July 29, 2022

Alderman Reilly Reports

Thompson Center Update

Earlier this week, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the sale of the James R. Thompson Center (JRTC), located at 100 West Randolph Street, in the 42nd Ward. The title of the property will be transferred to JRTC Holdings, LLC, and Google will become the building's new occupant, establishing its presence in the Central Loop. Google and JRTC Holdings, LLC have entered into a build-to-suit agreement for the redevelopment of the building, which Google intends to occupy upon completion of the renovation.

In May 2021, Alderman Reilly received City Council approval on an ordinance to rezone the JRTC from PD 270 to DC-16. The ordinance was introduced at the request of Governor JB Pritzker as the State of Illinois was seeking to market the property for future sale, as described in Reilly Reports in March 2021. Alderman Reilly was pleased to work with Governor Pritzker on this important piece of legislation. With Google as its sole tenant, we will see new jobs come to the newly renovated JRTC in just a few years’ time.

The JRTC renovation is expected to begin later this year following the financial closing, and take approximately two years to complete. Stay tuned to Reilly Reports for more information about the renovation.

NASCAR Statement

Last week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the City of Chicago announced that the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series will be held in Chicago in early July. The proposed course layout encompasses some areas of the 42nd Ward. Alderman Reilly expressed his frustrations about the announcement in a WGN-TV interview with Paul Lisnek, linked here. Plans for the race were not shared with Alderman Reilly or City Council in advance of this announcement.

Alderman Reilly feels that the public should have been a part of the conversation since the race is sure to disrupt residents. It is Alderman Reilly’s hope that going forward, the Mayor’s Office and NASCAR will begin to involve other Aldermen, as well as 42nd Ward residents, in the decision-making process. Furthermore, Alderman Reilly intends to propose legislative changes that would include City Council in the approval process for these types of events in the future. Please click here to read an article from Crain’s Chicago Business with a statement from Alderman Reilly on this topic.

Lollapalooza 2022

Lollapalooza began yesterday in Grant Park and will be taking place through 10:00 pm. on Sunday, July 31st. The venue closes each night shortly after 10:00 pm. Same as in past years, Lollapalooza’s last stage end time is around 10:15 pm. They end well before the park closing time of 11:00 pm. As noted, the stage end times are staggered so there is not one large influx of people exiting onto Michigan Avenue, which also assists with public safety.

Please visit www.lollapalooza.com/information for a map of access points, stages, and vendors. Similar to years past, several artists will be using pyrotechnics in their performances. Closures for the event will consist of the following:

Street Closures:

Balbo, from Columbus to Lake Shore Drive: July 13th to August 7th
Jackson, from Columbus to Lake Shore Drive: July 13th to August 6th
Balbo, from Michigan to Columbus: July 25th to August 1st
Jackson, from Michigan to Columbus: July 25th to August 1st
Columbus, from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 25th to August 1st
Columbus (Northbound, two center lanes), from 13th Street to Roosevelt: July 25th to August 1st
Congress Parkway, from Michigan to Columbus: July 25th to August 1st
Monroe, from Michigan to Lake Shore Drive: July 27th to August 1st with limited access to the Art Institute of Chicago

Sidewalk Closures:

Michigan, from Jackson to Balbo: July 27th to July 31st
Balbo (both sides), from Columbus to Lake Shore Drive: July 13th to August 5th
Columbus (Northbound side), from Roosevelt to the 9th St. Yard: July 13th to August 5th
Columbus (Southbound side), from 9th St. Yard to S. Ida B. Wells: July 18th to August 4th
Jackson (both sides), from Columbus to Lake Shore Drive: July 18th to August 5th
Lake Shore Drive (Northbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 20th to July 20th
Monroe (Eastbound side), from Columbus to Lake Shore Drive: July 18th to August 3rd
Lake Shore Drive (Southbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 23rd to August 6 th
Balbo (both sides), from Michigan to Columbus: July 25th to August 1st
Jackson (both sides), from Michigan to Columbus: July 26th to August 2nd
Congress Parkway/Circle, from Michigan to Columbus: July 25th to August 1st
Congress Parkway (Westbound & Eastbound side), from Michigan to Columbus: July 23rd to July 24th
Columbus (both sides), from Monroe to Roosevelt: July 25th to August 1st
S Michigan Ave, from 11th St. Bridge to Jackson: July 28th to July 31st
Lake Shore Drive (Northbound side), from Monroe to Roosevelt: August 2nd to August 2nd
Pedestrians will not be allowed access to the Museum Campus Tunnel from July 28-31.
To access the lakefront along this closure, pedestrians must use the north sidewalk of Roosevelt.

To report an immediate concern during the event, please use the following Neighborhood Call-In Line: (252) 513-7621. The line will be active from Monday, July 25th through Monday, August 1st.

Alderman Reilly to Host Blood Drive

September 3rd

Alderman Reilly is hosting a Blood Drive on Saturday, September 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event will be held at 455 North McClurg Court.

All of the donations will go to local hospitals to help Chicagoans in need. Donors will receive a $15 Holiday E-card within 5 business days, with a valid email address.

Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcomed. Please click here to register. You can also scan the QR Code on the flyer below to register.

We look forward to seeing you at the Blood Drive!

New Ordinance Introduced to Repeal

Inflation-Tied Property Tax Increases

Historically, Alderman Reilly has consistently fought to hold the line on taxes - voting to reject property tax increases proposed by Mayors Daley, Emanuel and Lightfoot. In 2021, the Alderman voted against Mayor Lightfoot’s perpetual property tax increase, which is tied to the Consumer Price Index.

This month, Alderman Reilly introduced a new ordinance to City Council this (O2022-2498), which repeals the automatic annual property tax increase of the lesser of the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index and 5% that was passed as a part of the 2021 Annual Budget. Click here to read a Chicago Tribune article that includes additional statements on the proposal from Alderman Reilly.

Grand Avenue Bascule Bridge Repair Project

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will begin repairs to the Grand Avenue Bascule Bridge over the Chicago River in early August, 2022.

This project consists of the following:

Concrete repairs on the Grand Avenue Viaduct
Steel repairs to the Bridge
Concrete repairs on the Bridge
Replacement of the steel grid decking of the Bridge

The project will occur in two phases. During phase 1, westbound vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the Grand Avenue Bascule Bridge over the Chicago River will be prohibited. Phase 1 will be completed mid-September (weather dependent) - Phase 2 will begin immediately after.

Throughout the duration of Phase 1, westbound traffic on Grand Avenue will be detoured northbound on LaSalle Street, westbound on Chicago Avenue, southbound on Ashland Avenue, back to westbound on Grand Avenue. Please click here to view a map of the detour route for Phase 1.

The entire project is expected to be finished mid-November (weather dependent). Stay tuned to Reilly Reports for updates regarding Phase 2 of the Grand Avenue Bascule Bridge Repair Project.

Crime & Safety: Postcard Writing Campaign

Alderman Reilly is extremely frustrated with the ongoing criminal activity plaguing our City, and the lack of accountability from the Cook County Criminal Justice System. He is in constant communication with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Office about crime in the Downtown neighborhoods. Most recently, Alderman Reilly sent a letter to Superintendent Brown relating to downtown crime, described in Reilly Reports on May 20th.

All law enforcement agencies should work collaboratively to resolve the increase in crime. While CPD does great work, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s Office and Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans need to increase their efforts to hold criminals accountable.

We are asking residents to participate in a postcard writing campaign to State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s Office and Chief Judge Evans to express concerns about the lack of accountability and releasing individuals accused of violent crimes on electronic monitoring.

Postcards can be picked up at the 42nd Ward Constituent Service Office located at 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 200 (Monday - Friday from 9am to 3pm). Please click here for sample postcard language, mailing addresses, and more information about the campaign.

Daley Plaza Farmers Market

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) manages Chicago City Markets and is excited to bring back the Daley Plaza Farmers Market located at 50 West Washington Street.

The Farmers Market is held on Thursdays from 7am to 2pm. Please click here to learn more about Chicago City Markets and other farmers markets throughout the City of Chicago.

SOAR Farmers Market

Beginning June 7, the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR) will host its annual Farmers Market at the Museum of Contemporary Art located at 220 E. Chicago Avenue. SOAR's Farmers Market is open every Tuesday from 7am-2pm.

Please click here for more information about SOAR's Farmers Market.

Overnight Closure: Lake Shore Drive Bridge

CDOT has identified Lake Shore Drive Bridge adjustments that need to be made. This project will occur during the overnight hours to accommodate weekly boat runs during the day. This work will occur on Mondays and Thursdays beginning June 9. The project is expected to be completed in early August.

Upper Lake Shore Drive will be closed from Illinois Street to Monroe Street and Lower Lake Shore Drive will be closed from Grand Ave. to Lower Wacker Drive.

Detour Route:

Southbound traffic will be directed off onto westbound Grand Ave., to southbound Columbus Ave., to eastbound Monroe St. and back to LSD. Northbound traffic will be directed off at westbound Monroe St., to northbound Columbus Ave., to eastbound Illinois St. and back to LSD.

Dearborn Street Bridge Project

CDOT has scheduled emergency work on the Dearborn Bridge to begin June 13 (weather dependent). They will be conducting the following work:

Replacing both sidewalks
Replacing all of the bridge grating
Replacing the beam structures

The project is expected to be completed in December 2022 (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.

CAPS Meetings

18th District: (312-742-5778 / [email protected])
Beat 1824 Meeting scheduled on Thursday, September 22nd at 6 PM
Beat 1831 Meeting scheduled on Tuesday, September 27th at 5 PM
Beat 1832 Meeting scheduled on Tuesday, September 27th at 6 PM
Beat 1833 Meeting scheduled on Thursday, September 29th at 5 PM
Beat 1834 Meeting scheduled on Thursday, September 29th at 6 PM
1st District: (312-745-4381 / [email protected])
Beat 114 Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, August 3rd at 3 PM
Beat 112 Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, August 3rd at 6 PM
Beat 122 Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, August 10th at 6 PM
Beat 111 Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, September 7th at 3 PM
Beat 113 Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, September 7th at 6 PM
Beat 121 Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, September 14th at 3 PM
Beat 123 Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, September 14th at 6 PM
12th District: (312-746-8306 / [email protected])
Beat 1214 Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, August 10th at 6 PM
Beat 1224 Meeting scheduled on Wednesday, September 7th at 6 PM

42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

Filming

From Monday, August 1 through Wednesday, August 3rd, Justified: City Primeval will be filming scenes in the 42nd Ward. The following traffic impacts will be posted:

No Parking / Tow Zone - 10 PM Monday, August 1st - 8 PM Tuesday, August 2nd:

South side of Hubbard, from State to Rush
North side of Hubbard, from Rush to Wabash
East side of State, from Hubbard to Kinzie
Both sides of Lower Wabash, from Kinzie to Illinois
Both sides of Kinzie, from State to Wabash

No Parking / Tow Zone: 2 PM Tuesday, August 2nd - 2 AM Wednesday, August 3rd:

Both sides of Wabash, from Ida B Wells to Balbo
Both sides of Harrison, from Michigan to Wabash

Full street closure: 2 PM Tuesday, August 2nd - 2 AM Wednesday, August 3rd

Harrison, between Michigan and the 1st alley west of Michigan Ave.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the location manager: Stefan Nikolov at 773-616-0007.

Atlas Stationers Sidewalk Sale

On Monday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 19, there will be a sidewalk sale at 227 West Lake Street. Pedestrian traffic will not be obstructed during the sidewalk sale.

120 East Oak Street Interior Demo/Facade Project

In mid-July, Skender Construction will begin an interior demo and facade project at 120 East Oak Street. Work hours will be 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday.

Throughout the project, the following will be closed:

12' of sidewalk in front of 120 East Oak Street for a scissor lift and covered pedestrian walkway
Curb lane in front of 120 East Oak Street

The project is expected to be completed in 15 weeks (weather dependent).

618 S Michigan Sidewalk Work

Columbia College is repairing sidewalk cracks and caulking adjacent to their building at 618 S. Michigan Avenue.

There will be an 8' wide/21' long construction fence in-place at this location throughout the project.

Work hours are 8am-5pm. The project will be finished in late July.

Chase Tower Clark Street Tunnel Project

In mid-July, Berglund Construction will begin 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 will begin in November, and work hours will be 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 Demolition

On Monday, May 9, McHugh Construction began demolition of Cassidy Tire located at 344/350 N. Canal Street. McHugh's contractor (Atlas) will demo the building from the back (south side) to the front (north side). The demolition is expected to last 2 months.

Immediately after the demolition is completed, construction of the 33-story mixed-use building will begin. During demolition and 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).

Randolph Street Viaduct Repair

This project is on-hold due to supply chain issues. The contractors will demobilize the site and reopen traffic lanes the week of June 27.

CDOT expects work to begin again in mid-July.

Peoples Gas Main Installation Project: Bellevue, from Lake Shore Drive to Rush

At the end of May 2022, Peoples Gas began installing a 900' gas main on the south side of Bellevue Place, from Inner Lake Shore Drive to Rush Street.

The main will be installed in sections of 150'. Once the gas main is installed, service lines will be connected from the new main to each building on the north side of the street.

This will require trenching from the south to north side of the street. All work is expected to be completed by late July (weather dependent). Curb-to-curb restoration will occur in August.

Millennium Park Music Festivals

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the return of the following free summer music festivals in Millennium Park:

Millennium Park Summer Music Series (June 20 – August 18)
Chicago Jazz Festival (citywide and in Millennium Park including Jay Pritzker Pavilion): Thursday – Sunday, September 1–4
Chicago House Music Festival and Conference (Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park): Friday, September 16
World Music Festival Chicago (citywide): Friday, September 30 – Sunday, October 2

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 August 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 broken 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

In September 2021, GNP Realty Partners began 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 July 2022.