South East Lake View Neighbors (SELVN) has had an exciting and productive year. With a move in 2008 to monthly meetings and to the main sanctuary of Wellington Avenue Church, meeting attendance, membership, and participation has increased significantly. SELVN is currently producing a tour for the 2009 Great Chicago Places and Spaces program to highlight the Surf-Pine Grove Historic District, which was used last year as a backdrop for a movie. SELVN members donated dozens of pairs of glasses to the Lions Club International glasses recycling program to be given to people who cannot afford eyeglasses. SELVN is currently involved in the Cell Phones for Soldiers program and setting up drop-off sites. SELVN residents are anxiously awaiting progress on the development at 3030 North Broadway, which would include the return of a grocery store to the site. After a ceremonial groundbreaking in the fall of 2008, no further progress has been made on the site and now appears to be a casualty of the global economic downturn.

With the same goal of preserving the character of the neighborhood, we are seeking further down-zoning to R-4 of various residential streets.  SELVN's policy of insisting on a rebuilt limestone step revetment with water access in the stretch of lakefront north of Fullerton is shared by BHN, LVCC and other groups.  The issue is not yet settled since the Park District has not built the demonstration model which the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency requires before clearing any further construction.  Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s bill with-holding federal money for anything other than a limestone revetment may yet receive support from Senator Obama and become federal law.

 
Join SELVN President York Chan at 7PM at Wellington Avenue Church Sanctuary Area.  Please enter through the main doors of the church.

2008 LVCC and Branch Meeting Schedule