Everybody could.
Everybody could take their seats.
Thank you all for.
Thank you all for coming, especially for everybody being on
time and punctual, I really appreciate it. Uh, so good
afternoon. Everyone today is Tuesday.
afternoon. Everyone today is Tuesday July 8th. Uh, this
meeting on committee on
Special.
Special closer. I'm sorry. Thank you.
I'm pretty loud.
I'm pretty loud, I thought it'd be good enough. So
So today is Tuesday, July.
So today is Tuesday, July, 8th meeting and committee on
special events cult.
special events, cultural Affairs. And Recreation is now
called the order, we will have a roll call.
called the order, we will have a roll call, um, chairman
spaz, and vice chair. Uh, Scott are here. Um,
Alderman Hopkins.
Alderman Robinson.
Almond Hall.
Alderwoman Coleman is here.
Alderwoman Coleman is here, Alderman. Curtis here,
Alderman. OSHA.
Alderman. OSHA here.
I live in Moseley. You're a remote.
Alderman Rodriguez here.
All.
Alderwoman crew is here, Alderman. Canway don't see.
Alderwoman crew is here, Alderman. Canway don't see them.
Alderman waguespack here.
All the women new Ghent here.
All are in the pallet Tano here, alderman.
All are in the pallet Tano here. Alderman Lawson here,
Alderman Gardener here.
Gardener here, alderwoman Silverstein here.
uh,
Uh, the role is called result is tail lead. And
Uh, the role is called result is tail lead and given to the
chair. We are how many members?
chair, we are. How many members? 14 members present? We do
have a quorum. So,
uh, we have
Uh, we have 1 member that requested a participate to Rule
5.
59 uh that's ermine Mosley. Is there a motion?
59 uh that's ermine Mosley. Is there a motion to add this
member to the role to approve the role participation?
member to the role to approve the role participation motion
by Alderman Lawson?
motion by Alderman? Lawson to approve the remote
participation by this member oh we all are in Moseley over
here.
All men Mosley.
Okay, I guess he's not here but we do have allerman Conway
here.
Okay, we have 1. 1 speaker for public. Comment is speak.
signed up to speak in person. Uh
each speaker will be given 3 minutes and
Alderman, Hopkins is here for the quorum.
Mr. George Blake Mart.
Please.
Thank you.
to the chairman and members of
To the chairman and members of this committee committee on
special events.
special events and culture Affairs. And
special events and culture Affairs and Recreation Tuesday.
July.
The 8th at 12:30.
It's very important.
It's very important for you. All to educate the public.
these meetings. It just make me
about these meetings. It just make me look like uh,
I'm doing something wrong. I come into these.
I'm doing something wrong. I come into these meetings.
so, maybe you're not doing your
So maybe you're not doing your job and maybe I'm not doing
my job.
my job either. When I go live and talk about beat up on all
of you all. And I don't
of you all and I don't it it's just terrible. Anyway.
especially that and the last stock was dealing with these
uh car.
uh car on track to racing. And
uh car on track to racing and everything in these these
Streets.
Everybody is.
Everybody is making money off of these public Street.
Everybody is making money off of these public streets.
but,
But the city.
the taxpayer, they're
The taxpayers, they're not happy with the the traffic.
And it's a pay to play.
So, Brandon or Conway?
So Brandon or Conway said I want them. And then, Brandon
Johnson said I don't and then Hopkins say I do and all of
you are in it together. It's bad government.
All of you.
All of you are part of a system.
All of you are part of a system, a corrupt system, it's the
Hopkins.
Hopkins and Conway. I'm I'm fascinated by
Hopkins and Conway. I'm, I'm fascinated by ultimate Conway.
How did he get all the way?
How did he get all the way 34 from that black War?
How did he get all the way 34 from that. Black Ward.
Jeremy, man, that all the way down here. Uh, here and you
black ones, know exactly.
black ones, know exactly what happened.
You.
The population didn't go nowhere and caerlson.
The population didn't go nowhere and caerlson Ward.
Nowhere in Brooklyn's War.
Nowhere in Brooklyn's war and that population is still
predominant.
predominant black. How did that man? Get down here.
You black ones, help.
You black ones?
Don't even.
Every citizen don't even understand how this government
work.
work is nonfunctional. Now the rumor is out is so hot that
that Western old man named that was convicted this 1 named
Walter.
named Walter, Bernett is leaving.
Just recycle from 1.
Just recycle from 1 Hall. Pin to another.
It's something.
It's something bad here, maybe you bad.
It's something bad here. Maybe you bad too Mr. Blakemore
maybe you, you
Maybe you, you are part of the problem.
But you are.
But you are part of the problem. Mr. Blakemore we got 1.
public speaker, Mr. Blakemore, well, it's something wrong.
public speaker, Mr. Blakemore, well, it's something wrong
with you. You don't get your constituents.
with you. You don't get your constituents involved in
government. You keep them.
government. You keep them uninformed unengaged. Ignorant
and
And you can take advantage of them, they
And you can take advantage of them. They been back to all.
Thank you, Mr. Blake M, we appreciate your comments today.
We have 2 items on the agenda today.
first item on the agenda is approval of the
First item on the agenda is approval of the June 2025, uh,
monthly rule 45.
monthly rule, 45 all members of the committee should have
received a copy of the report electronically, uh, if
there's any comments,
there's any comments regarding, is there any comments
regarding this report?
regarding this report, uh, hearing none motion by all the
women?
women Crews to approve all members in favor?
women Crews to approve, all members in favor signify? By I,
I all oppose say,
I all oppose say nay,
Any opinion of Charity eyes, have it?
second second item on the
Second, second item on the agenda is an ordinance.
0.
02025 Dash, 000.
02025 Dash 0001818 expenditure of.
02025 Dash 0001818 expenditure of open space impact. Fee
funds for garden.
funds for garden development at 2616 North Albany here to
present today.
present. Today is our friend MC gust from the Department of
planning and
Planning and Development along with her is manilyn hurt
from the Logan Square preservation. Trust me.
from the Logan Square preservation. Trust me, go ahead with
your presentation, please. Great. Thank you, everyone. Uh,
for the record Meg, Gusto Department of Planning and
Development. Um, I'm here to present
Development, um, I'm here to present email Bjorn Park. It's
an impact.
an impact fee expenditure from the Logan Square community
area.
um, it is a
Um, it is a residentially zoned, 25 by 12.
um it is a residentially zoned 25 by 125 parcel uh, at
um it is a residentially zoned 25 by 125 parcel uh at 2616
North Albany just north of the historic Boulevard District.
Um, here is an aerial.
Um, here is an aerial of the site. Um,
we are asking for the approval of
We are asking for the approval of 66,000 in Impact fees
from the open. Uh
from the open uh from an open space and back fees from the
Logan Square.
Logan Square community area.
Um,
email Bjorn. Um,
Email, Bjorn, um lived on in this the house next door.
this site and the proposal is to build a garden.
this site and the proposal is to build a garden and I have
Katherine, I mean um,
Moline heard, I work with.
Moline heard. I work with Katherine heard.
and,
And um, she can give you a little bit of the background on
email.
Hi everyone. So I'm Malene heard I'm here from
Hi everyone. So I'm Malene heard. I'm here from Logan
Square preservation and in late 2024, we
preservation and in late 2024 we were gifted a very
generous donation which is a undeveloped plot of land, um,
from a long time.
from a long time resident, who lives next door in the
building that Amal Bjorn
building, that Amal Bjorn actually lived in, um, around the
turn of the century and he was kind of a jack.
turn of the century and he was kind of a jack of all
trades. Kind of a renaissance man. He was a
trades. Kind of a renaissance, man. He was a composer, a
musician. He was a painter.
musician. He was a painter, he did a ton of writing in the
area.
area and so many of his Works can still be found in Logan
Square. So 1 thing that was really important to him was
establishing
Community spaces for immigrant communities. So,
Community spaces for immigrant communities, so that they
could feel sort of a collective sense of home. And so, our
plan here was to develop this plot to be used as primarily.
a garden space. That would then be
a garden space, that would then be furthering his mission
in terms of creating Community spaces for our neighbors.
Um, this next slide is the proposed site plan.
Um this next slide is, the proposed site plan. Um there is
a currently a garage.
a currently a garage structure on it. Uh, the 66000.
a currently a garage structure on it. Uh the 66000 will be
for the first phase. Um there will be fundraising in the
future for other phases.
Um, here are some inspiration images.
um, here are some inspiration images um that I think are
really, really fun, um, and uh fence.
really, really fun. Um and uh fence inspiration is um
images.
The budget.
For this.
For this phase, like I said, 66,000 for fencing.
For this phase. Like I said, 66,000 for fencing and a
pavilion.
And that concludes my.
And that concludes my presentation. We can take any
questions you may have. Thanks.
Okay, thank you. Uh, mag another, uh,
Okay, thank you. Uh mag another uh beautiful and happy
project from in this committee we're happy to see. Um we do
have uh I would like to give an opportunity for someone
from all around cass's office.
from all around cass's office to speak on this project. Uh,
and I believe we
project. Uh, and I believe we have, uh, um, here, uh, from
the
and I believe we have, uh, um here, uh, from the 35th Ward
representative 35th, Ward is Charles.
the 35th Ward representative 35th. Ward is Charles
surridge. Charles, are you here? Yep, that's me. Hey,
Charles
Can you hear me everyone? Yep.
Okay, good afternoon, chairman SP.
Okay. Good afternoon, chairman pisado and members of the
committee on special events and cultural affairs.
committee on special events and cultural Affairs. Also
known as the happy committee for the record. My name is
Charles surridge. I'm the director of policy for 35th word.
Alderman. Anthony Casada. I'm here today on his behalf to
testify in support of the allocation of open space.
testify in support of the allocation of open space impact
fee funds for the develop development of a new
fee funds, for the develop development of a new community
garden and open space at 2016.
garden and open space at 2016 20. Excuse me, 2616 North
Albany Avenue,
Albany Avenue in the Logan, Square neighborhood, in the
35th War.
uh,
Uh, before I get into the project, uh, first just want to
thank chairman spaz.
thank chairman, spaz on his staff and all the members of
the committee for putting in the time and effort.
the committee for putting in the time and effort to hold
this meeting today. I know we're the only item on the
agenda. So
agenda, so, um, on behalf of myself the alderman, uh, the
entire 35th work Community, uh, we thank you for the time
and effort. Um, a little bit of background in
and effort. Um, a little bit of background, in 2004, the
Chicago plan, commission approved, the Logan,
Chicago plan commission approved, the Logan Square open
space plan which was a collaborative effort between
space plan, which was a collaborative effort between the
department of Planning and Development. Uh, the Chicago
Park District and the Department of Transportation, this
plan found that Logan Square has the second least amount of
open.
open space per capita of any Chicago community area. Um,
after only the South Lawndale Community. Um, Logan Square
is a dense, uh, Community, it is highly built out.
is a dense, uh Community. It is highly built out. There's
really not a lot of vacant land that can be developed.
really not a lot of vacant land that can be developed into
new community Green Space. Uh, if I'm remembering
correctly, I
correctly. I think, uh, the Chicago metropolitan Agency for
planning found that, uh, something like 2% of
planning found that uh, something like 2% of land in Logan
Square is vacant. Um, so we really got to see some
opportunities where we have
Them. Uh, that's why we were really excited when, uh,
several months ago. I think it was, uh, just
months ago. I think it was uh, just after the New Year,
Logan Square preservation. Uh, reached out to our office
with this opportunity to turn a side yard on ALB.
office with this opportunity, to turn a side yard on Albany
Avenue, into an accessible Green Space, that would provide
Avenue, into an accessible Green Space that would provide
educational cultural and recreational opportunities to the
community anchored by the creative Legacy that you just
heard a little bit.
heard a little bit about of Norwegian artist Emil Bjorn,
who resided.
Bjorn, who resided at the adjacent property from 1918 until
his death in
death in 1935,
Our office supported Logan.
Our office supported, Logan Square preservation in applying
for open space impact fee.
for open space impact, fee funds, to undertake the
necessary improvements that will allow them to begin
activating the space, um, as quickly as possible. Um, I
want to thank, uh, Meg and her team,
want to thank uh, Meg and her team for the assistance uh,
in navigating this process.
Logan Square preservation has a proven track record.
Logan Square preservation has a proven track record of
advocating for and stewarding local public.
advocating for and stewarding local public spaces and green
infrastructure in the community. They've planted hundreds,
if not thousands of trees in the neighborhood and where
leaders in advocating for the new pedestrian and green
space oriented.
space oriented redesign of the Logan Square. Community's,
namesake public.
namesake Public Square as well as the creation of La
Placita. A
Placita a new pedestrian Plaza. That is uh near and
completion uh that will
completion. Uh, that will honor the community's uh latinx
heritage.
Heritage. Uh, we believe this project will have a enormous
positive impact and the community. And so on behalf of
aldermen cassada and the residents of the 35th Ward.
respectfully request your favorable consideration of the
item. Um, I'm happy to answer any questions to the best of
my ability. Although I will probably uh, defer to Meg.
my ability. Although I will probably uh, defer to Meg, I
think Meg.
the answer in our, uh,
the answer in our uh, our Moline, but thank you Charles,
before I continue with any questions or comments, I failed
to recognize all them and Robinson.
recognize all them and Robinson is here and we'll give
Alderman Mosley 1 more try. Who's supposed to be here?
Remotely other than Mosley, are you here?
Okay, with that. Uh, does anybody have any questions or
comments regarding this project? All them in Lawson?
Thank you share. Uh,
Thank you share. Uh it looks like uh an exciting project
and a good opportunity. Uh, we're tight on Green Space, so
I understand you got to squeeze it in where you can.
I understand you got to squeeze it in where you can um the
owner of this space is Logan Square.
owner of this space is Logan Square preservation. Is that
correct, right?
Do they have any other green?
Do they have any other green spaces like this in their
service area?
Not.
Not green spaces but other properties. So, Logan Square.
preservation. Actually owns the land that the Comfort
station is on.
station is on in Logan Square. And there's actually 99 year
lease to the Comfort.
lease to the Comfort station organization that actually
operates program.
operates programming on that lot. Okay, okay. Okay, not
green space but
Sort of a adjacent function. I think you're getting a deal
on this. This seems um, that
on this this seems, um, that let it well. And you know,
on this, this seems, um, that let it well. And, you know,
my my next point, maybe it's, it's more common than
question is someone who has some
is someone who has some aging infrastructure that c dot
owned. Um,
um, and the cost of of rehab our our
um, and the costs of of rehab are are sky-high or public
art. Um just what whatever the plan.
public art. Um, just what whatever the plan is here for
maintenance and and who's and then Logan Square
preservation is responsible for that
Yes.
Yes, great great. That's it. Okay, anybody else
Yes, great great. That's it. Hey anybody else question, any
questions comments?
I just saw some project and fairly reasonably.
I just saw some project and fairly reasonably priced it. I
may say also. Okay, so hearing no more questions. Uh, can I
get a recommend?
get a recommendation from all the women Coleman? Uh,
get a recommendation from all the women Coleman, uh, for
passage all in favor? Signify by, I
passage all in favor? Signify by I, I all oppose say no, n
n.
The opinion of Charity. I have it, the
The opinion of Charity. I have it to do pass recommendation
of these appointments.
Ordinance, this ordinance, I'm sorry will be reported out.
Ordinance, this ordinance, I'm sorry will be reported out
on the next city council meeting on July 16th 202.
on the next city council meeting on July 16th 2025 there
being no further business before the committee.
being no further business before the committee, uh, motion
by Alderman. OSHA, uh, to add
by Alderman, OSHA, uh, to adjourn all in favor. Say, I, I,
I
opposed and opinion to charity eyes, have it? Thank you,
everybody.
everybody, at the meeting of committee and special events,
cultural Affairs and Recreation
cultural Affairs. And Recreation also know as a happy
committee is now adjourned. Thank you.
committee is now, adjourned. Thank you, everyone. Thanks
for being on time, appreciate it.