Huge Turnout at Uptown Town Hall Meeting

The ECB attended the Town Hall Meeting this evening which was held at Truman College to address the recent uptick in crime effecting our neighbors to the south. The Uptown community turned out in full force as every seat was filled while others stood in the back elbow to elbow. The meeting was hosted by State Representative Greg Harris and State Senator Heather Stearns. Other speakers on the panel included members from the Chicago Police and a representative from Alderman Shulters office. Alderman Helen Shiller was in attendence, but did not speak. Alderman Mary Ann Smith and Alerman Tom Tunney also had representatives in the crowd. The event seemed to be a worthwhile event, as there were a lot of positive ideas and thoughts shared. However as one speaker pointed out, it will only make a difference if some action is taken and not just talked about. If any of our board's visitors attended the meeting, I would be curious to hear your thoughts/feedback on the meeting.

Monday Night

6:51, Farwell and Wolcott - Male hispanic walking northbound looking into parked cars.

6:56, 2112 W. Peterson (Target) - Female caller claims she was beaten up at the store.

6:58, Wolcott and Granville - 12 year old caller says a group of males beat him up and stole his bike (a red and black Kent with flames on it).

7:06, Officers looking for a 13 year old black male who is the reported bike theft suspect.

7:12, 2650 W. Peterson - EMS on scene with an injured assault victim.

7:19, Glenlake and Rockwell - 4 male blacks and 1 female black stole a victim's bike. Lots of that going on today.

7:27, Berwyn red line stop - Premise check.

7:29, Caller is listening to a police scanner and wants to know why they haven't arrived yet. The dispatcher didn't say what this person had called the police about.

7:35, Olive and Clark - 15 kids with bats yelling and causing a disturbance. Whoa.

7:38, Rockwell and Devon - Officer says they need cars at this location immediately.

7:39, Rockwell and Devon - Call came in earlier about a white conversion van that appeared to be drag racing with 2 other cars. One was a black Lexus, the other was a brown Toyota. Officers talking with the driver of the van say he claims these 2 cars were ramming him. Both cars have damage and fled the scene.

7:49, Location TBD - Female officer sounds annoyed about the guy with the scanner mentioned above because he's calling in repeatedly. She sarcastically said for the dispatcher to tell him that she's glad he's listening to the police scanner and doesn't have anything better to do than to take pictures of the police. Dispatcher has requested police presence.

6102 N. Seeley - Person with a knife call, sounds like a domestic situation. Offender is a female wearing all lime green. Hot.

8:00, Berwyn red line stop - Premise check. One was just performed at around 7:30. 2 of these within 30 minutes seems odd.

8:08, 5415 N. Sheridan - Drunk homeless people drinking in the park and throwing their trash around.

8:19, 6244 N. Oakley - Another person with a knife call, caller says her sister has one.

8:37, Berwyn red line stop - Premise check. That makes 3 of these at this location so far tonight. Officer states they will "check the tracks while we're here too."

Thursday Evening

8:50pm, 2127 W Howard - suspicious person looks like he is trying to break into a back window.

8:54pm, 1121 W Berwyn - alarm going off at DCI Room furniture store.

8:55pm, Pratt & Richmond - suspicious persons. 2 men on bikes looking into vehicles.

9:01pm, Berwyn Redline Stop - El check.

9:03pm, 1965 W Ainsle - Suspicious person, male in black jeep selling stolen bikes.

9:10pm, Western & Hollywood - Disturbance, males fighting in an alley behind Jerry's Bar.

9:11pm, 6400 N Claremont - reported gang activity, people sitting on cars that shouldnt be there.

9:12pm, 6240 N Broadway - disturbance reported, kids playing in McDonalds parking lot refusing to lead.

9:12pm, Western & Hollywood - follow up from 9:10pm post, offender fled the scene, officers are looking for him.

9:15pm, 5313 N Clark - man wanted for arrest went into Simon's bar.

9:19pm, 6542 Mozart -Domestic disturbance, two brother fighting.

9:21pm, follow up to 8:45pm, alarm at DCI furniture was a false alarm.

9:23pm, 1734 W Albion - construction crew working without a permit.

9:23pm, 6424 N Wayne - barking dog complaint.

9:29pm, 4879 N Lincoln - DUI reported, man came into a liquor store really intoxicated and is driving a car full of people around.

9:31pm, 2405 W Balmoral - Domestic disturbance, lady having a problem with her boyfriend.

Bryn Mawr LSD Underpass Gets New Mural

CBS2 reported that the Bryn Mawr underpass under Lakeshore Drive received a new mural on the southern wall as part of the Growing 2008 community art project. The mural features a depicition of a community garden featuring ceramic butterflies and flowers that were made by community residents.

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/edgewater.bricolage.mural.2.778068.html

Feature Article: Care for Real

Good article in the Chicago Journal regarding a program which has been giving back to the Edgewater community for 38 years. Care for Real provides Edgewater families and individuals in need with food, clothing, referral services and guidance.

http://chicagojournal.com/Main.asp?SectionID=49&SubSectionID=142&ArticleID=5390

Happy Weekend!

4:59pm, Arthur & Sealy (?) - Domestic disturbance. Man threw a woman out the window. Caller is trying to revive her.

5:00pm, 6445 N Western - Devon Bank, bank security is holding someone for forgery.

5:05pm, 1211 W Thorndale - Disturbance, group of kids looking in a house's window. Owner of the house asked the kids to leave, but they taunted the man.

5:09pm, Broadway & Argyle - Accident with injuries. Adult bicyclist struck by a car.
(WE NEED BIKE LANES IN EDGEWATER!!!)

5:11pm, Hollywood & Sheridan - Disturbance reported, panhandler blocking traffic.

5:13pm, Western & Lawrence - female screaming and yelling and wandering into traffic. Caller is concerned for her safety.

5:20pm, 1619 W Northshore - kids in alley causing a ruckus.

5:38pm, 5547 N Kenmore, Disturbance reported - two residents got in a fight.

Andersonville Retail Property Acquired

Realty and Mortgage Co. has purchased a large building along Andersonville's Clark Street corridor for around $5 million. They plan to removate the building and find new tenants. Check it out!
Buyer plans to renovate retail building in Andersonville

47th Annual Greek Festival

Today is the 47th Annual Greek Festival at St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Church (5649 N Sheridan). The event is from 12pm - 11pm.

Entertainment lineup

4:30 p.m.: Opa

8 p.m.: Olympian Dance Troupe

Good Morning

It's a smooth Sunday here in Edgewater Beach and beyond. Looks to be a pretty perfect day, so get outside if you can.

Edgewater Beach Shooting

We just learned that there was a shooting this morning (3AM) at approximately 5600 N Winthrop. Apparently one 24 year old man was shot during what witnesses described as an arguement with another man. The man shot is in critical condition.

Source: http://chicagoist.com/2008/07/10/city_sees_more_shootings_thursday_m.php

Thursday Evening

Rain, rain keeps the crime away.....slow night.

7:09pm, 1119 W Bryn Mawr - Man with yellow shirt has a snake at the redline station. The CTA called this in, as the snake is frightening people.

7:43pm, All bike units being called in or to seek shelter due to thunderstorms rolling into the area.

7:45pm - Signing off.

"The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude."

The 3rd annual Free Movies in The Park event kicks off tonight with "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." You'll also be able to catch some other excellent features Thursday evenings through August 21st! The films will begin at dusk and are being shown at Cricket Hill, located in fabulous Uptown at Montrose and Simonds in Montrose Harbor. Hope some of you can make it out tonight to see the Sausage KING of Chicago in action.

Good Evening from the ECB....it's Wednesday

6:15, 1406 W. Morse Ave. - Robbery call, woman says she was robbed at gunpoint by three black men. Only one displayed a gun, 2 of them are wearing white t-shirts. Victim's purse and keys were stolen. Suspects fled southbound.

6:20, 2 bicycle officers heading to Millenium Park to get their bikes fixed.

6:22, 1460 W. Jarvis - Gang members selling marijuana.

6:25, call from 1420 W. Edgewater - Mental disturbance, man is in a cream colored PT Cruiser threatening to harm himself, currently driving north on Clark. Units north of Edgewater Ave. are to keep an eye on Clark St. for the vehicle.

6:26, 6300 N. Ravenswood - Couple is arguing, causing a disturbance at the restaurant at this address.

6:28, Foster and California - Reckess driver in a black Toyota 4-Runner driving all over the road. Last seen heading eastbound.

6:36, Clark and Granville - Some kids are harassing people in the park and gambling on a box.

6:52, Berwyn and Broadway - Male black in a straw hat wanted for theft from a clothing store in the strip mall at this intersection. He was last seen running toward the Jewel store north of the intersection.

6:52, Kenmore and Winona - Battery in progress, 4-5 people fighting on the corner.

6:56, Berwyn and Broadway - 2 officers are in the Jewel store looking for the man in the shoplifting mentioned above.

Andersonville Retail Real Estate Drawing Attention

Nine retail properties along Andersonville's main drag on Clark Street were purchased by Newcastle, Ltd. - a company known mainly for buying North Side apartment buildings. According to a deed filed with the Cook County Recorder, the buildings are from 5100 N Clark to 5400 N Clark, which include Hamburger Mary's and Andersonville Galleria. Retail has become a hot topic in Andersonville in recent years, as the neighborhood has become more affluent some have worried that the big national retailers will invade the area mostly dominated by homegrown merchants.

You can read the entire article from Crain's Chicago here: http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=30124

Tuesday Night, Looks Very

6:20, Jarvis Red Line Station - Premise check.

6:38, Mozart and Devon - Robbery in progress. Male black grabbed a woman's purse and has fled in an unknown direction.

6:39, Albion and Fairfield - Theft in progress, female black has fled down the alley after reportedly trying to steal a baby. 2 units en route.

6:43, Slowdown on the above robbery in progress....

6:44, 1130 W. Berwyn - Assault in progress, male panhandler is becoming aggressive and threatening people near the Payless Shoes at Berywn and Broadway.

6:45, Albion and Fairfield - Female suspect did not grab any baby, but she's got a purse she snatched. She is now wanted for strong-arm robbery, officers are searching for her. She is wearing all black and a black hat.

6:47, Dispatcher reports that the theft/robbery incidents described above are likely related. It sounds like the consensus is that the "baby snatching" call may have been a ruse.

6:50, Albion and Fairfield - Officers speaking with a witness and touring the area. Witness thinks the offender is a male black with dreadlocks and not a female.

6:51, Albion and Fairfield - Officers have decided that the previously separate theft/robbery incidents are one and the same.

6:54, Mozart and Devon - Dispatcher reports there is a confirmed female offender likely working with the above male as a team. A witness at this location claims to know this female's name. In the meantime, the purse has been recovered. Minus $60 and a red T-Mobile phone.

Panel to take up TIF grant for Edgewater project

A recent article in Crain's Chicago regarding the Hollywood House senior apartments at 5700 N Sheridan. A non-profit group is planning to acquire and renovate the 197-unit complex and is looking to the city for a $9.9M subsidy.

Condominium developers had approached the property’s current owner, the Hellenic Foundation, about buying the building and converting it into condos. But the city stepped in and formed a TIF district primarily to raise money to pay for an overhaul of Hollywood House and preserve it as senior housing.

A city panel is to consider the proposal at a meeting this afternoon.

You can read the full Crain's article here: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=30105

"The Granville" Is Coming Along

Here's an architectural rendering and recent photo (7/4/08) of The Granville, which is going up at the northeast corner of Granville and Broadway.

The condo building is 12 stories and will include 160 units, some of which will reportedly be CPAN units (Chicago Partnership for Affordable Neighborhoods).

There will be a Staples store as the anchor on the ground floor, though many people were hoping to see a Trader Joe's occupy that space. Apparently the developers are currently looking for other retail/restaurant tenants. If anyone has got more concrete information on The Granville, please let us know!

Cool (but beautiful) Summer Day

4:41pm, 4937 N Kenmore - Disturbance reported. Annonymous caller being harrassed by two white males.

4:44pm, Jarvis Redline stop - El check.

4:48pm, 4835 N Winchester - Ford truck parked illegally in an alley.

4:50pm, Paulina & Howard - Shots fired at the Howard redline stop. About 5 shots heard in the parking garage. Multiple units responding.

4:54pm, Senn Park - Park check.

4:54pm, Update to shots fired @ 4:50pm - officers saw nothing suspicious, and security guards working in the garage didn't hear the shots. Probably a false alarm.

4:59pm, Foster & Damen - Reckless driver driving eastbound irradically in a Ford Focus.

5:06pm, 5450 N Ridge - Missing person report. 65 year old woman who suffers from dementia is missing.

5:12pm, 6621 N Ashland - Narcotics call. Caller believes that there is a female "customer" showing up at the house right now.

Holiday Weekend!

Good morning everyone! Hollywood Beach and I will do our best to listen and post over the weekend, and we'll try to keep the "fireworks calls" to a minimum. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Wednesday Night

The storms seemed to have passed over us for the most part tonight, lets see if crime has.....

7:53pm, 4834 N Winthrop - Fireworks complaint, Hickory Playlot (I have a feeling this is not the first of these tonight)

8:00pm, 1117 W Pratt - Auto theft in progress. Hispanic male attempting to hotwire a black sports car.

8:01p, 5230 N Lincoln - Disturbance at Dominick's. Male yelling at a store clerk.

8:05pm, Damen & Lawrence - Fireworks complaint.

8:12pm, Western & Touhy - Person with a gun - white male in a t-shirt carrying a rifle case down the street. Unsure if there really is a gun inside or not.

8:15pm, 6135 N Pauline - Domestic disturbance. Boyfriend is intoxicated and girlfriend wants him to leave.

Time for me to eat dinner. Please standby.

8:52pm, Jarvis redline stop - 7 men fighting on the platform.

8:54pm, 5800 N Ridge - Disturbance reported. White male and black female intoxicated walking into traffic.

9:09pm, 1020 W Ardmore - Fireworks call.

9:10pm, 5800 N Ridge - Another call about a black female, either very intoxicated or possible mental case. The cops who responded to the last call did not see anything but are going back.

9:18pm, 1700 W Balmoral - Battery in progress. Group of men fighting in the alley.

9:24pm, 5530 N Camel - Fireworks reported.

9:25pm, 1618 W Leland - Disturbance reported. 2 males, father and son, arguing.

9:26pm, Broadway & Victoria - Fireworks reported.

9:36pm, Thorndale El Stop - Fireworks reported. This is getting repetitive.

9:44pm, No joke, I just heard Fireworks outside of my own condo......ironic considering the amount of fireworks posts tonight. But I will not call the cops.

Da-ba-da-ba-daaaats all folks! Until next time.....