"Ogden Avenue

Project 1 is unique in that the area is bisected by Ogden Avenue, a six lane highway which is obsolete as a traffic artery, so that the land it has occupied can be put to other, more important uses.  The availability of such an amount of open space has provided an element of flexibility in the development of plans for the area that has been highly beneficial.  As plans were being developed, the community became concerned that this space be used imaginatively in such a way as to unify rather than divide the various neighborhoods, and that it retain a 'visual entity' rather than being divided up along the conventional 'grid' patterns of streets characteristic of Chicago.

What is going to happen to Ogden Avenue?
The GNRP calls for the closing of Ogden between North Avenue and Clark.  At the suggestion of the DUR the planning committees of the OTTA, LCA, and MidNorth are developing ideas for the use of this area.  The OTTA planning committee feels that Ogden should be used primarily for recreation, such as playgrounds, tennis courts, and rollerskating, etc., to serve the needs of the community.
According to recent press reports, one of the major provisions of the GNRP is the 'Conversion of Ogden into an area used for parkways and buildings having an Old Town flavor like coffeehouses.'  We have reached the saturation point as far as 'coffee houses' are concerned, and feel that millions of dollars of public money should not be used for turning our neighborhood into a quaint, cute tourist attraction.  'Old Town flavor' may mean 'coffeehouse' to visiting firement, but to us it means a stable but lively family type neighborhood."