August 21, 2020
Alderman Reilly Reports
Welcome to Alderman Reilly's weekly newsletter, Reilly Reports, with a new, updated look! Please keep reading below for more information about important announcements, upcoming events, and street closures in the 42nd Ward.
Upcoming 42nd Ward Events!
Community Recycling Event
August 29, 2020
Alderman Reilly is hosting an Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, August 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The event will be held at 360 East North Water Street (North side of North Water Street, between New Street and McClurg Court). Please see this flyer for further information about the event. 

A representative from Alderman Reilly's Office will be present to address concerns or questions regarding city-related matters.
Community Shred Event
September 13, 2020
Alderman Reilly is hosting a Community Shred Day on Sunday, September 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Ohio Place Dog Park located at 360 West Ohio Street.

Households are limited to two boxes and shredding materials will be accepted until the shred trucks are full.

A representative from Alderman Reilly's Office will be present to address concerns or questions regarding city-related matters.
Important Announcements and Updates
Chicago Public Health Department COVID-19 Update 
As a reminder to Chicago residents, the Emergency Travel Order is still in effect. Travelers entering or returning to Chicago from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state. This includes both Chicago residents returning from travel to a designated state, and travelers arriving in Chicago from a designated state. The list will be updated every Tuesday and go into effect the following Friday at 12:01 a.m. 

As of today, Friday, August 21st, the Order applies to the following states and territories:  

Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. 

The latest data on COVID-19 cases in Chicago is below. Residents can view data specific to their neighborhood by visiting the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.
For more information about COVID-19 in Chicago please visit, www.chicago.gov/coronavirus. 
Navy Pier to Temporarily Close Starting September 8, 2020
Closure will start September 8 in an effort to limit the financial burden and impact of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the organization.
The closure will put a halt to all Pier-wide operations, including that of Navy Pier’s more than 70 small local businesses, which have also experienced significantly low attendance throughout the pandemic. Public access to the Pier’s outdoor spaces, including Polk Bros Park and North and South Docks, will also be limited or prohibited during the closure.

Navy Pier will continue to remain open to the public through Labor Day, welcoming guests to experience the Pier’s free arts and cultural programs, restaurants, retail shops, tour boats and dining cruises, and more, with multiple layers of safety precautions in place.

For more information and updates related to Navy Pier’s closure and re-opening status, please visit www.navypier.org.
My CHI My Mask Kids Design Contest! MaskContest
PrideMasks is thrilled to announce their first ever, city-wide, kids mask design contest "My CHI My Mask" with guest judges including local artists Matthew Hoffman, Sam Kirk, and David Lee Csiscko as well as Chicago's First Lady Amy Eshleman. 

Kids can draw, paint, or design on a computer their best interpretation of the theme "My Chicago". For more information about the contest, and to download your design template, please click here. Participants can submit their designs by:

  • Scanning their designs and sending them to [email protected]
  • Taking a digital photo via cellular phone and emailing to [email protected]
  • You can submit designs via our online contact form by selecting "My CHI My Mask" Kids Design Submission from the dropdown and attaching your file.
  • Mailing the designs to their PO Box:
R&S Marching Arts 
c/o Alan Spaeth
PO Box 412099 
Chicago, IL 60641
  • Dropping the designs off at participating Aldermanic Offices (including the 42nd Ward!).

The contest is in support of the City of Chicago's "My CHI. My Future." which connects Chicago youth to a variety of rich, engaging, safe, and youth-centered out-of-school experiences empowering discovery and cultivating talents, passions, skills, and identities.
Chicago Voters May Apply NOW to Vote By Mail Before the General Election
Due to COVID-19, voters are encouraged to use Vote By Mail or Early Voting before Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020
Chicago voters who apply online between now and September 24 will be among the first to receive ballots. Ballot mailings will begin September 24 - October 5. No reason or excuse is needed to Vote By Mail.

Chicago voters who apply online to Vote By Mail will receive emails:

  • In the days that follow their online application, to confirm that the online application has been received and processed;
  • When the ballot is being mailed to the voter -- with a unique link to a system to track the ballot through the US Postal Service;
  • When the Vote By Mail "Ballot Return Envelope" is received by the Election Board; and,
  • When the Vote By Mail "Ballot Return Envelope" has been approved for counting -- or if there is a question or problem with your Ballot Return Envelope.

If you are unable to apply online, the Election Board also will be sending Vote By Mail applications and postage-paid return envelopes in late July to all voters who have voted in any election(s) since November 2018 and to any voters who have registered for the first time or updated their registrations since March 18, 2020.

In the two weeks before Election Day, Chicago voters are encouraged to use a Secured Drop Box at any Chicago Early Voting site to return the signed and sealed Ballot Return Envelope.

Once a mail ballot has been returned to the Board, it cannot be retrieved or withdrawn. The same voter cannot vote in person in the polling place on Election Day unless he or she brings the mail ballot (or a portion of it) to the election judges OR completes an affidavit stating the mail ballot was never received by the voter or that it was received and lost.

Please note, any mail ballot that is postmarked Wednesday, November 4 or later cannot be counted, by law. If a ballot envelope is placed in a mail drop box on or near Election Day, that envelope may be postmarked late and will not be eligible to be counted.

For more information, please visit the Chicago Board of Elections website.
Chicago Public Schools: Final Reopening Framework
Successfully Learn at Home This Fall!
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) shared their Final Reopening Framework for the start of the 2020–21 school year. This framework gives CPS the flexibility to begin the school year learning at home and transition to hybrid learning once public health experts determine it is safe to do so.
Automated Speed Cameras to be Activated Monday, August 17 in Six School Safety Zones 
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) today reminded drivers that with several Chicago schools reopening for in-class instruction as soon as next Monday, automated speed enforcement cameras will be activated in the vicinity of these schools once students return. As additional schools make decisions to provide in-person instruction, speed cameras will be activated near those schools as well under the City’s Children’s Safety Zone Program.  

At this time, six schools (including one in the 42nd Ward) are planning to start in-person instruction on the date indicated: 

  • Frances Xavier Warde, at Chicago Avenue and State Street: First Day in person classes- 9/8. 

Chicago experiences roughly 3,000 crashes annually between motor vehicles and pedestrians, about 800 of which involve children. The Children’s Safety Zone Program protects children and other pedestrians by reminding motorists to slow down and obey speed laws – especially in school and park zones. Safety zones are designated as a 1/8th of a mile boundary around any Chicago parks or schools.  

The program uses enhanced signage and automated safety cameras to identify and ticket motorists who are breaking the law by exceeding the speed limits. The registered owner of the speeding vehicle will be issued the speeding ticket. The enforcement hours will be limited from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in safety zones around schools on school days (Monday through Friday). 

  • 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. - 20 miles per hour (mph) speed limit when children are present; and the posted speed limit when no children are present 
  • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. - the posted speed limit 

A fine of $35 is issued for vehicles traveling 6-10 mph over the posted speed limit while in a safety zone, however the City only issues fines for vehicles driving at least 10 mph over the speed limit. The fine is $100 for vehicles traveling 11 or more mph over the posted speed limit.  

For additional information about School Safety Zones and automated enforcement, please click here.
A Message from the Illinois Secretary of State
Chicago Central located at the James R. Thompson Center and Chicago Loop Express located at 69 W. Washington are temporarily closed.
All driver’s licenses, ID cards, vehicle registration, restricted driving permits and monitoring device driving permits that are currently expired or set to expire by Sept. 30 have been extended until Nov. 1, 2020.

All employees are wearing face masks and customers are required to do the same. Plexiglass dividers have been installed at all work stations and tape has been applied to the floor in 6-foot intervals to follow social distancing guidelines, limiting the number of customers inside a facility at one time.

Please be patient and prepared to wait outside in various types of weather. This is due to social distancing, which limits the number of people inside a facility at one time.

Secretary of State and State Treasurer have waived E-check payment processing for vehicle sticker renewal, duplicate driver's license/ID card and driver's license renewal with Safe Driver Renewal.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security pushed back the REAL ID deadline one year to Oct. 1, 2021. Current Illinois driver's licenses or ID cards will continue to be accepted at airports, military bases and secure federal facilities until Oct. 1, 2021.
Take a Second for Your City - Participate in the 2020 Census
Make Yourself Count!
This year's Census will determine how billions of dollars in public funding are spent, and Chicago uses federal funding for important community services such as schools, parks, trains, roads and much more.

If you have not already completed the form, please take the next 10 minutes to complete the Census online at 2020Census.gov. We are striving for a complete count in Chicago and hope that all Chicago residents will take this opportunity to invest in their city.

Police Alerts and Community Notices
Upcoming Events
Urban Dogs - The Anti-Cruelty Society Virtual Workshop
Sunday, August 30 from 2-3pm
River North Residents Association (RNRA) will be partnering with the The Anti-Cruelty Society for the webinar, "Urban Dogs". This one hour workshop will address problems dogs face in an urban environment and how to be a good city dog owner.

To register, please click here.
Clear the Shelters 2020
CACC will once again participate in NBC and Telemundo's Clear the Shelters pet adoption campaign during the month of August.

To help our community to continue to practice safe social distancing, interested adopters should check www.petharbor.com/chicago to see which animals are available for adoption. If you find an animal that you want to meet, please email [email protected] with the name and/or ID # of the animal to set up an appointment to safely meet that animal. CACC staff will get back to you within 24 hours to set up an appointment.

Since 2015, NBC and Telemundo owned stations' Clear The Shelters campaign has helped more than 410,000 pets find new homes. Visit ClearTheShelters.com for more information.
Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Jazz and the Virtual World Music Festival
The “Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Jazz” series will offer four days of free, virtual performances programmed with the Jazz Institute of Chicago over Labor Day Weekend starting Thursday, September 3 through Sunday, September 6 from 4-8 pm. 
The reimagined “Virtual World Music Festival Chicago” will offer a series of free concerts featuring artists from across the globe each Sunday in September from 1-3 pm.
For more information about these upcoming virtual events, please visit millenniumpark.org.
City of Chicago Farmers Markets
Considered essential businesses, the Chicago City Markets managed by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) began a phased reopening in June to increase neighborhood access to fresh and healthy food.  

Markets are following specific precautions to encourage social distancing and to protect customers and vendors. All farmers markets are required to follow social distancing protocols geared towards transitioning farmers markets to an 'In and Out' model, allowing customers to shop for food without extraneous congregating.  

Customers should note:  
  • Face coverings will be required (for staff and vendors too) and worn over nose and mouth, unless a person has a medical condition or disability that prevents safely wearing a face covering or is a child under the age of two 
  • Only vendors may handle produce; customers may not touch produce until after purchase 
  • Customers should not enter if currently exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.  
  • Entry will be prohibited to anyone with displayed or self-identified symptoms 

Below is a list of markets in or near the 42nd Ward: 
TUESDAYS
Federal Plaza City Market  
50 W. Adams St. 
August 4 - October 27, 7am - 2pm 
 
SOAR Farmers Market 
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E. Chicago Ave. 
June 23 - October 27, 7am - 2pm 
SATURDAYS (all near the 42nd Ward)  
Division Street City Market  
100 W. Division St. 
June 20 - October 31, 7am - Noon 
 
Green City Market Lincoln Park
1801 N. Clark St. 
June 13 - October 31, 7am - 1pm 
 
Printers Row City Market  
700 S. Dearborn St. 
July 18 - October 24, 7am - Noon 
 
Green City Market West Loop 
115 S. Sangamon St. 
June 20 - October 31, 8am - 1pm 
For more information about the City Markets program, please click here.
42nd Ward CAPS Meetings
CAPS meetings offer city residents an opportunity to address crime and safety issues directly with the beat officers who patrol their neighborhood, as well as to provide ongoing feedback, which help the police to monitor crime issues.

There are no beat meetings for the week of August 24, 2020. 

Please make sure to check the details for upcoming meetings with your Police District's CAPS office. 

1st District: 312-745-4381
12th District: 312-746-8306
18th District: 312-742-5778

To find your district and beat, please click here.
42nd Ward Street Closures and Construction Notices
Crane Lift: 30 N. Michigan Avenue

On Saturday, August 22, from 9am-12pm there will be a crane lift at 30 N. Michigan Avenue. During the lift, the following will be closed:

  • Two southbound traffic lanes on the west side of Michigan Avenue, from Washington Street to a point approximately 200' south thereof
  • Sidewalk on the west side of Michigan Avenue, from Washington Street to a point approximately 200' south thereof

There will be barricades and traffic control aides in place.
 
Tower Crane Removal: 369 W. Grand Avenue

Starting Friday, August 21, Goebel Forming, LLC will be dismantling a tower crane located at 369 W. Grand Avenue. While the tower crane is being dismantled, the following will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic:

  • Grand Avenue, from Orleans Street to Kingsbury Street (Vehicular Traffic)
  • Sidewalk on the south side of Grand Avenue, from Orleans Street to Kingsbury Street (Pedestrian Traffic)

Pedestrians can use the north side of Grand Avenue, between Orleans Street and Kingsbury. During the lift, traffic control aides and barricades will be in place.  

Workers will be onsite from 8am-9pm, and the crane is expected to be dismantled by Sunday, August 23 at 9pm. Vehicular and pedestrian access to Grand Avenue, between Orleans Street and Kingsbury Street, will be restored once the crane has been removed.

Washington Street Bridge Work

The Chicago Department of Transportation is installing a Chord Guard on the Washington Street Bridge. During the work, motorists should expect lane closures, but through traffic will be maintained at all times. 

Work is expected to be completed by Friday, August 28.

Filming in the Loop Next Week

On Tuesday, August 25 and Wednesday, August 26, from 1pm-10pm, parking will be prohibited at the following locations in order to park essential vehicles for a photo shoot:
  • The east side of Wells Street, from Washington Street to Calhoun Pl
  • The west side of Wells Street, from Washington Street to 8 N. Wells Street
  • Lane of traffic on the north side of Washington Street, from Wells Street to 176 W. Washington Street. 

On Wednesday, August 26th and Thursday, August 27, from 7am-7pm, parking will be prohibited at the following locations in order to park essential vehicles for a photo shoot:
  • The west side of S. Wabash, from 14 S. Wabash to 28 S. Wabash
  • The east side of S. Wabash, from 11 S. Wabash to 25 S. Wabash

AT&T Fiber Optic Installation

Starting at the end of the third quarter, AT&T plans to install fiber optic cable at 550 W. Washington Street. The work will occur at the northwest corner of Washington Street and Clinton Street. 

Lane/sidewalk closures will occur as needed.

IJKL Host and Crane Jump

As work continues rapidly on the LSE IJKL site, Lendlease Construction will be jumping (increasing the height) to its hoists and cranes over the weekends listed below:

  • Building J Crane Jump: Saturday August 29th – Sunday August 30th
  • Building KL Crane Jump: Saturday September 12th – Sunday September 13th

For safety, no other production work will occur on site during these jumps. All dates are weather dependent and if any changes occur, an updated schedule will be issued.

Arcade Place Intermittent Closure

Starting Tuesday, September 1, Executive Construction will be removing the pedestrian bridge between 10 S. LaSalle Street and 5 S. LaSalle Street. During the project, Arcade Place, between Wells Street and LaSalle Street will be closed intermittently to install and remove scaffold. 

All work is expected to be completed by in mid-November (weather dependent).

River North CTA Bus Stop Change

Due to construction, the following CTA Bus Stop change will take place:

  • Wells at Hubbard (southbound, nearside)-temporary bus stop elimination
  • Stop ID Number: 5021
  • Routes Stopping: #37 - Sedgwick, #125 - Water Tower Express

This bus stop change will go into effect on Monday, August 17, 2020 at 9:00 am until Friday, September 18, 2020 or completion.

St. Clair Water Main Installation

Starting Monday, August 24, the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) will install 1,508 feet of 8-inch water main on the west side of St. Clair Street, between Illinois Street and Superior Street. 

Throughout the project, portions of the southbound traffic/curb lane and sidewalk will be closed as needed. Work will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily. 

After the new water main has been installed, the described area will experience an increase in the availability of water for fire protection and domestic use. 

This project is anticipated to be completed in mid-November 2020.

Overnight Parking Ban Downtown this Weekend

Starting tonight at midnight until Tuesday, August 25, overnight parking will be restricted on the following streets:  

  • 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 Wabash 
  • Both sides of New Street, from Illinois to North Water
  • Both sides of Columbus Drive, from Monroe to Balbo 
  • North side of Wacker Drive 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 

Chicago Police Department Commander Jill Stevens (18th District) and Commander Jacob Alderden (1st District) have ordered this temporary overnight parking ban to encourage restaurant and bar patrons to return home after dining out.  

As always, please make sure to read all posted signage before parking your vehicle downtown. 
 
Sidewalk Closure: Northwestern Memorial Galter Huron Entrance Renovation

The sidewalk in front of 201 East Huron Street will be closed for Northwestern Memorial's Galter Pavilion Huron Entrance Renovation project. Construction hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Throughout the project's duration, eastbound and westbound pedestrian traffic will be directed to the north side of East Huron Street.

The project is anticipated to be completed by Friday, September 31, 2020.

Wells Street Gas Main Replacement

People's Gas is replacing a gas main on North Wells, between Chicago Avenue and Illinois Street. Work will be conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., daily. 

Throughout the project, one lane of traffic will be maintained in both directions. The following side streets will have lane reductions between North Franklin and North LaSalle:

  • Superior
  • Huron
  • Erie
  • Ohio
  • Ontario
  • Grand
  • Illinois

This project is scheduled to be completed by Thursday, October 1, 2020. 

Arterial Street ADA Ramp Improvement Project

The Chicago Department of Transportation has begun its Arterial Street ADA Ramp Improvement Project.

The work will include replacing ADA ramps and tiles at the following locations: 

  • Columbus, from Wacker to Balbo 
  • Columbus/Fairbanks, from Illinois to Chicago Avenue 

This project requires temporary sidewalk and lane closures as needed. All work is scheduled to be completed by August 30, 2020.  

Dearborn Street Arterial Street Resurfacing Project

As part of the Chicago Department of Transportation's Arterial Street Resurfacing Project, Dearborn Street, between Madison Street and Polk Street will be resurfaced. 

The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.

During construction, temporary "No Parking" signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work.

All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed by August 30, 2020.

Upcoming Jane Byrne Interchange Closures and Detours

As part of the ongoing Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction project, a lane closure along northbound I-90/94 began on Monday, July 13. To view a map of the closure, please click here.

The ramp from north-and-southbound I-55 to northbound I-90/94 has been reduced from two lanes to one lane. The northbound I-90/94 right lane will be closed from the I-55 entrance ramp to Roosevelt Road. In addition, the flyover ramp connecting northbound I-90/94 to the westbound I-290 will be reduced to one lane from Roosevelt Road to Taylor Street.

The new traffic configuration will be in effect through mid-September. 

Motorists will experience significant delays. Please plan ahead, buckle up, put down all devices and remain patient driving through the work zone.  

Navy Pier Flyover Phase 3 Updates

The Navy Pier Flyover is an elevated path for safer walking and biking along the Lakefront Trail near Navy Pier - one of the most heavily used portions of the 18.5-mile trail. 

The dedicated bike and pedestrian path will extend from the Chicago River Bridge to Jane Addams Park and provide a safer and scenic alternative to several congested intersections along the Lakefront Trail. The elevated path will include ground-level entrance and exit points. 

Navy Pier Flyover construction has entered its third and final phase. In this phase, crews are rehabilitating the moveable bridge over the Chicago River to accommodate a widened Lakefront Trail path. 

Vehicle Impacts:

Phase three of the Navy Pier Flyover construction project kicked off the end of April 2019 with the rehabilitation of the movable bridge across the Chicago River. This work will be completed in multiple stages with varied traffic impacts.

This stage of the project will close the two easternmost, northbound lanes on Lower Lake Shore Drive over the Chicago River. During this closure, access to Illinois Street and Grand Avenue from the northbound lanes of Lower Lake Shore Drive will be restricted, and a detour will be set up to Columbus Avenue.

Northbound traffic crossing the river will only be able to access the entrance ramp to northbound Upper Lake Shore Drive. All other turns to and from Lower Lake Shore Drive will be maintained. See maps below.

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Impacts:

Access to the Lakefront Trail will remain open during construction, however bicyclists and pedestrians will be moved into a new, temporary two-way path created in a protected northbound traffic lane during this work.

Nearby residents may experience some construction noise during this period from jackhammers and saws. This work is being scheduled during daytime hours to limit the noise impact.

For more information and regular updates about the project, please visit navypierflyover.com. 

One Chicago Square-1 W Chicago Pedestrian and Traffic Impacts

Although fencing is already in place for the sidewalk closure, pedestrians still have access to the sidewalk, but should exercise caution when walking by the construction site. 
 
The Curb Lanes along Chicago, State, Superior, and Dearborn will remain a No Parking/Tow Zone throughout the project, to allow for demolition, and then the protected pedestrian walkway.

The sidewalk along the east side of Dearborn, from Superior to Chicago, has been closed to pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians will be rerouted to the west side of Dearborn. 
 
Please stay tuned to Reilly Reports as additional construction updates and closures will be announced.

Vista Construction Update and Traffic Impact

Re-opening of Field Boulevard for vehicular traffic and pedestrians:

  • Due to safety precautions that involve the work overhead of public spaces and CDOT requirements, Magellan cannot open the underpass until initial occupancy.

Upper Wacker Drive within Project Scope:

  • Due to safety precautions, CDOT has permitted McHugh construction to take a portion of the Upper Level of Wacker Drive until the building achieves initial occupancy.

No-Left-Turn Configuration:
  • Until initial occupancy, when Wacker traffic can be directed eastbound through the new intersection, and then westbound along the north leg of Wacker, the current no-left-turn configuration will remain in place.
 
For more information or to speak with the General Contractor for the project, please contact McHugh Construction Company's Senior Project Manager for Vista, Joe Kuna at [email protected].