Bill Smith's blog

Envisioning the future of the industrial corridor along the former Mayfair railroad right of way will be a major topic of discussion at the June meeting of Smith Park Neighbors.

The City of Evanston reportedly has set aside $440,000 to renovate Smith Park at Lyons Street and Ashland Avenue next year.

The city has been spending at a level at which it renovated parks on average only once every 18 years. The City Council is considering beefing up its Capital Improvement Program spending for parks to move to a 12-year cycle for park renovations.

Smith Park Neighbors attending last Wednesday's group meeting decided to schedule the annual community block party for Saturday, Aug. 19.

The Chicago Tribune reports today on efforts to clean up the Chicago River and the North Shore Channel – and the growing use of both for recreational boating.

If your neighbor sets up a bee hive in his back yard -- how much does that increase your exposure to bees? John Hansen, education manager for the Cook-DuPage Beekeepers Association, offers the following thoughts.

With Evanston aldermen considering a ban on beekeeping at tonight's Human Services Committee meeting, John Hansen, education manager for the Cook-DuPage Beekeepers Association, offers the following thoughts on health risks from bee stings.

The consent decree that ended Northwestern University's suit against the city over creation of the Northeast Evanston Historic District two years ago was back in the news last week.

The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance our aldermen are considering would stick buyers of new condos in Evanston with the bill for the loss of affordable housing here, while all property owners reap the profits from the rising home values that created the affordability issue.

The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance our aldermen will consider Monday won't solve Evanston's housing affordability problem.

Neighbors of the proposed new Optima Promenade project at 1515 Chicago Ave. are understandably disappointed that views they have enjoyed for years from their apartments are now threatened.

But that disappointment is no reason for city officials to block the development.

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