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11th Ward Newsletter - August 30, 2026

Nicole Lee Ward 11 📞 773-254-6677 ✉️ [email protected]
Relevance: 3/10
zoning_or_development_meeting_or_approval

Summary

Ald. Nicole T. Lee (11th Ward) provided an update on her campaign to stop the proposed Amtrak Midwest Maintenance Facility from moving into the ward, including postponing a second community meeting (rescheduled when more information and the full development team are available), sending FOIA and letters to federal officials, and noting that a foundation building-permit filing is currently on hold for zoning review. She also shared upcoming City Council committee dates and other ward events, including office hours and municipal/public safety updates. Other announcements include mural and back-to-school events in the ward and street/construction notices such as Emerald Ave. repaving, work on S. Parnell Ave., and Peoples Gas environmental remediation at 2730 S. Eleanor St.

Email from Alderman Nicole T. Lee

3659 S. Halsted | Chicago, IL 60609 | 773.254.6677


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August 30, 2026




Dear neighbors, 


I’m working hard every day to stop the proposed Amtrak Midwest Maintenance Facility from being put in our ward. Thank you to everyone that has joined the fight. I know many organizations in the ward are mobilizing around this issue, and I’ll let you know what action steps we can take next. Your neighbors and I advocated against the project on the news this week. 


To give you an update on where I am in the fight, I postponed the second community meeting originally scheduled for August 26 to a date to be determined. Once I am confident that answers to questions about the development, the operations of the proposed new facility, environmental impact and that members of the full development team are available to participate, we will reschedule the meeting. We also sent a letter to all relevant members of Congress and our U.S. Senators alerting them to our community’s concerns related to the proposed Amtrak Maintenance Facility, and requesting their support and assistance, which you can read here. I’m grateful that the U.S. Senators Durbin and Duckworth quickly responded on Thursday, taking action to request more information from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Amtrak. This week, I also sent a Freedom of Information Act query to the Federal Railroad Administration, requesting information regarding the project, including all information about the “categorical exclusion” related to the environmental review. On Friday, I met with City’s lawyers to hear updates on my legal requests regarding the projects. Thus far, neither Amtrak nor the development team have filed any official requests with plans to the City for consideration for the development of the site. A building permit to pour a foundation for the maintenance garage was filed with the Department of Buildings on August 18th but is on hold for zoning review. The week prior Commissioner Daley and I sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy requesting information as well. 


Earlier today, I joined a large group of residents and supporters at 33rd and Canal to continue to show our collective opposition to this project moving forward in our ward. I was happy to see so many people from different parts of the ward and to share updates too (they are all covered in this edition of the newsletter). There is much more work to be done to slow the process and fight this moving forward. Please know that my staff and I along with many others in the community are working to find every angle possible and I will provide updates as I have them. Commissioner John P. Daley and I aren’t giving up, so please stay tuned for more information about how to get involved in stopping this plan. 


On Thursday, the Alders team took an unfortunate loss against the CPD at our annual baseball game at Sox Park. This is tough after our resounding win last year, but it was fun to have Ozzie Guillén throw out some pitches at the game! I got to play the catcher, and I was happy to get on base both times I was at bat (neither attempt was very pretty). Thank you to everyone who donated to support school supplies and access to baseball camp for kids. 


On Saturday, I got to make my way around the ward for a number of great events. The unveiling ceremony for a new mural located on the south side of the Cermak viaduct, put together by the organization People Matter, was a success. Thank you to Rep. Theresa Mah and other supporters for joining. I stopped by the VFW Block Party and got to see all our ward heroes and enjoyed some great country music performances too! Thank you to the Chicago Dragons for having me out to their back-to-school event as well. 


I hope everyone is getting settled as we end the first week back to school for CPS. Wishing the children, parents, teachers, and administrators a wonderful upcoming school year. Please be extra careful while driving on our streets with crossing guards and school activity now in full swing. 


Ald. Lee

Upcoming in City Council


  • Wednesday, September 9, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight
  • Monday, September 14th and 21st, Committee on Finance 
  • Tuesday, September 15, Economic, Capital, and Technology Development 
  • Full day City Council meetings scheduled for September 17th and 23rd.

Events in the Ward

9/8: Beat 913/915 Meeting, 9th District Police, 3120 S Halsted St, 6PM 


9/11: Veterans Office hours from 12-4PM. Please see the flyer below for our upcoming office hour dates for the Fall. 


Labor Day holiday office schedule:


Friday, September 4: 8:30 AM - 3:00PM

Saturday, September 5: Closed 

Monday, September 7: Closed in observance of Labor Day

September 8 - 11: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

September 12: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Public Safety

Thank you to the Chicago Police Department Vice team, Department of Buildings and Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection for shutting down two brothels last week—one on the 3300 block of S. Morgan and the 900 block of W. 31st Street. This work was greatly helped by the calls, emails and outreach by concerned neighbors who have shared tips, reported suspicious activity and more with our office which were immediately shared with CPD, Vice and other relevant departments. If you have information on illegal activity like this, please contact our office: 773.254.6677 or by email at: [email protected].

Ongoing Construction &

Street Closures

Street Repaving S. Emerald Ave.


  • Emerald Ave. from 37th St. to 38th St. is expected to grind and mill from August 3rd to September 1st 2026.
  • Emerald Ave. from 32nd to 33rd St. is expected to grind and mill from August 3rd to September 1st 2026.

Ongoing Project - 3500 - 3900 S Parnell Ave.:


Most recent updates - 8/28/2026


We are currently finishing final restoration on the Parnell Ave. from 3500-3900 S. There will be some small projects that will need to be completed but this will not impact road closures. CDOT will install a temporary barricade located near 3900 S. Parnell. This is in replace of the Cul-de-Sac that will be installed by IDOT (estimated installation in 2027).

Peoples Gas South Station Remediation

Most Recent Updates - 8/28/2026


  • Peoples Gas contractors continue environmental cleanup activities at 2730 S. Eleanor Street.
  • Activities at the site for the next two weeks will include excavating and hauling away soil as well as In Situ Stabilization (ISS) work. Trucks will visit the site most days to pick up soil or deliver materials. 
  • 24-hour air monitoring is taking place and will continue during all intrusive activity.
  • As a reminder, if you have questions about this project, please contact the Peoples Gas project number at 877-380-0522.

Announcements & Information 
For Spanish
Flyer from Alderman Nicole Lee (11th Ward, City of Chicago) titled “11th Ward 2026 White Sox Residential Zone Parking Updates,” featuring a background image of a night baseball game at Guaranteed Rate Field. The flyer is divided into two sections: Traffic Updates: “This season, 35th Street will be closed between Wentworth and Normal in both directions 90 minutes prior to the start of a game or event at the ball park and will reopen one hour after the close or when OEMC advises. The street will remain open for emergency vehicles, CTA Buses, IDOT and cyclists. Small map showing 35th Street closure area near the ballpark. “Parking Lots”: Event guests will be directed to access Lots A, B, C and G from Wentworth & 33rd Street. Lots F and L will be accessible from Pershing Road. Accessing residential streets: We recommend using 31st Street to access all North South Streets between Wentworth and Wallace. From the South, we recommend Pershing from Wallace to Halsted Reminders: If you live within the White Sox Park Residential Parking Zone and have a vehicle registered with the city of Chicago at that address, a packet with a decal and supply of season and single game guest passes was mailed to you in the last week. If you do not receive your packet in the mail, you may come to the 11th Ward Office beginning Monday, March 23rd to pick up decals and passes. Vehicles parked in White Sox Residential Zone Parking during events at the ball park must display a decal or valid guest pass. Decals are only valid on vehicles that also display a valid City of Chicago vehicle registration sticker. White Sox Park Residential Zone Parking is enforced two hours prior to the start of a game or event and one hour after. For areas where there is a city designated Residential Permit Parking and White Sox Residential Parking Zone - vehicles must display both permits or guest passes or be subject to citation. Pay close attention to signs on the street within one block of the perimeter of the ball park for additional restrictions. All signs will be updated to No Parking 4 hours prior and 2 hours after events.
Flyer titled “Residential access to local streets” explaining traffic and access changes for residents near a ballpark. Top section: Asks if the reader lives north of 33rd Street and south of 31st Street between Wentworth Avenue and Normal Avenue. A map highlights streets in this area with colored markings indicating closures and access routes. Text explains: o access Wells St., Princeton Ave., Shields Ave., Stewart Ave., Canal St. and Normal Ave., area residents are advised to come from the north and utilize 31st Street. Two hours prior to the start of an event, 33rd Street from Wentworth Ave. to Canal St. will be converted to a one-way, west bound street for parking access only – this means no residential access to Wells St., Princeton Ave., Shields Ave., Stewart Ave., or Canal St. Northbound from 33rd St. Access to Wells, Princeton, Shields and Stewart will be for residents only at 32nd Street. Once the game is over, 33rd Street from Canal St. to Wentworth Ave. will be converted to a one-way, East bound street to expedite traffic from parking lots. Bottom section: Asks if the reader lives south of the ballpark between 35th Street and Pershing Road, and between Normal Avenue and Wallace Street. A second map shows this area with marked routes and restrictions. Text explains: To access Wallace, Parnell, and normal to/ between 37th and 38th streets, area residents are advised to come from the north and utilize 35th Street at Wallace or from south and utilize Pershing rd. Access to 37th St. and 38th St. will be for residents only at Normal Ave.

Community Programs and Events

Jobs & Opportunities

Park District Programs

Services
Home Energy Savings Program - For Spanish
For Spanish
For Spanish
For Chinese 中文
For Polish

11th Ward

School and Parish Information

one hope united Affordable Child Care - Spanish and Chinese

Waste Management

11th Ward

2026 Constituent Education Resource Card

The 11th Ward office is happy to announce has a free ‘Constituent Education Resource Card’ available to residents wishing to visit select museums and zoos in the Chicagoland area. Constituents can reserve our Constituent Education Resource Card on a first come first serve basis (more instructions below), to visit any of the following museums in 2026:


  • Adler Planetarium
  • The Art Institute of Chicago
  • Brookfield Zoo
  • Chicago Botanic Garden
  • Chicago Children’s Museum
  • Chicago History Museum
  • Dusable Museum of African American History
  • The Field Museum
  • Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
  • Lincoln Park Zoo
  • Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Museum of Science and Industry
  • National Museum of Mexican Art
  • National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
  • Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
  • John G. Shedd Aquarium


Only one group of up to four (4) can reserve the pass at a time. The pass must be picked up and brought back to the 11th Ward Office. Constituents need to call for an appointment to come to the office to pick up the pass before visiting the museums. We recommend calling two business days before your scheduled visit.


It is strongly recommended that families utilizing the card contact the museum they plan to visit to learn if pre-registration is required to visit. 

Chicago Public Libraries

9th District Police District Council & Beat Meeting Schedules

The office has extended hours on Monday nights until 7:00 p.m., is open on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00am - 12:00 pm, if it's a holiday weekend, the office will

be open the following Saturday and/or Monday.


Alderwoman Lee will be happy to see residents on Monday nights from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. If you'd like to make an appointment, please call the ward office at 773.254.6677.
 

11th Ward Office| 3659 South Halsted Chicago, IL 60609 | 773-254-6677

 
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Alderman Nicole T. Lee | 3659 S Halsted Street | Chicago, IL 60609 US
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