Latest News and Menu Money Survey Results

Hope everyone is doing well during this spring/summer transition.  Here’s the latest from Graceland Wilson Neighbors Association:

Menu Money Survey Results for Neighborhood Improvements

Thanks to the 57 GWNA members who completed our GWNA Menu Money Survey and shared their suggestions for spending the $1.3 million allocated to each ward for our streets and alleys’ improvements.  To review the survey executive summary, please click here (PDF).

Residents were also asked to comment on the Sunnyside Mall with ideas on improving this public space (and people had a lot to say!). To see everyone’s ideas and comments on Sunnyside Mall, please click here (PDF).

Chris Korn, GWNA President, and Carolyn Lewis, Vice President, met with Alderman Cappleman and his staff to present the survey findings. Here is a summary of what we learned:

• Some of the changes are happening now.  The alley between Malden/Magnolia has already been stripped of asphalt.
• The Sunnyside Mall will not be getting running water due to costs and its the responsibility of the residents based on how it was designated when it was created.  The Alderman suggested that we could meet with a rep from the Water District to discuss collecting rain water via rain barrels and creating retention ponds in the mall.
• The alley between Clifton and Racine is not scheduled to be resurfaced at this time and when it is, it will likely not be using brick pavers due to costs.
• Lighting: The city is getting away from light poles with 2 lights (one over the road and one over the sidewalk). The ones over the sidewalk break too often.  We were told that it is the responsibility of the neighbors to light the sidewalk.
• A few days ago, I saw the guys turn on the water at Broncho Billy and they said the city is going to implement timing devices on all of their water features city wide with a 15 minute/15 minute off cycle.  The buttons that you push to turn on water features are too expensive to be repaired and they are frequently breaking.

Gay Pride Parade Route begins at Montrose & Broadway—Sunday, June 24

The 43rd Annual Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade will have a new parade route with the starting point stepping off from Broadway & Montrose at noon on Sunday, June 24.  GWNA neighborhood will include the staging area with floating lining up at 8 a.m. along both sides of Montrose from Broadway west to Clark St, and marchers along both sides of Broadway from Wilson to Montrose. We are in contact with the alderman’s office and various city departments to ensure our neighborhood ends up safe and clean and that parade visitors respectfully enjoy our neighborhood.

Residents should be prepared for huge crowds at the Wilson El Station and throughout the neighborhood. Plan on severe traffic disruptions.  Street parking along Montrose and Broadway will be banned, And through traffic will likely be closed. Please plan ahead. More information from GWNA will be sent closer to the parade date.

Wilson El Station Reconstruction Survey—We want to hear from you!

If you haven’t heard, the Wilson El Station will be undergoing a massive reconstruction project thanks to $135 million from various sources. The initial planning and survey work has already begun. This reconstruction will be the single most important project in shaping our community’s future. For those of us who have endured the Wilson El Station’s current conditions—we look forward to sharing our ideas on the project.

We’re asking you to take just a couple minutes and answer the survey questions now.

Please click here to take the Wilson El Station survey now!

Our intention is to collect the comments and ideas from a broad range of people who do or would use the Wilson El Station and present these findings to The Alderman and the CTA.  We believe this information will be essential for making public transportation a safe and welcoming gateway to Uptown.  After you take the survey, we encourage you to please forward it to others.

Coming Soon

• More details on the Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade, June 24
• Next Meeting: We’re currently planning one for mid-July (currently looking at 7/16 @7PM, but Date/Time/Location TBA officially in the next newsletter)
• Home Safety
• GWNA Summer Events

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