Board Members and Committees

The mission of the Accessibility Committee is to make the Old Town neighborhood, including its streets, structures, and activities, accessible to persons with disabilities and to enhance awareness about the needs of persons with disabilities so as to create a friendly, approachable environment.

Chair: Ray Clark
Members: William Deakin, Elaine Frei, Anne M. Giffels, Sarah Weiss, Chris Nelson & Brad Neuman,
Contact: access@oldtowntriangle.com 

The mission of the Art Fair Committee is to organize and execute successful and profitable fine art fairs. A vital component of the mission is to showcase excellent art and provide a welcoming environment for guests, artists and vendors.

The artists are chosen by an independent jury of professional artists, gallery owners, and museum curators. The Old Town Art Fair features a wide range of art mediums, including 2D- and 3D-mixed media, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, and works in metal, stone and wood.

Chair: Anne Giffels
Vice-Chair: Chris Nelson
Contact: chair@oldtownartfair.org, firstsight@oldtownartfair.org, volunteer@oldtownartfair.org, gardens@oldtownartfair.org, gates@oldtownartfair.org

The mission of the By-Laws Committee to ensure the integrity of the Association’s By-Laws. The subcommittee will meet every third year to reviewing and make appropriate recommendations for By-Law revisions to the Board of Directors and Membership as needed. The By-Law Subcommittee last met in 2021 and will meet again in 2024.

Chair: 
Members: 
Contact: bylaws@oldtowntriangle.com

The mission of the Capital Improvements Committee is to maintain and improve the OTTA physical facility and to make needed repairs or upgrades as necessary.

Chair: Brad Neuman
Members: Barb Guttman
Contact: capitalimprovements@oldtowntriangle.com

Develop and maintain an overarching communications strategy for OTTA and its committees and the development of common formats for communications that would stretch across committees to deliver relevant news and updates to the membership and the community at large.  The Committee is responsible for ensuring that all governance related documents including, but not limited to, Articles of Incorporation, Mission Statement, By-Laws, Board Meeting schedules, Board minutes, monthly financial reports, and committee meeting schedules are placed online.

Chair: Carly Jenkins
Members: Diane Fitzgerald, Diane Sokolofski, Chris Nelson, Jane Bachmann, Donna Zarei, Diane Gonzales
Contact: communications@oldtowntriangle.com

The mission of the Community Safety committee is to address safety/security issues in the Triangle by educating residents and property owners on measures they can take to increase their safety and the safety of their property, and to work closely with the CPD 18th District and Aldermans’ offices to increase safety in the the Triangle and deter and/or prosecute those who commit crimes in the Triangle. 

Chair: David Montgomery
Members: Judy Bross, Dorothy DeCarlo, George DeMegio, Phil Graff, Brad Kessler, Katie Langer, Megan Mitchell, Brad Neuman & Jeffry Peters
Contact: safety@oldtowntriangle.com

The mission of the Events Committee is to create, plan, develop and execute inclusive events for the Old Town Triangle Association. The Committee also works in conjunction with the other committees to help facilitate their events with planning and volunteer support.  In addition to Members only events, this committee is responsible for collaborating with  the Membership committee on ways to increase our membership through events and outreach.

Chair: Marya Lucas
Members: Kathleen Bruinsma, Eurydice Chrones, Kathy Clark, Margaret Croke, Katherine Keenan, Nina Sobierajski, Abby Spurlin, Donna Zarei, Payam Zarei & Hannah Zlotnick
Contact: events@oldtowntriangle.com

Chair: Brad Neuman
Members: Anne Giffels, Zac Bleicher, Jack Schindler

The mission of the Gallery Committee is to promote the Leslie Wolfe Gallery and its artists. Committee members serve as the jury for each year’s gallery exhibit submissions, they attend openings, encourage artists to participate and friends and neighbors to attend events at the Gallery. They also recommend changes to programming, review past shows and make suggestions for changes. The committee meets several times a year. Artists interested in applying should visit the Old Town Art Center page of this website for additional information.

Chair: Ray Clark
Members: Norman Baugher, Shel Beugen, Darlene Fahrenkrog, Reven Fellars, Barb Guttmann, Sandra Holubow, Danielle Klinenberg, Claire Leaman, Janet Lougee, Laurie Miller & Peter Vale
Contact: gallery@oldtowntriangle.com

The mission of the Grants Committee is to oversee and administer the grant program that the Old Town Triangle Association offers to schools and organizations that serve our community and to support the stated mission and goals of the Old Town Triangle Association. Grant applications are accepted annually. Applications can either be downloaded from the OTTA website or picked up at the OTTA office. Proposals are evaluated on an annual basis with the application deadline April 1st. Grantees are honored and awards distributed at the Old Town Art Fair Thank You Party.  Important information concerning the grant application process can be downloaded here.

Chair: Zac Bleicher
Members: Steve Nichols, Aneta Tomaszkiewicz
Contact: grants@oldtowntriangle.com

Grant Awardees 2022

A Red Orchid Theatre
Art on Sedgwick
Boy Scout Troop 79
Chicago Public Library, Near North
Chicago Sculpture Exhibit
Deborah’s Place
Green City Market
LaSalle Language Academy, Fine Arts
Lincoln Park Conservancy
Lincoln Park High School Band and Orchestra
Lincoln Park High School Music Production
Lincoln Park Zoo
Marillac St. Vincent
Menomonee Judo Club
Midwest Buddhist Temple
The Village Chicago

The mission of the HD/PZ Subcommittee is to preserve the architectural and historic character of the designated Chicago and National historic districts within the boundaries of the Old Town Triangle as well as advocate for strict zoning adherence.

On September 28, 1977, members of the Historic District Committee succeeded in having most of the Old Town Triangle area designated a Chicago Landmark by the City Council of Chicago. Today, the Historic District/Planning & Zoning Committee acts as a liaison between the Old Town Community and the Landmarks Commission, reporting the Committee’s recommendations and working cooperatively with the Commission to preserve the historic character of the neighborhood.

Each month, members consider requests for proposed exterior changes to existing buildings, new construction, and applications for zoning changes in the Triangle. Their deliberations range from the appropriateness of building materials used in rehabbing and construction projects to the height of fences and building additions.  The Guidelines for Alterations to Historic Buildings and New Construction, prepared by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, serves as the guide for their recommendations. These recommendations are sent to the Alderman of the 43rd Ward and to appropriate city commissions and departments for approval. In every instance, the final decision on any rehab project rests with the Landmarks Commission.

Since neighborhood relations figure prominently in any rehabilitation project, members of the Historic District/Planning & Zoning Committee work with neighbors to maintain good relations between residents who are making changes to their properties and those who live in adjoining buildings.

On matters of neighborhood-wide concern, a community meeting is held and all neighbors are invited to express their views on the issue. In most cases where a community meeting is held, the 43rd Ward Alderman is a key participant in the proceedings.

Historic District Resource Links:
Commission on Chicago Landmarks’ Guidelines for Rehab (2015)
Dormer Criteria (2010)
Fern Court Guidelines (2002)
Hardie Board Resolution (2017)
National Historic Register Approval (1984)
OTT Designation Ordinance
Preservation Chicago – Landmark FAQs
The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
US Department of the Interior: Historic Preservation
Wells St Commercial Building Context Draft
Click here for additional resources

Chair: Beth Burk
Members: Zac Bleicher, Vi Daley, Diane Gonzalez, Phyllis Hall, Karl Hjerpe, David Raino-Ogden, Corinne Rohr & Chris Wolf
Contact: hdpz@oldtowntriangle.com

The mission of the Membership Committee is to Maintain the existing membership and encourage neighbors (Old Town Art Fair volunteers, local businesses, Condo Associations, etc.) who are not currently members of the organization to join. The key role is the development and upkeep of the Association’s database system. The Committee maintains connections with members and solicits new members. One does not have to be an Old Town Triangle resident to be able to join the Old Town Triangle Association. Only Triangle residents are given voting privileges. All members receive the OTTA newsletter, an iBOT card (I Buy Old Town discount card), and electronic email updates relating to area news and up-coming events.

Chair: Elaine Frei
Members:
Contact: membershipcommittee@oldtowntriangle.com

The mission of the Neighborhood Improvement Committee (NIC) is to develop and maintain the physical environment of the Old Town Triangle including improvement of open spaces, green areas, sidewalks, and parkways.

Even though Old Town is among the most vibrant, well situated, and rewarding of Chicago’s neighborhoods, there is always room for improvement. NIC is committed to addressing the ongoing and changing needs of our community as is consistent with OTTA’s organizational goals. Identifying and responding to those opportunities is the business of the Neighborhood Improvement Committee.

NIC identifies projects which address neighborhood needs and infrastructure opportunities within Old Town. NIC works with public and private offices to address those projects. NIC provides the maintenance of 10 green refuse containers scattered throughout the Triangle; replaces of aging benches in our parks; oversees the landscape in the “pocket” parks on Willow and Menomonee, the play lot in North Ogden Park, the maintenance of the Clark/Wisconsin Park, and additional projects pertaining to street-scape maintenance.

The NIC oversees the Old Town Parkways Tree Program, which is geared to help Old Town residents maintain the unique charm of our streetscapes. The program provides assistance to residents interested in replacing missing or dead trees in the parkways in front of their homes. 

Chair: Alan Lougee
Members: Laura Becker, Shel Beugen, Vi Daley, Barbara Jacobazzi, Ken & Sherry Smith, Corinne Svoboda, Michael Warnick
Contact: nic@oldtowntriangle.com

The 2023 Nominating Committee was selected at the Board meeting held on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. The committee will nominate individuals for the offices of President, First Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and for two open positions on the Board of Directors. Applications can be found here. 

Chair: Annette Magier
Members: Vi Daley, Carly Jenkins, Katherine Keenan, Richard Rausch, Caroline Vickery
Contact: nominations@oldtowntriangle.com

 

Chair: Brad Neuman
Members: Dee DeCarlo, Barbara Guttmann, Diane Fitzgerald, Zac Bleicher, Phil Graff, Ray Clark, Consultant: John Engman
Contact: planning@oldtowntriangle.com