March 11, 2022
Alderman Reilly Reports
Chicago River Dying & St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The annual Chicago River Dying and downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade is tomorrow. The Chicago River Dying will occur from 10am-12pm, and bystanders can watch the festivities between Ontario Street (north branch of the River) and Columbus Drive. 
 
The St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 12:15pm. At 11:00am, Columbus Drive, from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street, along with the cross streets, will be closed to vehicular traffic. 
 
You are invited to join Alderman Reilly to march in the parade. Our trolley will be located in Slot #42, which will be on East Balbo, west of North Columbus. 
 
Due to street closures for the parade, we encourage you to arrive at Slot #42 by 11:15am to ensure access to our trolley

It will be cold tomorrow, so please dress appropriately.
 
We look forward to seeing you at the parade!
Upcoming Community Meeting for Proposed Cannabis Dispensary in Streeterville
Green & Bransford, LLC has filed a Special Use application to operate an Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary at 212 East Ontario Street. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) will hold a public hearing on a later date to consider this application. 

Alderman Reilly may offer an opinion on the proposed Special Use to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), but the ZBA ultimately makes decisions on Special Use applications based on the criteria in the Chicago Zoning Code and is not obligated to consider comments from the Alderman.

In advance of this hearing, the applicant must hold a public community hearing to explain their proposal and gather community feedback. To learn more about the proposal, please attend the following community meeting (no RSVP is necessary)

Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: 212 East Ontario Street
42nd Ward Proposals to be reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)
The ZBA will review two requests for Special Use permits within the 42nd Ward at a virtual public hearing on Friday March 18th at 9 AM. 

201-215 North Clinton - Proposed Cannabis Dispensary:

On January 11, 2022 Mint Ventures LLC hosted a public community meeting to discuss their proposal to open an Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary at 201-215 North Clinton. This meeting was held to gather community feedback, as a requirement of the Special Use application necessary to open a dispensary in Chicago. The next step in the process is for the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to consider the Special Use application at a public hearing.

If the ZBA grants approval of the Special Use permit to any of the proposed dispensary locations, the operators will then build out their space and schedule inspections with the State of Illinois. 

550 West Jackson - Re-instatement of special use for existing parking garage:

ABM Industry Groups, LLC has submitted an application for a special use to re-establish a non-accessory, one hundred-forty space parking garage in the basement and subbasement of an existing office building. The previous garage operator held a permit that has since expired. No changes to the building or the parking garage will be made.

The ZBA will consider these requests on Friday, March 18th. The ZBA is a quasi-judicial body made up of Mayoral appointees. They are solely responsible for approval or denial of Special Use licenses and are not obligated to give special consideration to comments from Aldermen or Police Commanders. However, the hearing will allow time for public comment. Click here to visit the ZBA website to submit a written comment in advance of the hearing (by Monday March 14), and also to access the link to the Live Stream on the morning of March 18. 
New and Improved 42nd Ward Virtual Office
At the beginning of the year, our office launched a new and improved “virtual office”. Check out our new website at www.ward42chicago.com for answers to your questions, the latest news in the ward, and important information about your neighborhood!
American Writers Festival
The inaugural American Writers Festival will be held on May 12, 2022. Celebrate contemporary American writing at this premier literary festival in Chicago, hosted by the American Writers Museum.

Please click here to learn about the festival.
Free At-Home Rapid COVID Tests
Testing is an important tool to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The Biden Administration has purchased one billion at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests to give to Americans for free. 

The program will allow four free tests to be requested per residential address, and tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering.

Click here to place your order for free at-home COVID-19 tests.
Free Tax Prep Help
The City of Chicago offers free, confidential tax help at locations across Chicago from late January - mid-April in partnership with the Center for Economic Progress and Ladder Up. Please see the flyer below for more information.
42nd Ward Street Closures and Construction Notices
CDOT Bridge Testing Spring Schedule

CDOT has issued a full closure of following bridges:

  • Kennedy Feeder Bridge at 400-640 W Ontario Street on Sunday, March 13 from 12am-5am
  • 300 - 500 W. Van Buren St on Wednesday, March 16 from 9:30am-3:30pm
  • 348 - 500 W. Jackson St. on Thursday, March 17 from 9:30am-3:30pm
  • 375 - 410 W. Adams St. on Friday, March 18 from 9:30am-3:30pm

Jane Byrne Interchange Construction Update

IDOT will be performing work over eastbound I90/94 for the new Jackson Street Bridge is scheduled to begin Saturday, March 5. This work will occur during the overnight hours, and it will last approximately one week. This will produce moderate to heavy noise.

IDOT will be performing work over westbound I90/94 will begin Saturday, March 12. This work will occur during the overnight hours, and it will last approximately one week. This will produce moderate to heavy noise.

Helicopter Lift: 1 East Wacker Drive

Midwest Helicopter was hired to lift HVAC units onto the roof at 1 E Wacker on Saturday, April 2 from 9am to 11am. During the lift, vehicular and pedestrian access will be prohibited at the following locations:

  • State, from Lake to just north of the Chicago River
  • Wacker, from Wabash to Dearborn

They will have detour signs and CPD in-place throughout the lift

Crane Lift: 170 W. Ontario Street

Dearborn Engineers & Constructors (DEC) was hired to perform a crane lift at 170 W Ontario on Saturday, March 17 from 8am-5pm.

During the lifts, the following will be closed:

  • Sidewalk on the northside of Ontario, from LaSalle to a point 95' west thereof
  • Curb lanes on both sides of Ontario, from LaSalle to a point 95' west thereof
  • Two westbound traffic lanes on Ontario, from LaSalle to a point 95' west thereof

The curb lane on the south side of Ontario will be converted into a westbound traffic lane during the lift. They will have barricades and flaggers in-place during the lift. 

Gas Main Replacement - Michigan, Chestnut to Cedar

Peoples Gas continues it's gas main replacement on the west side of Michigan Avenue, from Chestnut to Cedar. Work hours may vary throughout the project, but are currently anticipated to be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

All openings will be covered and secured during non-work hours. This portion of the gas main replacement is expected to last 3-6 weeks.

Gas Main Replacement - Michigan, Monroe to Lake

On Monday, February 7, Peoples Gas began a gas main replacement on the west side of Michigan Avenue, from Monroe to Lake. Work hours will be 9am-4pm.

This project is expected to be completed in July 2022 (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 summer of 2022 (weather dependent).

LG Construction: 751 N. Hudson and 451 W Chicago 

LG Construction has recently broke ground at 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. 

430 N. Michigan Lobby Renovation
 
Starting in mid-September, GNP Realty Partners will be renovating the lobby at 430 N. Michigan Avenue. Throughout the project, there will be a 40’ urban canopy on the sidewalk in front of the building. In order to place the canopy on the sidewalk, the planter bed and City Information Panel (CIP) at this location will be temporarily removed. Both the planter bed and CIP will be reinstalled upon completion of the project. 
 
The project is expected to be completed in March 2022. 

South Water Street Viaduct Replacement

In March 2021, the Chicago Department of Transportation began demolition of the South Water Street Viaduct, between Lower Beaubien Court and Stetson Street. Work hours are 8am-8pm, daily. 

As of May 10, vehicular and pedestrian access will be prohibited on the Upper and Lower levels of South Water Street, between Lower Beaubien Court and North Stetson Street. There will be barricades and detour signs in-place throughout the duration of the project. 

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

Renovations at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street

On February 15, 2021 the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) began renovating the Grand Army of the Republic Rotunda and Hall at the Cultural Center, located at 78 East Washington Street. Throughout the project, DCASE will be using the Cultural Centers loading zone at 129 North Garland Court as storage for the project and to place their construction dumpster. 

On Monday, April 19, 2021 canopies were installed at the following locations:

  • South side of Randolph, from Michigan to a point 50' west thereof
  • West side of Michigan, from Randolph to a point 75' south thereof

The project is expected to be completed by March 24, 2022 (weather dependent). 

Overnight Parking Ban Downtown

Until further notice, overnight parking will be restricted on the following streets during the weekend:  

  • Both sides of Oak, between Michigan and Clark 
  • South side of Oak, between LaSalle and Wells 
  • Both sides of Chicago, between Michigan and Wells 
  • Both sides of Ohio, between Michigan and Wells 
  • Both sides of Hubbard, between Michigan and Wells 
  • North side of Illinois, between Dearborn and Clark 
  • Both sides of Illinois, between Wabash and Dearborn 
  • Both sides of Rush, between Grand and Ohio 
  • Both sides of Rush, between Erie and Oak 
  • Both sides of Wabash, between the Chicago River and Grand 
  • Both sides of State, between Kinzie and Oak 
  • Both sides of Erie, from Rush to Wells 
  • Both sides of Huron from Rush to Dearborn
  • Both sides of New Street, from Illinois to North Water
  • Both sides of Columbus Drive, from Monroe to Balbo 
  • North side of Wacker Drive, from Wabash to Michigan
  • North side of Wacker Drive, from Franklin to Columbus 
  • Both sides of Wacker Drive, from State to Wabash 
  • Both sides of Stetson, from Randolph to Wacker 
  • Both sides of Columbus Drive, from Randolph to Wacker 
  • Both sides of Beaubien Court, from Randolph to Lake 
  • Both sides of Randolph, from Harbor to Michigan 
  • Both sides of Ohio, from Michigan to Fairbanks
  • West side of Larrabee, from Erie to Huron


As always, please make sure to read all posted signage before parking your vehicle downtown.