The new Albany Park-Irving Park Special Service Area has focused on litter abatement in its first months of operation. View Full Caption North River Commission

IRVING PARK — As the commissioners of the newly constituted Albany Park-Irving Park Special Service Area set priorities for 2014, their first order of business was to wipe the slate clean.

"We've spent the majority of money so far on litter abatement," commissioner Stephanie Fishel reported to the community at Tuesday night's meeting of The Residents of Irving Park.

The SSA — a special tax collecting district — contracted with CleanSlate to provide sidewalk cleaning four days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Since service began in April, workers have filled 1,800 bags of trash and 831 bags of recyclables with litter collected along the SSA's main corridors, which include Lawrence, Kedzie and Montrose avenues, according to Fishel.

In November, sidewalk cleaning will taper off to two days a week as the SSA ramps up snow removal efforts.

Looking ahead to 2015, Fishel said commissioners are setting up a facade improvement program expected to have a budget of $65,000, offering rebates of up to $7,500 for business owners who spruce up the exteriors of their properties. Details will be forthcoming in terms of how to apply for funds, she said.

Power washing of sidewalks is also on the agenda for 2015, Fishel said.

"Now that the trash is gone, all I see is gum on the pavement," she said.

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