SOAR's Annual Beautification Awards Oldest Competition in Streeterville

From its inception in 1981, the SOAR Beautification Awards, presented at the annual meeting, were created to encourage improvement of the landscape for residential, commercial and institutional buildings in the neighborhood. As is the case today, buildings were nominated for consideration and “beautification walks” were organized to view the nominated buildings. For many years, participants in these walks acted as the judges and selected the properties to receive the awards, based on the following criteria:

1. Landscaping contributes to the overall quality of life in Streeterville for residents and tourists.
2. Landscaping shows substantial improvement in quality and interest.
3. Landscaping demonstrates creativity, color, and interest for residents, workers, and tourists.
4. Landscaping is well maintained and cared for.
5. Award winners inspire those in other Streeterville residential, commercial, and institutional buildings to improve their own landscaping.

In recent years, the nomination & voting process has gone electronic. Nominations are open to everyone and will be accepted through Friday, July 19. Nominate your favorite landscape today.

SOAR members can judge by participating in the Beautification Walk, scheduled for Saturday, July 27, (10:00 am to noon) recording their choices on the website Beautification link or calling the SOAR office at 312.282.2596 to receive a ballot via mail. In August, the data will be tallied and the properties with the most votes will be selected for awards in that given year. 

SOAR also honors buildings that are “most improved” or “perennial” in the quality of their landscaping. Landscaping generally has improved in Streeterville over the years. Walking through the area one is treated to colorful flowers of the season at many turns, making a pleasant pedestrian experience.  

Public Meeting on Construction Plans for New RIC Announced

Work has begun at 630 N. McClurg, site for the new Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) research hospital, approved by the Chicago Plan Commission and supported by SOAR.

Prior to major work, RIC will host an informational presentation, co-sponsored by SOAR and Alderman Reilly, regarding construction plans. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 25, beginning at 5:30 pm at 345 E. Superior, Heyworth Room, Second Floor. Representatives will answer questions from neighbors. Read official meeting invite.

Official groundbreaking is planned for Monday, July 1.

Bridge Connection to Old Prentice Hospital to be Dismantled

Northwestern University announced that the second floor bridge connection between the old Prentice Women's Hospital (333 E. Superior) and the Lurie Medical Research Building (303 E. Superior) will be dismantled on Saturday, June 8, between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. No lane closures are planned on Huron. However, the north sidewalk between Fairbanks and McClurg will be closed to pedestrian traffic. All deliveries to Lurie via 320 Superior will be rerouted to other loading docks.

BLUEPRINTs 2013: A Night of Art & Architecture at the MCA June 14

Please join SOAR for the 7th annual BLUEPRINTs celebration Friday, June 14, 2013 from 7:00 - 10:00 pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art.  Enjoy small plates by Wolfgang Puck, wine and beer, tour exhibits and preview the BLUEPRINTs Collection of auction items.  Emcee for the evening will be Streeterville neighbor, Phil Schwarz, the engaging meteorologist for ABC 7 Weekend News and Sunday Morning News. 

BLUEPRINTs celebrates the dynamic Chicago neighborhood of Streeterville and honors those who have contributed greatly to our community and our city.

 

Carrying on the theme, the annual Vision Into Reality award to a leading architect will be presented to Streeterville resident Michael Toolis, chairman and CEO of VOA Associates Incorporated. As led by Toolis, VOA's "visionary architecture for a global community," focuses on architecture, interior design, planning preservation and reuse of existing structures. VOA projects in Streeterville include Navy Pier, Prentice Women's Hospital, Marriott Michigan Avenue Hotel and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Past winners of the award include Adrian Smith, Jeanne Gang and Larry Booth.

Learn more and buy your tickets today.

SOAR Welcomes New Supervisor of Lake Shore Park

Welcome to Juan "Dan" Puente, the new supervisor of Lake Shore Park, who recently arrived from the same assignment at Wicker Park. To enable everyone to get to know Dan, we soon will include a story about him in News Briefs. He can be reached at 312.742.7891.

The Lake Shore Park Advisory Council, whose president is Streeterville resident Peggy Holst, meets at 4:00 pm on the second Monday of each month at 808 N. Lake Shore Drive. The next meeting is Monday, June 10. Board member Howard W. Melton represents SOAR on the Council. If you have concerns you'd like to raise, please contact him. For more information visit the Lake Shore Park webpage.