PORTAGE PARK — New liquor stores would be banned from setting up shop in most of the business districts of the remapped 38th Ward under a measure introduced by Ald. Tim Cullerton (38th).
Because the boundaries of the 38th Ward have changed — including adding almost half of what used to be the 36th Ward — the measure was needed to ensure that problematic bars, taverns and liquor stores don't reopen without notice, Cullerton said.
"For example, we don’t want a tavern that had lots of problems but has been boarded up for many years to reopen," Cullerton said. "This gives the residents added protection."
Heather Cherone cuts through the red tape and explains why Ald. Cullerton feels the moratorium is necessary:
The moratorium would still allow restaurants to apply for licenses to serve alcohol, according to city records.
A ban on booze sales has been in place throughout the existing 38th Ward since it was imposed by Cullerton's father, Thomas, who represented the 38th Ward for 20 years until his death in 1993.
Ald. John Arena (45th), who represents neighborhoods to the north of the 38th Ward, which includes Portage Park and Dunning, authored a similar measure, which was adopted by the City Council in the spring.
The moratorium is set to be imposed in two-block segments to allow the alderman — with the support of a majority of the residents who live closest to a location — to lift the ban after one year to allow desired stores to open their doors, according to the law.
It is also more difficult to transfer liquor licenses from one owner to another in an area covered by a moratorium, according to the law.
The areas where liquor sales would be banned are:
• Narragansett Avenue from Grace Street to Irving Park Road
• The north side of Belmont Avenue between Major and Marmora avenues
• The south side of Irving Park Road between Neenah and Oak Park avenues
• The south side of Irving Park Road between Oketo and Oriole avenues
• Central Avenue between Berteau Avenue and Montrose Street
• Austin Avenue between Roscoe and Addison streets
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