Beat 2431 News - Rogers Park 24th Police District

Mayne Stage -- former Morse Theatre -- to open in June

Mayne Stage, the beautiful music club at 1328 W. Morse formerly known as the Morse Theater, will open in June with live music acts.

From the press release:

It will be called Mayne Stage and will showcase national and local acts and provide rehearsal and recording space. It also said a restaurant called Act One Cafe will be on the property at 1328 W. Morse and will open in late May.

The Morse Theatre is owned by a business controlled by billionaire James Pritzker.

The is good news that can only help further stabilize the neighborhood.

Man injured in gang-related shooting

One person was shot in the back around 4:30 pm on March 17 on the 6900 block of N. Greenview, said a 24th District CAPS officer, in what he called a gang-on-gang shooting. The victim was reported to be in stable condition on March 18.

Both the victim and assailant reportedly were teen-agers, but police refused to confirm or deny that report.

Chicago Police Area 3 detectives were interviewing witnesses and distributing fliers in the area, encouraging anyone with information about the shooting to call 312-744-8261. Additional police patrols saturated the area in the days following the shooting.

The shooting came in the wake of much violence across the city as the weather warmed up mid-week.

Morse streetscape project starts in April; meeting March 24 has details

The long-awaited and much-delayed Morse streetscape project is finally slated to begin this spring, said 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore in a e-mail to constituents. He has scheduled a meeting for 7 pm on Wednesday, March 24, at United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse, to review details of the plan with the community.

Here's is Moore's e-mail announcement:

Morse and Glenwood to Receive Facelift This Year

Dear Neighbor,

I'm pleased to report that construction will begin this spring on the long-awaited Morse-Glenwood streetscape project.  The project encompasses Morse Avenue from Ashland to Wayne and Glenwood Avenue from Lunt to Farwell on both sides of the elevated tracks.

I am hosting a community meeting with the Rogers Park Business Alliance to present the plans and outline the construction schedule.  The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 24th, 7:00 p.m. at the United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse, 3rd Floor.  Representatives of the City of Chicago Department of Transportation will be on hand to answer your questions.   

New streetlights, sidewalks and planter boxes will grace Morse and Glenwood.  In addition, Morse Avenue will be resurfaced and the sidewalks on Glenwood will be widened for greater pedestrian access.  The brick pavers that now exist on the western side of Glenwood will remain in the traffic lanes.

The $4 million streetscape is funded by $1.6 million in city of Chicago funds and $2.4 million in federal funds secured by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.

Community residents were instrumental in selecting the streetscape design and elements.  I would like to thank the volunteers of the Morse Avenue Streetscape Committee, who worked tirelessly on this project, as well as all the neighborhood residents who attended community meetings to offer their input.

This has been a very long process, made even longer by the reviewing requirements that came attached with the federal dollars.  But our patience will be rewarded by this summer's end with a new and more appealing appearance for both Morse and Glenwood.

Please don't hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions.  You may reply to this e-mail or call my office at 773-338-5796.

March 2010 beat meeting notes: burglary task force, bad buildings team

A speaker from the city's Troubled Buildings Unit told attendees at the March Beat 2431 meeting how her team works on bad buildings throughout the city.

Sgt. Cassandra Bradshaw said the best way to improve a bad building is to involve the police and the owner. She said that unfortunately, sometimes the building owner doesn't know criminal activity may have taken over a building. That's why it's important for neighbors to watch for signs of trouble, such as open doorways, loitering outside the building, or constant traffic to a particular apartment. She urged those who see such signs to call her unit at 312-745-6231.

A local building manager warned of people loitering around a secure gate, trying to enter behind a tenant with a key. Also, citizens were warned about buzzing in someone you don't know.

About 25 people, including half a dozen officers, attended the March meeting. Police reported that the following were the Top 10 crimes on the beat in February 2010:

1. Criminal damage to vehicle -- 6
2. Theft from building -- 3
3. Criminal trespass to land -- 3
4. Armed robbery with a handgun -- 2
5. Strong-armed robbery, no weapon (mugging) -- 2
6. Domestic battery, simple -- 2
7. Simple assault -- 2
8. Theft, $300 and under -- 2
9. Narcotics, possession of cannabis, 30 grams or less -- 2
10. Criminal sexual assault (domestic-related) -- 1

Citizens discussed the four robberies. The police noted there were eight recent arrests in the area for robbery, and hoped those arrests would result in fewer future robberies. There was one robbery in January.

Police also noted that they are increasing patrols along the Red Line north of Thorndale after noticing a pattern of home burglaries near stations. They speculate that perpetrators are "commuting" to work on the Far North Side and using the Red Line as a convenient escape route.

CAPS Sgt. Joseph Delgado discussed way to stop burglaries. In particular, he asked citizens to watch out for people either parked or double-parked in cars, just looking around. He noted tips to watch for in the fliers "Eight things a burglar won't tell you" and "Thirteen things your burglar won't tell you."

A neighbor from the 1500 block of Pratt noted that the kids hanging out at Pratt and Bosworth lately seemed to be older and possibly better organized. Police suggested they might just look older, but are of high school age. Pat Kenny, beat facilitator with Beat 2432 directly to the south of 2431, said the new CHA manager of the scattered site housing at Pratt and Bosworth has been extremely responsive to beat concerns. She's installed new fencing, better lighting, and has a security car patrolling there. Kenny noted that community walks around that area had been successful in the past. He said he would inform Beat 2431 if walks are scheduled in the future.

Police said a traffic stop at Morse and Paulina resulted in the seizure of 122 grams of marijuana and the arrest of a man, who had rolled through the stop sign at the intersection.

Finally, a representative of 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore's office announced a community is scheduled for 7 pm Wednesday, March 24, at the United Church of Rogers Park to discuss the Morse Avenue streetscape project, scheduled to get under way this spring.

She also mentioned voting on the alderman's participatory budgeting project would take place at Chicago Math and Science Academy, 7212 N. Clark St., from 9 am till 3 pm on Saturday, April 10.

The April beat meeting is scheduled for 7 pm Monday, April 19, at the Rogers Park Community Council, 1530 W. Morse.

Spring to-dos: Keep gutters and sewers clear; report graffiti

Gene Rehmert, a CAPS volunteer in Beat 2432, sent the following reminder to his friends in Beat 2432. Of course, this is true for all beats and neighborhoods. Thanks for sharing, Gene.

Now that spring is approaching, there are a couple of things we should be aware of that can help the community deal with Spring weather and activity.

In Spring, the precipitation changes from snow to rain. There are a few things we all can do to help the sewer system accommodate the water.

First, pick ups trash in the gutter and along the parkway that might block sewer grates.  Plastic shopping bags and flattened plastic soda bottles are particular problems.  I know many people thing that street cleaning is the responsibility of the city, but street sweepers are just starting up, and if the streets are flooded, it will be our problem first.

Second, when you park your car on the street in the evening, it is a good idea to take a second to see if any of your tires are standing on a sewer grate.  If there is a heavy rain and the grate is partially blocked by a tire, it will be easier for trash or leaves to block the remainder of the grate making it much less effective.  If your car happens to be over the grate, it is also on the low spot of the street, and most susceptible to flooding.

This item has to do with graffiti.  Spring is when the artistic urges of many come to the surface with a desire to decorate a garage, fence or street sign with paint or grease pencils.  Our neighborhood has been particularly hard hit this year with graffiti stretching all the way to Howard.  If you see graffiti, please take the time to report it to 311 or your local alderman's office.  The operator will want to know the address, the type of surface it is on, and approximately how high off the ground it is.  You do not have to leave your name when making this kind of report.  If your property is the target of the tagging, please get it cleaned off as soon as possible.  Graffiti has a way of attracting more graffiti if it is left displayed for long.

--Gene Rehmert

Next Beat 2431 meeting is Monday, March 15

Our next CAPS meeting for Beat 2431 is set for 7 pm on Monday, March 15, at 1530 W. Morse.

We'll discuss crime problems in the beat and the latest beat news, including news about the Morse Avenue Streetscape coming this summer.

Alderman Moore supports zoning change for proposed bar/restaurant on Morse

Alderman Joe Moore (49th Ward) recently announced that he supports a zoning change to allow Alex Samardzija to open a bar/restaurant at 1412 W. Morse Ave.

Here's the text of his announcement, made on March 3:

Dear Neighbor,

I sponsored a community meeting last January on a proposal for a zoning change and special use permit to allow for a restaurant and bar in the commercial space of the new building at 1412 W. Morse.

The proposal was met with overwhelming support at the community meeting, which over 40 community residents attended, and in e-mails sent to my office.  My Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee recommended I support the proposal, as well.  Accordingly, I have decided to support the zoning change and special use permit.

The owner of the building at 1412 W. Morse, Alex Samrdzija, will be the proprietor of the proposed new business, which will be similar to Xippo, a restaurant and bar that Mr. Samrdzija owns in Lincoln Square at 3759 N Damen.

The property at 1412 W. Morse currently is zoned B3-3.  A zoning change to C1-3 will be required because no tavern may exist within 400 feet of another tavern in a B zone.  A special use permit is also required to allow for seven off-site parking spaces.  If Mr. Samrdzija receives the requested zoning change and special use permit, he will then be eligible to apply for a tavern license.

A few individuals have expressed concern about allowing another business to apply for a liquor license in the Morse/Glenwood area.  While I understand their concern, Morse Avenue needs more quality businesses, especially in the evening hours when most of the stores are closed and dark.  A vibrant tavern and restaurant on the block, with large windows facing the street and a sidewalk cafe in the warm months, will bring more positive activity on the street and drive away the negative elements that remain.

One need look no further than Jarvis Square where my ward office is located.  While certainly Charmers Cafe and Gruppo di Amici have helped to transform the area, the Irish pub, Poitin Stil, is the only business open late at night in Jarvis Square.  Even though they are a tavern only, Poitin Stil's late-night presence has created a safe welcoming environment that has driven away the last remaining drug dealers and loiterers that remained on the block.

If Mr. Samrdzija and his family have a twenty-year track record of running a nearly identical bar and restaurant in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.  My office and I contacted both the local alderman and the local police district, and both indicated to me and my office that they have had no problems with the Samrdzija family business.  The City's Department of Business Affairs confirmed that the Samrdzija family business has a clean record with no license suspensions or revocations.

This was confirmed by several Rogers Park residents who attended the community meeting and who used to live near Mr. Samrdzija's business in Lincoln Square.  They related they experienced no problems with his establishment, and supported his plans to open up a similar bar and restaurant on Morse Avenue.

Finally, it's in Mr. Samrdzija's own self-interest to run a clean establishment.  He owns 16 condominium units in the same building that he wishes to rent and evenutally sell when the market eventually turns around.  It's not in his financial interest to run a noisy and disruptive business that would drive away his renters and potential purchasers.

If you have any questions or further comments, please reply to this e-mail or call my office at 773-338-5796.

Sincerely,

Joe Moore