Posted May 30, 4:06 p.m.

Good news, Brownies: The CTA says it will open the doors to its newly rehabbed main station entrance on June 5  Let me know how you're liking it --plus other Brown Line stations -- so far.  Here's the word stright from the CTA:

Renovations to the Armitage Brown Line station are complete and the newly renovated main station entrance will open to customers on Thursday, June 5. The station will be newly accessible to customers with disabilities. The temporary station located on the south side of Armitage will be closed and demolished over the next few weeks.

Construction crews will continue to work in the weeks ahead to complete construction even after the main station entrance opens for service. Additional work includes landscaping and adding rotogates to the auxiliary exits at platform level.

The Armitage station is the 10th station out of 18 to be renovated as part of the Brown Line Capacity Expansion project. Major improvements include longer platforms to accommodate eight-car trains, elevators and accessible turnstiles, wider stairways to improve platform access, more turnstiles to ease congestion, and additional exits and entrances to improve the flow of customer traffic.

Posted April 24, 1:39 p.m.

Brown Line capacity expansion construction is a public transit pain, but a necessary one, I'm sure most of us can agree. I've already gotten some raves from riders who say that the longer cars along the Brown Line and nicer stations are putting smiles on their faces.

But not everyone is happy.

"Going Public" has not heard from a lot of merchants inconvenienced by the station work, but one consistent voice has been that of Tamara Chaponot, who owns a boutique called Clever Alice. I also spoke to her neighbor, a gallery owner also out of sorts about the construction work, and who has evidently done something about it (see her note below). 

I've interviewed Tamara about her harrowing experience with the Chicago stop within the last year, and she keeps me in the loop about what's going on. Here's what she wrote to me earlier this week:

I hope you are still keeping on eye on the CTA and if you are, here is where the corner of Franklin and Chicago stands: As of today Franklin street is still not open. They are currently painting which includes removing lead -based paint and strong fumes from their work during the day. The smell is strong and you have to cover your mouth and nose when you go outside. The CTA workers have on gas masks. I was told this construction site was to be done in Oct of 2007 and that was running behind.

It is now April and the biggest art weekend of the year is the 25Th thru the 28Th. Art Chicago brings in many out of towners to this neighborhood, the 2ND biggest art gallery district in the US, and the CTA choose this week to close down Franklin, put up tents, and paint. What can I say but again the loss of business is unmeasurable. 750 N. Franklin building has lost the Byron Roche Gallery space, he has relocated upstairs. The CTA has impacted my business and has offered nothing to help. Please keep watching.

Here is the not-so-inviting area in front of Tamara's store, according to some photos she sent me.  It's a shame that she seems to be losing business, as when the stop is finished, it would definitely be beneficial to remain in this location.  Check out how it will look upon completion, according to the CTA.

So if you're by the Chicago stop along the Brown Line, do stop in to Clever Alice and say "hello." I checked out her store, and she's got some pretty hot inventory.