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City Council Updates

This week's City Council meeting was certainly eventful.

• We successfully passed an ordinance to reduce parking minimums for development projects located near neighborhood transit lines, while preserving the existing reduction process for buildings downtown.
• I'm also pleased to share that the City Council passed an ordinance I introduced to ease the zoning requirements for the rehabilitation of Landmarked buildings in downtown districts. This ordinance will help facilitate continued development throughout the Loop.
• Yesterday was also 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett's final City Council meeting. Many of you know Alderman Burnett as your former Council representative, and he has been a good partner representing the West Loop.

• I also recognized the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and the generations of Chicagoans who have proudly served to protect our freedom. Thanks to the leadership team of the U.S. Army’s Chicago Recruiting Battalion for joining us at City Council!

Barrel & Ash Community Meeting

July 30, 6pm

Please join my team for a virtual community meeting about a request for a new business, Barrel & Ash, to sell alcoholic packaged goods and allow consumption on premises at 232 S. Halsted. The proposed business will be an upscale bottle shop offering small bites. This meeting is an opportunity to learn more from the business team and share your feedback. Register at the link below.

2025 NASCAR Street Race Survey

Feedback due July 25th!

As in years past, I am inviting neighbors and local businesses to send their feedback about the 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race through a survey. Thanks to the hundreds of neighbors who have completed the survey this week! As we consider the future of this event in Chicago, it's important to understand specific impacts on our community. They survey will close on July 25th, and I look forward to hearing from you.

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 8am-11am!

This weekend, stop by to meet with Cook County Commissioner Michael Scott, Jr. and pick up an updated 2025 bike map!

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
  • 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.

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

Local West Loop historian Connie Fairbanks is looking to connect with buildings on the National Register of Historic Places/Illinois Landmarksto install identifying plaques. 

To see the landmarked buildings, please visit her website. If you a connection at these locations, please contact Connie. 

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.

8 N. Morgan Construction Update

Prep work for the building at 8 N. Morgan began at the end of May. Pile installation is underway. A sidewalk canopy will be installed on June 23rd. All dates are weather permitting. Contractors have been in touch with impacted buildings for vibration monitoring.

Pile driving will take 12-15 business days, weather permitting, and is planned to occur between 8am and 5pm. With any questions for the construction team, please email Alex Najem.

Lollapalooza Local Impacts

Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park on Thursday, July 31. Please see the letter below from the Lollapalooza team in anticipation of Lollapalooza's return to Grant Park beginning Thursday, July 31. Grant Park will remain closed from Wednesday, July 16 through Saturday, August 9.

During closure, a temporary dog park will be set up to the southeast of Grant Skate Park. Pickleball courts will be closed from 11pm on Sunday, July 27 through Tuesday, August 5 at 6am. Please see the letter below from the Lollapalooza Team to the community in anticipation of the festival.

Speed Camera Installations

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

• on Racine, between Harrison and Lexington
• on Desplaines, between Jackson and Monroe
  • Installed - warning tickets will be issued until July 14th.
• on Jefferson, between Jackson and Monroe
• on Michigan, between Monroe and Van Buren

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

Bridge Repairs

Please note: the Roosevelt Road Bridge project is currently working on Stage 2. Once stage 2 is completed (anticipated at the end of July, weather permitting), CDOT crews will start stage 3 with an estimated duration of 4 weeks to complete. 

2025 Menu Street Resurfacing Projects

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

Street Resurfacing Projects

• N. Green Street, from Madison to Washington
  • Estimated start date is Thursday, July 24
• N. Peoria Street, from Madison to Washington
  • Estimated start date is Thursday, July 24
• S. Carpenter Street, from Taylor to Arthington
  • Estimated start date is Thursday, July 24
• W. Polk Street, from Morgan to Racine
  • Estimated start date is Monday, July 28
• S. Ada Street, from Lexington to Flournoy
  • Estimated start date is Tuesday, July 29
• W. Westgate Terrace, from Flournoy to cul-de-sac
  • Estimated start date is Monday, July 28
• N. Garland Ct., from W. Randolph to W. Washington
  • Estimated start date is Thursday, Aug. 21
• N. Holden Ct., from W. Washington to dead end
  • Estimated start date is Thursday, Aug. 21

Alley Improvement Projects

• North/south alley bounded by S. Wabash, S. State, E. Jackson, E. Adams
  • Scheduled to begin on/around Thursday, August 21 (NEW START DATE)
• North/south alley bounded by S. Wabash, S. Michigan, E. Adams, E. Jackson
  • Scheduled to begin on/around Thursday, August 21
• East/west alley bounded by S. Racine, S. Aberdeen, W. Adams St., W. Monroe St.
  • Scheduled to begin on/around Thursday, July 24
• North/south alley bounded by W. Taylor St., W. Arthington St., S. Carpenter St., S. Aberdeen St.
  • Scheduled to begin on/around Friday, July 25
• East/west alley bounded by W. Lexington St., W. Flournoy St., S. Ada St., S. Lytle St
  • Start date TBA

Sidewalk Improvements

• Starting soon: tripping hazards at 802 and 837 S. Carpenter

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.

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 demolition. 

Update: July 17, 2025
  
Reconstruction of the Canal Street Viaduct between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard continues. The project is anticipated to be complete in fall of 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

Summer Movies at Mary Bartelme Park

Mark your calendars for five exciting movies brought to you by the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council! All movies begin at dusk. For the full 'Movies in the Parks' schedule, click here.

• June 16: Raiders of the Lost Ark
• June 23: Homeward Bound
• July 14: Mean Girls
• July 29: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
• August 19: Top Gun

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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