AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/invest-southwest/)
Ald. Emma Mitts, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other city officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony held this week – on the three-year anniversary of the city’s INVEST South/West plan.
Work on the art deco building will begin in November. The cost of the project, which will feature 78 units of housing, has gone up due to inflation. The $45 million development is part of Mayor Lightfoot’s Invest South/West initiative.
Starting in June, ambassadors will provide a friendly, welcoming presence on streets and provide residents with information about parking, dining and shopping. In Austin, the Westside Health Authority will run the ambassador program on Madison Street and Pulaski Road, and Chicago Avenue.
Uncle Remus will reopen at 5611 W. Madison St. on April 12. The business received a $160,000 grant from INVEST South/West, a community improvement initiative under Mayor Lori Lightfoot that targets Austin and several other West and South side neighborhoods.
The mayor and other city officials shared their plans to address the root causes of violence at a West Side public safety town hall meeting held recently. It’s one of six town halls being held across the city in March and April.
Three themes are being considered during the design phase of the Chicago Avenue project. More public input will be sought this spring as the INVEST South/West-funded project progresses.
The three businesses – POTLUC, Soul City Chicago and Third City Cafe – are receiving about $3 million out of $14.4 million being funded through the Chicago Recovery Plan. More than 180 proposals were submitted during the latest round of funding. The next deadline to apply for a grant is Jan. 31.
Austin United Alliance will update residents from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 about the Laramie State Bank project. The Soul City Corridor and other economic issues also will be discussed.
City transportation officials are asking West Side residents to complete a 16-question survey about improvements being made to Chicago Avenue, from Austin Boulevard to Cicero Avenue. The deadline to give input on the survey is Sept. 22.
City officials recently briefed West Side residents on the $21 million Austin corridor improvement project. The goal of the project, which covers Chicago Avenue from Austin Boulevard to Cicero Avenue, is to provide a safe, walkable and attractive street that will foster community and economic growth.