Near South Side high school advances

On Sept. 23, the Board of Education voted 4-3 to buy land for a controversial Near South Side high school despite State Rep. Teresa Mah’s vow to yank funding for it. Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), whose ward includes neighborhoods the high school would serve, has also expressed opposition to the school site.

Earlier this summer, Chicago Housing Authority agreed to lease land at 2450 S. State to Chicago Public Schools for a new $120 million open-enrollment school that would serve students from Armour Square, Bridgeport, Bronzeville, Chinatown, and the South Loop. Because that land had been slated to become part of the Ickes Homes replacement housing, known as Southbridge, two acres of land in the 2200 and 2300 blocks of Wabash will be purchased by the Board of Education and deeded to CHA to build the remaining planned housing units.

The high school would be paid for with $50 million in state funding that has been re-appropriated a few times, and $70 million previously announced for a Near West Side high school that was never built. 

NASCAR comes to Grant Park

Though neighboring alderpersons are not happy about the deal, it looks like a NASCAR race on July 1 and 2 will close big portions of Grant Park for weeks next summer. While the area directly surrounding the street sections to be used as a track would be closed for nine days before the race and three days after, the section of Grant Park west of Buckingham Fountain, where the pit road and start/finish line will be located, will be closed for three weeks before the race and 10 days after.

The initial deal for a NASCAR Chicago Street Course events is for three years, but an option in the oontract would allow NASCAR to hold the race an additional two years. Alderpersons, who had to wait until news organizations obtained the contract with the Chicago Park District through a Freedom of Information Act request to learn details of the city’s deal, have noted that NASCAR will also only be paying a fraction of the price paid by Lollapalooza organizers to use Grant Park. Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot went on stage at this year’s Lolla to announce that the festival will continue to be held in Grant Park for at least the next 10 summers and potentially five more beyond that, if the festival exercises an option.

In Brief

Harrison viaduct in Grant Park closed The pedestrian bridge over the Metra tracks east of Michigan has been closed due to structural deterioration, forcing pedestrians north to Ida B. Wells Dr. or south to Balbo. No reconstruction plan has been announced.

West of the neighborhood, Harrison continues to be a headache for cyclists, as it’s closed from the Chicago River to Canal St., next to the Old Post Office, for reconstruction over the railroad tracks. Pedestrians can get through the site by using the sidewalk arcade at the “new” post office.

New construction coming to the South Loop: 1829 S State, the former plumbing supply building, for conversion to a religious assembly for Awaken Church Chicago.

At 106 E Cullerton St, a 3-story early childhood daycare facility is being built.

Mercy Housing has a zoning application up to build a new 5-story, 50-unit building with 21 parking spaces at 1800 S Michigan.

Tenants at 1723 S Michigan, including the kids’ gym, have been told to vacate. No plans for that site have been disclosed.

Follow us on Facebook and stay connected to what is happening in your community! Its a great way to learn more about SLN events, community events, public safety, community meetings, and more. Click that "LIKE" button to follow us at www.facebook.com/SouthLoopNeighbors! 

• Halloween Musical: Merle Reskin Theatre 10/29/22 at 12:45 pm
• Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade: 10/29/22 6-8 pm 
• Trick or Treat 10/31/22 
• Turkey Trot: 11/24/22 
• Thanksgiving Day Parade: 11/24/22 8-11 am 
• Street sweeping. Click here for the schedule.
• Chicago Police 1st District and Community Beat Meetings schedule
• Chicago Loop Alliance news!
• Info on free days at Chicago museums here!
• 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. Complete list of Soldier Field events.
• Chicago's current COVID risk level
• Dearborn Express:  Current Edition

Pickleball Clinic

September 25, 2022