On a current sunny spring afternoon on one block in Lincoln Sq., youngsters run and blow bubbles, make chalk drawings on the pavement and zip by on scooters.
Pedestrians, canine walkers and cyclists go by the 4700 block of North Lincoln Avenue — with out concern for autos rushing by.
It’s a stark distinction to the standard rush hour on the block, when vehicles would come to a standstill on the slender avenue, drivers honking at one another.
That stretch of Lincoln Avenue, between West Lawrence Avenue and West Leland Avenue, has been closed to car visitors since April 21 to accommodate building on the Lincoln and Leland intersection.
When Rony Islam, a member of the Coronary heart of Lincoln Sq. Neighbors Affiliation, heard in regards to the closure, he gathered some associates and went to a ironmongery shop for provides to construct benches that they’ve positioned on the block, together with chalk.
“As soon as we put benches down, inside 30 seconds youngsters have been sitting on them, enjoying on them,” mentioned Islam.
“We needed to reap the benefits of having this chance the place we now have this open avenue and needed to create a spot the place individuals might hang around, store on the native companies, spend time with their households,” Islam, 29, mentioned.
Rony Islam, a motorbike security advocate and Coronary heart of Lincoln Sq. Neighbors Affiliation board member stands in the midst of a briefly shutdown part of North Lincoln Avenue between West Lawrence Avenue and West Leland Avenue, within the Lincoln Sq. neighborhood, Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Solar-Occasions
He hopes the impromptu pedestrian method can catch the eyes of metropolis officers who work to make Chicago’s streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The development is a part of a metropolis Division of Transportation initiative to enhance Leland Avenue between Western and Lincoln avenues. It builds off the 2019 Lincoln Sq. Grasp Plan, which sought to reinforce visitors circulation and enhance highway security by constructing low stress roads, generally known as greenways, and guarded bike lanes.
“The [current] venture goals to extend security, enhance walkability, assist group and financial improvement, and improve public areas, together with the Plaza adjoining to the CTA Brown Line Station,” a CDOT spokesperson mentioned.
The development was prolonged one other week and is anticipated to be completed by late subsequent week.
The development on Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Sq. is a part of a metropolis Division of Transportation initiative to enhance Leland Avenue between Western and Lincoln avenues. It builds off the 2019 Lincoln Sq. Grasp Plan, which sought to reinforce visitors circulation and enhance highway security by constructing low stress roads, generally known as greenways, and guarded bike lanes.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Solar-Occasions
Meantime, some residents and companies on the block have loved “a pleasant little breather” from the visitors.
“[The closure has] really elevated our enterprise,” mentioned Sean Herron, normal supervisor of Gearhead Outfitters, 4724 N. Lincoln Ave., which has positioned a gross sales rack stuffed with merchandise on the sidewalk for the reason that highway closed.
“From a private perspective, dwelling right here in Lincoln Sq., I feel it’s a wonderful thought and I like seeing individuals out right here,” Herron mentioned. “However from a enterprise facet, we’ve acquired to do extra research.”
Whereas the highway closure is happening within the spring, Herron questioned what occurs to a car-free highway within the winter and identified the necessity for ADA compliance and different rules. finish
Derek Luszcz, co-owner of Gene’s Sausage Store and Delicatessen, 4750 N. Lincoln Ave., mentioned the deli’s enterprise has slowed a bit for the reason that highway closure resulting from individuals who don’t dwell within the space steering clear.
“It’s the individuals which might be from exterior the group which might be having the toughest time getting right here,” Luszcz mentioned. “And we see that with ZIP code transactions … they’re coming from the speedy space. We’re not seeing the individuals coming from the northern suburbs, the western suburbs, like we’d on a median weekend.”
Luszcz helps the thought of a vehicle-less pedestrian method within the neighborhood, however he questions whether or not the 4700 block of North Lincoln Avenue is the fitting place for one. He mentioned an absence of parking and public restrooms makes it “not sustainable.”
“It’s sort of been, let’s simply wing it and see what occurs, and the winging it’s not occurring,” Luszcz mentioned, including that the pedestrian space ought to embody plans for infrastructure to make it sustainable for companies and the group.
Islam mentioned any everlasting pedestrian method would entail rigorous planning with every stakeholder.
“Clearly a highway closure associated to building isn’t supreme, the place we’re sort of figuring issues out on the fly,” Islam mentioned.
Islam envisions Chicago sooner or later having the widespread pedestrian methods like the colourful plazas in some nations in Europe and Asia.
“European pedestrian plazas and central enterprise districts are mild years forward of something that we’re doing in Chicago, and I feel it’s one thing that we must be piloting exterior of simply avenue festivals,” Islam mentioned.
The Coronary heart of Lincoln Sq. Neighbors Affiliation has acquired greater than 1,000 responses to its survey of neighbors and companies looking for suggestions in regards to the pedestrian method. About 70% of respondents mentioned they strongly assist a higher function of pedestrianization on the block, and about 83% mentioned they suppose pedestrian-only entry must be expanded past avenue festivals.
The group plans to proceed accumulating surveys, then meet with the Lincoln Sq. Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce and Ald. Matt Martin (forty seventh) to debate the opportunity of a everlasting public method within the space.
Islam not less than hopes the highway closure gives a glimpse to residents of what might be attainable throughout the town.
“Seeing so many youngsters play on the street whereas their mother and father are consuming at one of many eating places, having the child run up, say one thing to them after which run again out on the road and the households don’t have to fret about automotive visitors, which might be extremely deadly — it’s actually unbelievable seeing this type of house, and it’s one thing I would like for each neighborhood in Chicago.”
