3rd Ward Town Hall Meeting

Alderman Dowell will be hosting her next in-person Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, March 19th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the FAME Center (1319 S. State St.). Come and learn more about what is happening in our community! Be on the lookout for additional information from Alderman Dowell's office on this meeting in the coming days...

2025 Home Repair Program

The Home Repair Program (formerly known as the Roof & Porch Program), provides grants to income-eligible homeowners for improvements to their roof or porch. In 2025, the Home Repair Program will also provide small repairs (i.e. grab bars, lever faucets, etc.) for any homeowners that need accessibility improvements.

All homeowners who are on the current waitlist will be notified that they do not need to re-register. For homeowners that did not register in 2024, the registration period will be open from Monday, March 10th at 9am – Friday, March 21, 2025, at 5pm. Register online at www.cityofchicago.org/homerepair or by using the CHI311 mobile app. Residents who do not have computer access can register by calling the City's 311 service line.

Registration is open to residents who own and occupy a single family or duplex residential property (1-2 units) and earn up to 50 percent of the area median income (AMI). This must be the homeowner’s primary and only residence, and homeowners will be prioritized based on their length of tenancy in the home. Funding is limited and the City does not anticipate being able to serve all homeowners who register their interest. 

Alderman Dowell Secures Funding for Regional Senior Center

After many years of advocacy and work on behalf of the 3rd Ward's senior community, Alderman Dowell is proud to announce that she has secured funding to construct a Regional Senior Center at 47th St. and Calumet Ave.! Thank you to Alderman Lamont Robinson (4th), who secured state funding for this project when he was the State Representative for the district, and to Margaret Laraviere, the head of senior services for the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), for her tireless work on this important development.

The new Regional Senior Center will be the seventh within the network of six existing Regional Senior Centers and 15 Satellite Senior Centers. At the center, seniors 60 or better can connect with a variety of evidence-based services and supports that help seniors thrive, and support them aging safely and independently within the Bronzeville Community.

The 25,000 sq. ft. facility is proposed for the currently vacant lot at 4711-4755 S. Calumet Ave. The estimated cost of construction is $20 million with $14 million of those funds coming in the form of a grant from the State of Illinois. The Public Building Commission will be in charge of the planning, design and construction of the facility, and they are currently in the process of screening project architects. As more information on the Regional Senior Center is made available, including construction timelines, building renderings, program offerings, and more, Alderman Dowell will send them to the community immediately.

Read Alderman Dowell's Statement on the City's Infrastructure Bond Program

During the February 26, 2025 City Council meeting, the City of Chicago passed an $830 million bond issuance to fund citywide infrastructure projects. Prior to the vote, Alderman Dowell released the following statement to her residents addressing the reasons for issuing the bond, funding uses and restrictions, and to dispel many of the factual inconsistencies reported about the bond. Click here to read Alderman Dowell's full statement. For more information on the Capital Improvement Plan, which is being funded by the bond, please click here.

Alderman Dowell Speaks, Celebrates at LOV Day

In February, Alderman Dowell celebrated the 4th annual LOV Day recognizing and supporting our young black girls!! Kudos to Ladies of Virtue (LOV), founded by the dynamic Jamila Trimuel 14 years ago to provide mentorship and to advocate for programs, policies and legislation that uplifts young women and girls. At the event, program participants spoke eloquently about their experiences, and gave personal testimony about how LOV changed their lives. Chicago Clerk Anna Valencia and Alderman Dowell were honored to speak to those gathered at Woodson Elementary School for this joyous occasion.

Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship

The 2025 Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Foundation is accepting applications for their scholarship through April 15th! Apply here.

Scholarships are renewable for a total of four years and awards are available to 2025 freshmen students (graduating high school seniors) pursuing a four-year degree from an accredited university. The scholarships are $2,500 annually for a total of $10,000 and given to students to help alleviate the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, and books.

Description of Eligibility:

• Graduating City of Chicago High School Senior 
• Attending a four-year accredited university as a full-time student
• Submit ONE recommendation from a teacher, faculty member, coach, or community leader
• Completion of the 500-word essay
• Resident of a CABC Ward

Submit completed application no later than April 15, 2025 at 11:59PM CT. Please contact info@chicagoblackcaucus.com for any additional details needed before submission.

Temporary Street Closure - 1600 S. Prairie Ave.

1600 Museum Park Condominium Association (1629 S. Prairie Ave.) will replace the chillers on the roof of the building this April. This project was previously scheduled for January but was delayed by the City of Chicago's Building Department. Please note that the parameters of this project have not changed.

A large crane will be used to bring the chillers to the roof. This crane requires 15 semi-trailers of equipment to build, including a smaller crane. The process will take place on Prairie Ave, with traffic and parking occasionally diverted for the safety of onsite workers. Delays to the ingress and egress of Prairie Ave, from 16th St. to 18th St. will occur primarily on April 4 and April 6. Residents are encouraged to defer deliveries and make travel accommodations during this weekend.

ComEd and AT&T will need to remove some overhead wires that cross the street and would interfere with the crane movement. They will be onsite during the project to ensure their customers’ continued service. A tentative timeline for the project is as follows:

April 3  ComEd/ATT remove wires that cross the street

April 4  Build the crane

April 5  Lift heavy equipment

April 6  Remove the crane

April 7  ComEd/ATT reinstall the wires that cross the street

Details on the above schedule will be provided as they become available.  Thank you for your patience and cooperation while this project moves forward. 

DWM Sewer Lining Project - 33rd Blvd. from Indiana to Prairie; 34th St. from Michigan to Indiana

The Department of Water Management (DWM) like to provide you with information about an upcoming Sewer Lining Project in your neighborhood. The Department of Water Management’s private contractor is scheduled to start work on a Sewer Lining Project with an anticipated start date of Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 (Weather Permitting). This project will rehabilitate the existing sewer in your area without the conventional digging method. This sewer rehabilitation will minimize, if not eliminate, street cave-ins due to failure in old sewers. In addition, it will bring better drainage to your area and may help alleviate flooding during heavy rain. The following information should answer questions you may have about the project.

Project Locations:

E 33RD BLVD FROM S INDIANA AVE TO S PRAIRIE AVE

E 34TH ST FROM S MICHIGAN AVE TO S INDIANA AVE

Work Includes the following:

• Cleaning and televising of the Main Sewer

• Cleaning and televising of Catch Basin Pipes (drainage pipe from the structures on the curb-side) followed by lining

• Catch Basin and Manholes structures will be lined

• The Main Sewer will be lined, and the reinstatement of house drain services will proceed and must be completed to relieve the drains

• The lined sewer will be televised to ensure that the work was done properly

What to expect:

During workdays, mobilization will start at 7:00 AM. Actual work will begin at 8:00 AM. Work is expected to be completed by 8:00 PM. No Parking signs will be posted in the immediate area of work a day before any scheduled work. Residents are urged to move their vehicles away from the worksite to avoid being towed. It will be necessary to close lanes of these streets to ensure public safety during work hours. Equipment and materials will be on the street during the work. If necessary, detours and alternative bus stops will be posted.

A day prior to the main sewer lining, contractors will provide door hangers to inform residents of the work. During the main sewer lining work, to prevent odors in your home, please pour two to three cups of water into each basement floor drain. Please restrict your water usage as much as possible. 

This project is expected to be completed by the end of March 2025.

Any damages in the area as a result of the sewer lining work will be restored to its pre-lining state. However, the Department of Water Management does not assume responsibility for damage to privately installed parkway improvements, including sprinkling systems, fences, flower beds and shrubbery. Sewer lining is not complete until damaged sidewalks, parkways and streets have been repaired.

Should you have any questions of concerns, you can either ask the construction foreman during the project, the engineer on site or call any of the following numbers:

• 24-Hour Service and Information line: 311

• DWM Office of Public Affairs: (312) 744-6635

2025 Neighborhood Business Development Centers Selected

Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDCs) play a critical role in fostering equitable small-business environments in the communities they serve across Chicago. The NBDC Program consists of local business service organizations that provide no-cost, hyper-local business development assistance to entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the city. NBDCs provide general business licensing and public way use permitting guidance as well as specialized support services.

For the 3rd Ward, the local Neighborhood Business Development Centers are: the 51st St. Business Association (220 E. 51st St.), the Arab American Business and Professional Association (4131 S. State St.), Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council (BYNC), Chicago Urban League (4510 S. Michigan Ave.), Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce (1525 E. 53rd St.), Near South Planning Board (2600 S. Michigan Ave.), Quad Communities Development Corporation (4210 S. Berkeley Ave.), and the South East Chicago Commission (1511 E. 53rd St.).

We Rise Together Grant Winners

Congratulations to FH JerkGod (111 E. 51st St.) on winning a We Rise Together Grant, funded by the Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC) and Allies for Community Business (A4CB). Grant recipients will receive $12,500 to invest in opening their small business or expand existing brick and mortar operations. Thank you to SBAC and A4CB for their ongoing support of our local business community!

Bronzeville Trail Continues On, Despite Uncertain Federal Funding

The Bronzeville Trail Task Force remains committed to the Bronzeville Trail project, despite uncertainties around Federal funding from the new administration. Because of Alderman Dowell's advocacy, the Chicago Department of Planning and Development has already given $5 million to support the project, and the county has committed another $500,000. These funds will be used to select a contractor to create a framework plan for the site.

Following the completion of the framework plan, the City will issue a request for proposals for phase one of the project, which will consist of an engineering study and the creation of a final budget for the trail. Initial estimated costs to complete the Bronzeville Trail could reach $100 million. These types of projects typically receive significant Federal support, which was the case for the completed Bloomingdale Trail on Chicago's North Side.

The Bronzeville Trail will follow the abandoned railway embankment at approximately 41st St. starting at 40th St. and Dearborn St. an extending east to Lake Park Ave. For additional information about the Bronzeville Trail and to read the latest comments from the Bronzeville Trail Task Force, please click here.

Chicago Police Department Workforce Allocation Study Update

Pursuant to an ordinance passed by City Council on February 21, 2024, the Chicago Police Department is required to produce a workforce allocation study. This study will provide a comprehensive analysis of how CPD's staffing and resources are allocated. This analysis is critical as it aligns with the requirements of the Consent Decree and will help CPD better meet the public safety needs of the residents of the City of Chicago. For 3rd Ward residents, this study is especially important as the districts that cover the ward are understaffed and the officers are overworked. A workforce study will provide data to help fix this problem and address the public safety needs of all our communities.

Matrix Consulting Group has been hired to conduct the study. As of March 1, 2025, the Chicago Police Department has made significant progress on phase one of the study, with over 40 interviews already completed with CPD staff. The Chicago Police Department is also finalizing a website to serve as a central data hub for status updates and outreach for the study, with plans to publish the site this month.

Phase two of the study, which is now underway, will include the creation of a staffing and organizational profile of the Chicago Police Department, containing an initial analysis of CPD service levels, staffing levels, and service environment. An Interim Framework Report will then be produced to identify best practices, summarize key workload metrics and assumptions, and outline staffing methodologies to be used in the analysis. These documents will be made public for review when completed.

South Loop Event Parking Restrictions

Parking restrictions are in place for the South Loop from Roosevelt Road to Cermak Rd. from Lake Shore Drive to Clark St. during all Chicago Bears football games and many other Soldier Field events. Wintrust Arena events have been removed from the parking restrictions. Vehicles parked in the South Loop without a valid South Loop Event Parking Pass, South Loop Event Guest Pass or Residential Permit Parking pass (for Residential Permit Parking Streets ONLY) are subject to ticketing or towing.

For a complete list of Soldier Field events, please visit www.soldierfield.com/events/all. The 3rd Ward is providing the list below as a courtesy to residents and visitors and does not assume liability for the accuracy of the monthly list of South Loop events. All Soldier Field events are subject to change, including cancellation or the scheduling of additional events. It is your responsibility to adhere to the parking restrictions in place. 

Chicago Fire vs. F.C. Montreal

Saturday, March 29th at 7:30 pm

47th/King, 47th/State TIF Districts Open March 1st

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and SomerCor will roll out the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) grant program for applications in the following TIF districts in March.

• 47th/King Drive
• 47th/State

Applications open: 9 a.m. Saturday, March 1st

Applications close: 5 p.m. Sunday, March 30th

The SBIF program uses revenue from TIF districts to help owners of commercial and industrial properties to repair or remodel their facilities for their own business or on behalf of tenants. Tenant businesses are also eligible to apply on their own. Please note that residential projects are not eligible for the SBIF program, and residential developers should not apply.

Program participants can receive grants for 30 to 90 percent of project costs, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grants are administered by SomerCor on the City's behalf and do not have to be repaid.

Michigan/Cermak TIF District Extended Through March 16th

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and SomerCor are extending the application deadline for the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) grant program in the following TIF district that opened in February:

• Michigan/Cermak

Applications now close: 5 p.m. Sunday, March 16

All other program rules remain in place. Please visit SomerCor for more information and to apply.

ComEd Community Grants

Communities and nonprofit organizations can now apply for up to $10,000 in grant funding through ComEd’s Green Region, Powering Safe Communities or Powering the Arts grant programs. Communities and organizations interested in applying for the Powering Communities Grant Program should visit the links above or ComEd.com/Grants for more information, including how to apply for funding. Applications will be accepted through 5:00 PM CST on March 28^th, 2025.  

Community Flex Space Available

Loeb Lofts offers private flex space for innovative companies and entrepreneurs right in the Bronzeville community. They provide spaces from 800-15,000 sq. ft., close to transportation, and with 24/7 access via secured entry. For more information visit loeblofts.com.

NHS Home Buyer Education Webinar

Learn about the home buying process such as the basics of budgeting, improving credit, understanding the closing process and down payment assistance programs. This is an eight-hour course delivered in two 4-hour sessions.

Where: Douglas Park Library (3353 W. 13th St.)

When: Saturday, March 8th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Rhythm and Roots FAME Center Spring Benefit

The FAME Center is raising $40,000 to send 60 students to FAME's summer camp this year. Join their Rhythm and Roots Spring Benefit to help them achieve their goal! For more information, visit www.famecenter.org.

Where: FAME Center (1319 S. State St.)

When: Saturday, March 8th from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Cook County Health Strategic Planning Town Hall

Cook County Health is hosting town hall meetings to get your valuable input and ideas as we develop the 2028 Strategic Plan. To register, please email rsvp@cookcountyhhs.org with the date of the town hall you would like to attend.

When: Tuesday, March 11th from 10:30 am to 11:30 pm; Wednesday, March 12th from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm; Thursday, March 13th from 9:00 am to 10:00 am (Spanish)

Know Your Rights for Local Businesses

The Chicago City Council Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights is hosing a Know Your Rights for Local Businesses virtual seminar. The training will explain rights and protections of business owners and employers, and best practices for handling immigration enforcement operations. Register at bit.ly/KYRLB.

When: Tuesday, March 11th at 1:00 pm

NHS Financial Literacy Webinar

Whether you are planning to purchase a home or simply need to improve your finances, this webinar will prepare you for financial security. Learn How To: develop a spending plan, reduce your debt, and increase your credit score.

When: Tuesday, March 11th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (link to register)

Building Chicago's Skyline Skilled Trades Event

Chicago Public School 11th and 12th grade students interested in the trades can participate in a skilled trades event! This event will include a panel discussion, hands-on experiences, opportunities for students to sign up for apprenticeship programs and internships, and on-the-spot interviews for students ready to take the next step toward their future in the trades.

Where: Carpenters' Chicago Training Center (2141 S. Union Ave.)

When: Wednesday, March 19th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Chicago Department of Law Outside Counsel Open House

The Department of Law (DOL) will host an informational and networking session to engage local law firms in learning about the Department’s retainment of outside counsel encompassing a comprehensive array of legal practice areas. 

This year’s event will highlight areas of opportunity for outside counsel participation in DOL’s transactional and litigation divisions. DOL attorneys will present information regarding how outside counsel is utilized for numerous areas of litigation, including collections, constitutional, commercial, employment, torts, federal civil rights, labor, and more. Law firms of any size are encouraged to register to attend.

Interested parties must provide their firm’s materials by applying on the Department of Law’s website. Pre-registration is required by submitting an application through DOL’s online registration form and must be completed by February 21, 2025.

WHERE: The Department of Law’s LaSalle Street office (121 N. La Salle St., Suite 600)

WHEN: Wednesday, March 19th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Vends + Vibes 2025

Are you a talented maker, artist, and/or creative entrepreneur with a passion for sharing your unique creations? Apply now to be part of a cherished South Side tradition that brings community together and puts your work in front of the right audience. This is your chance to expand your customer base, connect with a legacy of Black creativity, and showcase what makes your craft undeniable. To register click here.

Where: The Arts Lawn (337 E. Garfield Blvd)

When: Saturday, June 14th

Attending and participating in the Chicago Police's Community Policing Program (CAPS) is one of the best ways to address crime and quality of life issues in your neighborhood. By attending CAPS meetings, you can share important information with the police that will assist them in making arrests and preventing crime as well as receive valuable information about resources that promote homeowner and community safety. Visit www.chicagopolice.org to find out what district you live in and click on each district title to learn more about what is happening in your neighborhood.

1st District CAPS Meetings

Beat: 133

Date: March 29th at 3:00 pm - Virtual

Location: For Zoom information, please email Caps.001District@chicagopolice.org or call312-745-4381

2nd District CAPS Meetings

Beat: 213/215

Date: March 25th at 6:00 pm

Location: St. Elizabeth Church (4058 S. Michigan Ave.)

Beat: 221/223

Date: March 18th at 6:00 pm

Location: King Center (4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.)

Beat: 224

Date: March 27th at 6:00 pm

Location: Taylor Park (39 W. 47th St.)

Beat: 231

Date: March 20th at 6:00 pm

Location: Washington Park Field House (5531 S. King Dr.)