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Tuesday, September 19, 2023Lincoln Square Arts District Getting Upgraded Sidewalks, Crosswalks
by Alex V Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / September 15, 2023The latest round of beautification for along Lincoln Avenue kicks off Friday and is expected to continue through 2024.LINCOLN SQUARE — Crews will begin construction on street upgrades for pedestrians and bicyclists along Lincoln Square’s northern commercial corridor this week. Construction will take place on the stretch of Lincoln Avenue between Western and Catalpa avenues, said Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th).A groundbreaking is planned for 2 p.m.
Monday, September 11, 2023Alderman Launches Migrant Data Portal, Improving Transparency On Care For New Arrivals
by Alex V. Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / September 8, 2023The new website will provide weekly updates on the number of migrants in the city, new arrivals and other related data to the public.LINCOLN SQUARE — The chair of the City Council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights has launched a data portal to provide updates on efforts to help asylum seekers living in and continuing to arrive to Chicago. Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) announced the new website, WelcometoChicago.org, on Friday.The website
Sunday, August 06, 2023Bad News, Lincoln Square: Lawrence Avenue Construction Will Continue Into 2024
by Alex V Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / August 4, 2023 The aim of the $11.8 million project is to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety along Lawrence Avenue, city officials said. LINCOLN SQUARE — Bad news: The nightmarish construction on Lawrence Avenue is going to be snarling traffic through early next year. The Lawrence Avenue streetscape project runs along Lawrence between Western Avenue and the river. Crews started work on the project last year, and commuters, business owners and neighbors
Thursday, July 13, 2023Lincoln Square Motel Set to Become Shelter as Part of New City Strategy to Reduce Homelessness
by Heather Cherone / WTTW News / July 10, 2023 A plan to transform a Lincoln Square motel into a shelter for unhoused Chicagoans suffering from medical, mental health or substance abuse problems as part of an effort to make a pandemic-era program permanent advanced Monday. The Chicago City Council’s Housing and Real Estate Committee unanimously endorsed the plan to spend $2.9 million to purchase the Diplomat Motel, 5230 N. Lincoln Ave., sending the proposal backed by Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th Ward) to
Friday, June 02, 2023City leaders look to convert Lincoln Square hotel into temporary housing for Chicago's homeless
by Fox-32 Chicago / May 31, 2023 CHICAGO - Reviving a pandemic-era proposal, city leaders are looking to convert Lincoln Square's Diplomat Hotel into temporary housing for homeless Chicagoans.During the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, Chicago officials housed the city's homeless at five hotels to slow the spread of the virus. Read more and Watch HERE
Friday, June 02, 2023City Officials Pitch Plan To Convert Diplomat Motel Into Transitional Housing During Rowdy Meeting
by Alex V. Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / June 1, 2023The city wants to convert the motel into housing with services for unhoused Chicagoans. While most neighbors appeared to support it, a small group disrupted the meeting before it could start.LINCOLN SQUARE — Neighbors clashed during a rowdy Wednesday night meeting where Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) and other officials pitched plans to convert a Lincoln Square motel into transitional housing for unhoused Chicagoans.The project would have the city acquire
Wednesday, May 17, 2023Lincoln Square’s Diplomat Hotel Could Become Transitional Housing For People Experiencing Homelessness
by Alex V Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / May 16, 2023The motel could be turned into 40 rooms of special housing where residents get housing assistance and mental health and medical care.LINCOLN SQUARE — City leaders want to repurpose a Lincoln Square motel into transitional housing for unhoused Chicagoans, reviving an emergency program from early in the pandemic.The project would convert the 46-room Diplomat Motel, 5230 N. Lincoln Ave., into 40 rooms of special housing tied to supportive services that
Thursday, March 02, 2023Ald. Andre Vasquez Wins Landslide Reelection In 40th Ward Race
by Alex V Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / February 28, 2023 Vasquez easily defeated challengers Christian Blume and Jane Lucius, garnering 76 percent of the vote Tuesday. LINCOLN SQUARE — Ald. Andre Vasquez easily retained his seat as 40th Ward alderman, blowing past two challengers with more than three quarters of the vote. With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Vasquez held 76 percent of the vote to challengers Christian Blume’s 15 percent and Jane Lucius’ 7 percent. The ward covers parts of
Wednesday, February 15, 2023St. Matthias Rectory Would Become Apartments And Townhomes Under Developer’s New Proposal
by Alex V Hernandez / Block Club Chicago / February 14, 2023 Ald. Andre Vasquez rejected a previous proposal for the property after neighbors raised several objections, including the size and look of apartments to be built next to the closed rectory. LINCOLN SQUARE — A developer reworked plans to build homes in and around the rectory at St. Matthias Catholic Church in Lincoln Square, but neighbors still said they’re worried about traffic and parking during and after construction. Developer CKG Realty
Wednesday, January 04, 2023Yeesh! Drivers crashed into Ainslie Art Plaza (again!) and Manor Greenway island
by John Greenfield / Streetsblog Chicago / January 2, 2023Update 1/2/23, 10:45 PM: After the publication of this piece, Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) provided the following statement. “The Ainslie Arts Plaza has always been a temporary design as the Lincoln Avenue Streetscape will completely change the infrastructure there. We want to ensure that it’s designed in a way that leads to less collisions and a safer environment for our neighbors. The streetscape is envisioned to be completed by the end of 2024. As
Monday, December 12, 2022CDOT, 40th Ward Alderman Vasquez Break Ground on Lawrence Avenue Streetscape Project
City of Chicago / December 10, 2022 CHICAGO – Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Gia Biagi today joined 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez and the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce to break ground on the Lawrence Avenue streetscape project, which extends from Western Avenue to the Chicago River. The project features a variety of infrastructure upgrades that will improve safety for all road users and create a more walkable, inviting street that supports economic
Friday, November 04, 2022Vasquez: Neighbors’ parking worries didn’t cause me to reject rectory redevelopment TOD plan
by John Greenfield / Streetsblog Chicago / November 2, 2022 A letter Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) sent to constituents on Friday about why he chose to reject a developer’s proposal for a transit-oriented development at the St. Matthias Catholic Church rectory, 2300 W. Ainslie St. in Lincoln Square, mentioned a “lack of parking” as a reason why many residents oppose the project. Letting that concern help tips the scales against a plan for housing at a site an eight-minute walk from the Western Brown Line
