New business developments, clashes in protests between Palestinian and Israeli supporters and controversies over censorship at the Lincolnwood Public Library were just some of the top stories of 2023 in Lincolnwood.
1. District 1860 opens
Various elements of District 1860, a multi-use development at Touhy and Lincoln Avenues, started opening over the summer. Three restaurants, two hotels, 299 apartments, two retail shops, and a possible grocery store are planned for the complex.
The apartments range from studios to three bedrooms and the building will have many amenities, including a pool, a fireplace, bocce ball and barbecues. Richard Tucker, CEO of Tucker Development, said in August he anticipated it would be fully occupied by the end of next year.
“We are moving along at a nice clip; it has been very well received,” he said.
Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar opened its doors on Aug. 4 and had an official opening on Nov. 30. Mariachis played music and representatives from Lincolnwood government and the Chamber of Commerce attended. The Mexican menu has a bit of an American twist, said a founding concept chef for Fat Rosie’s. The restaurant, owned and run by Scott Harris Hospitality, has other locations in Frankfort, Naperville, Lincolnshire and Schaumburg.
Scott Harris Hospitality is also planning to open Davanti Enoteca, an Italian restaurant which also has locations in Naperville, Western Springs and San Diego. Fatpour Tap Works, an American restaurant, and Lee Nails are also slated to open. LensCrafters is already open.
2. Israeli and Palestinian protesters clash outside a Stand with Israel Event
Following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, a Jewish organization held a Solidarity with Israel event Oct. 22, and about 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered peacefully outside with signs.
The venue for the pro-Israel event, the Ateres Ayala kosher banquet hall at 3412 W. Touhy, was on the Skokie side of Touhy Avenue, but events spilled over onto the Lincolnwood side.
A Chicago man who was in the parking area of the Lincolnwood Town Center, on the south side of Touhy Avenue and in Lincolnwood, was confronted by numerous individuals, drew his gun and fired a shot in the air, according to Lincolnwood Police. The same man also struck a pedestrian during a hit and run, but the pedestrian declined medical care, according to police. Nobody was injured in either incident.
Police took the 39-year-old man into custody and presented the case to the Felony Review Unit of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, but the office declined to press charges. The State’s Attorney’s office said the man had a valid concealed carrying license, and his name was not released because he was not charged.
On the Skokie side of Touhy Avenue, Zevulen Ebert, 33 of the 5000 block of Oakton Street, Skokie, was charged with four counts of felony charges for allegedly pepper spraying pro-Palestinian counterprotesters. According to a court document at a pretrial sentencing hearing, Ebert also pepper sprayed a Chicago police officer, accused Palestinians of war crimes and gave “obscene middle finger gestures.”
An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.
3. Library elections
Lincolnwood residents were given an opportunity to elect trustees to their library board in April. Controversies at the library over books with LGBTQ+ themes began over a year ago
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. Dozens of parents, some of them organized by Heritage Action for America, the activist arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation, attended board of trustee meetings to voice their opinions on keeping certain books from being displayed in the children’s section of the library.Four seats on the library board were up for grabs during last spring’s election, and three incumbents ran. The seats were won by candidates who organized themselves as the Freedom to Read Lincolnwood coalition. The candidates ran on a platform to keep the library’s current policies and oppose censorship.
“Freedom to Read Lincolnwood team is grateful the voters of Lincolnwood supported our mission of transparency, inclusivity, true fiscal responsibility and high integrity,” the winning trustees wrote in a statement.
Incumbent Board Member Deborah Silver said in an email, “Our master of library science-educated librarians at the Lincolnwood Library will continue to select books based on the guidelines of the American Library Association, Illinois Library Association as well as their knowledge of Lincolnwood residents.”
Former Niles-Maine Library Director Susan Dove Lempke was hired as the Lincolnwood Library’s director in June. She left the Niles-Maine District Library after a new board was elected, giving rise to an approximately two-year period that included protests, budget cuts and shouting matches during Niles Library board meetings.
4. Niles West Aquatic Center
As the Niles Township High School District 219 board considered how to renovate the Niles West High School pool, parents, students, and coaches were concerned that a proposed plan would not go far enough. According to the district’s Assistant Superintendent for Business Tim Neubauer, the original cost to renovate the pool was $4 million in 2022, but shot up to $7.3 million due to inflation.
Former Niles North High School boys’ swim coach and current Niles West boys’ swim coach Paul Torres said transferring from a bigger pool at Niles North to Niles West meant he had to cut swimmers off the team for the first time in his career.
Board of Education members indicated a willingness to consider options for expanding the aquatic center, including adding a new and bigger pool.