CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- People who live in one Northwest Side neighborhood have a new place to gather outside.
The Ainslie Arts Plaza, located at Ainslie, Lincoln Avenue and Western Avenue, officially opens Friday.
With support from the Department of Planning and Development, the Chicago Department of Transportation, the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce, and 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez, the Ainslie Arts Plaza is the gateway to Lincoln Avenue North, an area under development along Lincoln from Western Avenue north to Catalpa.
The Ainslie Arts Plaza will be home to a number of events in coming months, including a weekend Makers’ Market with artisans offering their products for sale, live music on the plaza throughout the week, and potentially evening movies being shown, courtesy of The Davis Theatre.
“We are delighted to see the ideas from the community come to life in the Ainslie Arts Plaza,” said Alderman Vasquez, in a statement. “We’ve had community meetings over the past several months, where neighbors and business owners have provided their input. We will be showcasing the energy and creativity of this community with the Plaza, as a gateway to continued development on Lincoln Avenue North.”
Under the leadership of Alderman Vasquez, the area is being reimagined to reinvigorate small businesses, promote economic development, enhance accessibility for visitors, and showcase the vibrancy of the
community.
Using approximately $14.1 million in infrastructure development funds from Lincoln Avenue and Western Avenue TIF districts, planned improvements include streetscaping with sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, corridor beautification and greening, more public community space, and the
creation of the Lincoln Avenue North Arts District (LANA), which will transform the use of storefronts to create galleries, pop-ups, and affordable live/work spaces for artists.
"Ainslie Arts Plaza demonstrates an extremely creative way to repurpose underutilized public land for community uses," said Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Maurice Cox. "In terms of beautification, community cohesion, and passive recreation, the plaza will clearly have an impact that serves Lincoln Square residents, businesses, and visitors for years to come."
Related
