SLN Upcoming Events
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Meeting on 1000M zoning amendment
Mon, Feb. 22, 6:30 pm
Online
Speaker Series: Get Injected, Not Infected
Wed., Feb 24, 6 pm
Online
Trivia Night
Mar. 10, 7 pm
Online
Slow Roll Bike Ride
Apr. (when weather permits)
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2021 Speakers Series: Get Injected, Not Infected
February 24 @ 6 pm
Zoom Meeting
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Trivia Night
Date: March 10
Location: Online
This event has been so much fun that we're having a fourth South Loop-themed trivia night. Alas, we can't be in a tavern back room, so we'll do it online. This is a two-device event. You'll be watching the South Loop quizmaster on Zoom, but at the same time conferring with your teammates using a backchannel such as Google Meet or Microsoft Teams on your phone or on another computer. There is no cost to participate in this event, nor do you need to be a member of SLN (but you should consider it!) Unlike the last 3, this one will be virtual! Register with a whole team organized, or ask us to put you with teammates. (So we can arrange enough fabulous prizes for the winners, only 4 persons to a team, please.) Email SLN to reserve your spot!
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Next Southbank building will be right on the riverwalk
The next building to be built at Southbank will be a 41-story tower called The Reed, with 224 rental units on floors 9-22 and 216 condo units on floors 23-41. The building will be just north of Polk Street, with the second through fifth levels (parking and amenity space) cantilevered out over a widened sidewalk north of Polk and an extension of the riverwalk. Conceptual renderings in 2017 had showed the building substantially higher above the riverwalk, with architecturally exciting tilted pylons supporting it, but that didn't prove to be practical. The developer plans to improve the adjacent Polk Street pier with a new water taxi stop. The building will take about two years to build, with a projected move-in date of summer 2023.
Approval for Harrison/Wabash complex
The February Plan Commission meeting is expected to approve the new development at 525 S. Wabash, replacing a parking garage that opens onto Ida B. Wells Drive and a surface parking lot on Wabash. The new complex, designed by BKV Group, would include two towers: one of 36 stories housing 516 apartments, and the other rising 23 stories with 262 apartments and 314 hotel rooms. A parking and retail base would include a grocery store. Not known is which supermarket chain, if any, has committed to the location.
 Construction possibly imminent on 1400 South Wabash Nothing has been heard since 2016 on a highrise approved for the parking lot at 1400 S. Wabash, but now the new owner, CMK Companies, has filed for foundation building permits, and has also filed an amendment seeking to increase the number of units and the height of the building. CMK bought the development site last April.
The design approved in 2016, by architect Lucien Lagrange, was a neoclassical tower 27 stories tall, containing 296 apartments. The building's bulk exceeds what the site's zoning would allow, but Chicago now permits developers to purchase additional bulk by paying into the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund and similar earmarks. The approval of this building included the provision that it would help fund repairs to Quinn Chapel, the historic African-American church at 24th & Wabash.
It isn't known whether the building's design will be substantially revised.
601 S Dearborn development rejected In late January, the Transportation Building association told developers hoping to build on the parking lot across the street that the Transportation Building would not be supporting that effort, as owners had voted "overwhelmingly" against doing so. The unusual approval is needed because the two sites were yoked together in a single Planned Development Ordinance in 1981, when the Transportation Building was rehabbed and converted to residential.
Meeting on 1000M changes As noted last month, the developer of 1000M at 1000 S. Michigan has asked to modify the zoning approval previously given for that tower, switching from 421 condos to 738 apartments, likely all rental. The building's height would decline slightly, from 832 feet to 805 feet.
South Loop Development Roundup
A reminder: Our Sept. 16 online meeting covered the development and planning issues active in the neighborhood. If you weren't able to attend, you can view the entire presentation on YouTube.
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COVID-19 Vaccine and Virus Mitigation Updates
An updated tentative timeline for COVID-19 vaccine distribution is as follows: Phase 1B began on January 25th for Chicagoans 65 and older and frontline essential workers; 1C is scheduled for March 29th for Chicagoans age 16-64 with underlying medical conditions and all other essential workers; and Phase 2 is scheduled for May 31st for all persons over the age of 16.
The link below provides information on ways Chicago residents can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The website also includes a map to vaccine providers which have permitted their information to be shared with the general public.
For more info on Covid, please check the following sites.
See all Phase 4 regulations
Updates from Around the Neighborhood
Motor Row Streetscape Schedule Update
Construction on Michigan Ave. for the Motor Row Streetscape is anticipated to be substantially complete by June 2021. Fabrication of the unique identifying items (light poles, light pole identifiers, and gateway identifier) is ongoing.
The streetscape transforms Michigan Avenue (from Cermak Rd to 24th St.) and 23rd St. (from State St. to Indiana Ave.) in Motor Row into a more resident and business friendly corridor. Work includes widening the sidewalks, installing placemaking features like decorative signs, trees, and benches, and transforming the roadway from a 4- lane road to a 2-lane road with a center turn lane.
New Staircase for Phillips HS
The project will provide stair replacement and associated interior upgrades to the main entrance stairway at Phillips High School.
Permanent Bus Stop Change - State at Archer Effective February 1, 2021, the stop at State St. at Archer Ave. going southbound was eliminated. This impacts bus routes #29 - State and #62 - Archer. A new stop was created at State St. at 18th St. southbound on the far side of the intersection. This new stop will service the #29 and #62 bus routes.
Sidewalk Snow Removal Regulations
Sidewalk snow regulations affect all home, business, and property owners in Chicago. Business owners that rent space adjacent to sidewalks are responsible for shoveling snow under the ordinance.
You must shovel snow as soon as possible after it falls. Snow that falls between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm must be removed no later than 10:00 pm. Snow that falls between the hours of 7:00 pm and 7:00 am must be removed by 10:00 am. You must clear a path at least 5 feet wide on all of the sidewalks adjacent to your property, including any crosswalk ramps. Do not shovel the snow into the right-of-way, which includes: transit stops and bus pads, parking spaces, bike lanes, bike racks, Divvy stations, and any other space where snow impedes traffic of any kind. Report property owners who DO NOT clear their sidewalks by making a "Snow - Uncleared Sidewalk or Bike Lane" request with the City of Chicago 311 Service Request line. Snow Removal Updates from the Department of Streets and Sanitation The Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) is the primary department responsible for street snow removal. DSS first focuses on clearing the arterial roads to keep them safe and passable for emergency vehicles, buses and motorists, and then they are able to transition to the residential streets. In order to help effectively clear the streets as quickly as possible, please refrain from shoveling snow into the street. DSS is also asking businesses to designate a few spots in their parking lots for the snow instead of pushing it back onto the street and for residents to snow blow or shovel any snow onto the parkway. Relocating Snow With all of the snow on the ground DSS has crews in every ward removing and relocating snow to predetermined City-owned lots. They are prioritizing snow piles around schools, hospitals, fire departments and police stations and have reinforcement equipment coming in to help. Please keep children away from the large piles of snow. DSS will be constantly moving to and from the snow piles with large equipment. Recycling and Garbage Residents can expect delays in recycling and garbage this week and the City is asking for residents remain patient. Garbage trucks will work on tracking alleys and resuming alley service.
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The South Loop is a vibrant neighborhood and as it continues to grow, it becomes increasingly more important for residents to support local small businesses. The benefits of shopping local are documented through a number of studies.
South Loop Neighbors especially urges residents to shop at local businesses that have partnered with the South Loop Neighbors as Community Builders. Community Builders are businesses that are members of the SLN and who recognize that a partnerships between SLN and local businesses creates an optimal environment for our neighborhood to maintain and increase the vibrancy of the South Loop! Please visit our website to learn more about our Community Builders.
Opening:
- Overflow Coffee Bar (1449 S. Michigan)
Closing:
- Pauly's Pizza (719 S. State)
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Community Builder Spotlight
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Half Sour
Half Sour was established in 2017 as a neighborhood cafe and bar in the Printer's Row neighborhood of Chicago. Offering a warm and casual atmosphere, guests come to enjoy craft cocktails, Midwest beer, eclectic wine, and scratch-made food. The cocktail program is developed by talented bartenders who work closely with the kitchen to change the list seasonally. The menu offers fresh bagels, share plates, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees, and the best burger in town. The kitchen at Half Sour keeps the menu interesting with rotating specials ranging from seasonal favorites, fish and chips, fried chicken, steak, and vegetarian dishes. A classic brunch menu is available every Saturday and Sunday from 9am-3pm. Half Sour's Chef, Graham Akroyd, is an incredible young talent to watch. All of the ingredients he uses are high quality and locally sourced whenever possible.
For more information on Half Sour, go to our website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @halfsourchicago
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Other Neighborhood Events
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CAPS Meetings
Printer Row Park Advisory Council
*2021 PAC meeting schedule:
April 15 7PM, location TBD
July 15 7PM, location TBD
October 21 7PM, location TBD
*Printers Row Park is now accepting donations. The PAC has opened a Foundation account which will allow your donation to be tax deductible. Please email Dorothy Mench for details.
*Questions and/or comments can be emailed to the PAC and they hope to hear from you!
Grant Park Advisory Council
Regular GPAC Meetings for 2021 will be held monthly on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6 pm. The next meeting will be held on March 17,2021. Until further notice, all meetings will be virtual via Zoom. Further information and meeting registration can be obtained through GPAC Facebook Page
Columbia College
Cristal Sabbagh: OOPS! POW! SURPRISE! Glass Curtain Gallery-Columbia College Chicago 1104 S Wabash Ave, 1st Floor, Chicago, IL 60605
March 8, 2021 Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Capacity of gallery is 10 visitors, and masks are required.
Programming
Note: All programming for OOPS! POW! SURPRISE! will take place online. Opening week virtual artist talk at 6:00 pm on March 11.
New Rotary Club Forming Speaking of looking for volunteers, there is a Rotary Cub forming under a new format allowed by Rotary International. Instead of weekly meetings with speakers and presentations, this Club will be totally focused on community service projects, with members participating as their schedules allows. The Club has had a couple of organizational meetings & has already garnered more than enough members to file for chartering with Rotary International! Look for service projects to be starting in March!
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Thanks to All Who Attended!
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Annual Members Meeting - Jan 5, 2021
Recap provided by Dearborn Express!
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