Visit the Andersonville People Spot

Added by Editor on August 6, 2012.
Saved under Ward

Andersonville People Spot
5228 N. Clark St.

Fact Sheet
PDF version

What
The Andersonville People Spot is a small urban park created by replacing three on-street parking spaces with public seating, native plants, and bike parking. In keeping with Andersonville’s deep dedication to environmental sustainability, the Andersonville People Spot was created almost entirely with materials that were sustainably manufactured and/or recycled.

People Spots provide a public place for people to escape the hectic pace and clutter of city sidewalks
and streets and enjoy the atmosphere of the city around them. The Andersonville People Spot creates a green urban retreat in one of the densest commercial districts outside of the Loop.

Why
With its historic architecture, preponderance of locally owned businesses, and renowned diversity, the Andersonville neighborhood has one of Chicago’s most vibrant commercial districts. The improvement most consistently requested by Andersonville patrons in customer surveys is the addition of green and public space. The Andersonville People Spot helps fill that need, in a way that doesn’t require complex and expensive acquisitions of land. The Andersonville People Spot also eases the need for vehicle parking by providing additional bike parking.

How
Andersonville was the first neighborhood in Chicago to propose the installation of an on-street People Spot, as part of its Eco-Andersonville environmental program. The Andersonville People Spot initiative was conceived and led by the Andersonville Development Corporation, with support from Alderman Patrick O’Connor, the City of Chicago Department of Transportation and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. It will be managed under the auspices of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce.

The Andersonville People Spot is fully modular and will be removed during the winter months.

Funding for the Andersonville People Spot was raised entirely from within the community:

  • $6,800 Kickstarter campaign for the Andersonville People Spot (a.k.a “Andersonville Parklet”), with 130 citizen funders
  • $7,900 Andersonville Special Service Area #22
  • $5,200 Andersonville Chamber of Commerce

In-kind donations from Gethsemane Garden Center, Patch Landscaping, Intectural, Studio Murmur, Demeter Millworks, and Moss Design.

Next Steps
The goal is to install a total of three People Spots in Andersonville: one each in south, central and north Andersonville. An on-street bike parking corral will be installed in front of the Hopleaf at 5148 N. Clark in the fall of 2012.

(See also the Chicago Tribune article on “parklets.”)