Lincoln Avenue SSA 35 Info

What are the boundaries of the Lincoln Avenue SSA?

The Lincoln Avenue SSA includes all properties fronting Lincoln Avenue from Webster Avenue on the south to Diversey Parkway on the north.

When was the Lincoln Avenue SSA established?

City Council passed the establishment ordinance for the Lincoln Avenue SSA on November 4, 2005.

Why was the Lincoln Avenue SSA established?

The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce recognized that businesses on Lincoln Avenue had been increasingly challenged with a decline in daytime foot traffic, inconsistent area marketing, investment and maintenance and increasing competition from surrounding neighborhood commercial districts. Residents and visitors were faced with fewer choices, minimal pedestrian amenities and worsening parking and traffic conditions. The Lincoln Avenue SSA is the product of a concerted effort by business leaders, residents and elected representatives to establish a professional program with dedicated resources to respond to these challenges by procuring private services to 1) improve sidewalks and public spaces, 2) provide new pedestrian friendly amenities and 3) initiate programs to improve retailing, parking and traffic circulation. With the decline of Federal and State resources, the SSA program is the only tool available to property owners, tenants and residents to ensure a higher level of services separate and above basic city services.

After much discussion and research of various options, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce proposed the establishment of an SSA on Lincoln Avenue. The SSA would have the ability to address the issues identified by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce and property owners, as well as maintain the streetscape elements installed by the City in 2001.

Today, the Lincoln Avenue SSA offers a number of services to residents and businesses of the area, including streetcleaning, powerwashing, snow removal, landscaping, and holiday decorations.  Streetcleaning is done five times a week from April through October and three times a week November through March; powerwashing occurs once annually, landscaping includes two seasonal plantings (spring and winter) and installation and maintenance of flowers and plants in hanging streetpole baskets, and snowremoval includes salting and removing snowfall in excess of two inches during the winter months.

What other commercial districts have SSAs and are they successful?

Twenty-five SSAs are active and thriving in the city of Chicago since the first SSA was establised in 1977. Some northside SSAs include Lakeview, Lakeview East, North Halsted, Lincoln Square and Andersonville. SSA funding has been instrumental in revitalizing and maintaining many of these commercial areas.

Commercial Space

Are you looking for space on Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park to open or relocate your business? The Lincoln Avenue SSA has compiled a list of available properties to address the increasing demand for available commercial space on Lincoln Avenue. The Lincoln Avenue Commercial Space vacancy list is updated on a quarterly basis.  Please click below to access the list.
Lincoln_Ave_SSA_Vacany_Database_Q1_2010.xls (20 KB)

Who lives in the Lincoln Avenue SSA?

Lincoln Avenue residents tend to be young, well-educated white-collar professionals; the majority rent their residences rather than own and are single with no children.  Their estimated income is substantially higher than in other Chicago neighborhoods, and a disproportionate number of neighborhood professionals work in sales, management, and business/finance.  Want more demographic information or statistics?  Please contact anne@lincolnparkchamber, or call 773.880.5200 for up-to-date demographic information at no charge.