City Grange Garden Center brightens up car-centric Western Avenue

The corner of Western and Catalpa in Lincoln Square/ West Ridge was teeming with people and nature on a recent summer night. Residential and business development is slowly spouting up in this challenging location.

City Grange opened earlier this spring to much local fanfare in Lincoln Square, Albany Park, Sauganansh and many surrounding neighborhoods. The venture led by a veteran community garden activist has spruced up an otherwise busy four lane highway connecting the Lincoln Square and West Ridge neighborhoods (also a sub-neighborhood known as Arcadia Terrace).

A welcome site for the condo owners just to the south.

An oasis in an otherwise challenging location.

Not much to see around North Western Avenue and West Catalpa.  Rosehill Cemetery is to the east, multi-unit apartment buildings to the west. A spattering of business line the west side of Western Ave. going north towards Peterson Ave. but it is not very aesthetically pleasing to pedestrians.  

Driving this strip is an experience of it's own! Drivers weave from lane to lane avoiding left turning and parallel parking cars. The new alderman's office is located on this strip and there is no better time to make this strip safer to walk, ride and drive!

The impact of the garden center the the services / community space it provides can not be understated. What a boost! The center is really attractive and offers education programs to all gardening levels. Check them out just north of Lincoln Square!