Around Rogers Park: Alderwoman Hadden Supports B3-5 Zoning at Rogers and Sheridan
- Category: Latest News
- Fall, 2019
The question of what to do with a mostly vacant building at the northwest corner of Rogers Avenue and Sheridan Road is on the agenda of Alderwoman Maria Hadden. This site has long been owned by a property owner who has proven unable or unwilling to bring this site up to its full potential. This is especially unfortunate, given its prominent location along Sheridan Road and its high visibility on this important north-south thoroughfare through the community.
For many years, this site housed Biddy Mulligans, a popular live music venue and pub. Biddy Mulligans operated at this location at least since the 1970s. Since closing in the early 2000s, the building has been dominated by vacant storefronts on both Sheridan Road and Rogers Avenue. Currently, the only tenant in occupancy is the Beach View Wine and Spirits liquor store that occupies the corner location.
The Alderwoman has reached out to the community to provide guidance about what to do with this site, and how to encourage a more appropriate use for the entire community. At a recent community meeting held at Willie Whyte Park, the Alderwoman heard from many local residents, most of whom expressed support for allowing the zoning to revert to its most recent B3-5 designation. This zoning would allow for a sale to a new owner who would be able to develop a larger, mixed-use property. Many community members felt that a more restrictive zoning designation would only make it harder to sell the property and redevelop the site, meaning more years of no activity and vacant storefronts.
Tom Heineman, Director and Treasurer of RPBG, spearheaded the effort to communicate with the new Alderwoman and deliver the recommendations of the RPBG Executive Committee which strongly supported approval of B3-5 zoning for the site. RPBG also believes that a redevelopment of the site is preferable to the likelihood of many more years of vacant storefronts and missed opportunity for this important parcel.
We applaud the Alderwoman for her decision to approve B3-5 zoning for this site. We thank Tom and the Executive Committee for their advocacy and attention to this matter.
Around Rogers Park: Al Goldberg Given the 2019 President’s Award at October RPBG Meeting
- Category: Latest News
- Fall, 2019
Long-time RPBG Member, Director and Arts Chairman, was presented with the President’s Award at the October 22 RPBG Meeting. In giving Al this award, Mike Glasser, RPBG President, recognized the profound contribution Al has made to the cultural life of Rogers Park, both as a real estate broker, as an investor, and as a moving force behind the creation of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District. Indeed, Al is credited with creating the name and bringing attention to the Morse and Glenwood area as a center of the arts, not just in Chicago but across the country. .
Of course, Al is probably best known as one of the founders, and still a driving force, behind the successful annual Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest held every August. This street fair has become the biggest and most successful in Rogers Park and draws artists and performers from across the neighborhood, the city and beyond. Al has almost single-handedly made Rogers Park, and the Glenwood Avenue corridor in particular, a mecca for the arts in Chicago. .
Congratulations Al! You richly deserve this award. Click on this video for a tribute to Al and learn more about his contributions to Rogers Park and the local art scene.
Verella’s Round-Up: "Tips for Year-End" – Is It Time to Incorporate Rent Increases in Residential Leases?
- Category: Latest News
- Verella Osborne, President, Legal Document Management, Inc.
- Fall, 2019
Two property owners recently drafted residential Chicago leases in which they have the right to increase rent during the term of the lease. One tied the rent increase directly and proportionately to any real estate tax increase occurring during the lease; the other just inserted a general right to increase the rent by no more than ten percent (10%) during the term. Such rent increases may seem detrimental from a marketing standpoint, but consider the following list of costs that have increased during just the last 12 months:
7th Annual NBOA Summer Soirée
- Category: Latest News
This year’s Summer Soirée took place on Thursday evening, August 8 at Piper Hall on the Loyola University Chicago campus. The weather could not have been nicer with clear skies, a light breeze and temperatures that hovered around the high-70’s. The setting was magnificent, on the edge of the historic Loyola campus with views of Lake Michigan to the east.
Heartland Café Redevelopment
- Category: Latest News
- Summer, 2019
The redevelopment of the Heartland Café would qualify as a big story in Rogers Park under any circumstances. But the fact that this will be the first, large scale construction project in the neighborhood under the leadership of newly elected Alderwoman Maria Hadden makes the story even bigger.
SB 2259 Replaces HB 2168
- Category: Latest News
- Summer, 2019
The Builder has been following the progress of the legislative effort to find a replacement for the Class 9 tax relief program that has fallen out of favor in recent years. Two previous articles outline how this new proposed legislation would work, and the bill introduced by Representative Sara Feigenholtz (HB 2168) to adopt this legislation into law.
New York State Adopts Tougher Rent Control Measures
- Category: Latest News
- Summer, 2019
Following in Oregon’s footsteps, New York State just passed tougher rent control legislation that not only increases rent control requirements in New York City, but allows other municipalities across the state to adopt rent control measures.
Ribbon Cutting at Sullivan High for The Ellen Glasser Global Center
- Category: Latest News
- By:
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Mike Glasser
Summer, 2019
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Alderman Maria Hadden (49th) were among the dignitaries who attended Sullivan High School’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Monday, June 17th, commemorating the opening of the new Ellen Glasser Global Center.
As I See It: Population and Provisions
- Category: Latest News
- By:
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Mike Glasser, RPBG President
Summer, 2019
Last weekend, two exciting new venues opened their doors in Rogers Park.
On Sheridan Road, entrepreneur Liz Ahearn opened a destination business called “Picnic Wine and Provisions” where patrons can connect over wine, food and more. Picnic also will also “sell wonderful wines, a variety of platters and small plates, coffee and conversation, indoors and outdoors.” With highly successful Rogers Park Provisions celebrating its fourth year on Glenwood, and Taste Food and Wine offering the same on Jarvis Square (near the El line), Rogers Park can now proudly proclaim that we are the most “provisionist” community in the Midwest!
Ups and Downs - Summer 2019
- Category: Latest News
- By:
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Steve Cain
Summer 2019
Mike Glasser has been a real Debbie-downer lately. Our illustrious President has been sending out email after gloomy email, mostly having to do with the increasingly hostile political and regulatory environment in which developers and property owners must operate.
Sadly, these emails keep coming because things really do seem to be getting demonstrably worse. One email in particular really got my attention. This was an email with a link to an article that appeared recently in Jacobin magazine which describes itself as a “leading voice of the American left.” The article is entitled, “Developers Want to Destroy Chicago. We Won’t Let Them.” The author is Cristina Groeger.
Verella’s Round-Up: "HODGEPODGE"
- Category: Latest News
- Verella Osborne, President, Legal Document Management, Inc.
- Summer, 2019
Having just returned from a 24-day vacation this week, my brain is still in holiday mode. The following is a grab-bag of unrelated issues that have all arisen within the last few months:
