Hey everybody,

I really love this time of year when summer starts quietly giving way to fall. Kids head back to school, the weather cools off a little, the evenings get shorter, and you start feeling that pull to spend a little more time cozying up inside. There’s something comforting about that seasonal rhythm.

I think neighborhoods have their own rhythms like that, too. The activities change with the weather, of course, but there’s also a broader shift in what people are thinking about and paying attention to. Summer is full of growth, events, construction, travel, and generally being on the move. Fall feels a little different. It’s a time to take stock of what got done, clean up what needs attention, and start thinking ahead to what comes next.

I often think about “seasons of life” as a metaphor, and I think the actual seasons can bring changes in our lives, too. Not necessarily anything big or dramatic, but a different routine, a different pace, and a chance to put your attention on things that were there all along but weren’t necessarily the focus. And I think that’s true in my Aldermanic work, too. Lots to think about and plan for in the coming season.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a good summer and that the start of the school year has been treating you well. Let’s get into the newsletter!

Thank you to everyone who came out to my First Ward meeting at the end of July. We covered a lot of ground, including updates on the 34th Street reconstruction, the Berwyn State Bank redevelopment, traffic safety, and several issues currently making their way through City Council. Most of those topics have been covered in prior newsletters, so I won’t regurgitate that here.

I also kicked off this year’s First Ward participatory budgeting process! Residents shared ideas for how to use my aldermanic expense funds on projects that directly benefit the neighborhood, then used stickers to vote on the ideas they liked most. If you keep reading, you’ll have your own chance to propose ideas below, and I’ll be taking that feedback and narrowing it down to projects that are feasible and eligible for funding before bringing the final options back to you all for a vote.

As always, one of my favorite parts of these meetings is the conversation that happens after the formal updates. Residents had good questions questions, shared concerns, and gave me plenty to follow up on. Thank you to everyone who came and helped make it a productive meeting!

What should we fund in the First Ward this year? Participatory budgeting is officially underway, which means residents get a direct say in how I use the majority of my aldermanic expense fund.

Last year, residents helped fund pedestrian crossing signs, school zone safety signage, food pantry heaters, the Irving Garden Program, and support for It Takes A Village, Friends of the Berwyn Library, and the Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative. Altogether, more than $6,500 went back into community projects and organizations chosen by residents.

Now it’s time to decide what we want to do this year.

First Ward residents will be able to access a short submission form where they can suggest a project they’d like to see funded. Have an idea for safer streets? A better public space? A neighborhood improvement? A community project that could use some help? Send it in. I’ll then narrow them down to projects that are feasible and eligible and bring the final options back to residents for a vote

Note: Access is limited to First Ward residents. If you are a First Ward resident and want access, sign up for the newsletter or message me.

On August 26th, a really strong crowd came out to see the first detailed concepts for what could eventually happen with the BNSF railroad crossings through Berwyn and Riverside. I was glad to hear such a wide range of perspectives. There was excitement about finally addressing a problem that has affected Berwyn practically since the city was founded, but also very real concerns about construction, traffic, access to homes and businesses, and how some of these options could change the way we move around the city. And, of course, there were people wondering whether any of this will actually happen.

I understand the skepticism. Berwyn residents have heard for decades that something might eventually be done about these crossings. I have no idea whether one of these projects will ultimately be built, and there is no guarantee that it will. However, what gives me some optimism is that BNSF is participating in this process as a partner, including in conversations around funding. That does not guarantee success either, but it does feel different from past efforts. If anything is going to change, this is the kind of process that would get us there.

The concepts themselves would be huge undertakings. The best-ranked alternatives include roadway underpasses, hybrid options that would raise the railroad while lowering certain streets, and a Harlem Avenue overpass. If one of these projects moves forward, construction would be enormously disruptive for a period of time, with major changes to roads, access, and railroad operations.

The hope, though, is that the short-term pain would lead to a long-term benefit that could genuinely transform the area. Separating trains from street traffic could improve safety, emergency access, travel reliability, and the way people move through this part of Berwyn for generations.

However, I also want to be realistic about the timeline. Even if everything falls into place, we are likely looking at maybe ten years before construction would even begin. This is not something that is going to happen overnight.

If you couldn’t make the meeting, I really encourage you to click on the link/button below, look through the presentation, and share your thoughts. Public comments are being accepted through September 25th and will become part of the official study record.

The 34th Street reconstruction is continuing to move forward and, while there is still a lot of work ahead, we’re getting closer to the point where residents will start seeing more of the final roadway take shape.

I know the construction has been a major disruption for the folks who live closest to it. Over the past several weeks, I’ve been following up on concerns about dust, rough road conditions, confusing detours, access to homes, and traffic around schools now that they’re back in session. I’ve also been working with the construction team and Police Department on better signage and traffic control in areas where temporary two-way streets and closures have created confusing or unsafe situations.

The important thing to remember is that this is a full reconstruction, not just a resurfacing project. When it’s complete, 34th Street will have new underground infrastructure and a completely rebuilt roadway. Eligible homes are also beginning to have lead or galvanized water service lines replaced while the street is already open, which helps us make the most of the work happening now.

In the near future, you should start to see roadway reconstruction begin near Harlem Avenue and move east toward Ridgeland. That will be a major milestone and a more visible sign of the progress being made.

If you want to keep up with the latest construction updates, you can always check the project website here: 34th Street Project Updates.

There is still going to be some inconvenience along the way, but I’m excited to see this project continue moving toward the finish line. In the meantime, I’ll keep pushing to make the construction period as manageable and safe as possible.

If you run into an issue related to the 34th Street Project, you can contact Brad Bahn, the lead construction engineer, directly by call or text at 224-275-0030. And, of course, you can always reach out to me and I’m happy to follow up.

On August 25th, City Council unanimously approved the redevelopment agreement for the former Berwyn State Bank building. That vote means we can finally move from planning and negotiation into actually getting work underway at the building.

Under the timeline laid out in the agreement, the project is expected to be substantially complete within about two years. The plan includes roughly 34 apartments along with commercial space on the first floor, bringing new residents, businesses, and activity into one of the most prominent buildings in the Depot District.

I’m also really happy with the protections built into the agreement. I trust the development team and want to see them succeed, but with a project this large, it’s important that the City is protected if something unexpected happens. The agreement includes safeguards for the public investment as well as protections for the building itself.

One part that was especially important to me was protecting commercial space along Windsor Avenue. Most of the first floor will remain commercial. Only the spaces west of the main entrance could potentially be converted into live-work units, and even then, only if they remain vacant for at least 18 months after the building receives its certificate of occupancy. I think that strikes a good balance by keeping storefronts and commercial activity as the priority while still allowing some flexibility if those spaces simply can’t find tenants.

Overall, I’m just glad to see this project moving forward. There is still a lot of work ahead, but we now have a clear path to bring this beautiful building back to life and make it an active part of the Depot District again.

In my last newsletter, I wrote about my concern that the bicycle ordinance update I introduced could lose momentum after being sent back for additional review. I’m happy to say the issue has come back to the forefront.

At the August 25th Committee of the Whole meeting, Police Chief Fellows gave a presentation about e-bikes and e-scooters and asked Council to start working toward clearer local rules. He said the Police Department has been seeing more issues involving bikes, scooters, pedestrians, and kids in the street, and emphasized that he wants the City to focus first on education and safe riding rather than simply jumping to enforcement.

A lot of the questions and concerns he raised are exactly what led me to write the ordinance in the first place: Where should e-bikes and scooters be allowed? What rules should apply to kids? How do we handle reckless riding while still encouraging people to bike? And, just as importantly, how do we make sure families actually know what the rules are?

I appreciated Chief Fellows bringing the issue back up, and I told him I’d like the work I’ve already done to be part of whatever comes next rather than starting from scratch. He was very receptive to that and said the ordinance already contains a lot of good ideas.

I’m glad this conversation is moving again. My goal is still the same, which are to update our outdated bike ordinance, create rules that make sense for how people actually get around today, and make our streets safer without discouraging biking and other forms of transportation.

The pool project is getting real! On August 11th, City Council approved the RFP to hire a professional design team to help us figure out what a new municipal pool could realistically look like, what it would cost, and what options make the most sense for Berwyn. The City held a site walkthrough for interested firms on August 27th, and proposals are due September 15th. Based on the number of firms that showed up for the walkthrough, I’m hopeful we’ll receive a strong group of competitive proposals.

The Pool Committee will meet again on September 3rd at 6pm in City Hall. We’ll be talking through how we want to evaluate the proposals and planning the community engagement process. We’ve also scheduled a second meeting for September 16th, when the committee will be able to dig into the proposals themselves and help recommend which firm should move forward.

Once a design team is selected, the fun part really begins. This fall, we expect to start working with residents to explore possible designs, amenities, costs, and priorities for a future pool. Nothing has been decided yet about what the facility will look like, and that’s intentional. The goal is to build those options with the community.

It feels good to be moving out of the early planning stage and into something more action-oriented. I’m looking forward to turning this from an idea into something tangible.

If you have ideas for rules or policies Berwyn should add, remove, or update, feel free to send them my way. I’m always open to suggestions.

Below are a few of the legislative and policy ideas I’m hoping to work on in the months ahead. Some are still in the early stages, but they all focus on areas where clearer rules or updated policies could make a real difference:

I’ve mentioned this before, but it is worth repeating that you can request a free tree to be planted in the parkway in front of your property. The next round of planting is expected toward the end of fall, so now is a good time to get your name on the list. Submitting your request now will also help City staff plan ahead and determine how many trees will need to be purchased.

Berwyn has lost a significant amount of its tree canopy over the years, and rebuilding it will take all of us. Trees provide shade, help absorb stormwater, improve air quality, and make our neighborhoods more beautiful. If you have open space in your parkway, please seriously consider requesting one.

Just click the button below to submit a request for your tree! The tree and planting are provided at no cost.

September is shaping up to be a busy month in Berwyn. Along with upcoming City meetings, there are a lot of great community events on the calendar, including many of our most popular annual traditions. I’ve highlighted a few of them below, but I definitely encourage you to check out the calendars linked at the bottom to find other events that might interest you!

Calendars:
Berwyn Community Calendar (city events)
WeLoveBerwyn.org (community events)

There’s a lot moving right now, and I’m glad to finally see some of these projects shifting from conversations and planning into real next steps.

As always, if you have a question, concern, or idea for the neighborhood, please reach out. And if you see me out and about around the ward, don’t hesitate to say hi!

Best,
Micah