All workshop comments (sorted by question)

Gathered at the August 21 2006 38th and Chicago Small Area / Corridor Framework Plan Kick-Off Workshop. Comments are presented in no particular order, and include all comments submitted on workshop boards and spoken during each of the five small group presentations.

To view a summary of all the comments sorted by each of the small groups (including photos from the workshop) please follow this link >

1. What is your favorite place on 38th Street or on Chicago Avenue? Why?

• Riverview Theater intersection: destination location - a 1-stop night out
• 48th and Chicago area (small shops / theaters / food)
• 48th and Chicago business district: great example of blending of cultures, , great example of intersection revitalization, good mix of practical uses
• Midtown Exhange: phenomenal example of restoration, mixed use, blending of cultures, transit center, clean / welcoming / comfortable
• Baha'i garden and flood pond park with fountain
• Pillsbury
• Midtown Exchange
• Taco Blas (family owned ethnic food / market)
• "Modern" building at 3rd and Chicago - unique, an architectural stand out
• 3801 Park: great location for a coffee shop!
• "Swiss chalet" on 38th and 3rd - unique architecture
• Jakeeno's: best pizza, supporters of the neighborhood, they've stuck around
• Youth farm and market at 3600 Chicago
• Phelps Park
• The impact of recent development in how my neighborhood looks and feels
• Baha'i Center - it's beautiful
• Lavender
• the retention pond
• Jakeeno's
• Turtle Bread
• Pepito's
• Riverview Theater
• Riverview Cafe and Wine Bar
• Mother Earth Garden
• Dairy Queen
• LeVain
• Parkway Theater
• Bagu
• Pumphouse Creamery
• Midtown Exchange / Global Market
• Bryant and 38th
• 38th and Grand
• Chicago and Lake
• Sabathani
• Nice 1 story building (3732 Chicago?)
• MacDonald Sunshine Daycare - kids
• "Finer Meats"
• "Ace Hardware"
• Garden project at Baha'i

2. What changes would you make to our area? What would you keep?

• increase variety - get a wider range of commercial businesses
• improve storefronts
• big windows in stores
• organic co-op - groceries
• more garbage and recycling cans
• skating rink - outdoor for winter
• more flowers
• reduce number of redundant dollar / discount stores and quickie marts
• safer transit
• address traffic issues - add speed bumps
• add cross walks
• change buses to streetcars
• major reduction in crime
• become more walkable, with more amenities to walk to
• add street level / pedestrian lighting
• better / nicer bus stop stations
• improve streetscaping and traffic calming
• add trees
• keep library open: make Hosmer library hours same as Washburn
• make sure rental property is well kept and managed
• cleaner / less litter
• keep wide sidewalks
• keep turn-of-century housing stock
• keep diversity of neighborhood
• keep community centers and libraries
• Redevelopment or facelift for mall at 40th and Bloomington
• Help bring an Arts Co-op:
  - Classes and gallery
  - Places to mix youth with adults
  - Writing center with youth focus
• Co-op grocery - carrying healthy foods
• yoga / meditation / exercise (example "Curves" gym)
• need to address safety issues - we have nice parks but people don't feel comfortable having their kids use them
• we need dedicated youth spaces designed by youth
• need intergenerational spaces - places to see things common to different generations / to talk about common things
• urban arts
• need more cohesive, stronger business community
• keep: community spaces
  - Hosmer
  - Sabathani
  - PUC (Pillsbury United Communities)
  - Parks
• remodel SA gas station
• address Cup Foods issues
• address loitering / hanging out in intersections
• address crime and gang activity
• get rid of street parking of 38th and Chicago intersection
• add pedestrian lighting
• develop outdoor seating cafes
• add pedestrian friendly storefronts
• add trees / greenery / planters with flowers
• move bus stop 1/2 block away from intersection

3. What do you want to achieve through development? What are your concerns?

• enhance safety and create a beautiful neighborhood
• concerned that we'll end up all condos and restaurants (like Uptown or Lake and Lyndale)
• concerned about the impacts of higher density
• make absentee landlords accountable
• would like property values to increase to support and reflect investment in one's home and neighborhood
• crime reduction
• increase walkability
• increase usable amenities
• get people staying / moving back to the city and to the neighborhood
• cleaner / less litter
• establish a special assessment area at 38th and Chicago to beautify corner (add lights at Christmas, etc.)
• make sure zoning is enforced
• restoration / revitalization of commercial and housing structures
• maintain or increase historic element: architecture of area
• change image: attract and increase homeownership and desirability of neighborhood
• maintain affordability
• make it culturally welcoming
• increase cultural connections
• more community spaces
• attract anchor businesses that contribute to the area
• more art centers
• to encourage positive early evening activities
• start co-op businesses
• want to have a safer, more walkable community
• more visually appealing streetscape
• to build community
• concerns:
  - money - where will it come from?
  - timeframe - when will this happen?
  - will taxes go up to pay for this?

4. What changes would encourage you to walk or bike more?

• better street lighting on main streets
• improve the perception of safety in the area: more people, activity, better lighting
• improve bicycle infrastructure: obvious, plentiful and easy to use bike racks
• more destination points
  - coffee shops
  - needed services
  - rental meeting spaces (for family celebrations, weddings)
• artists studios
• safety
• clean streets
• more express bus routes to-from downtown
• nicely surfaced streets
• public education re: safe biking and safe driving with bikes
• add beat cops!
• change buses to streetcars - less emissions and better chance of being used
• street-level lighting
• more bike lanes
• businesses and amenities that you want to walk to
• bike racks
• if reduction in crime, more public benches, etc.
• north / south version of greenway / pedestrian mall
• decreasing traffic speed on Park, Portland, 36th and 35th, and bring Park and Portland to two-way streets with their original boulevards
• re-timing of traffic lights
• designated bike paths
• community-organized walking clubs / garden clubs
• improved landscape / streetscape - it's key to make the streets more inviting
• improved lighting - pedestrian and city lights
• sidewalk cafes
• less negative early evening activities
• public art
• blooming boulevards (and alleys - flowers in the alleys)
• art / music
• more lighting
• less crime
• put in a "shot-spotter"
• family-oriented cafes and businesses

5. What changes would encourage you to talk with your neighbors more?

• more scheduled events that help bring neighbors together
• more neighborhood and neighborhood-building activities
• spending more time in the front yard
• working together on neighborhood projects
• youth programs / projects
• other neighborhood-wide events - we need something more than National Night Out
• boulevard gardens
• neighborhood amenities, "gathering places" (coffee shops, restaurants, etc.)
• theaters
• music / performance spaces
• community gardens
• "Blooming Boulevards"
• block clubs
• need more public spaces, meeting centers (not necessarily churches) - (for example a place to discuss Bryant neighborhood issues)
• something that brings out the benefits of living in a city
• keep the buildings that add to the street's appeal - "we have great old buildings that could be great businesses"
• sharing of cultural traditions
• "welcome wagon" for new residents - to help "break the ice"
• if it feels safer to walk around
• more lighting
• improvement on cultural / language barriers

6. Name for the plan:

• "Utopia"
• "38th and Chicago Renaissance"
• "Renaissance Initiative"
• "Intersecting"
• "38th Street Crossroads Plan"
• "The Family Plan"