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Welcome to the OTTA forum for tracking activity on the house at 1838 N Lincoln Park West! Please note here when you see unauthorized activity or work on the building, and any steps you took to halt it. (eg. called 911, police arrived in 15 minutes) It’s also helpful to us for you to leave your name and address or interest in the building. Thank you!
I’m appending the latest I heard from the alderman’s office last week. This represents the most up to date actions taken by the city (all through the Department of Buildings). August 18th.
We are pushing hard for DOB to take action here, and the Alderman is in direct communication with the Commissioner.
As you are aware, this property has a lot of history, which includes two previous stop work orders that I know of in the last 3 years, one being for the lead paint, and the other being for the illegal construction of a rooftop deck. Getting the inspector out and the stop work order issued is where our office typically hands things off fully to DOB. It is our understanding that once a stop work order and violations are issued, the matter can proceed through the City’s administrative enforcement process and, where appropriate, the Circuit Court of Cook County, where the owner can be ordered to correct the violations, obtain proper permits, and often pay fines. I do not think there has been any resolution for those two previous stop work orders since no new permit has ever been approved, but I am trying to get an update on that question from DOB.
Unfortunately, violating Landmarks rules, as with any other illegal construction activity, can require additional enforcement proceedings through the City’s administrative and court systems. While we are sure that the City can and will continue to take enforcement action, issue fines, and seek orders to correct the violations, we are in a difficult position when an owner is simply ignoring those actions and continuing to do whatever they want regardless. The Landmark Ordinance does appear to technically give the City authority to pursue remedies for unlawful construction, but actually getting illegal work corrected or requiring an owner to undo work that has already been completed can be a much more difficult and time-consuming process when the owner refuses to cooperate. Our office has not run into this situation before, and are therefore are working to learn how this authority is actually applied.
Our office has escalated the newest issue of the wood planks, netting etc. to both Landmarks and directly with DOB’s Commissioner on multiple occasions over the last month, and in the last couple of weeks, as we have received updated photos from neighbors. They have let us know that they are internally investigating what options the City has here. We are specifically looking into legal avenues that exist in the event that an owner refuses to cooperate with the City to stop work or make corrections to illegal work. We are continuing to follow up with DOB, and we have looped in CPD directly on those emails to ensure that they are kept apprised of the situation and can assist if there is an enforcement option that is identified that involves CPD.
I hope this provides some needed context for why this is not a straightforward fix and why, in practical terms, getting the existing violations corrected can be particularly difficult when the owner is unwilling to cooperate. While we hope to have more specific updates on next steps the city will be taking soon, seeing corrections to what has been done seems like it will take quite a long time should the owner continue to refuse to cooperate. If you have any follow-up questions on this info, please let me know.
The Alderman also sent another email this morning directly to the Commissioner of DOB requesting an update. We will continue to push on this and send updates once we have them from DOB.
Additional note from alderman’s office Friday, August 21st:
We have had several more conversations with DOB over the past week. Since our last update, we can confirm there is an active stop-work order at this property, which we advocated for. The city is taking the property owner to court and there are no further steps DOB can take until the court hearing is held, as any further action requires a court order.
Any continued work on the property is illegal, but can only be enforced by the Chicago Police Department. Because CPD is the only enforcement for Stop Work Orders on buildings, neighbors should continue to call 911 if they see someone actively working on the property. Our office will continue to check in with DOB on the status of the court case as it progresses, but at this time, we have taken all actions available to us.
Nothing beats taking a little time for yourself. To complete that picture, add learning a new skill, sharing time with friends (old or new), and a enjoying a relaxed atmosphere. You’ve just described what classes at the Old Town Art Center look like! Join us for workshops, short sessions and new, exciting programs.
Digital options: Explore the world of fashion through an artistic lens. Cheryl will guide students through fashion portraits, mixed media collages, and the history of fashion illustration. Or Explore Canva by creating a collection of fun, beautiful, and useful projects designed for creative adults. Each week, you’ll learn new Canva tools.
Join Joe Taylor for his Sip and Paint series. Create an oil or acrylic painting based on your inspiration. No set subjects. Wednesday nights haven’t been this fun and creative in years!
Just starting out? Don Yang offers beginner drawing and painting classes. These five-week classes offer you the opportunity to learn the basics on your way to finding your most expressive medium.
We also offer watercolor and pastel painting classes. Later this Fall, we will delve into the expressive medium of alcohol inks and creating encaustic sculptures.
Everyone is welcome!
Join us for an evening of bingo at the Old Town Triangle Center! Get together with friends and neighbors for games of four-across, cover-all, and more, featuring live piano accompaniment by Phil Graff! Bingo at the Triangle is a great way to relax, have fun, meet your neighbolrs, and spend time with friends. We’ll have snacks, prizes and more! Don’t miss the fun!
Summer Workshops and Classes are available at the Old Town Art Center! This summer offers exciting opportunities to explore new mediums and hone your craft at the Old Town Art Center. All Art Center classes are open to every experience level, so why wait? Explore some of the summer course offerings at the Old Town Art Center below.
Join Tom Francesconi for a weekend watercolor workshop, where he shares his process for creating fresh and vibrant paintings! Tom’s energetic instruction style and passion for painting combine to create an experience that is enjoyable and informative for students at every stage of experience. Throughout this two-day workshop, Tom will demonstrate how to go from sketch to finished work, with an emphasis on creating a rich and dynamic watercolor painting. Participants will learn how to use value, color, and edges to paint watercolors that are more expressive, unique, and personal.
Have you been wanting to learn digital drawing, start a new creative hobby, or make time for art after work or on weekends? This beginner-friendly 4 week course is designed for adults who want to learn digital illustration in a relaxed, supportive environment-whether you’re completely new to drawing or returning to creativity after years away. In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of digital drawing using Procreate, one of the most popular digital art apps for iPad.
Students take on projects of their own choosing. Joe provides support in difficult areas; whether color, mass, shadows or any other technique that fails. His level of instruction is dependent on each individual student’s needs. This class is as challenging for experienced painters as it is exciting for those expanding their knowledge.
Students take on projects of their own choosing. Joe provides support in difficult areas; whether color, mass, shadows or any other technique that fails. His level of instruction is dependent on each individual student’s needs. This class is as challenging for experienced painters as it is exciting for those expanding their knowledge.
In representational art (realistic art), sound drawing is the cornerstone of everything that follows. In this class, the main emphasis will be on how to accurately see and draw three dimensional objects in an environment in order to create convincing realism in space.
This class is designed for students to have an opportunity to learn oil painting in a systematic way at a college level. This class is based on Oil Painting 101 to 400 level classes (from sophomore to senior students) at the American Academy of Art where Don taught painting and drawing for 22 years.
Join us at the Old Town Triangle Center for a play with Violet Surprise Theatre! See The Revolutionists by playwright Lauren Gunderson on Sunday, May 17th at 3:00 PM.
See below for a summary of the show:
The Revolutionists will not be televised. It will be dramatized – by Violet Surprise Theatre, whose mission is to vibrantly validate the voices of women. Written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Iris Sowlat, The Revolutionists is a hysterical and historical (or, more accurately, herstorical) play that invites audiences to experience the French Revolution from a female perspective. So don’t pardon our French. Pardon our Frenchwomen and their très merciless treatment during the Reign of Terror.
Be advised: This show contains strong language.
Tickets
Free for OTTA Members
$15 Non-Members
The Old Town Triangle Center | 1763 N. North Park Avenue
Still in the spirit from the World Cup excitment? Ready for more futbol? Let’s make a night of it (Old Town neighbors and the Chicago Fire FC). The Old Town Triangle Association has secured a block of tickets for the game against Charlotte! We’re still celebrating the US men’s run and we have a winning team here in Chicago! We can welcome Robert Lewandowski to Chicago and let the entire team know that Old Town supports them. Have fun with neighbors and friends as we take in our own team.
Saturday, August 1: Game starts at 7:30
The first 40 Members to sign up get in FREE. Once those tickets are claimed, prices increase but we’ll still be in the same section, cheering on the HOME team. Chicago Fire FC is also providing the Triangle with a donation for each ticket sold! Have fun and benefit the OTTA at the same time.
An added benefit: Soldier Field provides easy access to parking in the garage on non-Bears Game days!
Use this registration page to apply to the Brick Parkway Repair and Replacement Program!
Applications will open on Sunday, February 15th. Applicants must review the information below before submitting an application.
BRICK PARKWAY REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
Introduction
The following information has been developed by the Neighborhood Improvement Committee (NIC) to define the eligibility, requirements, and responsibilities for the Old Town Triangle Association (OTTA) “Brick Parkway Repair and Replacement Program”. This information has been compiled from a review of recent practices employed by OTTA in similar community programs.
Community Context
The OTTA values the brick parkways as being unique and integral to the character of the Old Town Triangle Historic District in Chicago. OTTA does not have jurisdiction over the parkway areas and is not responsible for their maintenance. However, OTTA does recognize the charm and historic appearance of the Triangle parkways. Therefore, OTTA has established a framework for supporting the repair and preservation of the brick parkways on a long-term basis. OTTA supports this effort in three ways: 1) Establish an ongoing OTTA brick program to support property Owners and incentivize the use of brick; 2) In partnership with property Owners, provide partial funding of the estimated cost of labor required for repair and replacement of brick parkways; and 3) Facilitate communication between property Owners, CDOT, and the Alderman’s office to encourage the use of brick.
Purpose
Safety – many of the parkway areas need repairs due to jagged edges, uneven surfaces, potholes and tripping hazards, posing a threat to pedestrians; Property Value – maintaining the parkway impacts the overall real estate value of, and investment in, our homes in a direct and positive way; Appearance – matching the color and texture of new bricks to historic brick pavers throughout the Triangle neighborhood is aesthetically pleasing and consistent with the historic vision of the community.
Jurisdiction
The “parkway area” in Chicago is defined as the area from the outboard edge of the public sidewalk to the inboard face of the curb at the roadway. This area is the property of the City. Jurisdiction of the parkway area is the responsibility of the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT). The City relies on the adjacent property Owner for maintenance of their respective parkway area. The City encourages parkways to be maintained as regularly watered and cut grass. In the Old Town Triangle, most of the parkways have been installed with brick. If the City is required to install or repair parkway areas, it typically will use concrete or stamped concrete, reducing the footprint of brick in the Triangle. The following program is intended to communicate options for parkway improvements to the property Owner.
Eligibility
The following criteria will be used by the Committee to determine eligibility for this program.
a. Any Property Owner(s) within the Old Town Triangle is eligible for parkway repair, understanding that OTTA Members will be given priority;
b. The OTTA will encourage and support property owners, property managers and developers who wish to replace existing parkway concrete with brick;
c. OTTA will pay the property Owner(s) for 50% of the estimated cost of labor to remove and reinstall existing brick;
d. It is understood that the work will include reuse of existing, original parkway brick. If additional brick is required, it may be supplemented from the OTTA stockpile. If additional brick is required beyond the OTTA stockpile, it must be provided at the Owner’s expense;
e. Property Owner(s) can apply for the program between February 15 and May 15 using the attached application form;
f. Property Owner(s) shall identify in the application form the specific parkway adjacent to their property for improvement, and indicate the square footage area to receive brick pavers;
g. Upon receipt of an application, OTTA will provide a contractor’s cost estimate. The cost estimate must be reviewed by and signed by the property Owner or responsible property manager. The agreed estimate shall then be attached to the application;
h. OTTA must review and pre-approve all applications for work to begin;
i. OTTA shall maintain discretionary authority with regard to approval of application(s) submitted by a commercial property and/or a real estate developer property
j. Property Owner(s) must submit to the OTTA a check for 50% of the estimated cost before work begins (this contribution may qualify as a tax-deductible donation);
k. Landscaping or other material above and beyond brick repair is the responsibility of the property Owner, such as edging, rock, gravel or fill-in in tree wells;
l. OTTA will provide a contractor for the work, or review/approve the Owner’s contractor, licensed and insured to City of Chicago requirements.
m. The program is subject to available OTTA funding and shall conclude each year when funding is depleted.
Materials and Contractor
After significant research and assistance from the Illinois Brick Association, OTTA has identified a specific brick that closely matches the color, shape and texture of historic brick pavers seen throughout the Triangle. The specific brick we recommend and encourage to be used is: Heartland Flashed ST Edge PVR 2-1/4 STD
The OTTA preferred contractor is Roy’s Landscaping, LIC# 1986060.
Review and Approval
The Neighborhood Improvement Committee (NIC) will provide designated Committee members to manage the Program. An OTTA (NIC) point-of-contact will be assigned to administer each project. OTTA will assist in notification to CDOT and the Alderman’s Office of all approved applications, and, if required by the City, in obtaining a permit by the contractor.
Release of Liability
It is understood that the support of OTTA to the property Owner/Manager is for a one-time repair or replacement of the designated brick parkway area, and any future maintenance of the designated parkway area remains the responsibility of the Owner. If not approved for improvements, the property owner may re-apply for consideration by OTTA. The property Owner agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Old Town Triangle Association, its agents, employees and consultants from any claims, damages, losses and expenses arising out of, resulting from or in connection with performance of the work.
The Old Town Triangle Association is an Illinois 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation – FEIN 36-2336401
1763 N North Park Avenue Chicago IL 60614 312-337-1938
Application Form
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