We stopped building decades ago. That killed the affordable housing engine and means we have thousands fewer affordable housing units than we would have if we'd just kept building. NIMBYs say 'mission accomplished', I say restart the engine.

I recently moved to oak park after graduating from university for my new job. I am 21 and interested in poetry as well so I want to get into the poetry scene here if there is one because my job won’t give me time to get involved in Chicago. Are there any poetry clubs or book clubs in Oak Park? Or places to make friends with other recent grads or anyone? Thank you!

The VOP board will soon vote to accept the zoning recommendations from Opticos, the next step on a 5+ year plan we've undertaken to modernize our zoning map (and to legalize new housing). We've built a site that breaks down exactly what changes; you can enter your home address and get details for your specific lot and those of your neighbors, or just read background information.

Anyone have recs for a house + pet sitter in oak park? looking for someone to stay at our place for a week and exercise the dog a couple times of day, take care of his food and water, etc. Thanks!

I drive past the Oak Park Temple on Harlem twice a day. Every day there is a Sheriff's Police car parked visibly in their lot.

I've always been curious why there is always a County squad car there, but now there is a permanently parked Oak Park PD car there. Why di they have so much protection?

(Photo is from Google Maps)

Do you have anyone that's done foundation repairs for your detached garage that you'd recommend? I've got settling in one corner and cracking in the overall foundation that I would like to repair.

And if you do, do you have any before/after photos you'd be willing to share?

Does anyone know of a good landscaping company that would be able to remove a pile of dirt and paver sand in a garbage bin from my house?

GOTJunk said they won’t be able to do it

On my way to work this morning I saw dozens of orange tickets on side street parked cars. Are these for the oak park village vehicle passes do we think or are they really cracking down on overnight parking rules?

Any recommendations on trustworthy dog sitters who will stay in your house with your dogs? We want our dogs to feel loved and cared for while we travel.

I commute into the city often and there's no shortage of good matcha, whether it be a simple latte or boba. However, I don't want to hop on a train every time I want some tea. I've tried quite a few places in OP/RF/Forest Park, but many of them make their matcha plain (just powder and milk) or extremely sweetened, with no in between. Who's the best "matcharista" in the area?

(Honorable mention to Joy Tea, even though they don't sell matcha! Great blended teas with customizable sweetness)

17 year old needs an eye exam to assess for glasses. I’m guessing they don’t do that at Lake Street Family Physicians. Where do people go in OP?

Hello everyone. I’m looking for any guidance on where to look for a part time job after work and one day on the weekend. I have a 9-5 but I am struggling to make ends meet on my own. I would like to stay in Oak Park and I am willing to do retail, front desk, admin, or childcare.

If you have any recommendations on where to look, it would be greatly appreciated.

We recently moved here from a different state and need to register our car and get new plates. The DMV’s appointments are very difficult to get. Are there other recommended options?

I have family visiting and they would really like me to find them some Detroit style pizza. Give me your recommendations, please.

Edit: some of y’all are silly. We ended up going to Paulie Gee’s and it was great

Hi OPers, Looking for recommendations for a solid contractor or carpenter to help with our back deck demolition and removal of the boards afterwards. We will also need siding repaired/replaced from where the deck is attached to the house.

I saw a post on pet sitters a while back but haven't been able to find it again so I apologize for a repeat.

Does anyone have recommendations for pet sitters who can also take care of plants in the Oak Park area? I'll be gone for 1.5 weeks in August. I live in a one bedroom condo so a housesitter would probably be too extravagant but I have two cats and about 45 houseplants 😂😭 My primary concern is the cats obviously, but it would be nice to hire someone who also feels comfortable with the plants

Over the last week I’ve come across three dead birds on the sidewalks (one looked squished/there for awhile, one headless, one with no visible injuries). Just now, I went to do laundry and found two dead baby bunnies in the grass. Super sad. While I didn’t get too close, I saw no signs of external injury. Is this from the heatwave? Cats/dogs? Pesticides? Anyone else seeing this? I don’t even leave my apartment that much (especially when the weather was super hot) so it’s startling how many dead animals I’m seeing.

Hello, I just moved to Oak Park from out-of-state. I'm looking for doctor recommendations or even just facility recommendations for a general primary care, preferably a female. I've tried to look into things and seen a lot of favor for Northwestern, I would just prefer not going into the city. However, I don't mind driving 20-30 minutes away if it means more attentive care, just thought I would ask on here first. Thanks all!

Hey neighbors!

Not sure if this is allowed so feel free to delete. I’m looking for recommendations for a unique scenario.

I own a condo in OP and moved in this past winter. It is an old building with plaster walls that are cracked behind one of my radiators.

I’m looking for someone who can remove the radiator, repair the wall, then reinstall the radiator with a new valve.

The association recommended a handyman some have used but I’ve contacted him three times over the past month and he still hasn’t provided a quote, I think he’s busy.

Anyone else lose power during the storm?

Anyone see the helicopter hovering over Lake street near the high school today around 1pm?