Dimo's Seeking Sustainable 'People Spot' in Wicker Park

New Wicker Park restaurant Dimo’s Pizza is aiming to transform a portion of the Milwaukee, North and Damen avenues intersection, turning asphalt into additional green space with a new People Spot. 

A People Spot is a part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Transportation’s “Make Way for People” program, launched in June of 2012. The project helps turn places like loading zones and parking spaces into on-street lounge areas. 

Lake View already has two—one on Lincoln Avenue and one on Southport Avenue—and Andersonville received the first People Spot in Chicago. Now, Dimo’s owner Dimitri Syrkin-Nikolau wants one at Bucktown and Wicker Park’s most iconic intersection.

To help fund the project, Dimo’s was selected to Seed Chicago, the City of Chicago's new curated Kickstarter page. Now its gathering donations in hopes of raising $10,000 to make the project a reality.

“The design of our People Spot will capture the essence and heart of the Wicker Park neighborhood,” the Kickstarter page reads. “With an emphasis on communal seating and immersive greenery, we'll transform parking spots into a mini park. The tall street-facing wall will protect from noise and traffic, while also playfully representing our 'hood's love for biking with a colorful mural representing Chicago's rich bicycle culture.”

Syrkin-Nikolau has already begun working with the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, as well as the CDOT and Chicago designers Moss Design. Even MillerCoors pledged $5,000 in matching funds to move the project along.

Now the group is hoping to get the cash. As of Wednesday at noon, the page had nine backers and more than $350 pledged to the project. Syrkin-Nikolau is hoping to snag enough donations to bring the People Spot to Wicker Park yet this summer.

“When our project is funded, we will use the money we've raised to purchase necessary materials to build the People Spot,” the page reads. “…We do acknowledge that unforeseen obstacles may arise, including inclement weather and wait time from the city for permitting, but we have full confidence that our People Spot will be ready for the public no later than the fall of 2013.”

Check out the Kickstarter page here.