For decades, Kostner residents of the 2800-3100 blocks between Diversey and Belmont Ave have cited tens of thousands worth of damage to cars, hit and runs and near-misses on a street that has healthy pedestrian traffic. The street narrows in this area, and even the southern part of Hermosa with ample 2 way traffic has their labyrinth of one-ways.

Denied block parties from the previous 31st Ward alderpeople has not helped the matter (finally resolved with the first happening in 2019). But what do the other nearby neighborhoods enjoy? Successive one way streets that slow down traffic, the same east-west boundaries of Pulaski + Cicero. In Irving Park, if Kostner runs south, then Lowell + Kenneth run north, and so on. In fact, Mayfair has this is well in 2 different areas, and the north/souths are the opposite direction between Lawrence and Montrose.

Why do these communities have seemingly safer residential streets lined with houses + apartments than this section of Hermosa? Is it a decision by the previous Alderperson? (Alderperson privilege has now been taken away as of Mayor Lightfoot’s administration). What makes this part of Hermosa singled out over other parts of Hermosa, or neighborhoods that are directly north and have the same narrow street width? Kostner being the minimum width of a two-way, CDOT recognizes this street as “dangerous,” yet how dangerous does it need to get before anything has been done?

For context, here is the breakdown of the 4 sections of one way K streets that Hermosa is left out of:

Kostner One Way Examples - Nov 2019

Mayfair - Foster to Lawrence

Community Area: Albany Park
N/S Streets: Foster Ave (5200 N) to Lawrence Ave (4800 N)

One Way Street configuration

Mayfair - Lawrence to Montrose

Community Area: Albany Park
N/S Streets: Lawrence Ave (4800 N) to Montrose Ave (4400 N)

Note: Kostner dead ends northbound and does not connect north through the Lawrence/Kostner intersection

One Way Street configuration

Old Irving Park - Irving Park to Addison

Community Area: Irving Park
N/S Streets: Irving Park Ave (4000 N) to Addison St (3600 N)

One Way Street configuration

Kilbourn Park - Addison to Belmont

Community Area: Irving Park
N/S Streets: Addison St (3600 N) to Belmont Ave (3200 N)

One Way Street configuration