the village free press Vol. II No. 17
APRIL 25, 2018
More Village Pride, Village Wide, PAGE 6
‘Public nuisance’ in Maywood’s crosshairs Board deems building on 5th and Quincy ‘public nuisance,’ recommends takeover By MICHAEL ROMAIN
thevillagefreepress.org
Authentic tacos now sold in Maywood, PAGE 3
CHIPPING IN: Maywood native Verneka Smith helps clean a garden at the corner of 17th Ave. and Madison St. in Maywood on April 21 during the annual Villag Pride Village Wide event. Nearly 400 people volunteered to spruce the town up that day. More coverage inside. SHANEL ROMAIN
Editor
A multiunit apartment building at the corner of 5th Ave. and Quincy St. in Maywood is in the crosshairs of village officials who have deemed it a “chronic public nuisance.” During a regular board meeting on April 17, Mayor Edwenna Perkins said that the village should “take the building over, maintain it ourselves, evict the problems and clean up that corner.” The building includes 21 apartments and four first-floor commercial storefronts. According to Cook County property records, California-based Belgium Investments 1416 Maywood LLC had an ownership stake in the building in 2015. So far, it isn’t known if that entity still See NUISANCE BUILDING on page 4
West grads’ café brews a movement
Proviso alum Reesheda Graham-Washington’s L!VE a blueprint for organic community building By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
After a year in business, Proviso West graduate Reesheda Graham-Washington’s L!VE Cafe, located in nearby Oak Park, is not only profitable — it’s also inspiring someone 2,000 miles away to start her own coffee shop based on Graham-Washington’s
blueprint. “When I first moved here, I didn’t know anybody,” said Cote Soerens, 38. An immigrant from Chile who now lives in Seattle, Soerens said that the local independent coffee shop where she lived at the time was her saving grace. The space allowed her to meet new people, find
new opportunities and forge enduring relationships. The experience converted her into a believer in the importance of vital community spaces. But it wasn’t until she became friends with Graham-Washington See L!VE CAFE on page 3