The 34th Ward office will be closed on February 12th for Lincoln's Birthday and February 17th for Presidents Day. 
 

8 N. Morgan Pre-Construction Information Meeting

February 11th, 6pm

Virtual via Zoom

 

Please join the construction team for a pre-construction information meeting about the forthcoming bathhouse development at 8 N. Morgan. Representatives from the development team will be available to answer any questions you may have about planned construction. 
 

City Council 101

Presented by the Better Government Association

 

10am-11:30am

Harold Washington Library

I'm excited to join Alderperson Andre Vasquez and Alderman Matt O'Shea to discuss the City's budget process and what to expect in the upcoming year. This conversation will be moderated by Geoffrey Cubbage from the Better Government Association and is free to attend. Learn more and register in advance below. 
 

Chicago Restaurant Week

January 24th - February 9th

 

Chicago Restaurant Week is happening now! Whether you're trying out Veganuary at Native Foods or wanting to check out The Exchange after it was featured on The Bear, there is something for everyone to enjoy among this year's participants. For a full list of participating restaurants, click here.
 
 

Stay connected with the 34th Ward on social media! 

 

Alderman Conway can be found at the links below or with the @AldConway handle on the following platforms.
 
 

Free Tax Prep Assistance

 

The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) is excited to announce the return of the Tax Prep program, offering free income tax preparation and assistance for households earning up to $67,000 or individuals earning up to $35,000 annually. Services will be available at various Chicago and suburban locations from January 25 to April 15, 2025. No appointment is needed - but it is recommended that neighbors arrive early, as sites close when they reach capacity.

 

For further information on accessing the free tax assistance program:
 

Apply for your CityKey card online!

 

The Office of the City Clerk is excited to announce the completion of a first-of-it's kind CityKey online platform, giving residents another way to get their free CityKey card! Chicagoans can now apply for a CityKey online and once their information verified, they can receive your CityKey card through the mail. 

Applicants will need to upload the proper documents along with a passport-size photo, the steps can be found in the Applying for your CityKey section. Read more and apply for your CityKey here.

City Clerk 2025 Pricing Updates
 

Winter Parking Restrictions

 

From December 1st to April 1st, the City's overnight parking ban is in place on snow routes. This allows snow plows and emergency vehicles to move easily along affected streets. Be mindful of posted no parking signs so you don't get ticketed and towed and so we can create less hazardous winter road conditions for our neighbors.

This is in effect daily from 3am-7am whether it snows or not, and you should also avoid parking in areas with posted Winter Parking Ban signs when snowfall is over 2 inches.

 

To see a map of streets impacted, click here. Visit the Streets and Sanitation website to learn more. You can also track the locations of snow plows here.
 

South Loop Farmers Market

Roosevelt Collection

Saturdays (1/11-3/29), 9am-1pm

 

The South Loop Farmers Market location at Roosevelt Collection is a vibrant place to enjoy this winter indoor market with friends & family. Support small businesses, engage with the community, and explore South Loop's premiere retail destination.

 

Learn more about the market here.
 

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 in the new year!
 
 
 

Peoples Gas Main Replacement - Wabash from Monroe to Balbo

 

Peoples Gas (PGL) is continuing a major infrastructure upgrade project along Wabash from Monroe to Balbo as well as on Harrison from Michigan to Wabash.  This gas main replacement project is part of PGL’s ongoing efforts to modernize its system in order to ensure continued safe and reliable service to the City of Chicago.

 

The work hours may vary throughout the project, but we currently anticipate working from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. During construction hours you will be able to expect traffic in each direction maintained through our work zones. This gas main installation will at times impact access to garages and/or loading docks so they ask that any deliveries or driveway access needed during work hours be communicated to on-site personnel with advance notice to the extent possible to allow access to be accommodated with minimal delay.

 

Week of 2/10

  • Finish gas service Installation in Wabash between Van Buren and Ida B. Wells (9 am-4 pm M-F)
  • Continue gas main installation in Harrison between Michigan and Wabash (9 am-4 pm M-F)

Week of 2/17

  • Gas service Installation in Harrison between Michigan and Wabash (9 am-4 pm M-F)
  • Gas service Installation in Wabash between Ida B Wells and Harrison (9 am-4 pm M-F)
  • Finish gas main installation in Harrison between Michigan and Wabash (9 am-4 pm M- F)- Gas odors may be present throughout the week as this takes place.  
  • Begin gas main installation in Wabash between Harrison and Balbo (9 am-4 pm M-F)
 

Coco Delivery Service

 

Coco, a personal delivery device operator, began deploying their devices in a pilot service area encompassing parts of the 34th Ward. Cocos are always controlled by a professionally trained pilot when in the public right of way. To learn more about the Coco program, please click here.
 

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 demolition. 

 

Access to the east sidewalk of Canal Street between Adams and Jackson and the entrance to Union Station/222 South Riverside will be limited but maintained at night.  The entrance will remain open during the day with brief intermittent closures occurring on the east sidewalk. 

 

Beginning January 6th, prep work will start for the segment of the Canal project between Jackson and Van Buren, and demolition work is scheduled to begin the week of January 13th. This will be nighttime work, approximately between 8pm and 4am. Night demolition is scheduled to begin on January 20, 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:
 

After School Matters Spring Programming

 

After School Matters is now accepting applications from Chicago teens for their Spring programs, which run from February 24 - May 10. Teens ages 14-18 can choose from hundreds of programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM, to discover their passions, develop new skills for life beyond high school, and earn a participation stipend in the process. 
 
 
 
 

Save the Date: Friends of Skinner West Gala

 

Join the inaugural Friends of Skinner West 2025 Gala on Friday, April 11 at WNDR Museum! This exciting event is open to the entire community—everyone is welcome to support a great cause. All proceeds directly support Friends of Skinner West (FOSW). 

✨ Bonus for Parents! POW Gym is offering discounted babysitting from 5:30–10 PM for children in Kindergarten and up, so the kids can enjoy a fun-filled evening while you do too! No excuses—make it a night to remember!

🎟️ Tickets coming soon!

Want to sponsor the event or donate to the auction? They'd love your support! Auction items can include vacation homes, event tickets, unique experiences, restaurant gift cards, and more. Reach out at friendsofskinnerwest2011@gmail.com.
 

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.
 

Polar Plunge Chicago

March 2, 2025

 

Make a splash and make a difference on Sunday, March 2 at North Avenue Beach!  Join in the fun at Polar Plunge Chicago benefiting Special Olympics Illinois presented by Special Children's Charities! Don't miss this incredible winter event that supports a great cause!

Celebrate the event's 25th Anniversary with thousands of fellow warm-hearted people. Help make a lasting difference for Chicago individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Reserve your spot at the beach and register here.
 
 

Volunteer at the Art Institute of Chicago! 

 

The Art Institute is now accepting applications for their Winter Training Cohort for the Volunteer Program and is looking to fill positions for Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The Volunteer Program activates the Ryan Learning Center, primarily supporting programs and spaces for young people and the adults connected to them. Click here for more information about how to apply.
 

Helping Cats Near You

 

4th Sunday of every month, 4pm - 6pm
Details here.

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!