New High School Coming to Clearing

New Hancock building set for 65th and Long

By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
Southwest Chicago Post

For the first time in more than a century, a high school will be built in the Clearing neighborhood, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-22nd) and 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn announced last weekend.

At an invitation-only event in the second-floor ballroom of the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, officials said that a new Hancock High School will be constructed from the ground up.

They did not say where the new school will be built, when or at what cost, but it was later

learned that the school will be built on a long-vacant, block-long parking lot at 65th and Long—which decades ago served as parking for employees of Continental Can, directly across the street, during Bedford Park’s boom years.

Here is a link to a map of Clearing.

Chicago Public Schools officials are currently in negotiations to acquire the land from a private owner. The outcome of those negotiations will determine when the new high school will be built.

Construction of the new selective-enrollment Hancock High School is expected to cost at least $50 million. The new Hancock will accommodate 1,200 students in 47 classrooms.

Hancock is currently housed in the old Lourdes High School building at 56th and Komensky. What will become of that building is up in the air.

The elected officials at the event praised each other for their commitment and actions.

“I simply want to say that Mayor Rahm Emanuel has done more for the education of children on the Southwest Side of Chicago than any of his predecessors, “Madigan said, who added that the mayor’s actions are “remarkable, astounding…new schools have been built, new programs have been started, academically challenging programs.”

Quinn likened Madigan to legendary Chicagoan Daniel Burnham and said the Speaker’s decades-long vision for the Southwest Side includes “big plans that stir the blood.”

Emanuel praised Madigan and Quinn for their commitment to education, as well as their persistence, saying they have been on him from “Day One” of his tenure in 2011 to increase the quantity and quality of public education on the Southwest Side.

As they announced the construction of a new Hancock High School, officials also reiterated a previously announced plan--that the current Dore Elementary School at 61st and Natoma will be repurposed into an early childhood education center—presumably to open about six months after current Dore students move into their new building at 65th and Nottingham in January 2019.

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Regarding early childhood education, the mayor repeated a favorite assertion of his. “Kids start dropping out of college in fourth grade. They don’t drop out in freshman year [of college]. So it’s our responsibility to make sure that by the time children are four years old, they know their colors, their shapes, their numbers, their letters—so that they’re better prepared,” he said.

He also reiterated his view about making early childhood education accessible to all.
“If you’re poor in our city, like other cities, you have Head Start,” the mayor said. “If you’re well off and comfortable, you’ll figure it out for your children. But if you’re a working parent, you have to figure out how to find $13,000 to get [an early childhood education] for your child…that’s not right.”

He called the retooling of Dore “an investment in the community” that guarantees that working parents have access to early childhood education. “No parents will have to leave work halfway through the day because they have to pick up their child at school,” Emanuel said. “So you can be both a good parent and a good worker.

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Eyesore Bank to Be Bulldozed

New homes set for 55th/Narragansett 

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

One of the Southwest Side’s most notorious eyesores—the

old Garfield Ridge Trust & Savings Bank, 6353 W. 55th St.--will be bulldozed in the next year or so, replaced by a cluster of single-family homes.

The announcement was made June 18 at a public meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, held at Bridgeview Bank, a stone’s throw from the vacant bank.

Plans call for seven homes to be built on 55th Street, between Mulligan and Narragansett; and two more homes just south of Pticek’s Bakery in what is now a parking lot.

A Garfield Ridge gem when it opened in 1971, the bank changed owners several times over the years, finally shutting down in 2004. It was purchased about a decade ago by Gregg Chentnik, owner of the nearby Kid’Z Colony Daycare, 6287 S. Archer.

Chentnik and two business partners were at the meeting.

Repeated efforts by Chentnik to sell the building to a variety of commercial enterprises and non-profits fell short, and the building continued to deteriorate inside and out.

At a public meeting two years ago, GRNW President Al Cacciottolo said, “That building is a total wreck inside. They’ve had major damage. I was in there about a month ago. It’s really bad inside. They had 20 feet of water in the basement, so there are mold issues. It’s going to take a lot of money to refurbish that building. I would rather see it just knocked down and something brand-new go up.”

Agreeing with Cacciottolo’s assessment is 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn, who said Monday night, “I was getting sick to my stomach over the property. It was dilapidated.”

For most of its life as a vacant hulk, the old bank building was in the 23rd Ward. The latest ward remap took it out of 23 and into 13. That’s when Quinn took it on as a project.

About 2 ½ years ago, I reached out to Gregg,” Quinn told the

Alderman Quinn (right) and GRNW VP Mike Doherty

audience of about 40 Garfield Ridge residents. “In the past several years, I’ve pitched anyone I can think of--Culver’s, Panda Express, Starbucks, anyone you can imagine—and they all problems with the configuration because any particular driveway would not lead back to Archer.”

Quinn said his appearance at the GRNW meeting was to  “open up a discussion, be transparent and have real community dialogue…so all of us can have a say in terms of what’s going to be there next.”

“I can tell you what it won’t be, at least not on my watch,” the alderman added. “It won’t be a car wash. It won’t be apartments, and I turned thumbs-down on office space.”
Quinn, whose track record of neighborhood success—in concert with Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-22nd)—includes the booming redevelopment of Cicero Avenue south of 63rd Street, said that the plan to bring single-family homes to 55th and Narragansett may spur redevelopment of other vacant properties in the Archer corridor.

The audience seemed generally receptive to the plan to build new homes. Cacciottolo said, “I think it’s a very good idea. I think it will work.”

Quinn’s openness was praised by GRNW board member Arlene White, who said she found it refreshing that people would have some say in what comes to the neighborhood. 

“So often, you see these things going up and you wonder what it is and who decided on that. I applaud you, Alderman Quinn,” she said, as the audience applauded in agreement.
Exactly when the old bank will be torn down is a question mark right now, though the hope is it will occur in 2019.

Chentnik was for years a successful real estate broker, and he and his partners—Family Craft Builders--have a history of building homes, most notably the acclaimed Stonebridge Woods development in suburban Homer Glen.

The price tag on the Garfield Ridge homes is expected to be at least $475,000 each—prompting one woman in the audience to wonder aloud if anyone would pay such a high price.

A man in the audience said he has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, “and every time somebody has built new homes, somebody always predicts that the homes won’t sell because they’re priced too high.

“But they’re always proven wrong,” he added. The brand-new homes on the old Soukal greenhouse property all sold. The new homes built near St. Dan’s all sold. The new homes on the old Yugoslav Hall property all sold—and they’re right across the street from a firehouse. These homes at 55th and Narragansett will sell, too. After all, this is Garfield Ridge. People want to live here and are willing to pay the price.”

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Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in the western section of the district. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

* * *

Man shot in drive-by in Parkview neighborhood
A 19-year-old man was shot in his left hand and left leg in a crime that occurred in the 3800 block of West 85th Street at 11:53 a.m. Monday, June 11. The victim told police he was sitting in his parked vehicle when a silver, four-door car pulled up next to him and its passenger started shooting before speeding away northeast on Southwest Highway. The victim was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. The driver and the shooter were described only as black men, according to police.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 811 (see map), come to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 5550 S. Merrimac, at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 19 and attend your monthly CAPS meeting. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

Walking to Orange Line station, robbed on Kedzie
A 36-year-old Gage Park man was robbed at gunpoint as he walked down a sidewalk in front of 4900 S. Kedzie at 11:05 p.m. Saturday, June 2. The victim told police he was walking north to the CTA Orange Line station when two men walked up. One pulled a pistol while the other went through the victim’s pockets, taking his wallet and cellphone before running away. They were described as black men about 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds.

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Arrest West Lawn man six weeks after gas station fight

A 24-year-old West Lawn man was charged with battery after he allegedly punched a 23-

Roberto Montano

year-old man in the face while at the BP gas station at 6700 S. Pulaski.

Roberto D. Montano, of the 6500 block of South Karlov, was arrested at 8:49 a.m. Tuesday, June 5 while he was in a vehicle in the alley behind his home.

Police said he was identified as the offender in the crime at the BP station, which occurred at 12:42 a.m. Sunday, April 22.

According to public records, Montano has been arrested four times by CPD since 2015, on such charges as assault, domestic battery and possession of a controlled substance.

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Tried to carjack me on 79th Street, woman says
A 26-year-old Gage Park woman told police that several men tried to carjack her at 79th and Tripp at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 6. The victim said she had just put gas in her car at the Shell station at 79th and Cicero and was headed east on 79th Street when an older red Volkswagen Jetta cut her off in traffic. When she stopped her car, a man jumped out of the Jetta, ran to her car and started cursing loudly, pounding on her window and pulling on the door handle. The victim then sped away east on 79th Street and north on Pulaski. The offenders followed but eventually abandoned the pursuit. The man who got out of the Jetta was described as a Hispanic man age 30-35, about 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds, with brown eyes, short black hair and an olive complexion. He wore a dark blue shirt and blue jeans.

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Elderly man showers, scares off three home invaders
A 73-year-old Archer Heights man chased three home invaders from his house in the 4800 block of South Ridgeway at 2:15 p.m. Thursday, June 7. The victim told police that his daughter had left the front door unlocked when she left the home at 1:25 p.m. As the victim took a shower in a basement bathroom, three men entered and started taking valuables. The victim discovered the crime when he emerged from the bathroom and spotted a man carrying his TV up the basement steps. When the home invader saw the victim, he dropped the TV and ran up the stairs. The victim gave chase into the backyard, but was pushed to the ground by the offender. As the victim, got up, he saw two more home invaders flee his home. All three offenders ran into the alley and jumped into a black Honda SUV. As they sped away, the victim threw a piece of wood at the vehicle, breaking the front passenger window. All three offenders were described as Hispanic men. The first was age 20-30, about 5-foot-7 and 165 pounds with a medium complexion. He wore a cream-colored, long-sleeve polo shirt and khaki pants. Descriptions of the other two were vague. They succeeded in stealing a cellphone, the victim told police.

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Charge Scottsdale man with criminal trespass to vehicle

Sidney Warren

A 21-year-old Scottsdale man was charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle after he reportedly was found in a vehicle he does not own.

Sidney N. Warren, of the 8400 block of South Knox, was arrested at 7901 S. Cicero at 5:40 p.m. Monday, June 4.

According to public records, Warren has been arrested six times by CPD since 2015, on such charges as assault, battery and possession of a stolen vehicle.

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Charge felon with failing to register with police

A 22-year-old convicted felon was charged with failing to register with police after he was

Davion Givens

arrested at his home in the 3600 block of West 49th Place at 12:06 p.m. Tuesday, June 5. 

Davion D. Givens is required by law to register as a gun offender.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Givens is a convicted burglar. In an unrelated crime, he was sentenced in 2016 to four years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He was released from prison on parole in March of this year.

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Charge felon with failing to register with police

A 21-year-old Archer Heights man was charged with failing to register with police after he

Michael Nares

was arrested at his home in the 4800 block of South Archer at 11:40 a.m. Saturday, June 2. 

Michael Nares is required by law to register as a gun offender.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Nares was convicted in 2016 of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon; and then in 2017 for obstruction of justice/destruction of evidence.

He was sentenced to two years in prison but was paroled in March of this year.

Nares has been arrested five times by CPD since 2015, all in the Archer Heights/West Elsdon area, on such charges as reckless conduct, retail theft and unlawful use of a weapon.

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Bust Oak Lawn man again near Midway

A 28-year-old Oak Lawn man was charged with obstruction of traffic by a non-motorist after

Ahmad Omar

police arrested him in front of 6701 S. Cicero at 7:31 p.m. Monday, June 4.

Ahmad Omar, of the 5600 block of West Edge Lake Drive, was apprehended "after he was observed walking in the roadway obstructing traffic," police said.

According to public records, Omar has been arrested eight times by CPD since 2014, on such charges as panhandling and criminal trespass to land.

Five of those arrests have occurred this year, in a four-block stretch of Cicero Avenue just southeast of Midway Airport.

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Burglar bleeds before fleeing apartment
A burglar broke into an apartment building in the 4700 block of West 65th Street and stole a pair of work boots in a hallway. The crime was discovered by one of the victims, a 55-year-old man, at 2:45 a.m. Saturday, June 9. The offender smashed the glass on two entry doors, leaving broken glass and his own blood at the scene. He also destroyed two decorative vases and damaged a metal shoe rack before leaving. He was described only as a man age 35-40 with a shaved hairstyle.

Home on Harding burglarized
Burglars broke into the basement of a home in the 4500 block of South Harding and stole two TVs, assorted jewelry, assorted tools, a lawn mower, a bicycle and about $4,000 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 43-year-old man, at 6:49 p.m. Tuesday, June 5.

Burglar in Lexus hits garage
Burglars forced open the service door of a garage in the 4700 block of South Harding and stole three car radios, a car amplifier and a battery charger. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 34-year-old man, at 6 a.m. Tuesday, June 5. A neighbor’s surveillance-camera footage showed the burglars sped away in a gold Lexus.

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PlayStation swiped from home on Kildare
Burglars entered a home in the 6800 block of South Kildare and stole a PlayStation video console. The crime was reported by the victim, a 34-year-old man, at 7:11 p.m. Thursday, June 7.

Burglars hit elderly man’s garage
Burglars forced open the service door of a garage in the 5300 block of South Keeler and stole a lawn mower, a weed trimmer and a grass edger. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 78-year-old man, 6:20 a.m. Monday, June 4.

Burglars hit elderly man’s garage
Burglars forced open the service door of a garage in the 3600 block of West 55th Place and stole a lawn mower. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 72-year-old man, at 6:30 a.m. Monday, June 4.

Man sees burglar flee his home
A burglar pried open the rear basement door of a home in the 5000 block of South La Crosse and stole a jewelry box from a bedroom. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 67-year-old man, at 3:15 p.m. Friday, June 8. The victim saw the offender run out a door on the main floor. The burglar was described as a white man about 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, with short grayish hair, blue eyes and a light complexion.

# # #

Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in the western section of the district. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

* * *

Bandit hits TCF Bank branch in Jewel-Osco
A man who implied he had a weapon robbed the TCF Bank branch in the Jewel-Osco at

Surveillance photo of the bandit.

5320 S. Pulaski, making off with $578 cash. The crime occurred at 10:20 a.m. Saturday, June 2. The bandit approached a TCF teller—a 21-year-old Scottsdale woman—and gave her a note implying that he had a weapon and demanding cash. The teller complied, and the robber fled on foot. The thug was described as a white man age 40-50, about 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, with short brown hair and a light complexion. He wore a red button-down short and horn-rimmed eyeglasses. No one is in custody. The FBI is offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to his arrest. Those with useful information to share are encouraged to call the FBI's Chicago Field Office at (312) 421-6700.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 812 (see map), come to the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 West 63rd Place, at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 13 and attend your monthly CAPS meeting. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.

Say man shouted gang slogans, spat in cop’s face
A 19-year-old Back of the Yards man was charged with aggravated battery to a retail

Joell Maldonado

merchant, as well as retail theft and other crimes, in connection with an incident that occurred near 55th and Kedzie at about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 29.

Joell E. Maldonado, of the 5200 block of South Marshfield, “was observed exiting a vehicle and walking into a retail store, holding his side and yelling gang slogans,” police said.

“After returning to his car, he committed a traffic violation; at which point officers pulled his car over. The offender initially lied about his identity by giving a false name, but another officer knew he was wanted on a warrant and for questioning on an unrelated case. While being placed into custody he spat in an officer’s face.”

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Robbers twist victim’s arm on Kolin
A 41-year-old Archer Heights man was robbed as he sat in his vehicle in the 5100 block of South Kolin at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 27. He reported the crime three days later and told police that two men walked up and demanded money or that they would shoot him. No gun was displayed, and the victim showed his wallet, which the offenders snatched away after they twisted his arm. The wallet contained about $100 cash, five credit cards, two debit cards, a consular card and other items. The robbers were described only as Hispanic men.

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West Sider allegedly threatened woman on Pulaski

Juan Hopkins

A 28-year-old West Side man was charged with assault after he allegedly threatened a 44-year-old woman at 5106 S. Pulaski at about 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 30.

Juan M. Hopkins, of the 200 block of North Kilpatrick, was taken into custody at the scene. 

According to public records, Hopkins has been arrested 14 times by CPD in the past 18 months—on such charges as aggravated battery, theft, criminal trespass to land and public indecency.

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Big cash heist reported at elderly man’s home
An 88-year-old Garfield Ridge man told police that while he was in the hospital, someone entered his home in the 5800 block of South Austin, unlocked a safe and stole $30,000 cash, assorted jewelry and other items. The crime was reported to police on Friday, June 1 but was believed to have occurred sometime in April. He said he discovered the crime when he came home on May 9. There was no sign of forced entry, and the victim said that a number of family members have access to his home.

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Burglar smashes way into Chavas Tacos
A burglar smashed the glass front door of El Original Chavas Tacos, 4316 S. Pulaski, damaged two cash registers and stole about $150 cash. Surveillance video showed the crime occurred at about 2 a.m. Wednesday, May 30 and that the burglar stayed in the restaurant for about two hours. He was described as a Hispanic man age 27-35, about 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds with a light complexion. He wore a baseball cap with brown letters, a black T-shirt, blue jeans and black boots.

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Suburban man charged with narcotics possession

A 34-year-old Alsip man was charged with possession of a controlled substance after he

Kenneth Austra

was arrested while standing on a sidewalk in front of 4549 S. Lawler at 8:05 a.m. Monday, May 28.

Kenneth Austra, of the 11700 block of South Karlov was reportedly seen “placing items into his mouth, a maneuver known to the officers as a way to conceal narcotics,” police said. “Officers conducted a field interview and discovered the offender was attempting to conceal two bags of a powder-like substance.”

According to Illinois Department of Corrections records, Austra has served time in state penitentiaries since 2001, for such crimes as aggravated battery, robbery and possession of a controlled substance.

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Charge Palos Hills man with narcotics possession

A 25-year-old Palos Hills man was charged with one count of felony possession of a

Zachary Kirk

controlled substance after a traffic stop in front of 8201 S. Cicero at 11:05 p.m. Monday, May 28.

Zachary D. Kirk, of the 9900 block of South 82nd Avenue, was found to be in possession of “a bag of schedule IV classified pills,” police said without elaboration.

Officers on patrol reportedly observed Kirk “operating a vehicle without headlamps

Officers curbed the vehicle; and during the field interview, the [alleged] offender was unable to produce a driver’s license,” police added.

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More women busted in sweep of Cicero Avenue

Catherine Dolehide

Three more women have been arrested in what appears to be a police sweep of streetwalking sex workers and others on Cicero Avenue, north of Archer—since CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson publicly vowed to the Archer Heights Civic Association that he would lead the way to eliminate prostitution for good in that area.

• Charged with soliciting a ride on a public roadway was 27-year-old Catherine A. Dolehide, of the 4100 block of South Home Avenue, Stickney.

According to police, shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday, May 26, she was “observed walking back and forth on 48th Street, waving at passing motorists, specifically targeting vehicles with single male occupants. In one instance, a passing vehicle honked at Dolehide and then turned on 48th Street and went southbound in the alley between Cicero and La Crosse. Dolehide followed the vehicle to the alley to solicit.”

According to public records, Dolehide has been arrested 12 times by CPD since 2015, on

Joleen Rompasky

such charges as prostitution, retail theft and criminal trespass to land.

• Arrested because she was wanted on a warrant was 39-year-old Joleen D. Rompasky. 

She was stopped by police at 48th and Cicero at 7:38 a.m. Friday, May 25.

The nature of the warrant, issued by the Town of Cicero, was not disclosed by Chicago Police.

According to public records, Rompasky has been arrested 10 times by CPD since 2014, on such charges as prostitution and disorderly conduct.

• Charged with soliciting a ride on a public roadway was 35-year-old Alicia L. Hallstead, of

Alicia Hallstead

the 1700 block of North Long.

According to police, at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 29 at 47th and Keating, Hallstead “was observed flagging down vehicles with lone male occupants on several occasions while standing at a bus stop. As the bus would approach, she would walk away from the bus stop and continue flagging down vehicles.”

According to public records, Hallstead has been arrested six times by CPD since 2014, on charges that include prostitution and retail theft.

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Apartment on 46th Street burglarized
Burglars entered an apartment in the 3800 block of West 46th Street and stole a video game console, 10 video games, a toolbox, a laptop computer and four bottles of tequila. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 22-year-old woman, at 1 p.m. Friday, June 1.

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Kitchen items stolen from garage on Tripp
Burglars forced open the service door of a garage in the 6400 block of South Tripp and stole an oven, a toaster, a blender, assorted kitchen items, a printer and other items. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 23-year-old woman, at about 9 a.m. Friday, June 1.

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