November 15, 2024

{View as Webpage}

Alderman Reilly Reports

Property Tax Hike Voted Down

Alderman Reilly and his colleagues successfully opposed Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed $300 million property tax increase in a unanimous vote at a special City Council meeting this week. Speaking at the River North Residents Association’s annual meeting on Wednesday evening, the Alderman highlighted a shift in City Hall dynamics and stressed the need to explore alternative cost-saving measures rather than imposing additional burdens on residents during a challenging economic period. For more details, click here for Block Club's coverage of the meeting.


Alderman Reilly emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility, urging the administration to find savings within the existing budget. He remains committed to protecting taxpayers from unnecessary financial strain while ensuring sound financial management for the city.

Migrant Shelter at 162 E Ohio Street (Inn of Chicago) CLOSING

Alderman Reilly is pleased to announce that the Johnson Administration has decided to cease shelter operations at the Inn of Chicago effective today. Migrant families will transition into the “One System Initiative”. Please click here to read a press release from the Johnson Administration about the new shelter system.

Ohio Place Dog Park Reopens

The small dog park within the Ohio Place Dog Park has reopened following hydroseeding. As previously reported, this area has been closed since October 25 to allow the new grass to grow uninterrupted.

CAPS Meetings

18th District: (312-742-5778 / CAPS018District@chicagopolice.org)

  • Beat 1831 CAPS meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 19th at 5pm
  • Beat 1832 CAPS meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 19th at 6pm
  • Beat 1833 CAPS meeting will be held on Thursday, November 21st at 5pm
  • Beat 1834 CAPS meeting will be held on Thursday, November 21st at 6pm


Click here for 18th District meeting locations.


1st District: (312-745-4381 / CAPS001District@chicagopolice.org)

  • There are no CAPS meetings scheduled for this district for the remainder of this month.


Assumption Church Turkey & Ham Donations

A message from our friends at Assumption Church:


"Would you be interested in helping a needy family have a happier Thanksgiving? Our Lady of the Angels Mission on the west side is in need of frozen turkeys or hams for families for their Thanksgiving Day meals.


Assumption Church's Men's Group is coordinating a Turkey Drop to meet this need. Please bring a frozen turkey or ham on Sunday morning, November 24th, to Assumption. Drivers will be parked in front of the church at 323 W Illinois Street to receive the donations and rush them to Our Lady of the Angels. Dropoff times are 15 minutes prior to masses: 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am and 12:15pm. Happy Thanksgiving to all."

42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects


Residential Lighting Project Notice: Huron, from Michigan to Fairbanks


The Chicago Department of Transportation began installation of new street lights on East Huron Street, between North Michigan Avenue and North Fairbanks Court. John Burns Construction is the contractor for this project and Stanley Consultants is providing resident engineering services for the Chicago Department of Transportation.


The work will include the installation of foundations, boring of underground conduits, cable pulling, the installation of new residential lighting poles with piggyback lights, LED Smart Lighting luminaires, and the restoration of concrete sidewalks and parkways disturbed by the construction. The existing light poles will be removed once the new lighting system is functioning properly.


During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above so that work may be performed safely. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, and residents can park normally after the posted hours and overnight, and usually all day on weekends.


The project is expected to be completed by December 2024.


Filming


Open 4 Business Productions, LLC will be filming scenes for the show "Chicago Fire" in the 42nd Ward on November 14-15.


In order to park essential vehicles and equipment, streets in the area will be posted as a

NO PARKING/TOW ZONE during the following dates/times:

 

Thursday, November 14, 2024 

  • Both Sides Of Ontario From Franklin To Lasalle
  • East Side Of Franklin From Ontario To Erie
  • South Side Of Erie From Franklin To Wells
  • East Side Of Wells From Ohio To Ontario
  • South Side Of Ohio From Wells To 209 W Ohio St

 

Friday, November 15, 2024

  • North Side Of Ontario From Franklin To 214 W Ontario
  • East Side Of Wells From Ontario To 607 N Wells St

 

Thursday, November 14, 2024

  • Full Closure In The Alleyway Between Lasalle / Ontario / Wells / Ohio

 

Crane Lift


46 E Walton Street


Saturday, November 16: Crane setting up on Walton – Partial closure – 1 way traffic maintained at all times.

 

Description of Work: Replace vandalized glass

Impact to Roadway

Current configuration of full roadway

  • (2) Sidewalks
  • (2) Traffic Lanes
  • (2) curb lanes

Lanes to occupy

Partial Street Closure:

  • (1) Sidewalk
  • (1) Traffic Lanes
  • (1) curblanes


6 W Hubbard


Saturday, November 16 from 9am to 5pm. During the lift, westbound traffic on Hubbard, between Dearborn and State will be prohibited. There will be one lane of eastbound traffic on Hubbard, between Dearborn and State.



Pin & Link Project on Randolph and Columbus


CDOT crews are scheduled to perform steel work and bridge expansion joint rehab along Randolph Street, Columbus Drive, and Stetson Avenue. Please see details below:


General Construction Schedule:

7:00 am - 3:30 pm, Monday - Friday; with the occasional extension to 5:30 pm as needed. 

 

Scope of Work and Access Impacts During Construction:

In general, one lane of travel will be open at all times along each roadway, level, and direction. Access along sidewalks will remain open with detours around the work areas.  

 

Weeks of 10/28 thru 11/01 and 11/04 thru 11/08:

  • Randolph Street Scope:  
  • Stetson to Columbus - Work within the roadway at Stetson and expansion joint replacements in north sidewalk in front of the AON and Prudential buildings.
  • Access Impacts:  
  • Pedestrian detours around the sidewalk work areas. 
  • Prudential building parking garage access impacts on lower Randolph at Stetson. 
  • Columbus Drive Scope:
  • Upper Level South Water St. to Lake St. - Work along east sidewalk at the Aqua building.
  • Intermediate Level Lake St. to Randolph St. - Expansion joint replacements in sidewalk and roadway (Also on Saturday, 10/26)
  • Access Impacts:  
  • Pedestrian detours around the sidewalk work areas.  
  • Stetson Avenue Scope: 
  • Wacker to South Water St. - Expansion joint replacements in sidewalk and roadway
  • Access Impacts:
  • Southbound Stetson drop-off lane reduction at the Hyatt.
  • Pedestrian detours around the sidewalk work areas.  



River North Lighting Program


Below is an updated 2-week lookahead for the River North Lighting Program:


November 1 - 9:

  • Continue to prep and bore on the west side of Kingsbury. We expect Kingsbury boring to be completed.
  • Continue to work north on Hudson towards Chicago Ave, install helixes and hand holes.
  • Continue tying in conduit and installing helixes on Huron, Hudson, and Kingsbury.


November 9-15:

  • Prep and bore going west from Kingsbury towards Larrabee on the north-side of Superior. 
  • Start prepping and boring from Kingsbury going west from Kingsbury towards Larrabee on Huron, north and south side of street. 
  • Start to install hand holes on Kingsbury and tying in conduit.
  • Continue to tie in conduit and install helixes when backhoe is available at above locations, install cable and poles.



Bridge Repair


CDOT crews began bridge repairs (Gusset Plate & Sidewalk Bracket repairs) at the Grand Avenue Bridge over the N Branch of the Chicago River. Work is expected to be completed Friday, December 6th.


Traffic Impact during Construction: Daily closure will be set up 7am - 4 pm

Set up includes the following:

  • One sidewalk will remain open for pedestrians traffic during construction
  • WB and EB will be partially closed still allowing two-way traffic.



Franklin St Bridge Sidewalk and Roadway Rehabilitation Improvements


On Monday, March 18th, the Chicago Department of Transportation crews began a multi-phase project to perform selective roadway grating replacement at the Franklin Street Bascule Bridge over the Main Branch of the Chicago River.


Scope of Work:

The project consists of performing the following repairs: replacement of bridge sidewalk with fiberglass sidewalk panels and selective roadway grating panels replacement.


Construction Schedule:

7:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday, from Monday, March 18th until Friday, December 6th. End date is tentative, contingent upon expected Central Business District Moratoriums


For project-related questions, please contact CDOTbridgesection@cityofchicago.org


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.


Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation


In 2023, IDOT began rehabilitating the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Ohio Street.


The estimated $150 million project consists of rehabilitating 36 bridges and the Reversible Lane Access Control system, replacing overhead sign structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching, and structural painting. Additionally, Hubbard’s Cave, from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street, will be painted and new LED lighting installed.


The work will take place over three consecutive construction seasons, broken down into the following stages:

  • 2023 – Inbound Kennedy: Click here for stage 1 fact sheet.
  • 2024 – Reversible Express Lanes: Click here for stage 2 fact sheet.
  • 2025 – Outbound Kennedy: Click here for stage 3 fact sheet.


The Kennedy Expressway officially opened in November 1960, with the last major rehabilitation completed in 1994. The project will improve safety, traffic flow and reliability for the more than 275,000 motorists who use the expressway each day.


Click here for a project overview.

Click here for a FAQ

Click here to see photos and videos of the project.