December 2, 2022

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Alderman Reilly Reports

Casino Community Meeting - December 5th

Mayor Lightfoot’s Community Engagement Office and Bally’s will host a Town Hall meeting to discuss Bally’s Casino permanent site. 


Permanent Site (Tribune Publishing)

Monday, December 5th

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Chicago Tribune Publishing Center, 700 W Chicago Ave

Register to attend in-person


A second meeting was held earlier this week to discuss the temporary location at Medinah Temple. If you were unable to attend, please click here to review the presentation and a recording of the meeting. 


Residents are encouraged to attend the next meeting on Monday, December 5th. Representatives from the city and Bally’s Corporation will be there to share additional information, respond to questions, and hear from community members. The meetings will also be live-streamed at chicago.gov/live


Alderman Reilly remains vehemently opposed to Bally’s proposal; click here for his most recent statement about the temporary casino. 


Following these community meetings, the proposed amendment to Planned Development # 1426, submitted by Bally’s Chicago Operating Company LLC (necessary for the permanent casino) will be reviewed at an upcoming Chicago Plan Commission (CPC) meeting on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 10 AM. 


Residents are encouraged to contact CPC directly to share their feedback about how the casino will impact our neighborhood. Please keep in mind that CPC will consider at least the following factors when reviewing the PD amendment: 


  • Compliance with the standards and guidelines for Planned Developments
  • Compatibility with the surrounding area in terms of uses, density and building scale
  • Adequacy of public infrastructure and city services to serve the proposed PD


Rules for virtual meetings are available now for review. A summary of the public comment portion is available below:


A link to access a livestream the day of the meeting will be available on CPC’s website here.

Michigan Avenue Resurfacing Completed

Alderman Reilly is pleased to report that the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has completed the work to resurface Michigan Avenue between Oak Street and Ohio Street. The project included installation of concrete bus pads and ADA ramp replacements. Work on this project began the week of September 12th, with resurfacing completed on November 18, 2022.

 

As one of the most iconic streets in the City of Chicago, and a major thoroughfare for 42nd Ward residents and commuters, Alderman Reilly was proud to support this project, and grateful to CDOT for completing this work ahead of the holiday season. Check out the new conditions below:

Development Proposal - 640 West Randolph

Vista Property Group is proposing a new office building on the 12,486 square-foot site located at 640 West Randolph Street. The property is currently occupied with a surface parking lot and large billboard, both of which will be eliminated as part of the project.


The proposed building will have a first-floor office lobby fronting West Randolph Street and approximately 2,500 sf of retail. The building will include a full complement of common office amenities including terraces areas, tenant fitness area, conference room facilities, protected interior bicycle storage and repair, and parking for approximately 19 vehicles. The architecture of the new Office Building will have a contemporary/loft vernacular, similar to Vista Property’s recently completed 609 West Randolph office building. Click here to review project materials. 


As a result of feedback received from my office, the Vista team has made the following changes to the original proposal:

  • Relocated the retail entry to the Randolph frontage, to help further activate Randolph Street.
  • Updated the proposal to reflect a large interior protected bike storage and repair lounge adjacent to the office lobby, where there was previously a solid wall.
  • Relocated the parking ramp, which was previously along the Des Plaines right-of-way, but is now shifted to the West side of the building. This has provided for greater separation between vehicular traffic and pedestrian space. This shift also allows for more active retail use along the Des Plaines façade where some of the area that the ramp previously occupied.
  • Shifted the building core / vertical circulation toward the interior of the building, which allows for active spaces and vision glazing along the West façade of the building.
  • Redesigned the West façade. Previously, it was a concrete sheer wall, but it has now been articulated predominantly in brick, with areas of punched hole openings / glazing.
  • Studied and provided additional detail on the public right-of-way along both Randolph Street and Des Plaines Street. Both street lighting as well as building lighting in the form of decorative scones on every pilaster marching down the street will significantly improve lighting and security at this corner which was previously occupied by an on-grade parking lot. Streetscape trees will be placed every 25’-0”, planters with ornamental railings and bicycle parking racks will be spread throughout both frontages to further improve these two important streetscapes.


Given the proposed development seeks to utilize the Neighborhoods Opportunity bonus, it will require approval as a planned development (PD) and, as such, will require approvals by the Chicago Plan Commission, Committee on Zoning and City Council.


As part of Alderman Reilly's transparent community process for new developments, your comments and observations are welcome for this project. Please click here to provide your feedback.

Winter Parking Restrictions

Beginning December 1, 2022, if you see a posted sign that says No Parking between 3:00 am and 7:00 am that means that the winter overnight parking ban is in effect on this street, whether it snows or not.


Do not park at this location between 3:00 am and 7:00 am from December 1, 2022 - April 1, 2023 or you will be ticketed or towed. 


Visit the City of Chicago's winter snow parking restrictions page to learn more. Chicagoans can visit chicagoshovels.org or a map of streets impacted by the ban and to view the City’s snow plows in real-time during a storm.

CAPS Meetings

42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

Helicopter Lift: 121 N LaSalle


Midwest Helicopter is conducting a helicopter lift at 121 N LaSalle Street on Sunday, December 4, from 8am-11am. During the lift, the following will be closed:


  • Clark, from Washington to Randolph
  • Randolph, from Dearborn to LaSalle


Filmings


Chicago PD:


Chicago PD will be filming inside 211 N Clinton on Tuesday, December 6. During the filming, parking will be prohibited at the following locations:


  • East side of Clinton from Fulton to Lake
  • Both sides of Fulton from Canal to Clinton


Temporary Bus Stop Elimination


Until March 2024, the westbound bus stop at Grand and St. Clair will be temporarily removed.


  • Stop ID Number: 761
  • Route Stopping: #29 – State, #65 – Grand, #120 – Ogilvie/Streeterville Express, #121 – Union/Streeterville Express


Vault Repair: 41 E Chestnut


Repairs to the vaulted sidewalk at 41 E Chestnut began on Wednesday, November 9. Works hours will be 8am-8pm, 7-days a week. Throughout the project, the following will be closed:


  • Sidewalk on the south side of Chestnut, from Rush to Wabash
  • Curb lane on the south side of Chestnut, from Rush to Wabash


The project is expected to be completed at the beginning of December (weather dependent).


Randolph Street Viaduct Repair


CDOT restarted viaduct repairs on Randolph, between Columbus and Field. Work hours are Monday-Friday, from 8am-8pm. 


Throughout the project, at least one lane of eastbound traffic will be open. Westbound lanes will not be disrupted. 


The project is expedited to be completed mid-December (weather dependent). 


State & Lake Utility Relocations


Utility companies began relocating utilities in advance of the State and Lake CTA project. Train services will not be disrupted during utility relocations. 

 

At least 1 lane of traffic will remain open (1 lane each direction on State St) at all times, but other driving and parking lanes may be closed. 


Construction equipment and materials will be stored on the street, including during time periods between active work. Work will primarily occur 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturdays, but there will be limited work during nights. Utility companies are aware of and required to abide by the Chicago noise ordinance, which limits noisy work during overnight hours.


150 E Ontario Construction


W.E. O'Neil began construction of a 23-story building at 150 East Ontario Street. Work hours will be Monday-Friday, from 9am-5pm (8pm during caisson pours). Some weekend work will occur.  


Throughout the project, the following will be closed:


  • 150' of sidewalk in front of 150 East Ontario
  • 150' of curb lane in front of 150 East Ontario 


Pedestrians will be directed to the sidewalk on the south side of the street at Ontario/Michigan and Ontario/St. Clair. 


The entire project is expected to take 23 months to complete. 

 

Chase Tower Clark Street Tunnel Project


In mid-July, Berglund Construction began repairs on the Chase Tower Clark Street tunnel at 23 S. Clark Street. The project scope consists of repairing Chase’s below-grade tunnel structures that cross below Clark Street at 23 S. Clark St, and will require excavation of Clark Street in that area to access the tunnel structures to perform repairs.


There will be one lane of southbound traffic open at all times. Berglund will have flaggers and barricades in-place throughout the project. 


The project will last 26 months. Berglund would like to begin mid-June. Work hours will be Monday-Friday, from 8am-5pm.


Demolition Notice: 535 N. St. Clair Street


Precision Excavation & Demolition (PED) was hired to demo the parking structure at 535 N St. Clair Street. Demolition is underway, and work hours are Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm.


PED plans to install a high bay pedestrian canopy on the north side of Grand, from St. Clair to a point 100' east thereof. Additionally, they plan to prohibit parking on the north side of Grand, from St. Clair to a point 100' east thereof. Both the canopy and parking restrictions will be in-place throughout the project. 


The sidewalk on the east side of St. Clair, from Grand to appoint 100' north thereof will be closed for the first week of the project. Construction fencing will be put in-pace between the sidewalk and the site. 


PED plans to demo the building from west to east. They will have dust mitigation in-place and bait for rodents before work begins. All demolition activities will occur on their property. The crane will not be on ROW. 


The entire demolition will take one month to complete. 


Cassidy Tire Construction 


Construction of the 33-story mixed-use building is underway. Throughout construction, McHugh Constriction will occupy the curb lane on the west side of Canal along 344/350 N. Canal Street's property line. The construction company has leased the area north of the building from the railroad to use as a staging area. Additionally, they will use the parking lot south of the building as a staging area too.


As a reminder, this project is contributing to numerous public benefits. Click here for a list of public benefits, and stay tuned to Reilly Reports for future updates on this project and the implementation of these public benefits.  


All work is expected to take 24 months to complete (weather dependent).


311 W Huron Project


In June, ARCO Murray began construction of a new building at 311 W. Huron Street. Work hours will be Monday-Friday, from 9am-5pm (8pm during caisson pours).


Throughout the project, the following City right-of-way will be occupied:


  • Sidewalk/curb lane on the south side of Huron, from Franklin west to the end of 311 W Huron's property line - approximately 150'. The sidewalk will be used to store their concrete pump, dumpster, and hoist dock. Trucks will back into the site at this location too. Jersey barriers will be placed in the curb lane to create a protected pedestrian path.
  • 3' of the sidewalk on the west side of Franklin, from Huron to the first alley south thereof. This leaves 6' of clearance. They will need to push the fence out a few feet during excavation.
  • 150' of the east/west alley bounded by Huron, Franklin, Erie, and Orleans will be closed. The closure is from Franklin to a point 150' west thereof. 


The project is expected to be completed in September 2023 (weather dependent). 


214 West Erie Street Renovations


On Monday, December 13, Crane Construction began renovations of 214 West Erie Street. During construction, the following will be closed:


  • Sidewalk/curb lane in front of 214 West Erie Street. The curb lane will be used as a pedestrian walkway. Crane Construction will place jersey barriers and ramps in the curb lane to protect pedestrians and provide wheelchair access. 
  • Close 100' of the north/south alley adjacent to 214 W Erie Street. This is a T alley and residents of 222 W Erie will still be able to access their parking garage from the alley entrance on Franklin and Huron.


This project is expected to be completed in December 2022 (weather dependent).


LG Construction: 751 N. Hudson and 451 W Chicago 


LG Construction continues work on 751 N. Hudson Avenue and 451 W. Chicago Avenue, which are adjacent parcels. Work hours will be 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday.

 

Throughout the project, the following will be closed:


  • Sidewalk/curb lane/traffic lane of the east side of Hudson, from Chicago to the first alley south thereof
  • Sidewalk/curb lane/traffic lane on the west side of Sedgwick, from Chicago to the first alley south thereof
  • Sidewalk/curb lane on the south side of Chicago, from Hudson to Sedgwick


There will be a protected pedestrian walkway in the curb lane on the south side of Chicago Avenue, from Hudson Avenue to Sedgwick Street.


This project is expected to take 18 months to complete (weather dependent). 


354 North Union Construction


The Onni Group is constructing a 33-story residential building with 373 units. Work hours will be 8am-8pm, daily. 


Parking will be prohibited on North Union, from West Kinzie to the cul-de-sac west thereof throughout the project. All construction equipment and vehicles will be staged on the Onni Group’s property. This project will take approximately two years to complete. 


Dearborn Street Bridge Project


CDOT began emergency work on the Dearborn Bridge in June 2022. They will be conducting the following work:


  • Replacing both sidewalks
  • Replacing all of the bridge gratings
  • Replacing the beam structures 


Due to supply chain issues, the project is expected to be completed in April 2023 (weather dependent). 


The bridge will be reduced to one lane of traffic/sidewalk at a time. Bike traffic will be detoured to Clark Street via the north side of Upper Wacker Drive.