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92_HR0877
LRB9216775RHrh
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Forty years ago, residents of neighborhoods in
3 the North River area community of Chicago came together to
4 form North River Commission; and
5 WHEREAS, Assisted by institutions like North Park College
6 (now University), Swedish Covenant Hospital, and the National
7 Bank of Albany Park (now ALBANK) and led by Dr. J. William
8 Fredrickson of North Park College, North River Commission was
9 created as an umbrella organization; its purpose was to unite
10 residents, churches, temples, and businesses to work together
11 to address the issues of the community; at its heart were
12 civic groups that had been working on community issues for
13 years, groups like Ravenwood Manor Improvement Association,
14 North Mayfair Improvement Association, and Hollywood North
15 Park Community Association; and
16 WHEREAS, Over time, River North Commission grew to more
17 than 100 civic organizations, businesses, and institutions
18 working together to improve the River North area; it's many
19 accomplishments include the creation of North Park Village on
20 the site of the Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium; the
21 revitalization of Lawrence Avenue, the rehabilitation of slum
22 buildings that are maintained as affordable housing, and the
23 construction and maintenance of schools; as a result of the
24 combine efforts of united civic organizations, neighborhoods
25 were stabilized and became a safer and cleaner place to live;
26 and
27 WHEREAS, Today, River North Commission continues its
28 mission by developing affordable housing for residents
29 threatened by gentrification through the work of the North
30 River Housing Development Corporation; continuing the renewal
31 of commercial areas in the North River area through the work
32 of the Lawrence Avenue Development Corporation and the Albany
-2- LRB9216775RHrh
1 Park Chamber of Commerce, increasing parent participation in
2 schools and dealing with issues of school improvement by
3 doing area-wide planning through the North River Commission
4 Education Task Force, developing a new Arts Environment
5 Center at North Park Village with the North Park Village
6 Advisory Council, and addressing issues of neighborhood
7 safety, city and park programs and services, and events and
8 projects for improvement through the work of the North River
9 Commission organizing project; and
10 WHEREAS, Together, the members of the North River
11 Commission have attracted more than $150 million of
12 investment, created or retained more than 3,500 jobs, and
13 renovated or built more than 1,400 housing units; more
14 importantly, however, every day plans and dreams of the North
15 River community are transformed into reality by people
16 organizing themselves to improve the quality of life for all;
17 therefore, be it
18 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20 we honor the North River Commission for its dedication,
21 commitment, and contribution to the residents of the
22 neighborhoods in the North River area communities for the
23 past 40 years; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
25 presented to the River North Commission as an expression of
26 our esteem.