AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/29th-ward/)
Ald. Chris Taliaferro shared progress on construction projects in the 29th Ward, including a proposed innovation center on Madison Street and Central Avenue. He also reminded residents to pay attention to where they park now that street sweeping has begun.
At this month’s meeting of the 29th Ward residents aired concerns about vaccine appointments and the alderman shared how the Chicago Police Department is preparing for summer violence. Residents also heard an update about a new grocery store that will be opening in the now-closed Salvation Army building in the 5300 block of West Chicago Avenue.
Ald. Chris Taliaferro will be hosting community meetings via Zoom on the third Wednesday of the month. Austin residents at last week’s meeting learned about where they can get COVID-19 vaccines in the ward. Temporary clinics at Amundsen Park and Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School will be giving vaccinations to residents through the middle of April.
The facility at 5610 W. Lake St. will be getting up to $1.5 million in TIF money. That funding will partially cover costs associated with upgrading the building’s electrical service, improving ADA access, and remodeling and restoring parts of the interior including the auditorium.
Sixty percent of the $1 million will go to street repairs and resurfacing in the ward. The rest of the projects to be funded – and listed here in order of popularity – are: street safety upgrades, community gardens, a fitness course at the Austin Town Hall, bike lanes, a mural in Columbus Park and public art at Sayre Language Academy. Nearly 400 residents voted this time around.
Residents of the 29th Ward have until Jan. 29th to vote on how $1 million in menu money will be spent. In addition to street repairs and surfacing, the money will be allocated for community projects. Residents will be able to choose up to five of seven projects, which include public art, community gardens, speed bumps and a fitness course at Austin Town Hall.
Residents of the 29th Ward will soon have the opportunity to vote on how to spend about $1 million in their community. The goal is for residents to be able to vote on several possible projects before the end of January.
West Side residents have until Sept. 19 to submit their ideas on how the “menu money” should be spent. Community volunteers and Ald. Chris Taliaferro’s office will whittle down the suggestions for residents to vote on in coming months.
29th Ward residents approved six out of seven projects that will be completed over the next several months. The projects include street resurfacing, community park improvements and a pedestrian crosswalk, with a safety island.
Ald. Chris Taliaferro will be hosting a discussion on participatory budgeting in the 29th Ward. Residents will have a chance sometime in November to vote on the projects they think should be funded out of the alderman’s “menu money.”