Rosehill Cemetery – Nature Preserve

The city has been in protracted negotiations with the owners of Rosehill Cemetery for nearly 10 years in an effort to acquire undeveloped land along Western Avenue for a nature preserve. Last week Alderman O’Connor issued a letter and re-zoning map to residents of the Bowmanville community to keep us abreast of a deal that is now forthcoming. According to current plans, the city hopes to close on the transaction in November 2011. The proposed 20.5 acre Nature Preserve – to be called the West Ridge Nature Preserve – will be designed and developed in 2012 by a process to be led by the Chicago Park District with citizen input.

Included in the plan is a zoning change affecting the southwest portion of the cemetery, which includes land along Bowmanville Avenue. This opens up the possibility of development of a senior housing facility in the future, with exact uses still bound by a longstanding cemetery covenant. No project is underway for the land targeted for re-zoning at this time.

The BCO GreenSpace committee, along with the BCO Planning & Development committee, already has a list of items or concerns to be considered if and when a planned development emerges for the land. We will continue to gather input to influence that process. One goal of the BCO GreenSpace committee remains as it has been – to acquire of as much of that land as possible for dedicated green space open to our community.

While it is very important for you to contact Alderman O’Connor directly with your feedback (773-769-1140 or ward40@cityofchicago.org), you can also submit your concerns to planning@bcochicago.org to ensure that the BCO can continue to help advocate for the interests of our neighbors.

The text of the Alderman’s letter and map can be viewed in full at this link: http://www.aldermanoconnor.com/4967/proposed-rosehill-nature-preserve/

Alderman Letter about Nature Preserve

Rosehill – map for rezoning

Click here to download a copy  

September 20, 2011

TO: All Members: Bowmanville Community Organization

FROM: Nominating Committee: Bowmanville Community Organization

RE: 2011-2012 Slate Announcement

In accordance with the Bylaws of the Bowmanville Community Organization, Article XI, Section II, the Nominating Committee submits the following slate of candidates for a one (1) year term of office for the year 2011-2012 to be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Bowmanville Community Organization on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at ScooterWorks Chicago, 5410 N. Damen Ave.

Officers

*Note: the nominee for president has indicated he is available through January 2012. Help from members of the community and board will be needed to identify a volunteer willing to step into the president role beyond that time.

Contact planning@bcochicago.org for more info.

Directors

Nominating Committee for 2012

Board Members: Noelle Braun-Etheridge, Claire Shingler, Barbara Wolke, and Board Alternate: Jeff Graves

General Membership: Donna Bakke, Maria Gullo, Laura Novy, Carrie Mitchell and General Membership Alternate: Betty Redmond

Respectfully Submitted,

2011 Committee members: Jeff Graves, Betty Redmond, Laura Sabransky, John Paraoan, Barbara Wolke, Carrie Mitchell, Kelly Chester, Laura Novy, Dena van der Wal (withdrawn), with support from many generous volunteers.

The BCO Board of Directors wants YOU!  We are looking to fill a number of vacancies on the BCO Board with Bowmanville residents who will bring energy and ideas into the community process.   We invite you to nominate yourself or a friend or a neighbor you think would be an outstanding candidate for the BCO’s Board of Directors or Officers.

If you have any questions about the BCO, the nominating process or the responsibilities involved, call the BCO hotline at 866.837.1006

Thank-you. The 2011 Nominating Committee:

Jeff Graves, John Paraoan, Laura Novy, Carrie Mitchell, Laura Sabransky, Barbara Wolke, Betty Redmond

Have you walked through the pedestrian foot tunnel at Berwyn & Ravenswood lately?  The BCO and WANT have an amazing mural being developed by local artists and and volunteers.

Click here to download a 2 page document with pictures and a description of the Berwyn Mural project that is currently underway at Berwyn & Ravenswood in Chicago.

This truly is one of the most amazing projects.  Peek at the pictures.  Come by and take a look.  Or better yet…..

There are still two easy ways to help us out:

1- Give $$! Can you support this inspirational public art project that is going on in your neighborhood?  We are looking for businesses and individuals to make contributions to cover the remaining $1000 still required to enable completion of the project.  No amount is too small!  Make contributions out to Bowmanville Community Org (BCO).

2-      Lend us your hands! We need volunteers to help with the mosaic installation any day from Oct 25 through Nov. 2^nd.  Sign up for a shift at www.mysignup.com/berwynmural.  We will be out in full force on Saturday – stop by to say hello and thank the volunteers or bring snacks even if you can’t signup to help.  Have some fun with us!

Please contact either Claire Shingler (president@bcochicago.org) or Sarah Laing (publicart@bcochicago.org)

Or call 1-866-837-1006 (BCO hotline).

Many thanks for any support you can give.

link to Chicago streets and Sanitation web page

download the information flyer

 As part of the BCO’s quest to secure permanent green space within our community, the BCO GreenSpace Committee will host a charrette on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the Tempel Steel Training Room, 5448 North Wolcott. 

This charrette is a collaborative planning process harnessing the talents and energies of our community to create a plan for park development. This brainstorming session will help identify the community’s priorities, suggest potential uses for the open space on Bowmanville Avenue at Bell, and develop potential designs for this space at a conceptual level. The ideas generated at this meeting will help the BCO GreenSpace Committee develop a proposal that will be utilized to acquire support and funding for this project.

We are seeking input from all interested community members. Please join us in our efforts to maintain open space in Bowmanville by participating in this key meeting. If you plan to attend the meeting, please RSVP by email to Kris Neurauter at greenspace@bcochicago.org (this will help us set up chairs in the room and have enough materials for all)

For more information or to join the GreenSpace Committee, please email Greenspace@bcochicago.org or call the BCO Toll Free number at 866-837-1006.  We welcome your input. 

BCO Warm UP!  Thursday Feb 18, 2010  – 7:00 – 9:00 pm

North Community Bank  – Bowmanville Branch  located at 5241 North Western Ave

Join us for the first 2010 BCO General Membership Meeting! Open to all residents and friends of Bowmanville.  Warm up with a hot drink and snacks and find out what is happening in Bowmanville.

Hear about:-A Block Captain program, A Public Art project, our GreenSpace initiative.

Meet special guest Bridget Gainer, Cook Country Commissioner (10th District)

Meet some local business owners.
Win Raffle prizes! Visit with your neighbors! We hope to see you there.

Directors term is November 2009 through October 2010

Executive Committee

Nominating Committe Members for 2009-2010

Community Fall Festival 

and Pumpkin Patch

This year we are joining with Rogers Park Montessori School for their Pumpkin Patch sale and adding a Harvest Festival theme.

Ravenswood Avenue will be closed in front of the Gateway Garden vegetable plots for this combined BCO/RPMS event (block party style).  There will be activities for all, live music by Hayward and a harvest of goodies. 

Costumes are suggested, and we will have the Kids costume parade with prizes!  MUSIC, Face painting, and lots of fun for all!