To those of you just waking up after a long Christmas celebration yesterday -

GOOD MORNING!

Green Alleys!  No, this is not another Chicago publicity thing to draw attention - we DO dye the Chicago River BRIGHT GREEN for St. Patrick's Day every year, you know!

This pilot program involves installing new permeable asphalt or concrete, or a more sophisticated drainage and heat abatement system, into the over 1,900 miles of public alleys that parallel Chicago residential and commercial streets.  (Apparently, Chicago has more miles of alleys than any other city in the world!)

Alleys, of course, do perform an important public function.  They provide convenient access for delivery trucks, so main streets aren't blocked (if you don't believe this important, try navigating NYC streets during a business day).  They also are the primary artery here for garbage trucks, as the refuse they pick up is discarded into waste containers, in the alleys (again, Manhattan has no alleys, and is often quite pungent during the evenings before the trash is collected).

Many of the older concrete alleys in Chicago, however, often don't properly divert water from even moderate rainstorms, and retain considerable heat in the summertime, resulting in more frequent pavement repairs.  One Chicago Northwest Side Resident complained that he had severe puddling in his back yard and attached garage every time it rained even moderately.  When new porous asphalt and a French Drain System were installed in the alley behind his house, the puddling stopped.

The Chicago Green Alley Program started in 2006, and only a handful of alleys have been re-constructed to date.  But there could be quite a demand for this technology as it expands to other Chicago Neighborhoods.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley prides himself on eco-friendly, green city improvement projects.  It's great to see his progressive approach here.

Check out our posting at BlogChicagoHomes.com for more info, as well as reporter Andrew Schneider's article in the Edison-Norwood Times Review, dated December 20, 2007.

We'll keep you posted with further details!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO