Our Neighborhood Deserves Advance Notice of Major New Development
By Kate Moser
Kate Moser The McKinley Park neighborhood deserves better notice of major new developments like the new MAT Asphalt plant about to start operations at 4010 S. Damen Ave. I personally knew nothing about it until coming across a Facebook post in late March. Few in the neighborhood seem to have known about it either: The development was a surprise to the McKinley Park Development Council, the McKinley Park Civic Association and the McKinley Park Advisory Council.
Like many neighbors, I was concerned to see the plant going up, as I live nearby with my family. The plant lies a block south of Pershing Road across the street from the park, including the brand new site of the McKinley Park Community Garden.
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Politicos, Neighbors Flock to Parks for Spring Kickoff Events
Illinois gubernatorial candidate JB Pritzker gets instruction on planting at McKinley Park's Earth Day volunteering event on Sunday, April 22, 2018.
Spring arrived in the McKinley Park neighborhood this past weekend with two seasonal events that drew both neighbors and politicians to local parks.
On Saturday, April 21, the Omega Delta Baseball & Softball League celebrated its fifteenth year of play with its 2018 opening day parade through the neighborhood followed by a ceremony and games at Hoyne Park. On Sunday, the McKinley Park Advisory Council hosted a major Earth Day volunteering event that installed hundreds of new plantings in McKinley Park's new natural area.
Read more: Politicos, Neighbors Flock to Parks for Spring Kickoff Events
Asphalt Plant Meeting, Community Assistance Highlight This Week's Events
The MAT Asphalt plant at 4010 S. Damen Ave. will begin operations soon, and the 12th Ward Independent Political Organization is hosting a Community Meeting on the New Asphalt Plant at 6 p.m. this Wednesday, April 25, at the McKinley Park public library, 1915 W. 35th St. Attend to hear details and field questions about the project with MAT Asphalt representatives, 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas and community representatives, including the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.
Local residents who speak only Mandarin and Cantonese can get help finding healthcare resources through a new program sponsored by the Midwest Asian Health Association out of the 12th Ward office. Make an appointment to attend a Chinese Language Healthcare Enrollment Assistance session on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon to navigate and enroll in Medicaid, Obamacare and other health plans.
Read more: Asphalt Plant Meeting, Community Assistance Highlight This Week's Events
New Townhome Development Proposed for Pershing Road
An architect's conception displays the townhome structures proposed for 1900 W. Pershing Road.
The McKinley Park neighborhood's residential development boom continues to push forward with a proposal to build 16 townhomes in a vacant lot at 1900 W. Pershing Road. The plan requires rezoning the property from commercial to residential, and 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas is soliciting community feedback before making the change.
"The idea was to first get community input," Cardenas said, noting that the proposed zoning change has yet to be submitted for passage and ratification. Chief among his concerns have been construction quality, site layout and setting an appropriate level of density for this part of the neighborhood, he said.
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Cops Announce Robbery Suspect Nabbed, Crime Stats at April CAPS Meeting
Vernalynn De La Rosa speaks of her coalition's program to combat teen drinking while, from left, 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas, Chicago Police Department Community Organizer Holger DelCid, officer Oscar Escalante and Beat Facilitator Glenn Young look on.
At the April 11 meeting of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) meeting for Beat 912, representatives from the Chicago Police Department announced the apprehension of a primary suspect in the March 20 robbery of Humberto's Pizza on Pershing Road. According to third watch CAPS officer Oscar Escalante, the man is also a suspect in a string of robberies in other districts of the city, and police are narrowing down the hunt for the suspect's associates in the robbery.
CAPS officers also updated the community on neighborhood crime statistics at the meeting, and Vernalynn De La Rosa of the McKinley Park Underage Drinking & Other Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition presented on her group's activities and campaign against teen drinking for Alcohol Awareness Month.
Read more: Cops Announce Robbery Suspect Nabbed, Crime Stats at April CAPS Meeting
