In 2002, the City of Chicago invested in a multi-million dollar streetscape improvement program along Clark Street in Lincoln Park. It included wider sidewalks, better lighting, and landscaping aimed at creating a more visually appealing environment for neighbors and shoppers. Local businesses, residents and the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce proposed the establishment of a Special Service Area (SSA) on Clark Street to maintain the streetscape elements and enhance the corridor. The Chicago City Council passed the establishment ordinance for the Clark Street SSA on December 4, 2002. The Clark Street SSA was reconstituted and expanded in 2007 and reconstituted in 2022 (renewed) for an additional 15 years. Each reconstitution extends the SSA’s term for 15 years.
The Clark Street Special Service Area #23 includes all properties fronting Clark Street from Armitage on the south to Diversey on the north. In addition, it includes all properties fronting the south side of Diversey from Orchard to Lakeview (see the Clark Street SSA map for details). SSAs are local property tax districts that provide funding for enhanced services and programs in neighborhoods across Chicago. The mission of the Clark Street SSA is to maintain and strengthen Clark Street in Lincoln Park as a vibrant commercial and residential district and to ensure that the district is a clean and attractive environment for the community while fostering a collaborative partnership among all stakeholders. The LPCC is the service provider for the Clark Street SSA.
