Dear Neighbors,
This week at City Council, we confirmed the appointment of Walter “Red” Burnett as the new representative of the 27th Ward, honored Mother Cabrini’s lasting contributions to Chicago, and approved a global settlement to right the wrongs tied to former Sgt. Ronald Watts, cutting settlement spending down in the long-run. On top of these, here are three more legislative updates I think you will find interesting:
Dog-Friendly Business Ordinance: In case you missed recent City headlines, I introduced an ordinance giving food-retail establishments the option (but not the requirement) to permit dogs. This puts more decision-making power in the hands of business owners, and if they opt-in as “dog-friendly” they are held to heightened sanitation standards and rules, including:
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Clear signage indicating ‘dog-friendly’ status
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Limit of one dog per patron
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Leash requirement
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Vaccination requirement
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No feeding or contact with restaurant staff
This idea started when Sophie Evanoff (owner of Vanille Bakery in the 43rd Ward) reached out after inspectors cited her for letting a customer bring in their dog. Not only did these inspections take hours from a great small-business owner, but they made her realize she could not serve an important customer base - dog-walking residents. After brainstorming a resolution with Sophie, I reached out to other leading food industry experts for heightened discussion, ultimately landing on this ordinance which gives increased autonomy to local business owners.
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Alderperson Knudsen (and Howie!) in the Chicago Sun-Times for their story on the Dog-Friendly Ordinance.
Click here, or on the image above to read it.
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In drafting, we worked with the Chicago Departments of Public Health and Business Affairs & Consumer Protection on language to ensure the comfort and sanitation of all Chicago diners. As Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia noted to WBEZ, “before the pandemic, the restaurant industry was an industry of nickels and dimes. Now, it’s an industry of pennies and nickels. Ald. Knudsen’s Dog-Friendly Business Ordinance supports restaurants by giving them the option to open their doors to a potentially powerful customer base.”
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The Chicago Tribune published a feature story about the Dog-Friendly Ordinance.
Click here, or on the image above to read it.
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Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): After two years of discussion, City Council unanimously passed an ordinance permitting ADUs (for example, coach houses, “granny flats” and garden apartments). The version approved was negotiated to include only areas zoned for multi-unit buildings and business/commercial districts, and additional labor requirements. Several Northside neighborhoods have been in an “ADU Pilot” for the last few years; however, this approval will bring an ADU-option to the whole 43rd Ward for the first time in decades. ADUs are a way to generate a natural increase in the Chicago housing stock. At the same time, they provide additional flexibility to homeowners to generate rent revenue or to allow a family member to age in place. As a past coach house resident in the 43rd Ward, and as someone focused on increasing housing options in our community, I was a proud “Yes” vote. Congratulations to our neighbor, 44th Ward Ald. Bennett Lawson, on leading this item through.
Chicago Fire Stadium: Finally, I voted to approve the Chicago Fire Stadium at “The 78” in the South Loop, the first “major stadium” built in Chicago in three decades. In addition to soccer games and concerts, this massive private investment will also include a large number of housing units. It is a great growth indicator for Chicago and will produce many jobs.
This may be our last ‘Summer’ weekend, so I hope that you are able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Next weekend on October 4th, join me at The Lincoln Park Farmers Market from 9am-11am where I will be handing out the below “Hands off Chicago” signs, and continuing to remind residents of their rights in response to the increased federal law enforcement presence in Chicago.
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen
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P.S. We hope you all took an enjoyable “Expedition” to last weekend’s Chicago “Exhibition” Weekend (and we apologize for the typo!). For those of you who missed it, Chicago is filled with many art galleries that open their doors every single weekend.
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September Street Sweeping
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The Chicago Parks Foundation's Lead Gift from The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust in Partnership with the 43rd Ward
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The Chicago Parks Foundation has secured a lead gift from The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust in partnership with Alderman Timmy Knudsen. This gift will be used to renovate and create an intimate seating area at Lincoln Park’s “Garibaldi Plinth.” The Chicago Parks Foundation worked with The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, 43rd Ward office (Alderman Timmy Knudsen), and community members to provide a new space for park visitors to rest and enjoy the serenity of the park.
You may have seen this large stone “plinth” before, that once held a statue to Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi. The statue stood on the plinth from 1901 through 1982, when the Italian American community requested it be moved to McLaren (Garibaldi) Park in Little Italy, where it still resides today
The Plinth, which will remain in the center of the new seating area, is engraved with the phrase “Guerreggio per redimere e non par conquistare,” which translates to “He fought wars for freedom, not for conquest.”
Construction will begin this month for a space that will become a welcome discovery for visitors of all ages. With its unique position perched above the ball fields, overlooking the Lincoln Park Zoo, this investment will renew a historic feature into a public amenity within our world-class Lincoln Park.
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Shred Event on November 16th
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Our office is continuing our regular office hours with District 4 School Board Representative Ellen Rosenfeld. We're proud that this initiative further expands accessibility to our elected officials for resident needs, concerns, and connectivity. On October 9th from 1-3pm in our office at 2523 N. Halsted, Rep. Rosenfeld will take over our conference room. Residents can sign up for a 20 minute time slot here, and sign up for Ellen's Education Report here.
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2025 Chicago Marathon Information
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The 47th annual Chicago Marathon will happen on Sunday, October 12th, likely bringing more than 50,000 runners from every corner of the city and across the world. Last year’s marathon broke their fundraising record, raising over $36M for a wide collection of organizations. For those wondering, there are still volunteer opportunities available.
43rd Ward residents should be aware that marathon parking restrictions are slated to begin at 1:00am on race day, with towing in effect along the entire course. Impacted streets will be closed from 6:00am-4:30pm on race day. Full information including detailed parking restrictions, the race day schedule, open routes, and more is available on the marathon's website here. See an additional street closures brochure here and map here. Our office will send a ward-wide special newsletter as the marathon race day approaches.
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43rd Ward Volunteer Corps
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The 43rd Ward’s Volunteer Corps Development Project (VCDP) Team is always looking to engage with anyone interested in volunteering with the ward. If you or anyone you know is interested in getting involved, fill out this form here to stay updated!
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Crime, and safety remain top of mind for our community. Each week, the 18th and 19th District post Compstat numbers that reflect changes in indexes for key crimes. As a reminder, these statistics represent 100% of the 18th & 19th Police Districts; accordingly, they represent an area much larger than our ward.
For 18th District (south of Fullerton) Week 38 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 38 Compstat.
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We work closely with the 43rd Ward’s local CAPS districts, which include the 18th (Near North) and 19th (Town Hall) Police Districts. Our office is in frequent contact with officers from both of these districts and their local CAPS officers, who host a variety of community forums and events including beat meetings, informational settings, and expert panel discussions, as well as sending out community alerts when a pattern of crime is detected.
Beat Meetings are part of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy and an excellent way to hear directly from CPD about your neighborhood. Meetings are held in the evenings every two months. Click here and find out your Police District and Beat number.
2025 43rd Ward CAPS Meetings:
Beat 1811 (5 PM) & 1813 (6 PM): November 4th.
Beats 1811 and 1813 meet at St. James Lutheran Church located at 2050 N Fremont St. They are in the basement of the Church and you should enter through the northernmost door on Fremont St.
Beat 1812 (5 PM) & 1814 (6 PM): November 6th.
Beat 1812 and 1814 are hosted at Wintrust Bank located at 100 W. North Ave. The meetings are hosted on the 2nd Floor of the bank. Elevators are on site.
Beat 1824 (6 PM): November 13th.
Beat 1824 meets at 1201 N Clark St in the Clark St Apartments.
Beat 1932 (6:30 PM): October 7th, and December 2nd.
Beat 1932 is hosted in the sanctuary at New Life Church located at 1110 W Lill Ave.
Beat 1935 (6:30 PM): October 15th, and December 17th.
Beat 1935 is hosted at Chabad East Lakeview located at 615 W Wellington Ave.
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Community Meet and Greet with Police District Councilors
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The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced the start of a major rehabilitation project on the Cortland Street Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River. Beginning today, September 22, 2025, W Cortland Street will be closed to vehicle traffic in both directions between N Mendell Street and N Kingsbury Street. The closure is expected to last approximately 18–24 months. One sidewalk will remain open until winter 2025. Click here for more details.
Since this project is not in our Ward, we are keeping a close eye on the detour routes CDOT has proposed, including along Clybourn, where our Ward represents the East side. Alderman Knudsen remains committed to helping ensure pedestrian and biker safety are at the forefront of discussions. When our office gets more communication, we will be sure to include those in our newsletters to residents.
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Lincoln Park Farmers Market
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The Lincoln Park Farmers Market’s 44th annual season is up and running! The Lincoln Park Farmers Market’s 44th annual season is up and running! In 2025, the market will run on Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM, for a total of 31 consecutive weeks, through to Saturday, November 22, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, rain or shine. The much-loved neighborhood market is located in the parking lot of the Lincoln Park High School, 724 W Armitage Ave, just east of the intersection of Armitage Ave and Halsted St.
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North Ave Underpass Mural
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The world could use more joy and beauty right now! You can donate HERE.
We have a fundraising goal of $50,000. Any funds we raise in excess will be donated directly to the Lincoln Park Conservancy, an organization that is dear to my heart and that will be collecting and managing the funds and maintenance of the project. Chicago Public Arts Group has helped us navigate the process, coordinate the budget and is overseeing the permitting process and other tasks as needed.
During the design process we decided one side should represent the city during the day and the other in the evening.
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Beer and Brat Tasting at Carnival Grocery
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Come ready to eat, drink, and shop local next Saturday, September 27th from 12-3pm at Carnival Grocery. Their Beer and Brat tasting is a completely free event, and is located right on the corner of Lincoln and Dickens (458 W Dickens)
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2025 Lincoln Park Wine Fest
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Fri, October 3, 2025 | 5pm-10pm
Sat, October 4, 2025 | 11am-10pm
Sun, October 5, 2025 | 11am-7pm
1001 W. Wrightwood Ave, Chicago, IL
Fall’s cool breezes will celebrate the glorious grape when, for the eighth year, the annual wine happening that is Lincoln Park Wine Fest transforms tranquil Jonquil Park into an open-air market featuring wine and food pavilions. The highlight is ticketed wine tastings where scores of varietals will be showcased.
BUY WINE FEST TICKETS
**We are also looking for volunteers aged 21+ to help staff the wine tasting booths, if you are interested its a lot of fun! Sign Up to Volunteer HERE
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18th District Paper Shredding and Electronic Drop Off
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Come shred your personal papers, documents, and recycle electronics safely with the help of R4 Services. This service is provided free of charge, but open to 018th District residents only.
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Join the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church for their 10th annual Vigil Against Violence. Join neighbors in remembering those lost to senseless gun violence.
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1950 N. KENMORE AVE CHICAGO, IL 60614
@ PARISH CENTER
To make an appointment, call (800) 7TO-GIVE,
scan the QR code below or go to the following
link here. Donate blood and be someone’s hero. One pint of blood can save up to 3 lives.
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St. James Oktoberfest 2025 (FREE)
Friday, October 3 · 7 - 10pm CDT
2050 North Fremont Street Chicago, IL 60614
COURTYARD
ages 21+
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Friday Night Concert: Emily Soule on October 10th
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Location: 2050 N Fremont St
Come join us for a night of music. Enjoy music in the dimming light of the towering Kinsella stained glass windows as dusk falls. All concerts are free and open to the public.
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Admissions & Open Play Events at Park West Co-op
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It's admissions season at Park West Co-op and the school is inviting local families with preschool age children to attend tours, open houses, family open gym, and family playdate events. Check out all the opportunities to get to know Park West Co-op.
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Fundraiser: Springboard to Success
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I wanted to share with you a stand-up comedy fundraiser that is happening in the 43rd Ward on October 16. The fundraiser benefits Springboard to Success, which is the nonprofit arm of the Chicago Housing Authority. All proceeds will go to support programs and partners that propel CHA residents on their pathways to academic success, economic stability and independence. What: Stand Up for S2S
Date: Thursday, October 16
Time: Happy hour + pizza 6:30- 7:15; show 7:30- 8:45
Location: Lincoln Lodge, 2040 N. Milwaukee
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Domestic Violence Outreach
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Join us on Monday, October 6, for a screening of the award-winning short documentary, “This is Where I Learned Not to Sleep.” This story follows retired detective, Lieutenant Mark Wynn, and his journey from his first-hand experience to committing to keeping victims of domestic violence safe. We will be joined by tireless advocate for victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse & human trafficking, Sheriff Tom Dart, as our keynote speaker. After the screening, there will be a panel hosted by several experts, including former CPD Aileen Robinson, a continued advocate for victims of abuse, filmmaker and Emmy award recipient, Kirsten Kelly, Commander Christopher Bielfeldt, and Mark Wynn, who has helped thousands of women and children since starting his work to help those who are being abused.
Monday, October 6, 2025, 7:00 PM
Location: St. Vincent de Paul Church--Free and open to the public
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St. James Lutheran - Pet Blessing Event
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Saturday, October 4 · 2 - 3pm
2050 North Fremont Street Chicago, IL 60614
St. James Lutheran Church - Front Steps
Bring your pets of all shapes and sizes and join us for a short service with pet blessings, treats, and fellow pet lovers!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Have questions about street work happening in your area? The Department of Transportation has a wonderful tool to look up street work in your area called the Chi Street Work Portal. Here you can input an address and see all surrounding permits for projects on that street. The map is also interactive, allowing residents to view the real permits, view projects in other areas of the City, and see which type of work is being done on your street.
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Parking Enforcement via 311
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The Department of Finance (DOF) announced that City residents now have the option of reporting the following parking enforcement violations: Bus Lane Parking, Commercial Loading Zone, Commercial Vehicle Parked on a Residential Street, Disabled Parking, Fire Hydrant Parking, Residential Parking, Rush Hour Zones, School Safety Zones, Vehicle Parked in Bike Lane, Other (Semi-trucks parked on streets, etc.) Neighbors can report parking violations by calling 311, using the CHI311 app, or through the 311 website. The request type is “Finance Parking Code Enforcement Review.”
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E-Scooters and E-Bikes Policy Updates
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Please click here for updated guidance and rules from CDOT on Scooter and E-Bike rides.
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I want to keep spreading the good word of how powerful a tool CHI 311 is to address non-emergency services in our Ward. Via the CHI 311 website and mobile app, you can:
- Create new service requests and check the status of existing requests (such as on timing and completion).
- Snap a photo of an issue to submit it with a request to improve location accuracy.
- Get local and relevant information/tips regarding the 43rd Ward including visibility into what other requests are being made in your neighborhood. The free CHI 311 mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and may be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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