Jefferson Park Forward is providing updates from the June 2017 meeting of the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce. We are an active paid member of the Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce, which represents and supports businesses within Jefferson Park. Members of the JPF Board regularly attend Chamber meetings, which are open to the public, and are held on the second Thursday of each month at 8:30 AM at the Copernicus Center Annex. JPF President Ryan Richter attended today’s meeting and provides the following update.
Jefferson Park Master Plan
The consultants for the Jefferson Park Master Plan, Teska Associates, were welcomed to the meeting to provide an update and solicit feedback on the master plan, which is in the data collection stages. Teska has met with dozens of residents, businesses and community groups, including JPF, in the past few weeks. JPF also sits on the steering committee for the project.
A public meeting open to all will be held on Monday, June 19 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM in the Copernicus Center Annex for the community to provide input into the master plan. This is the first community-wide public meeting; a second meeting will be scheduled in the fall. I encourage all JPF members to attend or submit comments on the plan’s website.
New Businesses
Nathan Dall from Ho-Chunk Nation was a guest speaker at today’s meeting. His tribe recently moved into offices on Giddings and Milwaukee in the old Polonia bookstore location. The tribe owns the building and is planning renovations (new roof, HVAC, etc.). Ho-Chunk has meeting space available for rent (reduced discount for non-profits) and provides outreach services to its members, which number some 200 in Cook County. (The tribe’s headquarters is in Black River Falls, WI. They have had an office in Jefferson Park for two decades).
A representative from Verizon Wireless attended the meeting to discuss the opening of a new Verizon Wireless store next to Walgreen’s on the corner of Milwaukee and Northwest Highway. The store is waiting on permits from the City so they can erect a sign. Business hours are 10 AM – 8 PM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM – 6 PM on Sunday.
Nick Davis from Weston’s Coffee attended the meeting. Weston’s Coffee is opening next to Popeye’s on Milwaukee Avenue across the street from the Jefferson Park Transit Center. This shop will be a coffee shop in the morning transitioning to craft beer bar in the evening. They expect to have 8 draft taps and serve local coffee and pastries. Free Wi-Fi will be provided in a cafe atmosphere.
Weston’s was expecting to open this month, however, they’ve experienced permitting delays with the City. Weston’s just received their building permit last week and are applying for their liquor license. They anticipate opening in August.
Jefferson Park Chamber of Commerce Updates
Jeff Fest
Jeff Fest will be held during the first weekend of August this summer. The fest is looking for groups to volunteer for a beer tent shift on Sunday afternoon, from roughly 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The fest is also looking for gate volunteers to collect revenues at the entrance to the fest.
JPF will be running a beer tent on Saturday evening. We keep all tips from the tent; last year we raised $500 in support of our organization. JPF will also have space in a community tent. Last year we sold t-shirts and memberships. Our community tent this year will be more centrally located to provide greater visibility.
Lending Library
JPF worked with the Chamber of Commerce and Beaubien School to provide a lending library in Roberts Square Park this past week. JPF is proud to be involved in this project and amazed at the artistic talent of the 7th and 8th grade artists at Beaubien. We’re currently exploring opportunities for other lending libraries throughout the neighborhood.
Sunday Market
The Jefferson Park Sunday Market will begin its first summer market this Sunday, June 11. JPF is a sponsor of the market. Our members are active volunteers, however, the market can always use additional volunteers to help set up and take down the market. If you’re interested in signing up to volunteer for the market, see the sign-up form here.
Development Updates
5150 N. Northwest Hwy.
The first phase of development for 5150 N. Northwest Hwy, a storage facility that will be owned and operated by LSC Storage, was approved by the City Council last month. It’s unclear when permits will be issued as a lawsuit from Northwest Side Unite is pending on the property. JPF is not aware of the timeline of the legal matter and will refer you to Northwest Side Unite for details.
Ainslie/Lipps and Lawrence/Laramie
Ainslie/Lipps is the 16-story, 114 unit, 200 space parking building that is planned for the old Cowhey Materials site on the northwest corner of Ainslie and Lipps. The project was approved by Plan Commission and is expected to be approved by the Zoning Committee as soon as their June meeting, which has yet to be announced. Should approval at Zoning be granted, the project will move to City Council for final approval. The developer of Ainslie/Lipps, Mega Group, recently attended a JPF Community Development Committee meeting and provided further updates on this project (a community room on the roof deck, a fitness center for residents of the building, some 9,000+ square footage of space).
Lawrence/Laramie is a 4-story, 39 unit building proposed on Lawrence between Laramie Ave. and Sportif bike shop. This project has already been granted approval from Plan Commission and Zoning Committee but awaits final City Council approval. Because Lawrence/Laramie and Ainslie/Lipps are jointly financed by the same developer, Mega Group, it’s expected that they will go to City Council for approval together later this summer.
Nadig Newspapers reported that another proposal by Mega Group has been described in a traffic study that Mega had conducted for the City for its land on Lawrence Ave. between Sportif on the east and CVS on the west. A 30-unit, 3-4 story building is proposed. Mega, however, has not formally offered any plans at this time.
Former Ernest Meyer Upholstery and Edward Fox Studio sites
A developer has acquired the former Ernest Meyer Upholstery and Edward Fox Studio sites, along with a vacant parcel in-between. The developer has plans for redevelopment of the site next year. JPF is not aware of the developer’s specific plans, however, it’s expected that the developer will demolish the buildings on-site and will replace with a mixed-use building with ground floor retail and residences above.