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Happy (early) St. Patrick's Day! I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at festivities across the Ward this weekend. 🍀

 

The Chicago River Dyeing will occur on Saturday, March 15th from 10am-12pm, and you can watch the tradition along the river from Columbus to Orleans. The St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 12:15pm on Saturday, and starting at 11am, Columbus Drive will be closed from Roosevelt to Monroe (as will cross streets along the route). Learn more from OEMC here.
 

LaSalle Revitalization Update

 

I'm excited to share that yesterday, City Council voted to landmark the Rector Building at 79 W. Monroe! This is a great step to create affordable housing and rebuild downtown after the pandemic.

 

Learn more about the Loop Revitalization project here.
 

West Loop Historic Plaques Project

 

Local historian Connie Fairbanks is looking to connect with buildings on the National Register of Historic Places/Illinois Landmarks to install identifying plaques. If you have a connection to these locations, please contact Connie here.
 

23 S. Sangamon Feedback

 

Thank you to the neighbors who joined the development team at a community meeting to learn more about the proposed development at 23 S. Sangamon.

If you weren't able to join, the presentation can be found here. Please share feedback about this proposal to my office by tomorrow, March 14th.
 

Save the Date: Get Behind the Vest Breakfast

March 30th, 8am-12pm

St. Ignatius College Prep, 1076 W. Roosevelt

 

Did you know that Chicago Police officers need to replace their bulletproof vests after around five years, but are only provided a vest when they join the Police Department? I'm hosting a Get Behind the Vest pancake breakfast benefitting the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation to purchase high quality, bulletproof vests, and hope you can join to support the officers who work hard every day to keep our communities safe. 

Interested in volunteering? Please sign up 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:
 
 

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!

 

There are two beat meetings scheduled for next week, both taking place in-person on Wednesday, March 19th.

  • Beat 131: March 19, 2025 at 5:30pm
    • Sip & Savor Coffee Shop, 31 E. Roosevelt Road
  • Beat 1214: March 19, 2025 at 7:00pm
    • Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, 1121 N. Leavitt Street
 
 

34th Ward Infrastructure Updates

  • Detached bump-outs are being installed at Flournoy and Laflin ahead of street resurfacing tentatively scheduled for this season. 
  • Bike median extensions on Harrison from Desplaines to Canal started March 12th after last year's resurfacing project. Flaggers will be on site to assist traffic in the area, and work is expected to conclude by March 28th.
  • Street Resurfacing (start dates weather permitting)
    • S. Sangamon from Monroe to Adams, start date 3/21
    • S. Carpenter from Arthington to Taylor, start date 3/21
  • Alley Improvements (start dates weather permitting)
    • Alley bounded by Adams, Jackson, Wabash to State, start date 3/19
    • Alley bounded by Van Buren, Jackson, Sangamon to Peoria, start date 3/21

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.
 
 

Shamrock Shuffle Street Closures

 

Please be advised that the following streets will be closed to traffic on Sunday, March 23, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. as runners pass through the area:

  • Columbus Dr. from Roosevelt Rd. to Grand Ave.
  • Grand Ave. from Columbus Dr. to State St.
  • State St. from Grand Ave. to Wacker Dr.
  • Wacker Dr. from State St. to Washington Blvd.
  • Washington Blvd. from Wacker Dr. to State St.
  • State St. from Washington Blvd. to Jackson Blvd.
  • Jackson Blvd. from State St. to Franklin St.
  • Franklin St. from Jackson Blvd. to Harrison St.
  • Harrison St. from Franklin St. to Michigan Ave.
  • Michigan Ave. from Harrison St. to Roosevelt Rd.
  • Roosevelt Rd. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr.

No parking will be allowed on these streets starting at 1 a.m. on Sunday, March 23. Vehicles that are not removed from the street by that time will be ticketed and towed. For inquiries about towed vehicles, call 312.744.4444.
 

8 N. Morgan Construction Information

 

Construction is expected to start this month. 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 reach out to Alex Najem here.
 

Traffic Closures

  • Bridge Testing: in advance of boating season, the CDOT is conducting bridge testing along the Chicago River. They will happen between 9:30am and 2:30 pm on the following dates:
    • March 17: Van Buren St. Bridge
    • March 18: Adams St. Bridge
    • March 19: Monroe St. Bridge
 
 

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 3/17

  • Finish gas service Installation in Wabash between Ida B Wells and Harrison (9 am-4 pm M-W)
  • Continue gas main installation in Wabash between Harrison and Balbo (9 am-4 pm M-F)
  • Begin retirement excavations in 11th St. between Michigan and Wabash (9am-4 pm Tues-F)
  • All equipment at Harrison and Wabash will be moved offsite by EOD Friday, 3/21 in preparation for the Shamrock Shuffle.

Week of 3/24

  • Finish gas main installation in Wabash between Harrison and Balbo (9 am-4 pm M-F). Gas odors may be present during this time.
  • Begin gas service Installation in Wabash between Harrison and Balbo (9 am-4 pm M-F)
  • Begin retirement excavations in Wabash between Balbo and 8th (9 am- 4pm M-F)
 

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: February 19, 2025

 

Reconstruction of the Canal Street Viaduct between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard continues.

 

The Canal Street east sidewalk will be fully closed between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard starting in late winter for approximately 2.5 months.  During this time, Chicago Union Station can be accessed from the west sidewalk of Canal Street as well as all building entrances available between Clinton Street and the Chicago River.  A nightly lane closure on westbound Adams Street should be expected. 

 

A concrete bridge deck pour is anticipated to occur in spring of 2025.  At this time, traffic will be detoured around a weekend roadway closure at the intersections of Canal Street/Adams Street and Canal Street/Jackson Boulevard.   

 

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:
 
 
 

Obama Presidential Center Opportunities
 
 
 

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.
 

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!