UPTOWN CHICAGO COMMISSION

ABOUT UCC

Founded in 1955, the UCC's mission is to improve the quality of life for all Uptown residents. The UCC's primary areas of focus are public safety, community development, and zoning and land use. Membership includes block clubs, property owners, developers, renters and businesses.

Participation is open to anyone concerned with the overall well-being of Uptown, a neighborhood bordered by Foster Avenue, Irving Park Road, Lake Michigan and Clark Street. Board meetings are open to the public and take place the second Tuesday of each month. If you are interested in joining the UCC please click here.

The UCC is a 501(c)(3) charitable not-for-profit corporation.

Organization Structure

The UCC operates with an all-volunteer board of directors.

The UCC administers local programs and operates several working committees. The working committees are composed of interested Board members and other members of the community at large. UCC's programs and committees are described below.

The Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and each working committee meet monthly.

UCC Working Committees

Public Safety Committee

This committee works on the public safety issues that concern the residents and business owners of Uptown. The Public Safety Committee is addressing the following issues:

• Drug dealing and other gang activity
• Public drinking and loitering
• Homeless people sleeping in the parks, under bridges and in other public spaces
• Disruptive behavior in and around subsidized housing, homeless shelters and social service agencies

Members of the UCC have provided leadership with the City of Chicago's CAPS program since its inception in 1993. Experience has determined which public safety issues are best handled through the formal CAPS process, and which are more effectively addressed by UCC membership working directly with city officials and social service agencies. It is sometimes necessary to launch many simultaneous initiatives before there is significant progress on a complex public safety issue.

Several UCC Position Statements relate to public safety concerns:

• Enforcement of Parks' Curfew Regulations    read position
• Good Neighbors Policy    read position
• Social Services' Responsibility to Community    read position

Zoning and Land Use Committee

This committee addresses issues concerning proposed zoning and land use changes or variances, new development, TIF proposals and licensing.

Several UCC Position Statements relate to zoning and land use matters:

• Historical Preservation   read position
• Liquor Licenses    read position
• Wilson Yard    read position
• Zoning and Land Use    read position

Communications Committee

This committee is responsible for the development and content of UCC's website, producing marketing materials, working with the media and communicating with neighborhood residents. Several Board members with marketing and public relations backgrounds have been instrumental in the significant upgrade of UCC's website. The goal of UCC's website is to make it an excellent source for information relating to the Uptown community.

Fundraising Committee

This committee is responsible for the annual awards dinner, the annual holiday parties, other fundraising events throughout the year and the annual membership drive.