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Summer New Business

This summer, we welcomed a number of exciting new businesses to the 34th Ward. I encourage you to stop by and welcome them to the neighborhood!

• Bittersweet Pastry, 850 W. Monroe
• The Original Pancake House, 1124 W. Washington
• Ithaki Estiatorio, 314 S. Halsted
• Sit Stay Wash, 847 W. Monroe
• Cheese & Board, 948 W Madison

Lake Street Bridge Meeting

September 24th, 2025

3pm and 6pm

Please join the project team from the Chicago Department of Transportation for a community meeting to learn about the upcoming Lake Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project. The project will rehabilitate the 109-year-old Lake Street Bascule Bridge so it can continue to serve as a major corridor for transit, roadway, sidewalk, and river travel into Chicago’s Central Business District. 

Construction is projected to begin this fall and be complete in 2027. Please register in advance and join us for one of two public meetings, happening virtually on Wednesday, September 24th at 3pm and 6pm. The 3pm meeting is oriented towards building management and the 6pm meeting is geared towards impacted residents.

For more information and to learn more, please visit the CDOT project site.

Green City Market

900 W. Monroe

Saturdays 8am-1pm, starting May 3

This year, the market has moved to the 900 block of W. Monroe, between Peoria and Sangamon. 

My team looks forward to meeting with neighbors from 9am-11am!

This week, there will be another Family Fun Day from 9am-10:30am, brought to you by the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council, and West Loop Vet is hosting a Pet CPR and Safety demonstration during the market. 

Daley Plaza Farmers Market

• 50 W. Washington
• Thursdays, May 22 - October 23 (No market June 19)
• 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

South Loop Farmers Market

• Night Market: 150 W. Roosevelt
  • Thursdays, June 12 - September 25
  • The 34th Ward team will be at the market on September 25th!
  • 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• Printers Row: 632 S. Dearborn
  • Saturdays, May 24 - November 1, (No Market Sept. 6)
  • 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Know Your Rights

The City has created a "Protecting Chicago" website to connect neighbors with resources and information about their immigration rights in Chicago. Please click below to be connected with the City's new "Protecting Chicago" site.

CDOT Electric Vehicle & Mobility Infrastructure Survey

The survey is open until Tuesday, September 30.

Your voice matters. The Chicago Department of Transportation is seeking input on the Electric Vehicle and Mobility Infrastructure Framework and want to hear from residents and community members. The results will guide future decisions and help the city better serve you.

2025 Street Sweeping Schedule

Street sweeping started April 1st, and the schedule is live! Find a map and scheduled dates here. Be sure to move your vehicle on your posted street sweeping dates to avoid getting ticketed or towed. 

West Loop Historic Plaques Project

The West Loop is steeped in history. In fact, we have 19 historical designations, but only two plaques: Old St. Pat’s- National Register of Historic Places plaque and The Jackson Boulevard Historic District- Chicago Landmark plaque. To see the rest of the designations, please visit Connie Fairbanks' website.

She is also working on historical plaques for non-landmarked buildings. The 850 West Adams Board already installed a plaque on their building that was built by Alfred S. Alschuler in 1910. Only a Condo Board approval and payment is needed for these types of plaques.

If you live in a historic building in The West Loop and have historical information about your building you would like to share, please reach out to Connie to learn the process of installing your very own historic plaque! 

2025 Beat Meeting Schedules

Please join my team at upcoming CAPS meetings with the 1st and 12th Police Districts. CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) meetings are a great opportunity to meet with police, neighbors, and my team about local safety initiatives. To find your beat, click here. I hope you can join us at these meetings!

Camera Registration Program

When a crime occurs, Police Officers and Detectives canvass the area looking for evidence to determine what occurred. Video footage can greatly assist in their efforts.

If you have a private security camera that captures the public way and you are interested in assisting in an investigation in the event of a crime in your neighborhood, you can register your camera with the Chicago Police Department. 

By registering your camera, you are simply allowing the Chicago Police Department to contact you in the event of a crime in your area. CPD will not have direct access to your camera system and cannot access camera footage without your consent. This is a free and voluntary program. Learn more on the program website.

Jackson Street Bridge Closure

From September 23rd to 26th, the Jackson Street Bridge will be closed overnight from 11:59pm to 5am for bridge testing.

Lake Street Bascule Bridge Construction

The North Sidewalk across the Bridge is will close starting September 22nd 2025, as well as the Northeast Stairwell leading to 444 Riverpoint. The South sidewalk and North-south crosswalks crossing Lake at the East and West Bridge limits will remail open.

There will also be weekday day-time single lane closure (northern most Westbound Lane) with the other lanes open for Eastbound and Westbound traffic. Limits for this work are confined to the bridge only to perform West bridge house related work.
 

Scheduled for nights of October 1st and October 2nd 2025, evenings into morning, the project contractor will be closing the roadway and sidewalks for site survey measurements and test bridge lifts from 10PM to 5AM re-opening each date.
 

The long-term full roadway and sidewalks closure is scheduled to start October 6th 2025 after rush hour. 

State / Lake CTA Station Upgrade

CDOT and CTA continue work to transform the 108-year-old CTA train station at State & Lake. The work will affect the CTA bus routes listed here. The north sidewalk across the bridge will close 9/15. One westbound lane on Lake St will close on 9/15, as well. In late September, early morning site survey will begin on the roadway and sidewalk, which will require the bridge to be lifted from 10pm-5am each day. The dates for these lifts are not yet set--stay tuned for future updates.

The CTA train station will remain open, and access to surrounding businesses will be maintained throughout construction. The new station is expected to be finished in 2029.

Halsted Street & Chicago Avenue Bridge Project

The first month of the Halsted St / Chicago Ave project is complete. Crews have removed existing street lighting, traffic signals, signage, and bus shelters. Viaduct removal is underway along the north leg of Halsted and the east end of Chicago Ave.

Demolition of the Chicago Ave bridge will continue over the next month. In areas where demolition is complete, crews will begin constructing new bridge piers. Crews will implement measures to minimize disruptions as much as possible, but noise and dust are inherent to the bridge demolition process.

Full closure of the Chicago Ave Bridge will start on September 29. The current detour map can be found here. The full project is expected to be completed by the end of the year 2026.

Speed Camera Installations

Automated speed cameras are planned for installation at the following locations:

• on Racine, between Harrison and Lexington
• INSTALLED - on Desplaines, between Jackson and Monroe
• on Jefferson, between Jackson and Monroe
• INSTALLED - on Michigan, between Monroe and Van Buren
  • 30-day warning period began on 8/1, with citations starting 9/15

These locations were chosen because of their proximities to parks and schools. Installation dates will be shared as they are available.

Bridge Repairs

2025 Menu Street Resurfacing Projects

The following project start dates are subject to change, pending weather and equipment considerations.

Street Resurfacing Projects

• Wabash from Wacker to Balbo
  • Cement work at the corners will be completed this week
  • Starting Monday, 9/22, crews will begin milling Wabash, from Monroe to Van Buren, and level binder surface will be laid by end of week
  • All structures, utilities and repairs will then be addressed within the next 4-5 weeks.
• N. Garland Ct., from W. Randolph to W. Washington
• • The street has been milled, with utility and construction work is planned for next 2-3 weeks
• N. Holden Ct., from W. Washington to dead end
  • Estimated start date the week of September 15th
• Completed: N. Green Street, from Madison to Washington
• Completed: N. Peoria Street, from Madison to Washington
• Completed: S. Ada Street, from Lexington to Flournoy
• Completed: W. Polk Street, from Morgan to Racine
  • Punchlist items to follow
• On hold: S. Carpenter Street, from Taylor to Arthington

Alley Improvement Projects

• North/south alley bounded by S. Wabash, S. State, E. Jackson, E. Adams
  • Scheduled to begin the week of September 15th
• North/south alley bounded by S. Wabash, S. Michigan, E. Adams, E. Jackson
  • Scheduled to begin the week of September 15th
• Completed: East/west alley bounded by S. Racine, S. Aberdeen, W. Adams St., W. Monroe St.
• Completed: North/south alley bounded by W. Flournoy, W. Harrison, S. Racine, W. Westgate
• On hold: North/south alley bounded by W. Taylor St., W. Arthington St., S. Carpenter St., S. Aberdeen St.
• East/west alley bounded by W. Lexington St., W. Flournoy St., S. Ada St., S. Lytle St.
  • Start date TBA

Sidewalk Improvements

• In progress: tripping hazards at 802 and 837 S. Carpenter

Residential Bump Out Installations

• W. Monroe & S. Green – detached bump outs - (1) at each corner
  • Starting on or around September 8th

• W. Van Buren & S. Aberdeen – (1) curb extension to be installed on the N/W corner
  • Starting on or around September 3rd
• S. Jefferson & W. Congress – (2) curb extensions to be installed on the S/W & S/E corners
  • Starting on or around September 8th
• S. Jefferson & W. Harrison – (2) curb extensions to be installed on the N/W & N/E corners
  • Starting on or around September 8th

Residential Lighting Improvement Projects

• 800 & 900 block of S. Carpenter – in progress
• 800 & 900 block of S. Miller – in progress
• 1000 block of W. Arthington – in progress
• 1000 block of W. Cabrini – in progress

If you have any questions regarding these or any other infrastructure projects here in the 34th Ward, please reach out to Dan from my office at 312-744-6820 or via email to dan@ward34.org.

Ashland/I-290 Expressway Viaduct Work

Stage 1 traffic is currently being implemented on Ashland Av from Flournoy St to Jackson St to facilitate the reconstruction of the west side of the Ashland Ave bridge. 

In this stage, traffic configuration will consists of two lanes southbound and one lane northbound on Ashland Ave.

The contractor is scheduled to pour the new concrete deck within stage 1 limits on Friday 09/19/2025 starting at 7 AM. To complete this task, the contractor will reduce SB traffic on Ashland Ave between Adams St and Congress Parkway to one lane, while northbound Ashland Ave will maintain one lane of traffic per the original stage 1 MOT plan. In addition, traffic will be reduced along Van Buren St and Congress Parkway to one lane as well. The concrete deck pour should be completed by 4:30 PM on 09/19/2025, and at that time stage 1 lane closure will be re-established.

A detour plan for the restricted left turn lane from Ashland Ave to Van Buren St will be implemented to send traffic to WB Jackson Blvd, SB Laflin St, then WB Van Buren St. A detour plan will also be implemented for the restricted left turn lane from Ashland Ave to Congress Parkway to send traffic to EB Harrison St, NB Wood St, then EB Congress Parkway. In addition, that the west side sidewalk of the bridge will be closed, and pedestrians will be detoured to east side sidewalk of the bridge.

Stage 1 will remain in effect until the west side of the bridge is reconstructed. Following this, Stage 2 will be implemented to reconstruct the east half of the bridge. During Stage 2, traffic configuration will also consist of two lanes southbound and one lane northbound on Ashland Ave. The project is anticipated to be complete late Spring 2026. Stage 1 traffic configuration was implemented at the end of April 2025, and is on schedule to be completed by November.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

For road construction updates and general travel information please visit IDOT’s Getting Around Illinois website.

Traffic Management: Tribune and U-Haul Demolition

• Monday-Friday truck traffic will be focused from 9am – 4pm to avoid the morning and afternoon commuter rush hours. Once trucks are on-site, they will be on private property and not in the public right of way.
• Weekends will be used for heavy hauling and will limit truck traffic from 8:00am – 8:00pm.

• Traffic entrance and exit as noted in the above diagram (please note, barging material as shown, is not an option at this point). If more entrances and access become available, Brandenburg will consider editing said plan.
• Brandenburg has a scale set up onsite and random trucks leaving the site will be weighed to verify optimal capacity and to adhere to city trucking load limits.
• This plan will be modified as conditions in the field dictate.

Work is underway for the Canal Street Viaduct reconstruction.

Update: July 23, 2025
  
Reconstruction of the Canal Street Viaduct between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard continues. The concrete bridge deck on Canal Street has been poured and the east sidewalk is now open.
 
The remaining work includes west sidewalk construction, drainage, traffic signals, lighting, pavement marking, street signs and Union Station restoration.   
 
The project is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year 2025. If you have any questions, please email the project email address at CDOTCanalProjects@gmail.com.

The City of Chicago and Cook County are hiring! View their respective job posting sites below:

• City of Chicago
• Cook County

National Hellenic Museum Events

333 S. Halsted Street 

Star Gazing & Constellation Mappings - September 20th at 11am

• Join the National Hellenic Museum to learn about the constellations connected to Greek mythological stories and map your own constellation to take home. All ages are welcome, but children under 14 years old must have a parent/guardian present. Please register in advance.

Online Book Club - September 18th at 7pm

• Children ages 10-14 are invited to join an online book club journey through the world of Percy Jackson, where ancient Greek mythology comes alive in modern adventures. This week the group will discuss Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth and dive deep into Rick Riordan's beloved story, exploring the gods, heroes, and legendary creatures alongside fellow mythology enthusiasts. 

Volunteer with Hope's Table!

The Hope’s Table ministry is designed to serve the needs of Chicagoans who are homeless or hungry and is sponsored by First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple.

Saturday morning services typically include serving hot meals and food to go, distributing clothing, and connecting guests with legal support through DePaul University’s Neighborhood Legal Assistance Program. Grace Episcopal Church partners in many ways, most visibly by providing space at 637 S. Dearborn. To volunteer or donate, please contact their volunteer coordinator.

Discuss how to help community cats through TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), what to do with kittens, ongoing colony management, preventing nuisance issues and much more!

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