Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Renegade Craft Fair Could Exit Division, Eyeing Chicago Ave. in West Town

By Alisa Hauser | August 7, 2014 9:37am | Updated on August 7, 2014 10:38am
 A vendor at The Renegade Craft Fair.
A vendor at The Renegade Craft Fair.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser

WICKER PARK  —  One of the summer's most popular outdoor events, the Renegade Craft Fair, will not be taking place on Division Street in September due to construction on the nearby CTA Blue Line, the West Town Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday.

"There is a blue line el construction project which requires a shuttle of some sort and the City will not be permitting any street closures on Division Street between Damen and Ashland in the foreseeable future," the chamber wrote in an email titled, "Alert. Big location changes for upcoming events!"

According to the chamber, the Chicago Department of Transportation said on Wednesday that both the Chicago Fashion Fest and Renegade Craft Fair cannot be held on Division Street between Damen and Ashland avenues.

On Thursday, Kara Salgado, executive director of the West Town Chamber of Commerce, said that there was a meeting scheduled next week with the city to discuss the matter.

"We won't have any solid information until the middle of next week," Salgado said.

Scheduled for Sept. 6-7, the Renegade Craft Fair has been held on Division between Damen and Paulina Street for the last several years.

Scheduled for Aug. 23-24, the Chicago Fashion Fest, a newer fest that originated as a fashion show in the parking lot of Moonshine, 1824 W. Division St., in 2009 and which rebranded to the "New Orleans Fest" a few months ago, was scheduled to take place on Division between Damen and Paulina.

According to the chamber, the fashion fest organizers are "looking into" moving their fest to the western end of Division between Damen and Leavitt Street.

The chamber said the producers of the Renegade Craft Fair were looking into moving their event off Division to Chicago Avenue between Ashland Avenue and Noble Street.

Organizers of the Renegade Craft Fair were not immediately available for comment early Thursday, and the fair's website still listed Division Street as the location for the upcoming event. 

"We will keep the Division Street businesses, the Chicago Avenue businesses and the community leaders informed as we know more," the chamber email said.

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: