34 - May the Storefronts Be Filled Live on Western Avenue
Neighborhoods, and the streets that run through them, are the lifeblood of our city, the spaces where daily life unites with culture, art, and business. Streets like Western Avenue, at once owned by everyone and no one, are often an emblem of pride for the surrounding residents, but without investment can deteriorate into a blemish on the neighborhood’s identity. It’s a challenge and an opportunity. This is a story about a group of people who took on the responsibility of fighting for their corridor’s future, transforming Western from a street that you would drive through, to a neighborhood that you drive to.
On Wednesday, May 15th we hosted the second of these live events on Western Avenue, a West Side corridor home to a string of small, family-owned businesses including Chico's Restaurant, Taqueria Chicago, and La Rosita. We interviewed Sam Centellas, Director of La Casa de Amistad, and Scott Ford, former Director of the City's Community Investment office, who both played pivotal roles in the corridor’s transformation and economic resurgence.
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