City pushes forward with lighting issue

By Jamie Luchsinger

Despite a $200,000 revitalization plan to improve lighting on Greek Row, not one property owner from the area showed up for a development meeting Wednesday.

Sue Guio, a community services planner, wasn’t angry when the center table was empty at 9:05 a.m. Instead, she said she took the no-show as a strong indication of support for the project.

On Sept. 22, ComEd will begin a detailed survey in the Greek Row neighborhood that is scheduled to be completed by the end of October.

ComEd will focus specifically on where utility poles are located, where new poles should be placed and what type of fixtures should be used for the ultimate source of light, Guio said.

After final details for the plan are received from ComEd’s survey, another meeting will be rescheduled.

In October 2001, 3,000 surveys were distributed to residents and property owners of the Greek Row area.

Of the roughly 900 surveys that were returned, residents felt that lighting in the neighborhood was inadequate. Some residents also said they would feel safer with increased police patrol and lit bus shelters.

The perception the Greek Row neighborhood is unsafe and harbors more crime than other neighborhoods has been an issue in the past, Guio said.

Existing light poles will be utilized as best as possible, and new lighting is scheduled to be operational by next fall.