CINCINNATI — Days after Cincinnati City Council greenlit a zoning change required for a controversial development plan that would re-imagine part of Hyde Park Square the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council (HPNC) is responding with a new effort to stop it The neighborhood council wants to take the controversial $150 million development to the voters Fellerhoff said a referendum was filed Thursday that would allow voters to nullify city council's April 23 decision on the ballot this November the petition must be approved in form by the city solicitor and the petitioners must gather more than 10,000 signatures by May 23 voters will see a measure on their ballot regarding the changing of Hyde Park's zoning code "My client is highly disappointed that seven members of council decided to ignore the community .. a referendum is a rare and bold measure that gives the city’s voters the power to reject legislation that fails to align with their interests There has never been a more appropriate time for one," Fellerhoff said in part in a statement to WCPO 9 News Hyde Park residents have been showing up at city council meetings trying to stop a plan that would include an 80-foot building in an area typically zoned for a 50-foot structure The group says it would ruin the historic charm of Hyde Park only two members of council voted against the development Those in favor of the development said they believe it's an important step toward increasing housing options in the community a group of award-winning property management and real estate firms announces that applications are available now for Logan Square Residences a 63-unit affordable housing community for persons aged 55 and older located at 1201 River Street in Hyde Park Logan Square Residences features 63 one-bedroom one-bath apartments within a four-story building The apartment complex also offers resident services and social programming in coordination with outside gencies The ground floor includes commercial space The Logan Square offers a peaceful residential setting with convenient access to local shops It’s the perfect balance of neighborhood tranquility and urban accessibility “We’re excited to announce availability at Logan Square Residences,” said Melissa Fish-Crane principal and CEO of The Peabody Companies “With both an aging population and rapidly increasing house prices affordable apartments for seniors are highly needed We’re proud to offer this remarkable community to eligible applicants and look forward to welcoming them to their new home.” demonstrating a remarkable blend of quality service and expertise underscores a deep commitment to enhancing resident experiences by focusing exclusively on developing supportive services and programs for affordable housing communities certified by the Massachusetts State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA) The Peabody Companies has been recognized for its dedication to diversity and inclusion This commitment is further evidenced by their ranking on the 2023 National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) Affordable 100 List and their repeated recognition as a Top Place to Work by The Boston Globe in 2017 © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved Shirma Pierre loved the trees that surrounded her Hyde Park home They provided her with shade and brought birds to her windows But after a new homeowner next door cut some down one fell in a storm and another was at risk of falling on her house she was left with a lot of space and just one tree so during the summer I could sit out there,” she remembered Hyde Park has seen lower rates of city tree planting per square mile than any other neighborhood said that it “might be natural that the city is not planting a lot of new trees there,” especially since Hyde Park has a large tree canopy compared to other neighborhoods That sets it apart from other racially diverse neighborhoods in Boston which have both struggled under a lack of canopy for many years — and have had several hundred new trees planted by the city in recent years City and nonprofit leaders are hoping to bridge that divide and plant more saplings One major tool is the Boston Tree Alliance launched just two years ago to try to get trees on private land where most of the canopy loss in Hyde Park — and across the city — has been taking place The Tree Alliance provides grants to local nonprofits and connects them with residents to get trees on their land The organization planted four trees in Pierre’s yard and taught her how to care for them she has her little canopy back — and soon she’ll have her shade again — which she said has a positive effect on her physical and mental health and she feels good about the positive impact her trees have on the environment “I love my trees and just looking forward to seeing them growing,” Pierre said I wish I had gotten those trees years ago.” City and nonprofit leaders say that Pierre is the exception: most residents won’t call and ask for trees even if they have the space and would care for them “One of the success stories is really what’s going on in East Boston,” Mistor said The city has planted more than 575 trees on East Boston streets and in parks And there are concentrated efforts to get more trees in private ground Tree Eastie was founded by Bill Masterson in 2021 The volunteer-based nonprofit works with residents to plant trees in their yards — private land — and works with the city to plant on streets and in parks said working with Tree Eastie helps him build trust in the heavily Latino neighborhood “That’s been a really good partnership in looking at how we can utilize an existing group that is much more connected to the community than myself or anyone on our staff,” Mistor said “I don’t look like everybody in every community in the city of Boston “I have to realize that I may not be the best person to make that initial contact.” Mistor said people in the neighborhood may not reach out to get trees planted because they don’t trust a city government with a discriminatory history to take care of trees on or in front of their property And the city doesn’t want to use limited resources to plant trees where they’re not wanted and won’t survive Tree Eastie has planted hundreds of trees in streets East Boston sidewalks had a lot of empty pits of dirt meant for trees Masterson said they’ve filled those and have started planting in parks and yards While the city has a program that allows residents to call 311 to get a tree planted Masterson said a lot of people don’t do that educating residents on the fact that when you live on a street and it has very few trees that’s really not healthy,” Masterson said “We’ve had probably between 75 and 100 new street trees planted in East Boston as a result of us going out to residents and getting them to sign this petition.” Boston is hoping to release new citywide tree data by the end of the summer to further the Urban Forest Plan’s 20-year effort to increase tree canopy and equity in Boston tree-planting season began in April and runs through the end of June and the city has already put dozens of new trees in the ground Abigail Pritchard is a graduate student at Boston University studying journalism This story was produced as part of coursework with Boston University journalism adjunct professor Kevin Sullivan and refined with the help of journalism professor Brooke Williams.  Your essential daily newsletter delivering trusted news and can't miss programs from Boston and beyond The Business Journal has learned that the federal government’s National Park Service (NPS) which owns the nine acres that are home to the Hyde Park drive-in movie theater at 4114 Albany Post Road in Hyde Park is in the final stages of negotiating a lease with an operator for the theater NPS had put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a new operator for the theater It was learned that an announcement of a deal that would identify the new operator was expected soon The RFP noted that NPS could be flexible when it came to rental terms for the property but would need to charge market rate for the rent which it determined was $4,000 a month and that some capital expenditures by the new operator could offset some of the rent It also said that a new operator would need to provide all of the equipment necessary for projection and the preparation and sale of food beverages and snacks since the former operator had taken everything that was its personal property The Park Service said that it owns the water heater and bathroom fixtures and marquee letters and would provide them to the new operator The theater has a capacity of 670 cars and one screen NPS said that it might be possible to add a second screen approximately 2,370 square foot building that contains restrooms a concession stand for quick service convenience food items NPS said it would sign a lease covering a maximum of ten years with rent increases adjusted to compensate for inflation The drive-in is one of only about 200 drive-ins remaining in the U.S. down from the approximately 4,000 drive-in theaters that were operating in the 1950s when the outdoor movie theater business peaked as the Hyde Park Auto-Vision Theatre and was later renamed Hyde Park Drive-In and then acquired by the National Park Service in 2011 as part of the larger historic Farm Lane property This property was historically included in the 1,522-acre Roosevelt estate The Park Service had said that the property must continue to be operated as a drive-in and that it is allowed to be open to the public from Memorial Day to Labor Day The RFP specified that no overnight parking was permitted at the site and it would not allow regularly scheduled events such as flea markets but may allow occasional special events to be held at the property This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access. and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" CNN (CNN) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday while receiving the John F CNN (CNN) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday while receiving the John.. Trending Westchester This story has been updated to specify the signature and deadline requirements for the referendum The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council has a new plan to stop a controversial $150 million redevelopment approved for Hyde Park Square: a voter referendum The group filed a petition for a referendum with the Cincinnati city solicitor's office to repeal rezoning for the project approved by City Council on April 23 an attorney representing the neighborhood council City officials confirmed the referendum petition was received May 1 The neighborhood council is seeking at least 10,000 signatures from registered voters to make sure they meet the threshold Referendum petition would need at least 10,000 valid signaturesCouncil voted 7-2 to approve rezoning for the project to "planned development," which would allow construction of a new 85-foot boutique hotel and apartment complex on a 1.78-acre site between Edwards Road and Michigan Avenue which would also include a new parking garage and new retail and restaurant spaces has been the subject of contentious debate It's opposed by the neighborhood council and thousands of Hyde Park residents who believe the project is too big to fit the aesthetics of the square "My client is highly disappointed that seven members of Council decided to ignore the community and provide this developer with free rein to obliterate the character of Cincinnati’s most treasured business and community gathering district,'' Levine said in a statement to The Enquirer "A referendum is a rare and bold measure that gives the City’s voters the power to reject legislation that fails to align with their interests.'' Referendum petition expected to be approved within daysA spokesman for the developer leading the project, PLK Communities The referendum petition must be approved by the city solicitor which is expected to happen either Friday or Monday at the latest is already recruiting volunteers to gather signatures "It's not over!'' reads the latest update on the Save Hyde Park Square website where people can sign up to collect signatures JACKSONVILLE – Police said a man died Tuesday night after he was found with multiple gunshot wounds on Lane Avenue just south of Park Street in the Hyde Park area of Jacksonville According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers were called to the area around 8:40 p.m The officers found a man with multiple gunshot wounds Paramedics responded but the man died at the scene Police said multiple people of interest were detained at the scene but did not announce any arrests They said it’s not clear what led to the shooting or how the people involved are connected but investigators “believe this is an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public.” Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office by phone at 904-630-0500, by email at jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org, or through Crimestoppers at 866-845-TIPS. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Update: A community vigil planned for Thursday to remember Lens Arthur Joseph, the 5-year-old who died on Washington Street on Monday, has been postponed. However, there is now a GoFundMe page to help the family Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution By necturus Wed but the headline makes it seem as though the bus killed the vigil By Username Unknown Wed By Friartuck Wed By BPlusPlayer Wed I don’t believe the vigil is happening anymore https://gofund.me/b0d7cab2 By adamg Wed I don’t know how this could be allowed to happen If you like what we're up to and want to help out please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution Copyright by Adam Gaffin and by content posters.Advertise | About Universal Hub | Contact | Privacy Tobe Nwigwe performs on the Midway Plaisance at Hyde Park Summer Fest on Sunday evening Thousands of Hyde Park Summer Fest attendees listen and dance to music on Saturday evening A prominent Hyde Park businessman and the organizer behind Hyde Park Summer Fest is accused of withholding more than $950,000 from partners who helped put on the 2022 and 2023 festivals filed by a construction executive and a booking agent the longtime owner of Kimbark Beverage Shoppe failed to repay a six-figure loan and stiffed a key contractor who helped bring headlining acts such as 2 Chainz and Lil’ Kim to the popular South Side music festival One plaintiff alleges the event didn’t return in 2024 because he cut off funding after being “ghost(ed)” by Swain the amount Swain is liable for could easily top $1 million should he lose both cases The first lawsuit comes from Nosa Ehimwenman a minority-owned firm whose projects include the University of Chicago’s Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Obama Presidential Center's Home Court athletic center Ehimwenman said a mutual connection introduced him in 2022 to Swain who pitched Hyde Park Summer Fest as “a great investment.” “It's going to be a festival that's going to rival Lollapalooza and create an economic engine on the South Side,” Swain told him according to Ehimwenman’s deposition testimony understanding the impact of what events like this can do for our community and the jobs that it can create I thought it was going to be a good – a good investment and I would get my money back,” Ehimwenman continued Dubbed “Brewfest” when Swain started it in 2014 the festival was originally a means of drumming up business for his liquor store But he soon realized people were more interested in seeing live music outdoors than in tasting craft beers “We realized that we were filling a void that existed on the South Side,” he told the Herald in an interview during the 2023 festival we didn't have outdoor summer events for people to participate in.” the festival grew from a one-day to a two-day event at the Midway Plaisance with a tiered ticketing system exclusive VIP areas and nationally recognized performers festival organizers reported drawing a crowd of more than 20,000 Ehimwenman claims Swain owes him more than $645,000 to help cover the 2022 and 2023 festivals’ growing expenses Swain agreed that his LLC would repay the money lent by Ehimwenman shortly after the event concluded and personally guaranteed half of the original $420,000 loaned for the 2022 fest Ehimwenman said Swain promised him VIP access regular revenue updates and promotion for Bowa and his nonprofit through the festival’s social media accounts would get a 35% cut if the event made less than $1 million I got a nine-year-old and a seven-year-old,” Ehimwenman said in the deposition “I'm not in the business of just investing in things to throw money away.” When Ehimwenman went to his home to demand repayment “This is a guy that lives a block and a half away from me and wouldn't even come outside to at least have a conversation about the money he owes me," Ehimwenman said Swain did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story Swain said that “there were no profits” from the festival But Ehimwenman accused Swain of bookkeeping chicanery to hide the festival’s true gains actually lose money?” he asked in his October 2024 deposition I think there was a mismanagement and errors in accounting that created this potential loss of profits.” A filing from March 2024 described Ehimwenman as “just one” of Swain’s company’s “many creditors.” Swain has argued in court filings that the amount he personally owed Ehimwenman is far less than what the latter claims – only about $171,400 because he claims to have paid back part of the original $420,000 loan And Swain disputed the allegation that he defrauded Ehimwenman Ehimwenman’s attorneys filed a stipulation saying the parties had agreed to a settlement in principle The terms of the settlement have not been announced The second lawsuit Swain is facing comes from Emmanuel Anoma Entertainment & Hospitality Group Inc. the agent who helped book the 2023 festival’s talent Swain owes him more than $310,000 for arranging performances and communicating with artists Anoma alleges that Swain failed to adequately capitalize the entity he used to run the festival — Eat Drink and Be Events LLC — and instead used it as a shell company to promote his liquor store Swain transferred the festival’s assets to a separate company which was later involuntarily dissolved in November 2024 Swain denied defrauding Anoma through these actions in a January 2025 court filing Anoma did not respond to requests for comment through his attorneys A contract signed by Swain and Anoma in December 2022 suggested the festival would continue through at least 2025 Swain told the Herald that “as long as the community keeps supporting what we're doing … we'll keep doing the event.” Goode of the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce — which Swain once led — confirmed that the event wouldn’t return in 2024 Ehimwenman said it was he who pulled the plug “Did it happen in 2024?” he asked rhetorically Goode could not be reached for comment by press time Just weeks after the 2023 festival concluded Swain quietly shuttered Kimbark Beverage Shoppe and sold the business to A & S Beverages Wine and Spirits The family-owned liquor store had operated in Hyde Park for nearly 50 years the Swain family’s announcement about the decision to sell made no mention of financial difficulties “Since the passing of our dad John Swain Sr we have been contemplating next steps for our family business,” the family said in a statement “And while this decision was a difficult one for us we have decided that it is time to pass the Kimbark torch to new owners.” Swain retained ownership of the store’s real estate It is unclear if Swain still retains a stake in the property amid the multiple lawsuits he faces federal court records shows that he has not filed for bankruptcy Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page CINCINNATI (WKRC) — Residents of Hyde Park are intensifying their efforts to prevent a new development project on Hyde Park Square The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council has filed a petition seeking a referendum to overturn the zoning approval for the project The petition aims to gather sufficient signatures to place the issue on the ballot for the upcoming November election CINCINNATI — A zoning change required for a controversial development plan that would re-imagine part of Hyde Park Square was passed Wednesday by Cincinnati city council The only two members of council to vote against the development were Jan Michele Kearney and Scotty Johnson Many residents who live in Hyde Park have been against the development which they say would significantly alter the historic charm of the area The committee chambers were packed with residents during the meeting Tuesday leading to more than 2 hours of public commentary majority against the development The vote was to rezone the area of the planned development site which sits between Edwards Road and Michigan Avenue approximately 0.2 miles away from the nearby Hyde Park School Cincinnati's Planning Commission also passed the rezoning in March Residents who oppose the development formed a group called Save Hyde Park Square; the group conducted a survey earlier in April, asking Hyde Park School parents and faculty their thoughts on the development's traffic impacts Residents have also complained that the development seeks to build higher than the surrounding square which they say would alter the character of the neighborhood Developer PLK Communities wants to build a nearly 80-foot structure in an area typically zoned for only 50 feet under a Planned Development loophole The Hyde Park Neighborhood Council (HPNC) has also retained a lawyer depending on what proposal you follow," Matt Fellerhoff "Which is substantially above the 50-foot zoning minimum which was established to preserve the character of Hyde Park Square.” Fellerhoff also spoke during public comment at the committee meeting Tuesday "You are only listening to the developer complaints," said Matt Fellerhoff who spoke during public comment at the committee meeting Tuesday "You want this to look like Nashville and Columbus .. Those in favor of the development said it's an important step toward increasing housing options in the community "This is a common story in Cincinnati politics," said Anthony Isaacs during public comment at the committee meeting Tuesday Some people will never be happy with anything that's built." Emily Blood finds a couple of the more than 400 eggs volunteers placed in the 65th and Woodlawn Community Garden for First Presbyterian Church's annual Easter egg hunt on Sunday and several churches and businesses around the neighborhood are celebrating the holiday with egg hunts the Chicago Park District is hosting Easter EggStravaganza at Kenwood’s Kennicott Park the free event will feature Easter basket giveaways balloons and a visit from the Easter Bunny Also on Saturday, Vineyard Church of Hyde Park will host its own Easter Eggstravaganza at Stout Park, 5446 S. Greenwood Ave. Running from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the free event will include egg hunts, food , games, crafts and a bounce house. For more information, visit thevc.org On Easter Sunday, Park Community Church will host an Easter egg hunt and breakfast at the Ray Elementary School playground, 5631 S. Kimbark Ave., from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. For more information, visit parkhp.org Outside of church, Hyde Park’s Italian eatery Ascione Bistro is serving up a special menu featuring traditional lamb dishes and other bites a luxury lifestyle website that delivers a colorful and passionate telling of neighboring events Hyde Park Day School celebrated 25 years of serving bright children with learning disabilities at its annual gala held at Bryn Mawr Country Club. Guests of the 25th anniversary gala heard inspiring remarks from an alum and enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and a silent and live auc-tion. Over $200,000 was raised, which will support the Bright Futures Scholarship Fund. hydeparkday.org Cincinnati Councilman Mark Jeffreys made a troubling comment on WVXU's "Cincinnati Edition" during an April 28 panel discussion about City Council's vote on the highly-contested Hyde Park Square development During a back-and-forth about the validity of community councils Jeffreys said a neighborhood council once asked for a kickback from a developer to get approval for a project He didn't provide any details or proof of his claim his comment was used in a way to vilify and dismiss our community councils − unpaid volunteers who care deeply about their neighborhoods and the residents who live around them More: You voted for this Cincinnati council, Hyde Park. How did that work out for you? | Letters  This pompous attitude shows the slight regard that the council has for city residents With the Connected Communities legislation and the complete sham of a communication process before it comes as no surprise that our city leaders believe they know better than residents and will do as they please More: Here's what's next for controversial Hyde Park project that council approved It’s time our City Council got back into the business of communicating and listening to the city residents and businesses and less time thinking about the missions passed down by their party bosses Cincinnati deserves a representative council This is a council election year I hope everyone remembers the attitude of this mayor and a large number of this council when they have a chance to make a statement vote in early November Bill Frost is a board member of the Charter Committee and a former president of Pleasant Ridge Community Council A young boy was struck and killed by a school bus in Hyde Park on Monday afternoon as he was coming home from school Neighbors in the area of 107 Washington St Nathaniel Thomas said he had pulled up to his home to find a “young lady screaming” in front of his driveway She said the bus hit him,” Thomas recalled Monday night He helped the severely injured child lying on the ground “This is a tragic investigation of a child being struck,” Cox told reporters at the scene the first for Boston Public School students after the April school vacation week police responded to a report of a pedestrian hit by a school bus The crash happened “very close to home,” in the residential area Other children who were on the bus were not injured but were taken to a hospital as a precaution “We know of no known injury” to other children Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper issued a statement late Monday night “We are grieving this heartbreaking loss.” “We extend our deepest condolences to our student’s family school community and all those affected by this tragedy,” Skipper said “Our focus remains on supporting them and our school community Our team is offering support services for any students “Our hearts break for the child’s family and entire school community following this tragic incident,” Robinson said Police investigators were on the scene until long after dark Washington Street and nearby roads were closed to traffic Yellow crime scene tape was stretched around the bus which was parked on the side of Washington Street Law enforcement officials stressed the investigation will take time “We are at the beginning of the investigation “It’s a tragedy and it will be ongoing for a little while.” “Anyone who might have seen this — this is a residential neighborhood — we ask you to contact our homicide unit,” he said Hayden said death investigators from his office also responded to the scene of the “incredibly tragic episode.” and look at every potential aspect,” Hayden said “It doesn’t necessarily mean it will rise to the level of criminality but we just don’t know that yet,” he added Hayden said crash investigations are “extraordinarily complex,” involving reconstruction “and obviously what witnesses have seen and heard.” Hayden also asked the community to think of the child and his family everyone’s hearts and minds should be with the family affected here.” Law enforcement did not identify any other vehicles involved in the crash some residents said vehicles drive fast on the street “Cars are always flying up and down on this street,” said Patricia Riley who said she has lived on the street since 2010 Staff from the city’s trauma team visited with residents later in the evening to help them cope with the tragedy One neighbor said she would see the boy and his sister getting off the bus on most afternoons “They get off the bus all the time,” said Dicis Sanchez Her husband was one of the first on the scene and described it to her “His sister screamed and that’s why a lot of people came running,” Sanchez said Mayor Michelle Wu said the child’s death has left her “completely heartbroken.” “No parents expect to send their child off to school and have something terrible happen,” she said “All of us should just hug our kids a little tighter tonight.” Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact police at 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word TIP to CRIME (27463) Claire Thornton of the Globe staff contributed to this report This breaking news story will be updated if more information becomes available Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information Four people were arrested during a “teen takeover” in Hyde Park on Saturday night upward of 50 teenagers arrived on 53rd Street A heavy police presence was already in place in anticipation of the event with dozens of patrol cars parked between South Woodlawn Avenue and South Lake Park Avenue At least two helicopters were also spotted in the area Officers began taking people into custody around 9:30 p.m. At 10:07 p.m., police were seen handcuffing teenagers and putting them in the back of a van outside of Capital One Café on South Harper Avenue. A Chicago Police Department (CPD) officer at the scene told the Maroon that police were enforcing the city’s 10 p.m CPD told the Maroon that the arrests included two 15-year-old boys One of the 15-year-old boys was charged with assault The 16-year-old girl was charged with one count of reckless conduct and three counts of resisting arrest The adult and the other 15-year-old were charged with reckless conduct On Thursday, renewed concern regarding the teen meetups led CPD to issue a warning to Chicago Public Schools parents encouraging them to prevent their children from attending the gatherings and warning that “de-escalation and dispersal techniques” would be used to “encourage our young people to comply with the law.”  A Saturday morning email sent by the Kenwood Academy administration to the school’s parents preemptively clarified that reports about the event occurring on the high school’s campus were inaccurate “We received an inaccurate report from the Citizen app that an event was happening on Kenwood Academy’s campus,” the email read “This incident did not occur at Kenwood Academy High School and does not involve any of our students Our students at the school are safe and sound and continue to be engaged in their Saturday programs.”  Your support will ensure that we can continue producing powerful and accessible reporting that serves the University of Chicago and Hyde Park communities Cincinnati's Hyde Park Square does not look like a battle zone City Council – this is home to the biggest fight in the city Developers have proposed adding several new buildings to a soccer field-sized tract of land just behind the neighborhood's quaint A handful of one-story structures would be razed the apartments and hotel would be among the tallest in the area The plan to build apartments and a tiered, seven-story boutique hotel just off the square has laid bare the fears of many Cincinnatians – and developers as well The big question: Who controls the neighborhoods Some neighbors argue the project is just "too big." A potential lawsuit is looming It could become an issue in the city's mayoral and council races since Mayor Aftab Pureval came out in support of it weeks ago have expressed their official opposition to the project "I think this is going to set a precedent for the rest of the big developments in the city and North Avondale is definitely on edge," said Dawn Johnson, president of the North Avondale Neighborhood Association this is what we were afraid of in the beginning .. They want to supersede us and make decisions for us in our neighborhoods." a rejection could show the city is "too risky" a place to build "There's a reason why there's a lot of attention focused on this particular development in Hyde Park," said Gary Painter a real estate professor at the University of Cincinnati's Lindner College of Business "That's because the residents of Hyde Park are viewed as having at least the highest tier of political power in the city of Cincinnati can prevent development for whatever reasons they want to do so that will give impetus to other neighborhoods to say no All of this comes on the heels of last year's major zoning overhaul known as Connected Communities. Meant to increase density and tackle the city's housing shortage, it was also a highly controversial change that neighborhoods feared and others embraced This Hyde Park proposal came to the table after Connected Communities passed and has sometimes been drawn into the fight over it To do this, the site, which is bounded by Erie Avenue, Edwards Road and Michigan Avenue, would need to be rezoned as a "planned development," a zoning designation that creates multiple buildings with different uses on one site. (FC Cincinnati's West End district is a planned development.) Area residents typically work with developers to steer the design of the buildings in a planned development But it's too early for that now in Hyde Park The developers first have to get preliminary approval from the city before they can work on specific design plans a former Hyde Park resident and chief development officer at PLK Communities calls this current plan a "starting point." He said his development team hired a national community engagement group and a local architecture firm with preservation expertise to work on future iterations of the plan That's when a conversation about maintaining neighborhood charm will come in "Charm doesn’t have a fixed definition – and if we’re going to protect it we have a responsibility to define what it means in the context of Hyde Park Square," he said "If charm implies a place where people love to gather shop and feel connected to their neighborhood − we believe this project creates more Public records show the city's planning department doesn't think the project will take away from the historic character of the business district either because the new buildings are still subject to that further design approval and public review In March, the project passed through the first of three public zoning votes based on the planning staff's recommendation After a five-and-a-half-hour meeting in which dozens of Hyde Park residents lamented the size and scale of the proposal the seven-member planning commission passed it 3-1 (Three members skipped the meeting.) Many want the height of the buildings to fall in line with other nearby buildings: 50 feet This Tuesday and Wednesday, the project is slated to go before Cincinnati's nine-person city council in two highly anticipated votes to finalize the rezoning effort Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, a city council and planning commission member, sided with the community in the March meeting based on all the backlash from residents “There's really no justification for ignoring the community,” she said “A planned development is supposed to be a partnership What does Hyde Park really want?Lawyers for the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council told The Enquirer that they ultimately want the developers to adhere to the existing zoning laws which would still allow them to build housing instead of seeking a planned development approval And the developers would not have to ask for public input if they stuck to the current zoning code Sean McGrory, a Hyde Park resident and president of the Wasson Way board of directors thinks it all comes down to one missing piece of this conversation: Should zoning law be amended so developments in business districts can push through more easily or should the city continue to approve projects on an "ad hoc basis," resulting in neighborhood squabbles "A fundamental tension here is how the city continues to address the housing shortage," he said "How many residential units would you have in a five-story versus a seven-story development and is it worth blowing up the zoning code to get those additional stories of housing?" So will Cincinnati's council ultimately listen to the neighborhood council or the developer A recent zoning decision over a future affordable housing project in Walnut Hills provides a hint: Multiple city council members questioned why the developers, Kingsley & Company reduced their project by 100 units to appease residents when they could have housed even more people in need "There absolutely is an appropriate cadence with community councils and neighbors to help refine a project to help sort through pedestrian safety concerns and parking concerns and to understand the lay of the land," said council member Evan Nolan in the council committee meeting to rezone the Walnut Hills site "We as a council need to appropriately consider our values and our policies when we evaluate these projects and recognize that engagement with the community is vital and is important but is not the end-all be-all to how we make these decisions." a development and construction company based in Over-the-Rhine worries about how the community's aversion to major developments might further deter developers who may see it as "too risky" to build in Cincinnati "The local politics of housing are extremely difficult to navigate − and can shift dramatically depending on which side of the street you’re on," he said in an Enquirer op-ed this week "These political and economic headwinds are stalling our city’s growth." What does Hyde Park's 41-year-old neighborhood plan have to do with it?Most Cincinnati neighborhoods have specific neighborhood plans which are redone every few years by community councils in tandem with the city’s planning department They've long been used as growth guides for local development and have to be formally voted on and approved by city council at least six of 52 neighborhoods are in the process of updating their plans Hyde Park is one of them − and it's taken them over seven years Some Hyde Park residents believe that their existing neighborhood plan is being ignored and they wish the new one were finalized by the time this controversial Hyde Park Square project came into play This is why North Avondale's Johnson thinks the city has "weaponized" Hyde Park's neighborhood plan against them She says it isn't specific enough and that the city has found loopholes to allow the development to happen despite the residents' overarching concerns about the project's size and impacts on businesses and pedestrian safety who helped craft the new neighborhood plan said everyone − from the city to the developers and the local businesses − would benefit if the new one were finalized first But both the old version and the new one state that developers should still follow the existing zoning code "I don't think there's anything more prescriptive in this document than the current one from 1984," he said Private developers aren’t legally bound to the neighborhood plans though they must keep them in mind when trying to affect change Because City Council has to adopt these plans Lawyers for the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council said they expected the new plan to be approved by City Council last September. A city spokesperson told The Enquirer there have been ongoing edits and discussions to amend the plan over the fall and winter. A feedback session on April 28 at the Eastside Rec Center will allow the public to weigh in. This website is unavailable in your location.  It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States, therefore access cannot be granted at this time. Subscribe Support Us American Civic Life Kenji Kuramitsu taking Sacred Journey Fellows on a walking tour. (Kelly Feldmiller) After Sigmund Freud’s death, Auden wrote: “to us he is no more a person / now but a whole climate of opinion / under whom we conduct our different lives.” I was drawn quietly back to these words after my friend Derrick Dawson died two summers ago. On these tours, participants visit sites of sacred meaning that are linked to historic struggles for racial justice in Chicago. Thanks to a grant from Interfaith America and the Sacred Journey Fellowship, the tours have now begun to build on longstanding neighborhood partnerships to take a special eye to religious communities, considering the roles of interfaith cooperation for advancing local change.   What can legacies of interfaith collaboration and strife in one particular neighborhood suggest about the possibility for resolving longstanding civic tensions? What might Jewish theological notions of tikkun olam (the repairing of all things), for instance, have to do with the historical memory work of Black churches, or of eucharistic notions of “re-membering”?  On these unorthodox walking tours, we turn our attention not to the marvels of physical architecture but to the racial and religious landscapes undergirding two prominent neighborhoods on Chicago’s South side.   We learn about the indigenous uses of these lands prior to European invasion and recount the cool waters and burning fires of Chicago’s Red Summer of 1919. We explore Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali’s time with the Nation of Islam, visiting the latter’s home and sighting the mosque he helped to found, just blocks from the hub of the oldest Jewish faith community in Illinois.   We engage Japanese American incarceration history, stopping outside a glittering mansion that was used as a prison during the second world war. And we contemporize our discussions by considering the roles of both policing and public health, taking as case studies the shooting of a student by local university police and an interfaith vaccine project coordinated by Christian and Jewish neighbors.   Auden’s elegiac poem hints at the possibility for redemption embedded within such introspection:  “as they lie in the grass of our neglect,   are returned to us and made precious again.”  Clearing away the grass of our neglect becomes an even more urgent task for those living in settler societies – there is not an inch of soil in the garden, that is Turtle Island, that is disconnected from the stories of those who came before.   Every block is a haunted house, every neighborhood the potential staging ground for a walking tour detailing human hope and despair. On our tour, we stop outside one house where the writer James Baldwin once had dinner and tell the story of his meal there. We remember Baldwin’s exhortation that “not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” (Freud would have agreed with this as well.)  One of Freud’s central insights is that when people spend enough focused time together in real proximity, they will come to experience every possible emotion: rage, desire, joy, grief, envy, despair, hope, relief. This is as true in the consulting room as it is in our families, faith communities, and neighborhoods. Over the years, these tours have fostered not only sober assessment or grim reflection but also sparks of joy, life, and mirth.  The realtor who spoke tearfully about how meaningful it was for her to see these buildings through a different set of eyes, appraising their fuller histories and not only their financial value.  I will forever hold these memories close to my heart.  Mao had it that “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” It is undeniably true that our world has often made cataclysmic changes at the point of a bayonet. But power can be nurtured by other means as well. Our work on these tours may seem small in scope – hyper-local, even – but by focusing attention on one specific place, I hope to invite participants to widen their gaze to their own communities of origin and to the often-invisible forces that have shaped our common life.   What historical memory projects, interfaith dialogues, or advocacy opportunities are slumbering in your neighborhoods, waiting to awaken?   We will continue to lead these tours and to tell these stories in these neighborhoods, rain or shine, wind or smoke, walking in circles, making our little revolutions, spinning, spinning, spinning.  Interfaith America Magazine seeks contributions that present a wide range of experiences and perspectives from a diverse set of worldviews on the opportunities and challenges of American pluralism. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Interfaith America, its board of directors, or its employees. Privacy Policy Terms of Use Copyright @ 2024 Interfaith America Interfaith America is 501 (c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS and resources from Interfaith America in your inbox A Chicago police officer watches a gathering of teens on Hyde Park's 53rd Street on Saturday Four teenagers were arrested during a “teen takeover” event Saturday night in Hyde Park Beginning around 7 p.m., dozens of teenagers began gathering in small groups along 53rd Street. By 9 p.m., according to The Maroon the University of Chicago’s student newspaper police officers instructed the teens to leave the area in accordance with the city’s 10 p.m a few physical altercations erupted along 53rd Street and officers began taking teens into custody A spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department told the Herald that four arrests were made One 15-year-old boy was charged with assault obstruction of traffic and resisting arrest A 16-year-old girl was charged with reckless conduct and resisting arrest and an 18-year-old man was charged with reckless conduct The “teen takeovers,” also known as “trends,” are large gatherings organized over social media that have occurred across the city for several years two separate shootings occurred in Streeterville during the takeovers a 15-year-old boy was charged with shooting a tourist Brian Hopkins (2nd) has introduced an ordinance to City Council to lower the Chicago’s teen curfew down to 8 p.m Dozens of 5th Ward residents gather for a community meeting at the Nichols Park Fieldhouse addressing concerns about the state-run migrant and homeless shelter in East Hyde Park on Thursday Tensions are still flaring among some East Hyde Park residents more than four months after the city closed one of two lakefront shelters for people experiencing homelessness In a Thursday evening meeting organized by Ald Desmon Yancy (5th) at the Nichols Park Fieldhouse Yancy’s staff and some members of the Second Police District gathered to discuss issues related to loitering and food vendors outside the remaining shelter which houses both migrants and Chicago residents “I know this is an important and overdue conversation to have,” Yancy said as he opened the meeting He noted that said his office is working through complaints of a myriad of issues dating as far back as August the city opened a shelter in the Lake Shore Hotel most of whom were asylum seekers from Venezuela It was part of a network of temporary shelters the city set up to house the influx of new arrivals to Chicago since August of 2022 women and children to sanctuary cities in protest of federal immigration law more than 51,000 refugees and asylum seekers have arrived in Chicago over the last two and a half years though the surge has slowed in the last year Almost a year after the Lake Shore Hotel shelter opened the state opened a shelter in the adjacent Best Western Hotel The city ultimately closed the Lake Shore Hotel shelter last October as part of its decompression plan as rates of new arrivals steadily decreased while the Best Western shelter remained open a coordinated effort between the city and the state opened the former Best Western up to begin housing Chicagoans experiencing homelessness the shelter’s total population sits at 764 Months prior, Chicago had launched its One System Initiative, which merged the city’s migrant housing and homeless shelter system the city committed to reducing the number of beds in its shelter system for asylum seekers to about 2,1000 the new system hosts 7,445 shelter beds for anyone experiencing homelessness in the city About 10% of the beds in the combined system “more than doubles the shelter capacity of Chicago’s shelter system making significant progress towards closing Chicago’s unmet need for shelter beds.”  Under the One System Initiative, the city’s “Landing Zone”  for new arrivals transitioned to a centralized intake process known as the Shelter Placement and Resource Center (SPARC) The city’s first 24/7 intake center for shelter and basic services came as Illinois faced a growing need for shelter capacity as housing costs have increased drastically homelessness has increased significantly,” said Colleen Mahoney assistant director to the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness in the Illinois Department of Human Services the rate of homelessness rose by almost 207% – a rise officials said was driven by dramatic rent increases said the state plans to transition shelter operations to the city when funding ends on June 30 A request for proposals for SPARC and shelter operators is planned for winter or spring of 2025 “Those shelter beds are definitely needed in our systems,” Riley said “So we will release this RFP so that delegates can apply for it and they will take over starting on July 1.”  Asked about how long residents can expect the shelters to operate officials said there is no end date in mind “That’s not to say that it’s a permanent situation,” Kylon Hooks strategic shelter operations administrator for the Illinois Department of Human Services “It is to say we don’t know the end date past June 30.” “Our goal is not to close the shelter,” Riley added noise and loitering issues near residences The 2023 community meeting announcing the Lake Shore Hotel shelter was divisive for Hyde Parkers with many people shouting over city officials and each other “We as a community have a concern based on what we’ve experienced the last year,” said one resident “There needs to be a plan on how to live with that occupancy both of the tenants as well as the neighborhood.” was that residents hadn’t been consulted about the use of the Lake Shore and Best Western hotel as shelters Riley and Soto replied that the city did not consult residents due to the sudden nature of the “humanitarian crisis” it was facing “The city was looking for space everywhere and most of the hotels that were used as new arrival shelters were offered,” Soto said “It was a crisis situation and the city responded to the best of our ability.” Some attendees expressed concern about their property values to which city officials assured would not be affected Others complained of people defecating and urinating in public near the shelter “I look out my window and my whole quality of life is just downhill,” Cathy Perry “The city has come into our neighborhood without saying anything to us the first time and the second time … our whole environment has changed 1,000%.”  state officials reiterated ongoing public safety strategies and programs implemented at the shelter including signage to remind shelter residents of best practices The state also hosts regular community meetings with shelter residents “with reminders of expectations and ways of being good neighbors,” Hooks said and  security staff conduct hourly perimeter checks of the exterior of the facility to redirect people not to loiter or litter and to ask food vendors to leave the premises Among the shelter’s services is programming to acclimate new arrivals to the area and encourage them to engage with their communities Hooks said the system also provides referrals to external supports such as child care mental health care and substance use prevention and recovery care and makes sure that school-aged children are enrolled in school Captain Clark of the Second Police District requested that neighbors call 911 when there are issues “The calls for service are not very high,” Clark said She noted that from December on they only received seven calls in the area to which some residents alleged that police had not been responding to their calls Yancy committed to holding bimonthly meetings going forward about the shelter Tickets for the BST Hyde Park Darts Championship are now on general sale Four of the sport’s biggest names will take to the famous Great Oak Stage on Tuesday July 8 as they prepare to do battle in a knockout tournament in the capital World number one Luke Humphries and World Champion Luke Littler will headline alongside Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen and former Women’s World Matchplay champion Fallon Sherrock The event – part of Hyde Park’s Open House summer festival – will also see Humphries Van Gerwen and Sherrock take part in a Pro-Am doubles tournament alongside special guests Olly Murs CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS Powered by Zoocha While the walkable trails and physical amenities are what initially attracted us to Hyde Park what I have found to be the real charm of the community is how friendly and welcoming all our neighbors have been As we walk and bike to the neighborhood library we have felt warmly welcomed into the community I am excited about this proposed development as it adds more housing and allows us to welcome even more neighbors More: A better Hyde Park Square demands political guts and action | Letters During a time when our national politics are increasingly defined by exclusion and division I believe it is especially important for City Council to approve this project and emphasize the importance of welcome and inclusion but in supporting housing all across Cincinnati Welcoming more neighbors to Hyde Park Square not only aligns with our values but I believe it will also make it safer for our kids One of the reasons I feel safe letting my kids play more independently on the Wasson Way trail is because there are so many other people walking around I know that car drivers will have a harder time seeing my child crossing the street but if several other adults are crossing at the same time then it will increase visibility for pedestrians and hopefully slow cars down with more neighbors living on Hyde Park Square who will be walking around eating outside and walking their kids to Hyde Park School as well especially for our smaller and less visible pedestrians More: City ignored Hyde Park residents, ignored zoning, ignored common sense | Letters Sharing Hyde Park with more neighbors won't destroy its charm but rather enhance it for current and future residents to enjoy Heather Pine lives in Hyde Park and works as a chemical engineer Horn helps help out during an Earth Day event at Hyde Park Academy Site Design Group horticulturalist Mark Jirik demonstrates how to plant "starts" during an Earth Day event at Hyde Park Academy Shielded from the light morning drizzle in her apple-green raincoat Horn leaned over the school's flagpole planter and tamped the soil down around an Early Bird Catmint she had just put in the ground a half-a-dozen of Horn's Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sisters also decked out in the sorority's signature green and pink carried seedling trays across the school's lawn conferred with a horticulturalist about where to plant things Horn and her sisters were among the 350 volunteers who braved the cool and drizzly weather last Saturday morning to help out with "Earth Day on the South Side," an event organized at Hyde Park Academy High School and in nearby Jackson Park by Emerald South Development Collaborative and the Obama Foundation Emerald South was established in 2018 to attract capital and coordinate investment in the areas surrounding the planned Obama Presidential Center (OPC) The nonprofit is perhaps best known for its collaboration with artist Amanda Williams last year in her “Redefining Redlining” project which involved planting thousands of red tulips across vacant lots in the Washington Park neighborhood "We work closely with Chicago Public Schools," said Josh Harris vice president of public engagement for the Obama Foundation The foundation has for years partnered with Hyde Park Academy through a number of its community initiatives including My Brother's Keeper Alliance and The Future Series which “exposes high school students to a variety of career pathways through intimate conversations with accomplished leaders,” has had a particularly strong presence at Hyde Park Academy booking appearances at the school by ABC7 anchor Samantha Chapman Silver Room proprietor Eric Williams and jazz composer Herbie Hancock "This is a school we care about," said Harris The relationship between the Obama Foundation and Hyde Park Academy goes beyond the support of programs in the school The foundation funded construction of the Bob Pickens Track and Field across the street in Jackson Park which was completed in 2022 and serves Hyde Park Academy for physical education purposes and as a practice field for its football team Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have also met with the school's students on a number of occasions was at the Earth Day event representing the school’s Working on Womanhood (WOW) support group WOW and Hyde Park Academy got quite a bit of press in 2022 when Michelle Obama had a private conversation with a group of WOW members at the school Woods noted that the community had come out to “help Hyde Park plant some stuff and make the community look better "I see community,” said Hyde Park Academy principal Dr Rosette Edinburg as she watched Woods and other Hyde Park Academy students and community members plant arrays of perennials “I see an investment in Woodlawn and Hyde Park Academy.” Even though Hyde Park Academy’s exterior was renovated in 2019 just three years after the Obama Foundation chose Jackson Park as the site of the presidential center the foundation has been looking for ways to improve its public presence "We've been looking at how to improve the front of Hyde Park Academy," said Ernie Wong the landscape architecture firm managing the Earth Day landscaping at Hyde Park Academy Wong said that the volunteers were applying “really simple treatments" to the school’s front lawn and planting beds including “putting some flowering perennials in front of the foundation plantings alongside of the building itself (Site Design Group is also firm behind the universally accessible playground at the east end of the Midway Plaisance which was substantially funded by the Obama Foundation.) More than 1,700 plants were put in the ground at the high school this Earth Day In addition to the Early Bird Catmint that Horn had planted Double Play Blue Kazoo and other herbaceous and woody plants now serves as chair of the joint Enhance Our Environment committee of the Akarama Foundation and the local chapter of AKA As she gathered her sorority sisters for a group photo she said she was “out here helping the community beautify my school and my old neighborhood.” Shelly Sandler and Charlotte Miller pose for a photo during a Passover Seder at Montgomery Place Young children hunt for eggs during the Vineyard Church of Hyde Park's Easter EggStravaganza in Stout Park initiated Montgomery Place’s annual Passover Seder by carefully lighting candles as dozens of attendees took their seats in front of ornate place settings who helped organize the first Seder at Montgomery Place who had moved into the retirement community “My parents used to have these huge Seders so I didn’t want them to miss out,” she said a ritualistic meal celebrated at the beginning of Passover more than 80 people attend the annual event including many residents who aren’t Jewish Passover commemorates the ancient Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt Seders are a time to gather with loved ones and retell this story of deliverance “As a holiday of family and connection and memory it’s one of the richest opportunities for people to connect to each other and to connect to tradition,” said Rabbi Daniel Kirzane of KAM Isaiah Israel “It’s an opportunity for people to remind ourselves of the sacred foundational stories of freedom and deliverance that we recall all year long but that are especially acute at this time of year.” As Jewish residents gathered to mark the beginning of Passover Christian communities were preparing for Easter the Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection after crucifixion this included special services and activities for Holy Week the week leading up to Easter Sunday that concludes the 40-day Lenten season it also included preparations for Sunday luncheons and egg hunts prepared for its annual Easter Eggstravaganza and multiple services it hosted over the weekend pastor Aimee Tucker described the season as a celebration of renewal and being in service to others “The reminders of the ways in which Jesus came and offered himself sacrificially and the depth of love that he showed to those he encountered especially those that were on the margins or without power in the society around him is really meaningful and significant to remember at any time but in the moment we’re in as well,” Tucker said acknowledges that “evil is widespread in the world and often seems to be triumphant.” He added that the holiday has a particular resonance during this tense political moment “We are collectively coming to understand that things we took for granted about our civic life—norms the rule of law—are simply gone,” Black said “The movement from Good Friday to Easter is a process of letting go of politics of nostalgia There is no returning to the world before Good Friday we need to make ourselves ready to receive the new life that is going to emerge because of what has been taken away and what we have left behind.” Boston police on Tuesday night identified the child fatally struck by a school bus in Hyde Park as 5-year-old Lens A He was struck after getting off the bus Monday afternoon An official from the school said community members are heartbroken over his death The boy, who attended UP Academy Dorchester, was on his way home from school and had just gotten off the bus when he was hit around 2:45 p.m., authorities said “Our hearts are broken for the family and words can’t express how much this loss will mean to our community,” Hillary Casson UP Academy Dorchester teaches about 640 students in prekindergarten through eighth grade according to the UP Education Network’s website Students up to sixth grade attend nearby UP Academy Holland Both are part of the Boston Public Schools director of operations at the Holland campus Members of the boy’s family met with two faith leaders from Catholic Parishes of the Blue Hills on Tuesday morning “They provided spiritual comfort to the family,” Morton said He said members of the area’s Haitian community also sought spiritual support from Rev Police on Tuesday said the boy was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital Officials have not released any information about the bus driver who remained at a wrenching scene on Washington Street half a dozen flower arrangements sat on the corner of Washington Street and Glenwood Avenue has lived at her house on Washington Street in Hyde Park for 31 years She said she was in her kitchen Monday afternoon when she heard a girl screaming outside She came out to see a young boy on the ground She said cars are always speeding down Washington Street and that residents are watchful when exiting their cars She said her parked car got hit about two years ago who said she watches the school bus drop-off out her window each day recalled that the boy and girl got off the bus on Washington Street on Monday although they were usually dropped off on Glenwood Avenue “He was a skinny little boy,” Pierre-Charles said Boston police Commissioner Michael Cox told reporters Monday that the crash happened “very close to home.” The school system’s superintendent said “we are grieving this heartbreaking loss.” Police investigators remained at the scene until long after dark Law enforcement officials said the investigation will take time a fairly serious investigation,” Cox said Monday Casson said staff at the school will work to take care of community members affected by the boy’s death “We will do everything we can to support the family as well as the students families and staff in our school community,” she said Material from previous Globe stories was included in this report The residents of Hyde Park have discovered what the current Cincinnati City Council thinks of their opinions. The council voted in favor of allowing new development to take place in Hyde Park Square which goes against what appears to be the majority opinion of Hyde Park residents Most of this council has disregarded the residents' wishes I have to wonder how many Hyde Park residents voted for this council and what they think of their choices today This is only the start of this council going against the wishes of additional neighborhoods This council will continue to abuse the current zoning laws Is this council being influenced by some outside source Is this council returning to the days of past councils There is one way to correct this situation Since the mayor has not spoken out in favor of the residents I'm heartbroken about Hyde Park Square plansAs someone who grew up in Hyde Park and raised my child there I am heartbroken about the development plans for the Square some of the loudest voices opposed to these plans voted for the current Cincinnati City Council and mayor Their votes were based on who those candidates were supporting on a national level instead of how the candidates planned to govern Cincinnati More: Reactions: Cincinnati council should pump the brakes on Hyde Park Square project | Letters Most residents think that when they speak on an important issue at City Hall to the City Council the members are listening to gain public input to help them with their decision They expect their representatives to pay attention and understand different viewpoints before making a decision After sitting through five-plus hours on April 22 some council members pulled out three- to six-page typed remarks indicating their decisions on critical issues These prepared remarks indicate they had already made up their minds and wanted to sound intelligent in their statements with a prepared speech If they already knew their votes and feelings why did we all sit through the five-plus hours lied and indicated they were unsure of their vote on the rezoning of Hyde Park Square City Council allowed a developer to put in an 85-foot-high building in an area zoned for a 50-foot-high building Council says it wants to help lessen our housing shortage by adding 120 apartments that will rent from $3,000 to $4,500 or more a month and a boutique hotel If the council really cared about affordable housing why not eliminate the boutique hotel and add reasonably priced apartments in that space The answer is that the developer would not make as much money Almost 4,500 residents signed a petition against the project and approximately 21 neighborhood councils throughout the city were against this rezoning and their political contributions result in carte blanche approval to maximize profits with no restraint Only Councilman Scotty Johnson and Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney had the guts to vote against this rezoning We will see the other seven council members who voted for the proposal when we vote at the next election We have already mobilized many people who will work to ensure that they are not reelected The only recourse for citizens who do not like how their representatives voted is to change representatives Cincinnati's elected officials like to claim we are a city of neighborhoods Each neighborhood has its community council they make recommendations to the city and help guide development and we owe those who serve our appreciation the City Council does not care what they think I have come to that conclusion based on the recent vote on a development plan for Hyde Park Square I am sure some people live in the area and think this is a good idea I guess that if you polled folks in the area No one is against a development plan that would increase vitality and vibrance to the Square The seven council members who voted for the plan should be ashamed for violating their pledge to listen to the people Perhaps the wealthy developer drowned them out (This story was updated to add a photo gallery.) Newport Condominiums resident Loretta Flanagan weighs in on city and state efforts to convert the former Best Western hotel at 4900 S during a public meeting in the Nichols Park Fieldhouse Anita West of the ad hoc group Hyde Park Neighbors Preserving Community speaks in opposition of the city's efforts to convert the former Best Western Hotel at 4900 S State Senator Robert Peters (D-13th) listens as Ald Desmon Yancy (5th) speaks on the city's proposal to convert the former Best Western Hotel at 4900 S Chicago Beach Drive hotel into a homeless shelter (Left to right) the Lake Shore Hotel and Best Western Hotel Tempers flared among neighbors of an East Hyde Park homeless shelter during a town hall Monday night where the loudest voices in the audience implored elected officials to cancel the project Organized by the Hyde Park Neighbors Preserving Community billed as a forum for airing grievances about the shelter drew more than 200 mid-South Siders to the Nichols Park Fieldhouse It began with a lengthy presentation on the chronology of the Best Western Hotel’s evolution from vacant property to state-owned migrant shelter to city-run shelter for anyone unhoused and descended into screeds against “illegal immigrants” and claims of municipal officials self-dealing on shelter contracts “The city never engaged with our community,” said Cathy Perry “We are giving the community a platform to express their concerns about the city shifting the landscape of our neighborhood and quality of life overnight.” In September 2023, with only a few days’ notice, the city opened a shelter at the Lake Shore Hotel, 4900B S. Lake Shore Dr., to accommodate more than 300 people in need of housing, primarily asylum seekers from Venezuela. It was one of more than a dozen temporary shelters established in response to the influx of new arrivals to Chicago since August 2022 Greg Abbott began busing thousands of migrants to sanctuary cities in protest of federal immigration policies In the past two and a half years, more than 51,000 refugees and asylum seekers have arrived in the city though the pace slowed significantly last year Nearly a year after the Lake Shore Hotel shelter opened the state opened an additional shelter in the neighboring Best Western hotel the city closed the Lake Shore Hotel shelter last October as part of its decompression strategy while the Best Western shelter remained operational In December, a joint effort between the city and state repurposed the Best Western shelter to house all Chicagoans experiencing homelessness. The shelter is now part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s One System Initiative which runs five integrated shelters for both permanent residents and asylum seekers the city is set to take sole control of the lakefront facility but will continue to receive state funding The transition comes amid rising homelessness in the city. Last year, the number of longtime residents living in shelters or on the streets increased by more than 1,000 people, from 3,943 to 4,945, according to the city’s most recent point-in-time count the projected number of Chicagoans experiencing homelessness in 2024 was nearly 19,000 people And according to a recent statement from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) provided to the Herald the lakefront shelter currently houses about 390 people of whom the majority are families with children “This shelter provides a vital service in meeting the need of families with children for immediate access to safe shelter and supporting them in planning for long term housing and other goals,” said a spokesperson for IDHS Describing the shelter as “an important tool in a larger toolbox of supports,” IDHS noted that it also offers case management services language learning and connections to affordable housing to quickly move people out of the system and into permanent dwellings Chicago Public Schools is also assisting with local school enrollment for the 200 children at the shelter the shelter works to support residents as neighbors to the local community through regular resident community meetings where good neighbor practices are reviewed and consistent security staff in the building and on the facility perimeter,” IDHS said But meeting organizers also presented a catalog of grievances about the shelters’ residents They backed up their claims with lurid photographs ranging from images of public urination and defecation to unpermitted street vending Attendees also raised concerns about the supposed toll of the shelter on their property values and alleged an increase in crimes such as drug dealing and prostitution The Indian Village section of East Hyde Park is predominantly made up of high-rise condo and apartment buildings Several attendees expressed that they had worked hard to buy a lakefront property only to no longer feel safe in the neighborhood One audience member even said residents should take steps to arm themselves “People paid damn good money to move into Hyde Park,” said Tom Jacks Many attendees emphatically demanded that their elected officials take actions to shutter the shelter and move it to a less densely populated residential area “We are asking the city to stop the revolving door on this shelter create a plan with actionable tasks and timelines to find alternative placements for everyone in the shelter by September 2025,” said Perry to considerable applause and acclamations from the audience we no longer want to be sacrificed as martyrs for the city's political agenda.” Robert Peters (D-13th) listened to the entire presentation and tried to speak about his efforts to address his constituents’ concerns about the shelter although neither he nor the other elected officials who were in attendance are directly responsible for the shelter’s operations “We need to know exactly what's happening,” he said “I also plan to go into the shelter myself and see inside.” Last Friday, Peters sent a letter to IDHS and the Mayor’s Office expressing the concerns of the surrounding community who are “directly impacted by the shelter’s operations,” while also reaffirming his longstanding commitment to “ending homelessness.” Peters requested that the city cap the shelter's capacity at 400 to 450 people – down from its current cap at 764 – and designate its use exclusively for families He also urged the city to promise not to expand the shelter into the adjacent Lake Shore Hotel building (both buildings share the same owner) and to install additional police cameras in the shelter’s vicinity "If we have 200 kids and a bunch of parents on the street I would make a bet that that is a far greater harm to public safety than having them in transitional housing," Peters told the Herald last week The city and state officials charged with operating the shelter did not attend the meeting Event organizers said they extended invitations to Beatriz Ponce de Leon Yancy called the city’s messaging about the shelter “evasive” and said it had been “derelict in its duty” to listen to surrounding residents’ concerns. He said city officials’ presentation at a February meeting with residents was patronizing rather than sympathetic “To lecture people for 30 minutes about a humanitarian crisis when they live in their own crisis across the street Yancy told frustrated residents in the audience that they could challenge the city’s zoning designation for the shelter by filing an appeal with the Zoning Board of Appeals According to a letter sent to Yancy’s office Monday by the city’s Department of Planning and Development the shelter’s property is currently zoned as a “Community Shopping District” with a business license that expires June 15 piled the blame on the Johnson administration “This is the result of ineptitude on the fifth floor of the City of Chicago.” Tarver questioned whether Springfield should continue appropriating money for Johnson’s One System Initiative for prioritizing new arrivals over permanent residents and a lack of transparency In a letter to IDHS and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget released last week Tarver wrote that the $91.5 million in Gov JB Pritzker’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal for the initiative should be withheld until “neighborhood concerns are addressed and a plan inclusive of all voices is solidified.” Little consideration at the meeting was given to the voices who expressed support for keeping a facility for the homeless in place Niketa Brar was one of the two people who publicly spoke in defense of keeping the shelter in operation Brar was repeatedly heckled by members of the audience and “This wasn't really a community discussion,” she told the Herald afterwards “It was meant to be the airing of particular grievances.”  or “not in my backyard,” concerns over those who want to provide shelter to the unhoused “This was a conversation that was positioning property ownership as the only right to enter this discussion said she frequently walks with her kids past the shelter Many of the children living there attend school with her children Brar thought shelter residents deserved to have their voices heard “If you really want to talk about this,” she said “then let’s have this conversation with the mothers who are trying to make sure their babies are safe.” It is possible to see someone on the Flying Pig marathon course eight or more times – Julia Muntel has done it for several years now she was at eight spots (nine if you count the entrance and exit to the Eden Park overlook) to cheer on a friend She wouldn't divulge all her secrets but she had several tips for people hoping to spot a friend or family member this weekend Study the course map and the road closures Figure out where you want to go and how to get there Muntel has run the course several times and knows it well She drives and will park in a spot where she won't be blocked in She also wears running shoes so she can quickly get from her car to the course and back in Hyde Park and Mariemont squares and at the finish line Spots that aren't as crowded but still accessible: you'll be able to see if they're ahead or behind of their anticipated pace Make big signs and wear something easy to spot The easiest signs to see from running the course are large and high in the air – tape it to a broomstick handle or yardstick a tradition that started a few years back while spectating the Queen Bee half-marathon held in October There's a lot of logistical planning involved in seeing someone at multiple points but participants have spent several months or more training for the event "My philosophy is if you're going to go cheer for somebody who's put in that amount of time you have to put a little effort into it also," Muntel said Muntel often gets to "know" the runners around the people she's cheering for because they keep seeing her and they are happy to see her even if they didn't know her before race day (Full disclosure: I was one of those people last year and saw Muntel at least six times on the half-marathon course.) Want to cheer in a crowd?The race has several "party zones" throughout the course: Many businesses along the course have planned early hours or special events during the Pig Flying Pig organizers and runners had these tips for spectators: The development site sits between Edwards Road and Michigan Avenue approximately 0.2 miles away from nearby Hyde Park School "There already are significant traffic problems here, and those haven't been addressed — let alone (with development), what is the new state going to be?" said John Zinsser, who represents the development-opposition group Save Hyde Park Square WATCH: Residents concerned about proposed Hyde Park development and its impact on traffic Zinsser shared findings from a survey conducted by Save Hyde Park Square asking Hyde Park School parents and faculty their thoughts on the development's traffic impacts "The survey was done by a notice going out in the PTO newsletter and by handing out flyers (at the school)," Zinsser said 90% reported feeling there are pedestrian safety issues near the school reported concerns over the potential construction and its impact on traffic WCPO 9 News was unable to independently verify the results of this survey developer PLK Communities' chief development officer said the company understands the concern "We’ve recognized from the beginning that traffic congestion is a significant concern in the area even without our project," Nick Lingenfelter said "We’ve been transparent with the community about these challenges and are open to being part of broader Lingenfelter also pointed to a recently completed traffic impact survey conducted by the firm Bayer Becker and reviewed by the Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) "The study specifically evaluated whether our proposed development would worsen current traffic conditions," he said DOTE concluded that 'the proposed development will have minimal impact to existing travel conditions on Edwards Road.'" DOTE officials reported that over the last four years 22 crashes occurred on Edwards Road between Observatory Avenue and Erie Avenue which they called "slightly higher than would be expected." You can read the full statement from Ligenfelter here: a Bridgeport-based Chinese American eatery As of Friday, menus for both Asian American eateries and some new items are available at the South Side Seoul Taco, 1321 E. 57th St. The fusion, Seoul Taco founder David Choi told the Chicago Eater comes amid declining demand for dine-in service and increased carryout and delivery orders Casual dining chains (think TGI Friday’s and Red Lobster) have been on the decline nationwide for much of the 21st century. But since the Covid-19 pandemic threw the entire restaurant industry into crisis in 2020 studies show there’s been a significant shift in restaurant patrons’ preferences for carryout and delivery over dining in hastening the decline for chain restaurants and putting new strain on independent sit-down eateries Skyrocketing food costs and increased wages amid industry staffing shortages provided impetus for restaurants to raise their prices, a big factor discouraging customers from returning to sit-down dining in full force more than 90% of independent restaurants raised their prices last year according to a recent study by the James Beard Foundation Choi told the Eater that the two have been friends for years and long talked about working together could also extend to Seoul Taco’s four other Chicago locations Choi opened the restaurant’s first Chicago location in River North in 2016 and its second in Hyde Park two years later Choi operates four Seoul Taco locations in Chicago and six in Missouri Its menu consists of Korean-style Mexican street food burritos and nachos complete with bulgogi beef or spicy pork as well as Korean-inspired rice bowls and kimchi fried rice The first special collaboration debuted at the newly combined eateries is a Korean fried chicken sandwich Shortly after opening his 57th Street outpost in 2018, Choi told the Herald his goal for the eatery was to offer quick and affordable bites “It’s just a little bit different than what you would normally get here,” he said 3LP was conceived during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 Cai operated out of a shared kitchen in Humboldt Park before expanding to 3LP’s first brick-and-mortar in Bridgeport last June; he opened a second location in Avondale this February and a third in Anaheim salt and pepper fried chicken and hot beef sandwiches A frequent collaborator with Chicago-area eateries Cai has previously partnered with Antique Taco Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits and Blind Barber Choi and Cai could not be reached for comment as of press time