Dear Neighbors,
ComEd Substation Meeting: Tonight, ComEd will host a follow-up community meeting regarding its proposed substation at 1111 W. Diversey Parkway from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Olsen Auditorium at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 W. Wellington Ave. This will be the first community meeting held since our office and State Senator Sara Feigenholtz introduced coordinated city and state legislation aimed at restoring meaningful community review for large utility projects like the one proposed at 1111 W. Diversey.
Throughout this process, our office has worked alongside residents, neighborhood groups, elected officials, and the Diversey Community Coalition to advocate for greater transparency, request city permit holds, and seek formal zoning clarification. The legislation introduced last month would classify substations larger than one-half acre or located within 660 feet of residential property as a "Major Utility," requiring review and locational approval by the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals. Currently, there is no required approval step. Passing this ordinance would create a reasonable community process to ensure that essential infrastructure is compatible with surrounding neighborhoods, and aligned with Chicago's Connected Communities goals of promoting housing and mixed-use development near transit.
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Jonquil Park Reopening: After months of anticipation, I am excited to share that Jonquil Park has officially reopened ahead of schedule. The reopening follows the playground resurfacing completed earlier this year and caps off a series of improvements made possible through years of advocacy and partnership among the Chicago Park District, the Jonquil Park Advisory Council, the Wrightwood Neighbors Association, and many community stakeholders. Recent upgrades include improved drainage, an extended backstop and sidewing at the ballfield, a recut infield and outfield line, and new LED lighting throughout the park, including additional lighting along Wrightwood to enhance safety.
One concern already raised by neighbors is dogs being off leash in the park. Unfortunately, some of the newly established grass has already been damaged. As a reminder, dogs must remain leashed in Chicago parks. This is not simply a park rule; it is city law.
Thank you to everyone who helped make these long-awaited improvements possible. I look forward to seeing neighbors enjoy the renewed park all summer long.
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen
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P.S. re: Lakeshore Music Festival: Over the weekend, the Lakeshore Music Festival took place at Diversey Harbor. To be clear, my office did not approve this festival. The event was permitted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), the Chicago Park District, and other relevant city departments. While aldermanic offices are asked to acknowledge festival permits and provide feedback, final approval authority rests with these agencies. From the moment we learned of the proposal, we raised concerns directly with the City about noise, security, traffic, and siting, and successfully blocked an earlier version adjacent to North Pond. Despite that, the festival was ultimately approved on a short timeline. I have heard from many residents about the noise, and I share your concerns. I've since confirmed it will not return next year, and we are in conversation with DCASE to ensure large-scale music festivals like this aren't permitted in the 43rd Ward going forward.
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Modernizing The 43rd Ward Office
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This month, our office was proud to be highlighted nationally in a new Indigov and Granicus case study recognizing the 43rd Ward as a model for tech-forward constituent services and responsive local government. The report highlights how our office integrates Chicago’s 311 system directly into our internal workflow, allowing us to respond faster, track issues more efficiently, and proactively communicate with residents at scale. I’m incredibly proud of our small but mighty team for continuing to help set a new standard for modern local government as we believe local government should be as responsive, transparent, and modern as the people it serves. I encourage you to check out the full report here.
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ADU Ordinance Now in Effect
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As of April 1, the City’s ordinance to legalize Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), led by Alderman Bennett Lawson and supported by my office, is officially in effect. In just the first two days, the City received 88 applications, an encouraging early sign that residents are ready to take advantage of this long-awaited change. Expanding access to ADUs is an important step toward addressing Chicago’s housing shortage and creating more flexible, affordable living options in our neighborhoods.
If you have ever considered adding an ADU, whether to create additional income or keep family members close, now is a great time to explore your options. You can enter basic information about your property to see how many units you may be eligible for and learn how to get started. The site also includes an interactive map that allows you to look up eligibility by address. I was proud to support this effort, and I encourage you to learn more, share this opportunity with neighbors, and explore how this program can help expand housing options across our city.
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The Recycle Coach app is a simple, all-in-one tool to help you manage trash, recycling, and waste services in your neighborhood. It helps residents stay organized, recycle correctly, and keep up with local services. With Recycle Coach, you can:
- Get personalized trash and recycling pickup reminders
- Look up how to properly dispose of items with the “What Goes Where” tool
- Find drop-off locations for hard-to-recycle materials
- Stay updated on service changes and holiday schedules
- Learn about local recycling events and programs
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Crime, and safety remain top of mind for our community. Each week, the 18th and 19th District post Compstat numbers that reflect changes in indexes for key crimes. As a reminder, these statistics represent 100% of the 18th & 19th Police Districts; accordingly, they represent an area much larger than our ward.
For 18th District (south of Fullerton) Week 24 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 24 Compstat.
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We work closely with the 43rd Ward’s local CAPS districts, which include the 18th (Near North) and 19th (Town Hall) Police Districts. Our office is in frequent contact with officers from both of these districts and their local CAPS officers, who host a variety of community forums and events including beat meetings, informational settings, and expert panel discussions, as well as sending out community alerts when a pattern of crime is detected.
Beat Meetings are part of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy and an excellent way to hear directly from CPD about your neighborhood. Meetings are held in the evenings every two months. Click here and find out your Police District and Beat number, and click here for a larger and printable version of the graphic.
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Join Ald. Knudsen at the 18th District Police Council Meeting
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Summer safety strategies along our beach front are in full swing and I remain in constant communication with our 18th and 19th Chicago Police District (CPD) commanders advocating for heightened safety measures. As many more neighbors and Chicagoans take to the beaches to enjoy the warmer weather, CPD has confirmed the following actions:
Thank you to our police officers and our ward’s CPD leadership for keeping our beaches and lakefront safe. Through strong communication, partnership, and the above actions, the 43rd Ward will continue to be a welcoming and safe place to enjoy the summer season. Also, every summer I like to refamiliarize myself with CPD’s summer safety tips which are a great way to keep you and others in our community safe. To read the full list, click here.
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Ald. Knudsen Urges Johnson & CDOT to Prioritize Bridge Closures and Offer Alternative Traffic Congestion Plans
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"The ongoing closure of river bridges (especially the Cortland Bridge) has created major traffic strain and frustration for residents and businesses alike. Alongside seven other aldermen, I sent a letter to Mayor Johnson urging his administration and CDOT to prioritize this bridge issue. My office will continue pushing for clearer communication, smarter coordination, and the fastest safe timeline possible to get these bridges reopened." -Ald. Timmy Knudsen
Alderman Knudsen supported a proposal from 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins requiring the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to present a detailed traffic plan before closing any bridge for more than 30 days. The plan must outline how congestion will be reduced — including detours, parking adjustments, and other mitigation strategies. Our office also received a letter back from CDOT, outlining steps they are taking to help reduce traffic congestion and delays for 43rd Ward residents. You can read it here.
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Interactive Ward 43 Parking Zone Map
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Our office has created a parking zone map to help residents better understand where residential parking zones are located throughout the ward. For several streets, a Residential Parking Permit may not be required. Some areas may instead be free parking, pay-to-park, school zones, or tow and loading zones that restrict parking during certain hours.
While the map can be helpful for general reference, posted signage is always the most reliable indicator of parking rules. We encourage residents and visitors to carefully check street signs when parking to confirm the applicable restrictions.
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Cook County Property Tax Bills To Be Delayed
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It was recently announced that Cook County Property Tax Bills will once again be delayed, this time by an estimated two months. If you have questions, please contact Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Learn more about these tax exemptions by clicking here.
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Cook County’s Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) and the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) are reviewing damage from these severe storms and asking that residents who have been impacted submit an initial damage assessment to help determine if the County, along with partners at OEMC and at the state level can pursue any options for additional assistance for residents. Reporting damages to emergency management is voluntary. It is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance. To fill out a survey, please click here.
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Tree planting season is upon us, which means your block or home may get a new tree planted in your parkway, or plant on yourself. The Urban Forestry Advisory Board Education Working Group created a helpful guide with care tips for new trees. If you get a new city tree and have questions, please reach out to the 43rd Ward Office.
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Sunday mornings, 11am-1pm
6/14, 7/12, 8/2 & 8/23
Meet Jennie in the LPHS parking lot
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On June 26th, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce hosts Cravings on Clark, a neighborhood food crawl featuring samples, specials, and experiences from dozens of local restaurants and businesses. Participants can explore Lincoln Park's vibrant dining scene while supporting small businesses that help make our neighborhood one of Chicago's premier destinations. Learn more & purchase tickets here.
Use the promotional code SUMMER10 to receive $5 off tickets!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Have questions about street work happening in your area? The Department of Transportation has a wonderful tool to look up street work in your area called the Chi Street Work Portal. Here you can input an address and see all surrounding permits for projects on that street. The map is also interactive, allowing residents to view the real permits, view projects in other areas of the City, and see which type of work is being done on your street.
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Parking Enforcement via 311
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The Department of Finance (DOF) announced that City residents now have the option of reporting the following parking enforcement violations: Bus Lane Parking, Commercial Loading Zone, Commercial Vehicle Parked on a Residential Street, Disabled Parking, Fire Hydrant Parking, Residential Parking, Rush Hour Zones, School Safety Zones, Vehicle Parked in Bike Lane, Other (Semi-trucks parked on streets, etc.) Neighbors can report parking violations by calling 311, using the CHI311 app, or through the 311 website. The request type is “Finance Parking Code Enforcement Review.”
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E-Scooters and E-Bikes Policy Updates
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Please click here for updated guidance and rules from CDOT on Scooter and E-Bike rides.
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I want to keep spreading the good word of how powerful a tool CHI 311 is to address non-emergency services in our Ward. Via the CHI 311 website and mobile app, you can:
- Create new service requests and check the status of existing requests (such as on timing and completion).
- Snap a photo of an issue to submit it with a request to improve location accuracy.
- Get local and relevant information/tips regarding the 43rd Ward including visibility into what other requests are being made in your neighborhood. The free CHI 311 mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and may be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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