August 23, 2024

{View as Webpage}

Alderman Reilly Reports

Chicago Triathlon: August 24 - 25

The Chicago Triathlon is one of the world's largest and most accessible triathlons. It will take place this Saturday, August 24, at Foster Beach, and Sunday, August 25, where races will start at Monroe Harbor and finish in Grant Park. Please see the full map of the route here.


For additional information please click here.

Bally's Casino: Tribune Demolition Update

On Tuesday, August 27, Bally’s is holding a ceremonial demolition event at the Tribune Publishing site located at 560 W Grand Avenue. Demolition of the building is scheduled to begin by the end of August (weather and permits dependent). Residents can expect the following during demolition:


  • Brandenburg Industrial Services was hired by Bally’s to demo the Tribune building
  • Demolition activities will occur Monday-Friday from 8am to 4pm and from 8am to 8pm on the weekends
  • Construction vehicles will enter/exit the site from West Grand Avenue, west of the Chicago River. Please see the diagram below


Stay tuned to Reilly Reports for future updates.

42nd Ward Development Proposal:

65 East Wacker Pl

Mavrek Development is proposing the adaptive reuse of 65 East Wacker Place with up to 255 residential units, retail and amenity space on the first and second floors in addition to a landscaped terrace rooftop. Twenty percent of units will be affordable; all 51 affordable units will be located on-site.


Mavrek will preserve the existing historic marble and bronze-clad lobby as well as the coffered plaster lobby ceiling.  The project will also preserve an existing ground-floor restaurant tenant, Morton’s Steakhouse, which is expected to remain open during construction.  Other amenities include a work space and business center, catering kitchens with additional event space, a fitness center, a cinema (all located on the third floor), as well as a pet recreation area, pet grooming facility and bike storage  (located on the lower level). With the exception of Morton’s Steakhouse, building amenities will not be accessible to non-residents.


Exterior work will consist largely of cleaning and repairs of the window system as needed. Plans also call for the addition of several new windows on the north side of the west elevation.

The proposal requires planned development approval because it utilizes existing floor space pursuant to the FAR bonus available in the Downtown District. The development team hopes to file an application next month, which will be reviewed by the Chicago Plan Commission (CPC), Committee on Zoning and City Council. 


As part of Alderman Reilly's transparent community process for new developments, your comments and observations are welcome for this project. Please click here to provide your feedback.

Election Day Judges Needed

The Chicago Board of Elections is hiring Election Judges for the November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election.


Election Judges are paid to manage the precinct polling place and assist voters. Judges share the following responsibilities:


  • Arrive at 5:00 am on Election Day to set up equipment.
  • Open the polls on time at 6:00 am on Election Day.
  • Issue the correct ballots to each voter and help voters with registration and other questions, from 6:00 am through 7:00 pm.
  • Completing all reports after the polls close.


Please click here if you would like to sign-up to be an Election Judge.

CAPS Meetings

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

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


Click here for 18th District meeting locations.


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

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


42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

400 North Lake Shore Drive Update


Below is an update on construction activities at 400 North Lake Shore Drive.

 

Please Note: Related Midwest has completed reconstruction of the Lake Shore Drive ramp and East Water Street is no longer being used at the primary site entrance. 

 

Current Week

  • Continue excavation and shaping of site
  • Continue material haul off
  • Continue cutting of cofferdam sheeting and decking
  • Continue framing and pouring inside cofferdam
  • Continue relocation of sewer overflow pipe
  • Continue relocation of lakeshore drive drain line

 

Week of 8/26

  • Continue excavation and shaping of site
  • Continue material haul off
  • Complete cutting of cofferdam sheeting
  • Continue framing and pouring inside cofferdam
  • Continue relocation of sewer overflow pipe
  • Continue relocation of lakeshore drive drain line

 

Week of 9/2

  • Continue excavation and shaping of site
  • Continue material haul off
  • Begin pouring mud slab for basement level 2 slab on grade
  • Continue relocation of sewer overflow pipe
  • Continue relocation of lakeshore drive drain line
  • People’s Gas to begin utility work in Water Street

 

Week of 9/9

  • Continue shaping of site
  • Continue material haul off
  • Continue pouring mud slab for basement level 2 slab on grade
  • Continue relocation of sewer overflow pipe
  • Continue relocation of lakeshore drive drain line
  • People’s Gas to continue utility work in Water Street

 

Public utility work affecting East Water Street is estimated to begin on September 2. This work is being completed in phases, with the first being performed by People’s Gas and estimated to take 30 days. Following People’s Gas, ComEd will begin utility work in October.


River North Lighting Project Update

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) continues the River North Lighting Project. Next week, CDOT will begin boring and installing underground pipe in the area bounded by Kingsbury, Huron, Sedgwick, and Erie.


No lanes of traffic will be closed during the work.


Added Bus Stops

Due to the Expanded Outdoor Dining program, the following bus stops will be implemented, effective on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 3:00 pm until Thursday, October 31, 2024 or completion.


Clark at Kinzie (southbound, nearside)—Temporary bus stop elimination

Stop ID Number: 1861

Route Stopping: #22 – Clark

 

LaSalle at Grand (southbound, farside)—Temporary bus stop route added onto existing bus stop

Stop ID Number: 4961

Route Stopping: #22– Clark, #156 - LaSalle

 

LaSalle at Hubbard (southbound, farside)—Temporary bus stop route added onto existing bus stop

Stop ID Number: 4962

Route Stopping: #22– Clark, #156 - LaSalle

 

LaSalle at 320 North (southbound, farside)—Temporary bus stop route added onto existing bus stop

Stop ID Number: 4963

Route Stopping: #22– Clark, #156 - LaSalle


Protected Bike Lane Installation: East Side of Clark, from Oak to Grand


The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is expanding its protected bike lane network throughout the City. They have decided to install a southbound protected bike lane on the east side of North Clark Street, between West Oak Street and West Grand Avenue. This bike lane will connect to the westbound bike lane on the north side of West Grand Avenue.


CDOT's Scope of Work:

  • Swap the location of the existing bike lane and parking lane. The bike lane will be adjacent to the curb and the parking lane will be between a lane of traffic and the bike lane.
  • Install bicycle signals (select intersections).
  • Install pedestrian bump-outs/refuge space.


Please click here to review CDOT's site plans. Work is currently underway.


Demolition Project: 720 North Wells Street / 207 West Superior Street


Milburn Demolition concluded its demolition of 207 West Superior Street and began demolition of 720 North Wells Street last week. Work hours will remain Monday - Friday, from 8am to 5pm. 


The following will be closed throughout the project:


  • 40 feet of the north/south alley on the south side of West Superior Street, between North Franklin Street and North Wells Street
  • Sidewalk and curb lane on the south side of West Superior Street, between North Wells Street and North Franklin Street
  • Sidewalk and curb lane on the west side of North Wells Street, from West Superior Street to a point 48 feet south thereof. 


The bike lane on the west side of North Wells Street will remain open throughout the project. Demolition is expected to be completed by the end of August (weather dependent).


Franklin Street Bridge Project


CDOT crews began sidewalk replacement and selective roadway grating replacement at the Franklin Avenue 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, selective roadway grating panels replacement.


Construction Schedule:

7:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday thru Friday, from Monday, March 18th  until Friday, August 30th. End date is tentative, contingent upon expected Central Business District Moratoriums.

 

Traffic Impact during Construction:


  • Full closure of one sidewalk at all times.
  • A single vehicular lane closure adjacent to the sidewalk being worked on at all times.
  • One northbound though lane and northbound bike lane will remain open throughout during sidewalk repairs.



CDOT Construction: Pin & Link Plate Assembly and Expansion Joints


The Department of Transportation will begin a project to replace pin and link plate assemblies and expansion joints associated with the bridge structures of upper and intermediate Columbus Dr., Randolph St., and Stetson Ave. Pin and link plate assembly work will be performed from the underside of the bridge decks while expansion joint replacements will occur from above.  The work began in November 2023 and will progress to completion (anticipated Fall 2024).  


Work is to start along upper, intermediate, and lower levels of the following roadways: 


  • N. Columbus Drive between E. Wacker Drive and E. Randolph Street
  • E. Randolph Street between N. Michigan Avenue and N. Field Boulevard
  • N. Stetson Avenue between E. Wacker Drive and E. Lake Street


During construction, portions of these bridge structures will be barricaded off to prohibit vehicles and pedestrians directly over the active work. 


  • Vehicles will be shifted and/or detoured to allow the work to progress. 
  • The sidewalk on at least one side of the roadway and crosswalks at roadway intersections will remain open for pedestrians. 
  • Coordination of temporary access restriction may be required with private properties directly adjacent to the project.  


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.