UPTOWN — Residents of the 46th Ward can vote for which murals they want on a pair of deteriorating viaducts near the lakefront that are due for minor repairs in lieu of a broader overhaul — which could be a decade away.
Residents submitted design ideas for what should go under the distressed structures at Wilson and Lawrence avenues just off Lake Shore Drive, and now they have until Aug. 8 to vote for their two favorite out of a pool of four options, according to Ald. James Cappleman (46th).
Mural options include:
- A two-part Art Deco and music-themed mural colored shades of green and yellow. One part of the mural spells "Uptown" with geometric panels and dots depicting rows of electric bulbs, and a second part includes images of instruments and architectural elements from the neighborhood.
- A mural with "historical and photographic scenes taken by Uptown residents."
- A mural featuring portraits of famous people, some with ties to Uptown.
- A mural of a generic city scene from the 1940s "with nostalgic themes."
State officials have plans to rebuild the crumbling viaducts, which are sorely in need of repair, with new paint jobs and lighting upgrades, but that could take as long as a decade to happen, according to Cappleman's office.
The work on the structures must last until the state finds the funds "to do the major overhaul," Cappleman said in an email to constituents Friday.
"In the meantime, improving this area will make the neighborhood look more welcoming to residents that walk and bicycle to the lake shore as well as motorists driving into the neighborhood from Lake Shore Drive," he said.
It's not clear yet how much the minor repairs and murals would cost, or when the upgrades would begin. Cappleman's office didn't have an immediate answer Monday.
To vote for murals, click here.
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