Reminder: Membership Meeting & Mingle this Thursday!

Welcome 2013 and join your neighbors for the first annual GWNA Membership Meet & Mingle event on January 17. It’s the perfect time to mix a little fun while sharing ideas on how we’ll continue to make our community a great, safe, vibrant place to live.

Block clubs have an enormous influence on shaping their community. What do you want to see in our neighborhood? Retail streets like Lincoln Square? A bustling public market? The new Wilson L Station with a patio café? Or a school that really offers innovative education?

Graceland Wilson Neighbors Meet & Mingle

• Thursday, January 17, 6-8 PM
• The Driftwood, 1021 W. Montrose

You can check out all GWNA accomplishments for 2012 by visiting http://www.gwna.org and read the December newsletter. If you can’t make this event but want to become a member, please visit our http://www.gwna.org and click on the membership link. It’s a simple step to building a safe, livable community. Annual membership is $20 per household…the more members, the more power we have for change.

Neighborhood Shooting Gallery Last Weekend

From our January newsletter:

This past Friday and Saturday, gunfire and gangs were rabble-rousing on our streets. The usual hot-spots were host to multiple gun-fire and several shootings, mostly in the gang members’ butts. Read all about it at http://www.uptownupdate.com for January 4-5.

GWNA members have actively participated in three key evictions in our community. All three evictions involved tenants whose behaviors destroy communities. To date, one tenant is gone, the second is due back in eviction court next week, and the final one is supposed to be moving before the end of January. For too long, those people that tear apart communities have been allowed to live in affordable housing without any consequences for their behavior—this will no longer be tolerated.

Join us for our GWNA Membership Event!

Have a drink, meet your neighbors, and find out what’s going on in your neighborhood.

GWNA invites you to a fun, informative evening…

• The latest on the new Wilson CTA Station
• Good neighbors program
• Turning around public spaces: Sunnyside Mall

Annual Membership $20, includes a free drink ticket.
Can’t make this event? Visit http://www.gwna.org for
membership details today.

UPDATED VENUE:
Driftwood – 1021 W Montrose
Thursday, January 17th
6 to 8 pm

GWNA Takes a Look Back on 2012

2012 was an eventful year in Uptown and our block club was busy with a number of projects to improve our community and make connections with neighbors, local businesses, the alderman and the City. We’re really proud of what we accomplished and have great plans for 2013.

The spring began with a membership (http://www.gwna.wordpress.com) “meet and greet” at the Driftwood on Montrose. We met many neighbors (and their dogs!) over a beer and learned about their concerns for the neighborhood. Public Safety remains a major issue and GWNA members are working with Alderman Cappleman, the Chicago Police, and property managers through the CAPS program to pinpoint and report crime when it occurs, keep an eye on problem buildings and attend court hearings when arrests are made and evictions are in the works. Hard work and persistence by GWNA members have resulted in a number of successful prosecutions of known troublemakers in our community.

Wilson L Station Reconstruction Project coming soon

The upcoming $213 million Wilson L station reconstruction project will dramatically change our neighborhood. Graceland Wilson Neighbors created an extensive survey (http://gwna.wordpress.com/wilson-el-station/#survey) to find out what Uptown residents wanted to see with regard to safety, convenience and amenities in and around the new station. More than 525 residents completed the survey (thank you!) which was presented to the CTA and the alderman in October.

The most important issue was safety, with a secure, well-lighted station surrounded by vibrant retail shops and restaurants at the top of most respondents’ lists. Safe, short access to the Wilson L platform via a Sunnyside entrance was another priority. Members of GWNA’s board also met with the local managers from both Target and Aldi who said they also support a safer, closer entrance to the Red Line station for their employees and shoppers.

The CTA hosted a community meeting at Truman College this fall where we found out that the CTA also favors an entrance on Sunnyside along with a refurbished entrance on the north corner of Wilson and Broadway. You can read more about the Wilson L Station amenities that could include a restaurant/coffee shop and international food mart and check out the renderings by visiting . We’ll also continue to participate in conversations with the Alderman and CTA and report on its progress on our website.

GWNA Efforts to Improve Public Safety

We’re especially proud of our GWNA member’s efforts to make our neighborhood a safe, great place to live. Thanks to our members who have worked very closely with Dana Fritz from the alderman’s office, we have identified three neighborhood residents whose behavior has been violent and destructive. Eviction proceedings were initiated. One tenant has moved, another scheduled to leave in January and the third tenant will be back on court this week. We’ll continue to focus on public safety and welcome new members with new ideas on how to make this happen. If you’re not already a GWNA member, check our membership form and details at gwna.org (http://www.gwna.wordpress.com) .

GWNA 2012 Accomplishments

We’re going to toot our horn right now and recap all that we’ve accomplished in 2012. Hope you’ll join us soon and make 2013 an even more remarkable year.

* Created and presented the GWNA menu money survey for public improvements like streets, alleys, lights
* Designed, promoted, and presented the Wilson L Station Reconstruction Survey to CTA and alderman
* Met with Target & Aldi’s management to discuss Sunnyside L entrance
* Supported three key eviction cases in our neighborhood
* Requested new tree plantings on Sunnyside by Magnolia
* Hosted Clean & Green
* Hosted an ice cream social event in the fall, which will be moved to July in 2013.
* Hosted third annual Kids Halloween on the Sunnyside Mall
GWNA Looking Ahead to 2013—More Members, We need you!

Save the Date for GWNA Membership Event: We’ll be kicking off 2013 with a general meeting and get-together on January 17 at The Spot on Broadway. It’s a great way to meet your neighbors, find out what’s going on in Uptown and become a member of GWNA yourself. Watch this space (http://www.gwna.wordpress.com) for more details.

Join us for a our Membership Event!
The Spot
4437 N. Broadway
Thursday, January 17^th
6 to 8 pm

Pictures from Halloween

Halloween Celebration – October 27th

Bring your ghouls and goblins out for a morning of pumpkin decorating, games, and a costume parade around the neighborhood. Dogs in costume are also welcome.

October 27th, starting at 10AM on the Sunnyside Mall at Magnolia.

 

Have questions, or interested in volunteering? Contact Chris Korn via e-mail at ckorn1947@yahoo.com.

Wilson Red Line – Early Planning and Community Feedback

Last  night, the CTA held an open house meeting at Truman College to unveil its initial plans regarding the planned renovations to the Wilson L station. If you missed it, a great write-up on the event can be found on Grid Chicago. You can also view the CTA’s page about the Wilson Station project.

The CTA is actively soliciting community feedback on this project, so now is the time to make your voice heard! In addition to sharing the results from the survey we conducted earlier this year, GWNA is encouraging area residents, students, and businesses to share their thoughts. You can do so by filling out this form and sending  it to the CTA in one of the following ways:

• Mail to:
  Chicago Transit Authority
  Attn: Wilson Transfer Station Project
  567 W Lake Street
  Chicago, IL 60661-1465
• Fax to:  312-681-3897
• Email your comments to wilsontransferstation@transitchicago.com

Not sure what to write about? Based on the results of the neighborhood survey, and the reactions of the community and alderman at yesterday’s meeting, the GWNA hopes that comments will include:

1. the Sunnyside entrance should be built and open for use by CTA customers;
2. the Sunnyside entrance is necessary to serve CTA customers going to and from Target, Aldi, Truman College, Broadway businesses, and the residents living west and south of the Sunnyside entrance;
3. safe, well-lit, inviting, and accessible direct pedestrian routes are needed from the Sunnyside entrance to Broadway, Montrose Avenue, Clifton Avenue, and Truman College;
4. CTA property at, around, and leading to the Sunnyside entrance needs to be put to good retail or public use, including pedestrian plazas.

We encourage additional constructive comments beyond those four main points.  We need the same comments to go to the 46th Ward’s Alderman, James Cappleman, at info@james46.org and to Mayor Emanuel via http://webapps.cityofchicago.org/eforms/org/cityofchicago/eforms/controller/contactUsForm/preFeedbackForm.do  Mailed comments to the Alderman and the Mayor can be sent to their attention at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago  60602.