bike access on Metra

Do you take your bike on Metra? If so, please consider taking a survey about your experiences. It's a research poll for an upcoming blog post on Streetsblog Chicago (sustainable transportation blog). Thanks!

organic seed swap on 2/23

The 1st Annual South Side Organic Gardeners Seed Exchange will be held Sat., Feb 23, 4-6 p.m. at The Blossom Boys, 9911 S. Walden Pkwy. The event will feature Jodi Prout, the Program Director for Sustainability & Environment for the City of Blue Island, and provide an opportunity for local gardeners to swap their saved seeds with others from the area. For more information, contact: Abe Lentner.

non sequitur Friday

R.I.P. Magic Slim.  You gave us a lot of tasty blues tunes over the years.

non sequitur Friday

BAPA could use our help

BAPA is preparing to move into their office space on the first floor of their building at 111th and Longwood.  Unfortunately, their curent office cubicles can't be configured to fit the new office space, so they need furnishing for seven offices.

Do you work for or know a company that has desks and office furnishings they could donate?  If so, please ask them to contact BAPA to make a tax deductible donation and help furnish the new space.

Contact Kathleen Riordan at 773-233-3100 or kriordan@bapa.org.

19th ward EcoDistrict workshop this Saturday

I got an announcement recently about this event, and I'm curious to check it out.  How about you?

comings and goings

On a December morning, as I was walking to the 95th St. Metra station, I noticed an empty storefront where Markland Hubbard used to be.  There was a sign on door giving a new address of 1739 W. 99th St. Now there's competition for morning coffee sales on 99th again.

Iona's has stepped in to offer morning coffee and breakfast on 95th St., across the street from the station. They're open at 7 a.m. on weekdays except Tuesday.

Congrats to Home Run Inn on opening their new location on Western.  I look forward to the return of Franconello's and to trying out Horse Thief Hollow when they open.

So now we have one more vacant storefront on 95th St., which leaves me wondering when there will be a serious effort to make 95th St. more attractive to the kinds of businesses that will really attract customers and be assets to the community.  The streetscape project is appreciated, but it seems like an expensive bandage on a mostly untreated wound.

How about a serious look at more of the reasons why so many storefronts are vacant, aside from the economy?  What is the condition of the long-vacant buildings?  Are there any significant issues like leaking roofs?  Many building facades are worn and unattractive.  In some wards, I've seen facade rebate programs (from TIF money) used as a redevelopment tool.

For businesses whose customers are parking on the street, wouldn't it be nice if those parking across the street, and folks walking or riding bikes from the neighborhood, could get to those businesses more easily and safely?  I'd love to see a few boldly repainted crosswalks on 95th at non-stoplight intersections such as Hoyne, along with new pedestrian signage.

Wouldn't it be great to see something other than a day care business open in the vacant space at 99th & Walden - a cafe, perhaps?

Yes, it's a "what if" kind of day.  TGIF!

non sequitur Friday

Yep, it's one of those Fridays.

 

Friends of the Major Taylor Trail meeting Wed. 1/16

Friends of the Major Taylor Trail meet tomorrow (Wednesday 1/16) at 7 p.m. at Ridge Park fieldhouse. If you're interested in the trail and planning for events and improvements this year, please join us.

non sequitur Friday