Andersonville Breaks Ground on Its First-Ever Pedestrian Plaza — Named for Local Trans Activist Elise Malary
By Socialhood News · Andersonville ·
Andersonville is getting something it has never had before: a pedestrian plaza of its own — and the city has already broken ground on it. The new public space, set for completion next spring, will be carved out of a portion of Catalpa Avenue between North Ashland Avenue and Clark Street, transforming what was formerly a stretch of pavement into a living, breathing community hub for the neighborhood.
The plaza carries a name with deep local meaning. It is being dedicated to Elise Malary, a Black trans woman who was a well-known presence in Andersonville and across Chicago's North Side. Malary was recognized for her work expanding mental health care access and economic opportunity for the trans community — causes that resonated strongly in a neighborhood that has long been a home for Chicago's LGBTQ community. Naming the plaza in her honor is a recognition both of her individual legacy and of Andersonville's identity as a welcoming, inclusive place.
Once complete, the Elise Malary Plaza is planned to serve as a true neighborhood gathering space. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the site will host farmers markets, art installations, community events, and greenery — a mix that fits naturally into Andersonville's rhythms. The neighborhood's Farmers Market already draws regulars to the Clark Street corridor every Wednesday through October 21, and a permanent outdoor civic space would give those gatherings — and new ones — a dedicated home year-round.
The plaza project arrives as Andersonville's Clark Street corridor continues to attract new investment. Noble Thai, the West Town restaurant that made Eater's list of best Thai restaurants in 2025, is preparing to open its second Chicago location at 5721 N. Clark St. — the building that previously housed Parson's Chicken & Fish, which closed last October. Noble Thai's West Town home at 1371 W. Chicago Ave. has been a draw since the restaurant opened in 2021, serving dishes like Tiger Cry ($13.95), chicken satay ($8.95), pad Thai ($12.95), and gaeng panang ($12.95). The Andersonville location will include a bar, a dining room, and a spacious patio on the north end of the commercial corridor — a welcome addition as the neighborhood heads into its fall event season.
Also worth watching: De Colores Mexican Grill, from Patricia Guerrero — the owner of beloved Edgewater Tacos — has been in the works for 5403 N. Clark St., taking over the space formerly occupied by Cesca's Margarita Bar & Grill, which closed after ten years. Guerrero's new restaurant will offer full seating, a rear patio, and a full bar, a step up from her pick-up-focused taco shop. The venture carries personal significance: Guerrero and her brother were born and raised in Edgewater, and the business continues a family legacy in the neighborhood going back to the 1980s, when their father opened Durango Mexican Restaurant at 1130 W. Thorndale Ave.
Taken together, the plaza groundbreaking and the wave of new businesses point to a neighborhood that is actively investing in its own future — in public space, in dining, and in the community identity that makes Andersonville distinct. The Elise Malary Plaza, in particular, is the kind of civic gesture that goes beyond beautification: it anchors a name, a story, and a set of values in the physical fabric of the neighborhood for generations to come.
Residents who want to stay current on the plaza's progress and the full fall events calendar — including Arts Weekend (September 25–27), the Fall Wine Walk (September 27), and the next Vintage Market (September 13) — can visit andersonville.org or stop by the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce office at 5706 N. Clark St. As ever, the best way to support this neighborhood is to show up — at the market, at the new restaurants, and in the plaza, when it opens its doors next spring.
Sources:
1. https://chicago.suntimes.com/andersonville
2. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/02/12/noble-thai-opening-in-andersonville-taking-over-former-parsons-building/
3. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/20/edgewater-tacos-owner-opening-new-spot-martys-martini-bar-is-back-and-more-north-side-food-news/
4. https://andersonville.org/events/