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Austin Weekly News | 2021
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Late activist activist Mildred Mildred Wiley Wiley to to get get garden garden named named in in her her honor, honor, PAGE PAGE 4 Late 4
All democracy is local
Vol. 35 No. 15 ■ April 14, 2021 ■ austinweeklynews.com ■ Also serving Garfield Park Vol. 35 No. 15 ■ April 14, 2021 ■ austinweeklynews.com ■ Also serving Garfield Park
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Fort Maner buys Fort buys its Maner own fate, itsPAGE own fate, 5 PAGE 5
West Side Side West groups want want groups long-term vax vax long-term site in in Austin Austin site
With coronavirus cases rising, Austin With coronavirus cases rising, Austin residents are asking where they can residents are asking where they can get vaccinated locally — but there get vaccinated locally — but there aren’t many appointments available aren’t many appointments available By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago
West Side groups are trying to bring a vaccinaWest Side arethe trying to bring a vaccination clinic to groups Austin as city closes its temporary tion clinic to Austin the citysurging closes itscoronavirus temporary neighborhood sites as despite neighborhood sites despite surging coronavirus cases. cases. The Austin area had two Protect Chicago Plus Thewhere Austin area had two Protect Plus sites any adult residents couldChicago get vaccinatsites where any adult residents could get vaccinated. The program was meant to help neighborhoods ed. was meantensuring to help neighborhoods hit The hardprogram by the pandemic, vaccines were hit hard by pandemic, ensuring vaccines were provided in the those areas. But each Protect Chicago provided in those But each Protect Chicago Plus site was set toareas. last just eight weeks — and AusPlus was phased set to last just eight weeks Austin’s site already out first doses and— is and working tin’s already phased outcourse first doses and isdoses. working on completing people’s of second onSome completing people’s of second doses. out residents are course scrambling to figure Somethey residents areshots scrambling figure out where can get as casestoare spiking. where can are getbeing shotsreported as casesper are Nearly they 600 cases dayspiking. in ChiNearly arejump beingjust reported dayago. in Chicago — 600 a 24cases percent from aper week cago 24 percent just from a week ago. At — theasame time, jump the neighborhood’s main comAt thehealth same time, theLoretto neighborhood’s munity center, Hospital,main is notcomadmunity health center, is not administering first doses Loretto becauseHospital, it’s been embroiled ministering first dosesthe because been embroiled in scandals for giving shots it’s to ineligible people in scandals for giving the shots ineligible people outside Austin — including a to doctor’s family in outside Austin including a doctor’s family in the suburbs and—people at a luxury jewelry store the suburbs and people at a luxury jewelry store in Gold Coast. in Gold Coast. See COVID-19 on page 6 See COVID-19 on page 6
PROVIDED PROVIDED PULLING UP THE CITY: The fitness garden at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Pull Up The City is seeking to overhaul PULLING UPon THEthe CITY: ThSide, e fitness garden at Above and Beyond Family Center. Pull Up The City is seeking to overhaul vacant lots West so into fitness gardens similar to the one Recovery at Above and Beyond. vacant lots on the West Side, so into fitness gardens similar to the one at Above and Beyond.
West Side Side group group seeks seeks to to turn turn West vacant lots lots into into gardens gardens vacant Pull Up The City is fundraising to overhaul vacant lots in East Garfield Park and West Humboldt Park
Pull Up The City is fundraising to overhaul vacant lots in East Garfield Park and West Humboldt Park munity gardens that will host free fitness paign with a launch event on April 11 at the By PASCAL SABINO By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago Block Club Chicago
A West Side group recently launched an A West Side groupvacant recently launched an effort to transform lots into comeffort to transform vacant lots into com-
munity gardens that will host free fitness programs. programs. Pull Up The City has launched a GoPull Upto The launched a lots GoFundMe help City them has overhaul vacant FundMe to help them lots in East Garfield Park,overhaul Lawndalevacant and West in East Garfield Park,kicked Lawndale and West Humboldt Park. They off their camHumboldt Park. They kicked off their cam-
paign launch Community event on April 11 at the Abovewith and aBeyond Garden at Above and Beyond Community Garden Sacramento Boulevard and Lake Street. at Sacramento Boulevard and Lakelive Street. The launch event featured music, The launch event featured live music, See GARDENS on page 9 See GARDENS on page 9
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Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
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Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
Neighbors flood West Side church with supplies
After theft forced Christ Tabernacle to cancel baby supply giveaway, community members flooded church with donated supplies
AUSTIN WEEKLY
news
Editor Michael Romain Senior Editor Bob Uphues Contributing Reporters Bonni McKeown, Igor Studenkov Reporting Partners Block Club, Austin Talks Columnist Arlene Jones Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designer Debbie Becker
By BOB CHIARITO Block Club Chicago
Days after people stole items meant for a donation drive for new parents, neighbors and community groups inundated an Austin church with new supplies, including thousands of dollars’ worth of goods delivered Monday. Pastor Michael Wright of Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 854 N. BOB CHIARITO/Block Club Chicago Central Ave., said he was “devastated” on Friday after a group of 12-15 people took ad- SAVING GRACE: Pastor Michael Wright (right) and a volunteer carry donations for a vantage of an employee working alone and “Baby Bank” event to benefit new parents. The original event had to be cancelled after took all the items set aside for a Baby Bank someone stole the items from Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Austin. for community members in need. On Saturday, Wright had to explain to The giveaway event now is planned for people showing up that the event was called scale efforts to help people in need over the past year. April 24, Wright said. Anyone who wants to off. After Block Club Chicago wrote about it, He bought out local donate items can drop items off during the tamale vendors on people responded to help. Wright said the generosity of strangers cold days and operated a Love Fridge from week at the church from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or has turned a negative experience into a his restaurant, TaKorea Cocina. His non- call him at 708-420-2398. Wright said ultimately he’d like to have “blessing.” It’s encouraged his congrega- profit, West Town Feeds, has orchestrated enough items to be able to offer them to comThanksgiving and Christmas tion to help others, just as some meals for people experiencing munity members in need on a weekly basis of them are being helped. homelessness; St. Patrick’s Day rather than having large events every few “It’s also inspired people at our meals for hospitality workers months. church because I never want to Magiet said he plans to bring back his and ongoing meals for soldiers be this little Black church with working the United Center vac- volunteers for the event, maybe to set up our hand out,” Wright said. “We a smoker and some barbecues on the sidecination site. don’t want to just have our hand walk to provide food. More recently, he teamed up out. We need a hand, but we’re Looking over the supplies stacked on tawith local business owner Helennot going to play that victim dora Samuels to create hundreds bles in the basement of the church, Wright role, ever. Our church members of Easter baskets and hot meals said he was “full of hope and joy.” have been inspired to donate REV. MICHAEL WRIGHT “You have to understand, we’ve been for families on April 3. things and volunteer, as well.” Pastor, Christ Tabernacle working with one wealthy church, [Church Berkshire Hathaway HomeJim and Terry Thacker came Missionary Baptist Church Services Starck Real Estate in of the Resurrection in Wheaton. They’ve from suburban Roselle to drop Arlington Heights also reached been a blessing to us. But now, we’ve conoff some items they purchased. out to Wright with plans to do- nected with Berkshire Hathaway, we’ve conJim Thacker said it was a special nate approximately 5,000 diapers nected West Side Feeds. We’ve connected opportunity to help people at the church he once attended as a child more and other baby items this week. Todd Mika, with generous individuals. We’ve connected an administrative assistant, confirmed the with a construction company that’s going to than five decades ago. office was collecting items to give to a chari- bring some stuff and another guy who said Robert Magiet and members of West ty when managing broker Andrew Stengren he has pallets of baby formula. Town Feeds delivered four SUVs filled with “So, the good part is that we’ve expanded more than 90 boxes of supplies. The group saw the story over the weekend and decided also learned about the theft over the week- donating to Christ Tabernacle was a perfect our network and that’s really a blessing.” Wright said. end and spent nearly $3,000 on supplies for fit. “We thought it was a great idea and the church. CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org Magiet has organized multiple, large- reached out to them today,” Mika said.
“I never want to be this little Black church with our hand out.”
Sales & Marketing Representavies Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner ≈ Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich ≈ GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA Board of Directors Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson , Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer ≈ HOW TO REACH US 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 773-626-6332 FAX 708-467-9066 CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE www.AustinWeeklyNews.com TWITTER @AustinWeeklyChi Austin Weekly News is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. It is distributed free of charge at locations across Austin and Garfield Park. Our hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advertising rates are available by calling our office. Printed entirely on recycled paper. © 2021 Growing Community Media NFP.
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Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
Prominent Austin activist to get farm named in her honor Bethel New Life honoring late Mildred Wiley by naming urban farm, wellness hub after her By SHELBY E. HAWKINS
den, said plants provide a more comfortable living and work space for a community. “Humans have an innate conBethel New Life is honoring nection to natural space,” Gomez the late and beloved community said. “Plants provide a positive leader Mildred Wiley by naming physical environment.” an urban farm and wellness hub Wiley died two years ago, leavafter her. ing a legacy of community activA virtual design workshop was ism and social justice. held earlier this week to get inThe Austin native helped creput from residents on the design MILDRED WILEY ate Austin Coming Together, and of the hub, which is located in she worked at Bethel New Life for the 4900 block of West Thomas and Division streets and bordered by Lamon nearly two decades. In a statement made shortly after her death and Lavergne avenues. Monday night’s virtual workshop featured in 2019, Ed Coleman, then president and CEO speakers from Bethel New Life and staff from of Bethel New Life, referred to the Wiley as partnering organization Chicago Botanic someone who “cared deeply about commuGarden. They spoke about the importance nity” and was heavily involved in activities to improve the quality of life not of wellness, which was defined only in the Austin neighborhood as “the act of practicing healthy but others as well. habits to attain better physical “The legacy of Mildred Wiley and mental outcomes; so instead will always be ingrained in all of surviving you’re thriving.” that we do,” Coleman said then. Residents were invited to learn This week, current Bethel New more about the hub as well as take Life CEO Sharif Walker reflected part in a live poll where they got on Wiley’s dedication to bettering the chance to vote on designs for her community in a statement to the interior and exterior spaces. The hub includes a campus garDEBORAH WILLIAMS AustinTalks: “Mildred Wiley’s intense comden, a horti-center, a health and Community outreach and mitment to Austin residents, wellness park for walking and sitengagement specialist families and community repreting, and two health and wellness sented everything we wanted areas for fitness, and a cafe. Bethel New Life’s work in the There are eight garden plots health and wellness space to rerun by residents, a hoop house and 2,500 square feet of diversified vegetable flect today and into the future. She wanted so much more than mere survival. She wanted production. Produce will be sold on site at a seasonal to see this community and the people within weekly farm stand through VeggieRx in part- it thrive.” Walker said the new garden is another way nership with the PCC Wellness Center. Vincent Gomez, manager of Horticultural to meet Wiley’s vision by engaging commuTherapy Services at the Chicago Botanic Gar- nity members in programs that prioritize AustinTalks
“She was out in the trenches of the community, sharing information …”
PROVIDED
HONORING HER LEGACY: The hub named for Midlred Wiley will include a campus garden, a horti-center, a health and wellness park for walking and sitting, two health and wellness areas for fitness, and a cafe. health and wellness. Seniors will have access to horti-therapy, and youth and adults will have a pathway to horticulture careers. Walker considered Wiley a mentor. She recruited Walker as a founding member on Austin Coming Together’s board of directors, where he served as chairman. “Our initial board meetings occurred in a small conference room on Bethel New Life’s campus where she served as senior director of community services. It was a full circle journey when I assumed the role of president and CEO of Bethel in July of 2020,” Walker said. Deborah Williams, a co-worker of Wi-
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ley’s at Bethel New Life, remembers her as a person who was passionate about being involved in social justice groups across the West Side. Williams, a community outreach and engagement specialist at Habilitative Systems Inc., was the first recipient of the Mildred Wiley Community Fire Award for being an outstanding resident dedicated to the Austin community. “She was out in the trenches of the community, sharing information on health services and promoting a healthy lifestyle, especially for seniors.”
CONTACT: austintalks.org@gmail.com
Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
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PURCHASED: Fort Maner’s West Side location at 2819 W. Harrison St. in Garfield Park.
West Side fashion brand buys its own fate
Fort Maner almost lost its Garfield Park store because of landlord’s unpaid taxes, so it bought the building
and a new owner was primed to take over the building, which meant Hunter and Kendall could have been evicted or seen their rent skyrocket. “We offered to buy the property from the landlord since he was going to lose it. But he acted like nothing was wrong,” Kendall said. “We were frightened. We didn’t know what was going to happen.” By PASCAL SABINO “I was furious,” Hunter said. “I finally got Block Club Chicago a business in the neighborhood where I live, The owners of a West Side clothing brand helping people get jobs in the community. were thrilled to finally open a brick-and-mor- And in the blink of an eye, it was going to be taken from me.” tar store in 2018 after five years in business. By coincidence, another effort to buy the But the brand has faced challenges since then: The entrepreneurs’ dreams were near- building helped save Hunter and Kendall’s business. ly crushed when their landlord’s Cook County records show unpaid property taxes almost property taxes on the building forced them to close. In a lastweren’t paid in 2019 or 2020, rackminute twist, the brand ended ing up $22,480.50 in taxes and up being able to buy the property interest. Taxes also are marked and keep their business. Now, “delinquent” for 2018. they’re looking forward to many The Cook County Land Bank more years on the West Side. Authority, a government orgaThe flagship Fort Maner shop nization that seeks out vacant opened in 2018 at 2819 W. HarTYSHAUN HUNTER land to put it back into use, had rison St., just two blocks from Fort Maner cofounder begun the process of buying up where cofounder Tyshaun the back taxes and acquiring the Hunter was raised. Hunter and property at a 2017 scavenger sale. his business partner, Aiyana A scavenger sale is the county’s Kendall, poured themselves into last resort to collect taxes that rehabbing the formerly vacant haven’t been paid in at least three building they were renting, installing a new floor, replacing the roof, get- years. When a buyer purchases the taxes on a property, the original property owner has a reting a new furnace and fixing up the walls. “It wasn’t easy. But I wanted to make it like demption period to pay the back taxes. If they home. I didn’t want to open up a store in a don’t pay, the entity buying up the taxes can get a tax deed from the courts, which makes messed-up place,” Hunter said. But after all that work, they almost lost the them the new owner of the property. business altogether in 2019. Their landlord See FORT MANER on page 7 was three years behind on property taxes
“It wasn’t easy. But I wanted to make it like home.”
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Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
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A brighter future
COVID19
of people have gotten their first shot. The city’s temporary vaccine clinics in Austin were highly effective in boosting vaccination rates, said health department spokesperson Elena Ivanova. Since the initiative from page 1 launched in Austin, first-dose vaccination rates have increased by 287 percent in Austin, The city-run sites and other pop-up vacci- compared to a 239 percent increase citywide. nation clinics have been helpful in making the Although the Austin Protect Chicago Plus vaccines accessible to locals. But there needs sites were phased out, the health department to be a permanent location for vaccinations in will stage vaccination events and launch adthe neighborhood, said Cassandra Norman, ditional equity-driven strategies to boost vacpresident of South Austin Neighborhood As- cine rates in target neighborhoods, Ivanova sociation. said. The city will share those plans in coming “Now that people are more educated, every- weeks, she said. thing is kind of dried up. Now they have to Austin residents are also prioritized for apsearch for it or go out of the neighborhood,” pointments at the United Center vaccination Norman said. “Aussite, Ivanova said, and tin needs a standard the city is offering free location at all times Uber and CTA rides to where you know you make it easier to travel can go and get a shot across town to make … right here in your the appointments. community. EspeResidents can call cially since this area 312-746-4835 to book has been impacted an appointment at the the way it has been. United Center. And we should not Doses have also been be punished for what allocated to pharmahappened with Locies and providers in retto.” BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO FILE the area, and appointIn particular, older ments can be made on SPEAKING UP: A Protect Chicago Plus people who are most ZocDoc, Ivanova said. vulnerable to corona- vaccination facility. West Siders want Demand for the virus are struggling more vaccine sites as temporary sites close. vaccine is still high to access the vacacross the West Side, cines since it’s harder for them to travel out of said Donald Dew, president of Habilitative the neighborhood, Norman said. Systems Inc., a health organization that has foNeighborhood groups have received little cused on increasing vaccine access for people guidance from the city on how residents can with mental illness, substance use disorders access vaccination appointments locally now and developmental disabilities. that the Protect Chicago Plus sites in Austin Many people have also had trouble schedularen’t scheduling first-dose appointments, ing appointments due to confusion over eligisaid James Coleman, director of community bility, Dew said. wellness for Westside Health Authority. Community-based vaccine sites are needed “The city has not communicated with com- since they can reach people where they’re at munity-based organizations at all,” Coleman and can lead to a “decrease in fear [and] dissaid. “We need to be at the table when these trust by activating more trusted messengers,” decisions are being made … . The city has not Dew said. been inclusive in this process. And I think “Given the increase in the positivity rate, I that’s been a pattern.” am hopeful vaccine availability will continue “We were seeing some apprehension” about to increase,” Dew said. the vaccines when the city-run sites in Austin Chicago’s positivity rate is up to 5.1 percent opened, Coleman said. But now that many — which officials previously said was a sign people in Austin are more comfortable with coronavirus was spreading unchecked. getting vaccinated, the window to make apThe city’s vaccine clinics in North Lawnpointments at the local city sites has closed, dale made it easy for local residents to get the Coleman said. shot, said Cook County Commissioner Dennis Most local health centers — including PCC Deer (2nd). But as the city’s Protect Chicago Wellness, Access Community Wellness and Plus have started to wind down, “certainly West Suburban Medical Center — are only there is still concern about vaccinations in vaccinating established patients since vaccine Lawndale,” Deer said. supply is still limited. The West Side needs more local vaccine op“There absolutely should be an identified tions to improve access, Deer said. But it’s not clinic or location in the Austin community only up to local governments: health centers, so when individuals decide to get the vaccine, pharmacies, neighborhood groups and comthey can get vaccinated. There’s still demand panies need to be on board to create long-term for the vaccines,” Coleman said. accessibility to the vaccines, he said. Austin’s vaccination rate is behind that of “This is all hands on deck, not only with the rest of the city, according to city health vaccinations but also with education,” Deer department data. About 31 percent of Chi- said. “Underserved communities are the cago residents had gotten their first dose as ones that are always left out and it is our job of Sunday — but in the 60644 ZIP code, which to make sure that doesn’t keep happening.” encompasses South Austin, only 20.8 percent CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org
More vaccine sites needed
Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
FORT MANER
A home of their own from page 5 “What normally happens, if we don’t buy it, then the next tax buyer will acquire the store and put [tenants] out,” said Elisha Sanders, an acquisition specialist for the Land Bank. When Sanders purchased the taxes for the Land Bank at the scavenger sale in 2017, the property was vacant. A year into the process of acquiring the land, Sanders learned Hunter and Kendall had rented and overhauled the space. “In our initial inspection, the property was vacant. Further down the line … it’s operating as a full store, fully rehabbed,” Sanders said. It’s not uncommon for landowners who are behind on their property taxes to keep tenants “in the dark until the sheriff shows up” to evict them, Sanders said. “You see a lot of local businesses in this situation. They don’t know until it’s too late,” she said. The Cook County Land Bank Authority typically only buys “vacant and distressed” properties so they can be used by neighborhood organizations and residents for purposes that benefit the community. Since they had unwittingly acquired a building that was already in use, Sanders reached out to Kendall and Hunter to ask if they would want to buy
the building themselves. “That was just the best news ever. We told them, yeah, absolutely,” Kendall said. The scavenger sale process is a long one, Sanders said. The original owner has 30 months to pay their back taxes before the property is turned over in a complex legal process. The Land Bank makes it easier for residents, organizations and businesses like Fort Maner to acquire a property “without all the red tape,” Sanders said. Now, almost two years after Sanders reached out to the small business owners, Hunter and Kendall have finally closed on the property. Hunter said he takes tremendous pride in not only running a business in his own community, but also owning the land his business is built on. Owning the property gives Fort Maner much more stability, and the owners won’t have to worry about rising rents or issues with a landlord. It also gives the entrepreneurs more opportunity to build out the store since they’ll be investing in their own building, rather than one that belongs to somebody else, Hunter said. “I can do what I want. I can make my place bigger. I can hire more people from the community,” Hunter said. “It means the world to me.” Pascal Sabino is a Report for America corps member covering Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park for Block Club Chicago.
CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org
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Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
Local artist’s mural unveiled at Austin Walmart Supercenter Oak Park artist Tia Etu’s “Generations” unveiled inside Walmart at 4650 W. North Ave. By IGOR STUDENKOV AustinTalks
Shoppers at the Austin Walmart Supercenter, 4650 W. North Ave., can now revel in a splash of color and community spirit as they leave the store. On April 8, Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) and Walmart officials unveiled a mural painted by artist Tia Etu. The mural, called “Generations,” was placed beyond the second set of doors, on the wall directly east of the entrance. While the artwork is easy to miss on the way in, it catches one’s eye on the way out. The mural is part of Walmart’s Chicago Mural Program, which looks for local artists to design murals for its Chicago locations. Etu’s mural features Austin’s iconic “Pink House,” located at 556 N. Central Ave.; several generations of Austinites in a cornfield; and two kids selling snow cones. Etu said she wanted to paint something that would show Austin in a positive light and encourage Austin residents to be self-sufficient and nurture the next generation. According to Walmart spokesperson Colleen Dungeon, the Chicago Mural Program launched more than a year ago. “Walmart began working with local artists to create specialized murals for its Chicago stores,” she said. “The Chicago Mural Program includes outreach to local leaders and community members to design a unique mural that speaks to
IGOR STUDENKOV
BRIGHT SPOT: Tia Etu’s “Generations” inside Walmart at 4650 W. North Ave. the diversity and resilience of the local community.” Dungeon said that Walmart will unveil a similar mural at Walmart Supercenter in the Chatham neighborhood, 8331 S. Stewart Ave., on April 15. Etu owns Whatever Comes to Mind art studio in Oak Park, at 27 Harrison St., and she teaches private art classes for K-12 students and senior citizens. Etu said that, while she lives and works in Oak Park, she considers home near Columbus Park, and often takes walks in Austin. She said she has friends who live and work in Austin and has taught classes in the community.
“Because I’m on the outskirts of Chicago and Austin is right there, Austin is home, in a sense,” Etu said “It’s totally different once you cross Austin Boulevard, but it’s where I roam.” Etu said that she was approached by Mitts’ staff and she took the project on because she thought it was a good opportunity. After Walmart approved her sketches, she painted the mural. Walmart then scanned the image and blew it up. Etu said she painted the Pink House because “people from Austin are going to know that house and that’s going to put a smile on their face.” The cornfield and the kids selling snow cones are designed to invoke a sense of self-sufficiency, she said. “People are growing their own food, they’re creating their own small businesses,” Etu said. The faces of people of different ages, she said, are meant to create a sense of history and legacy. Etu hopes that the mural will encourage shoppers “to be neighborly” and to care for the next generation. “Feed your children, literally and figuratively,” she said. “Give them education and proper food, so they can grow and be the best they can be.” Etu added that she wanted to paint something that would show Austin in a positive light. “I’m hoping that they’ll just say, ‘Hey, I can relate to that, this is my neighborhood, this is what it feels like to be in the neighborhood and this is what it is,’” she said. “I hope that they feel represented. It’s not about the shootings or things like that, because we all know how Austin gets depicted in the media. I want them to feel happy and I want them to feel proud.”
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please contact, Petrice Sanderson at psanderson@saintanglea.org
Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
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New cafe coming to Chicago Avenue in Austin
Austin native Victor Delaney’s Civ’s Corner Cafe coming to 5751 W. Chicago Ave. in latest sign of Chicago Avenue’s transformation By IGOR STUDENKOV AustinTalks
Austin native Victor Delaney is planning to open a Civ’s Corner Cafe coffee shop at 5751 W. Chicago Ave. The news is the latest sign of the corridor’s continued revitalization, said Malcolm Crawford, the executive director of the Austin African American Business Networking Association (AAABNA). Delaney originally wanted to open the barber shop, but after getting pushback from other Chicago Avenue business owners who argued that the corridor was already saturated with barber shops, he decided to open a coffee shop instead. Delaney said that he wanted to create a community meeting place that would facilitate interactions among residents in the area, particularly as more and more people get vaccinated. He hopes to open the shop by June.
Since 2013, Crawford has been pushing for redeveloping Chicago Avenue into a Soul City Corridor, a commercial and entertainment district similar to Chinatown and other ethnic areas in the city. On March 26, the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals cleared the way for opening of The Bruce restaurant and event space at 5924 W. Chicago Ave. Crawford also touted T&C Fitness Club, which, he said, is opening soon at 5906-10 W. Chicago Ave. He said that getting coffee shops in the corridor was listed as a major priority in the 2018 Soul City Corridor Commercial Development Study, which was conducted by AAANBA and the Chicago Central Area Committee. Austin currently only has one coffee shop: a Starbucks in Galewood, located at 7112 W. North Ave. In 2019, Austin teacher Latoya Pinson received $29,425.50 from the city’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund to open the Lighthouse Cafe at 524 S. Laramie Ave. Pinson has since decided to open in a former corner store at 401 S. Cicero Ave. According to the cafe’s Facebook page, the new space is currently undergoing a gut rehab. Delaney grew up in Austin and currently lives on the South Side. “I have a passion to be a part of the community where I can be an asset,” he said. “I love to bring happiness to the community,
IGOR STUDENKOV
COMING SOON: The building at 5751 W. Chicago Ave., which will soon house a new cafe. and owning a coffee shop will give people a chance to meet their neighbors.” Delaney said the coffee shop will sell coffee, sandwiches, bagels, doughnuts and pastries. “It’s going to have a friendly environment, where you can come in and relax, read news or whatever,” Delaney said. “It’s going to be a nice, beautiful place.” Civ’s will have a private meeting room for businesses and community organizations to reserve. Crawford said that he was pleased
GARDENS
Transformation ahead from page 1 movement lessons, a live mural painting, gardening workshops, therapeutic sound healing, fitness workshops, vegan food and smoothies. The event gave residents a taste of what the transformed vacant lots could look like, said Pull Up The City founder Marcelino Riley. “We want to get people out to the garden and we want to show people what’s possible,” said Riley, who has competed on “American Ninja Warrior.” “Our mission is to turn vacant lots into jackpots.” The wellness sanctuaries being developed will be modeled after the fitness garden where the launch was hosted, which Riley helped create on a vacant lot next to Above and Beyond, 2942 W Lake St., an East Garfield Park behavioral health and addiction recovery center. Riley began hosting weekly free community fitness workshops in 2015 at local playgrounds and gardens, and eventually launched classes for Above and Beyond participants. But there was so much demand for fitness activities in Garfield Park that the classes outgrew the indoor space, he said.
PROVIDED
WORKING OUT: Members of Pull Up The City inside of the fitness garden at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. The vacant lot next to the center was an eyesore, so Riley decided to host the fitness classes there. Above and Beyond worked with Pull Up The City to turn the lot into a community garden that grows healthy food with a dedicated fitness area and outdoor exercise equipment like pull-up bars for residents to use to work out.
“We’re bringing the community in by facilitating gardening workshops, fitness classes and movement workshops that really bring the community together,” Riley said. Pull Up The City is now working to turn three more lots into wellness sanctuaries: a second lot at Sacramento Boulevard and
with the meeting place aspect because it would make the coffee shop “just like a window to the community.” Delaney said that he’s been renovating the space since September 2020, but COVID-19 has slowed the process. He said he still tried to put on some initiatives for the community in the meantime, such as giving away children’s toys and book bags. He intends to continue doing giveaways once the coffee shop opens.
CONTACT: igorst3@hotmail.com
Lake Street next to the group’s first fitness garden, a lot at Roosevelt Road and Pulaski Road, and a lot at Chicago Avenue and St. Louis. The fitness gardens will be free resources to promote not only physical wellness by offering exercise and healthy food opportunities, but also mental wellness by giving residents “safe places for people to de-stress and get connected with nature,” Riley said. Riley’s fitness programs focus on calisthenics, exercises that build strength, balance and flexibility. After using calisthenics to heal and recover from a painful chronic illness, Riley wanted to teach others the form of exercise since it is easily accessible and doesn’t require equipment or a gym membership. With the wellness sanctuaries being created across the West Side, others will be able to embark on their own health journeys, Riley said. “You can take whatever is in your environment, and if you come together as a community, you can build something greater,” Riley said. Pascal Sabino is a Report for America corps member covering Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park for Block Club Chicago.
CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org
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Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
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ZOOM MEETING ID: 986 9592 1385 ZOOM PASSWORD: 539505 CALL IN: 3126266799 Published in Austin Weekly News March 31, April 7, April 14, 2021
Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021
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Austin Weekly News, April 14, 2021