place and 45th Street. Alderman Dowell worked with Norfolk Southern to address concerns coming from area residents. The new retaining wall looks signifi- cantly better than the old one and will help with the beautifica- tion efforts around Fuller Park. Stop Sign Request at 23rd and State In responding to requests made by area residents, Alderman Dowell requested the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) conduct a traffic study to determine whether a stop sign is warranted. This was the third time in the last ten years CDOT has conducted a study at this location and found it does not meet the criteria for a stop sign or a pedestrian crossing sign. In addition, State Street is a major arterial where stops signs and pedestrian crossing signs are not allowed. Finally, CDOT determined the large numbers of people who resided on State Street are no longer there and the traffic signals at 22nd and 24th are adequate to facilitate the crossing of people from the east side of State to the west side of State. New Water Main The Department of Water Management (DWM) crews will soon be installing 1,645 feet of 8-inch water main in W. 58th Street, from S. Wallace Street to S. Stewart Avenue and W. 57th Place, from S. Wallace Street to S. Normal Boulevard. The old pipe dates back to 1890, and needs to be replaced. DWM will do everything possible to minimize inconvenience and noise and to con- duct themselves as good and thoughtful neighbors in the course of their presence. DWM expects the water main work to be completed by late December 2012. Restoration will follow in mid April 2013. Dates may change depending on weather and other factors. Traffic will be allowed to flow on W. 58th Street and W. 57th Place outside of DWM working hours. When they are working in the street, they have to close it to traffic for reasons of safety. Residents will always be able to reach their 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. "No Parking" will be posted as needed. IB High School Coming to the Third Ward Chicago Public Schools officials recently announced the location of five new International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes in neighborhood high schools across the District. Starting in fall 2013, Bronzeville, Farragut, Schurz, Kennedy and Juarez High Schools will offer rigorous IB curriculum in addition to their traditional curriculum. The IB curriculum engages students in a challenging programme of international education and rigorous assessment that has garnered worldwide recognition for its high academic standards. In CPS high schools, pre-IB Diploma students are selected for enrollment using grades, grade 7 ISAT results and attendance at an information session. Students apply to the pre-IB Diploma Programme before their freshman year and those accepted are enrolled into an honors or honors Middle Years Programme (MYP) for grades 9 and 10. After grade 10, qualified students enter the IB Diploma Programme, a comprehensive and challeng- ing college preparatory program for students in grades 11 and 12. Currently, the closest IB High School Programs closest to the Third Ward are located in Hyde Park and South Shore. The Bron- zeville IB High School will be located in the DuSable High School building and will have a neighborhood attendance boundary. The DuSable Leadership Academy and the Bronzeville Scholastic Institute will be consolidated to make room for the new high school and students at those schools will have priority enrollment for the Bronzeville IB High School. Alderman Dowell was a strong advocate for this as she has been pushing for more "schools of choice" in the Third Ward. Third Ward Update (continued) DuSable High School Landmarked The DuSable High School Alumni Association and its Alumni Coalition has been advocating for landmark status for their his- toric Alma Mater located at 4934 South Wabash. With the support of Alderman Dowell, the legislation was passed at the Octo- ber 31, 2012 City Council Meeting. Special thanks to Moses Jones and Dr. Timuel Black for their leadership and the DuSable High School Alumni Association for their dedication towards making this happen. To receive the designation the school had to meet at least two of seven criteria set by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Being a critical part of Chicago's heritage, its association with a significant person, and it being an important architecture pro- duced by a significant architect was required for landmark status. The history of DuSable High School's planning and construc- tion, combined with the achievements of its teachers and former students over the years, clearly met those criteria and reflects important aspects of the history of the African American community in Chicago. Read the Landmark Designation Report to learn more about the history of DuSable High School. Broadband Upgrade Due to a $9 million effort led by the University of Chicago and backed by the state of Illinois, nine South Side neighborhoods will get a broadband upgrade. Gigabit Squared is an economic development firm that focuses on ultra high-speed broadband access. They have partnered with the University of Chicago on the project to bring gigabit-speed service to nearly 5,000 homes, businesses, schools and healthcare institutions over the next year. Neighborhoods that will be served include Hyde Park, Kenwood and Woodlawn, as well as Washington Park, South Shore, Greater Grand Crossing, Grand Boulevard, Douglas and Oakland. The aim is to provide gigabit-speed broadband, about 100 times faster than typical high-speed cable or DSL service, or fast enough for services such as streaming video. Status of Third Ward TIF/NIP Applications In 2012, Tax Increment Finance (TIF) / Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) grants were offered to homeowners in three Third Ward TIF districts. The Bronzeville TIF/NIP had 25 eligible applications. Twenty (20) are in process with the Neighborhood Housing Service (NHS) construction team, four (4) have outstanding scofflaw fines to be paid before finalization and one (1) was over the pro- gram income limit. The second phase of the 47th King II TIF/NIP had fourteen (14) applicants. One (1) was over the program income limit and one was ineligible because the building had six (6) units. The remaining 12 are in process with the NHS construction team. In the second phase of the Pershing/ King TIF/NIP there was only one (1) applicant. All the work has been completed for that project. The TIF/NIP is a Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED) administered program that provides home repair grants in eligible TIF districts for both single and multi-family residences. Grants are primarily for exterior repairs however; up to 30 percent of the grant may be used for interior repairs that are health and safety related. The single family program requires that homeowners have a household income at or below 100 percent of the area median in- come (AMI). If the household income is between 100% AMI -140% AMI, the homeowner must match, dollar for dollar, the grant amount.The multi-family program requires that building owners structure their rents so they are affordable to house- holds at or below 80 percent of AMI. Grant amounts are based on the number of units per residence. New I-GO Location in Third Ward Alderman Dowell is working to develop diversified transportation modes that include not only better roads for cars and bicyclists, but improved public transportation, and now a car sharing program.