Dear Neighbors,
It has been a busy week in the 43rd Ward. Because there is a lot to cover, this week’s newsletter will be segmented so that we can present each update clearly and concisely. From City Council developments to neighborhood initiatives, our office has been hard at work engaging with residents and partners across the ward.
Depaul Art Museum
Last week, DePaul University announced that the DePaul Art Museum in Lincoln Park will close at the end of the academic year. Since opening in 2011, the museum has served as an important cultural space for students, artists, and the broader Chicago community. I have personally appreciated the way it showcased the work of hundreds of local and emerging artists, including many students and residents from the 43rd Ward. Our office shares the disappointment many neighbors feel about its closing.
The building, located next to the Fullerton stop, will remain in place, as DePaul has said it will not sell the property nor leave it vacant. However, the future use of the space and the museum’s collection has not yet been announced. Our office will continue working with DePaul during this transition to ensure the museum’s collection is protected.
While this news is difficult, the 43rd Ward remains a hub for arts and culture, including the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the Chicago History Museum, Wrightwood 659, the Old Town Triangle Association’s art center, and more.
Street Sweeping Begins
Street sweeping season is officially underway. Beginning Monday, April 1st, sweepers will return on a regular basis throughout the ward. The Department of Streets and Sanitation will post warning signs 48 hours in advance, so please remember to move your car to avoid a ticket and help ensure our streets are properly cleaned.
As in past years, our office is working with Streets and Sanitation to develop a more precise, block-by-block schedule by month. Once finalized, we will share that information so residents know exactly when sweeping will occur on their street.
ComEd Substation
As many of you now know, ComEd has proposed turning the long-vacant site at 1111 W. Diversey, most recently used as a COVID testing center, into a new electrical substation. Based on the limited information shared so far, the facility would be fully enclosed with underground electrical routing, potentially four to five stories tall, and would function as an energy distributor connecting nearby substations.
Earlier this week, our office participated in a community meeting with Central Lake View Neighbors, Wrightwood Neighbors, and the 44th Ward Alderman Bennett Lawson’s office. I want to thank these partners for helping bring residents together to hear directly from ComEd. Many neighbors raised thoughtful questions, and I agree with the community that we need more detailed information than was available that evening. Our office has shared that feedback with ComEd and emphasized the need for clearer and more complete updates moving forward.
Because this is utility infrastructure, approval authority ultimately sits with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), not the city or the alderman’s office. The project would still need to undergo health and safety review through the city’s Departments of Buildings and Environment as well as the state-led ICC process to obtain a certificate of public necessity and convenience. No final designs have been released and any potential construction timeline could still be years away. My office will remain closely engaged throughout the process. We will push for transparency, strong health and safety protections, and thoughtful design that blends with the historic character and walkability of our neighborhood as much as possible.
Residents who would like to share feedback directly with ComEd can contact the project hotline at 312-809-1165 or email [email protected]. Our office will also notify the community as additional meetings are scheduled.
People’s Gas Rate Hearing
This week, the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy held a hearing on a proposed rate increase from Peoples Gas. While Alderpeople do not have the authority to approve or deny utility rate hikes, the hearing gave us the opportunity to raise concerns about affordability and the need for strong oversight so residents are not faced with unexpected or unnecessary costs.
Much of the proposed increase is tied to an ongoing Peoples Gas effort to replace aging gas infrastructure across Chicago, including thousands of miles of old pipes that must be retired by 2035. The Illinois Commerce Commission is expected to make a final decision later this year, and you can read more about the issue here.
Ramadan Mubarak
In closing, it was an honor to join fellow elected officials and community leaders this week to break the fast in recognition of Ramadan. Sharing an iftar meal together is a meaningful reminder of values we can all embody during this holy season—reflection, generosity, community, and compassion. At the same time, many in our community are celebrating Holi, the vibrant festival of colors marking the arrival of spring. To all who are observing these traditions and others, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful and meaningful season!
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen
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P.S. Daly’s Donuts, our local donut shop that many of us first came to love at the Lincoln Park Farmers Market, is opening its first brick-and-mortar location this weekend. Join me tomorrow (Saturday) for the grand opening at 659 W. Armitage!
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P.P.S. City Council recently approved the initiation of the landmark designation process for Byrne Hall, an important historic building in our community. Beginning this process allows the city to formally evaluate the building’s architectural and historical significance and consider it for official Chicago Landmark status.
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No Saturday Hours on March 7th, 2026
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In honor of Pulaski Day this past Monday, our office’s Saturday office hours will not be taking place tomorrow, March 7th. We look forward to continuing our Saturday hours next Saturday, March 13th, from 10am-12pm.
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Early Voting is Open at the Lincoln Park Library
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Early voting is now open at the Lincoln Park Library (1150 W. Fullerton Ave)
Early voting hours at this location are:
Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Residents can cast their ballot at this location or at any early voting site across the city. Voters are not limited to voting within their ward and may use whichever early voting location is most convenient. View the full list of early voting locations here, and check out our non-partisan voter guide and voting FAQs newsletter here.
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Community Alert and Request for Information
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Our office would like to alert the community to an armed robbery that took place on 3/5/26, 4:30am, on the 2300 block of N. Clark Street.
Three individuals were seen on site exiting and entering a black sedan, headed south on Clark after robbing the victim. Police arrived swiftly, no injuries or medical attention was needed, and the investigation is ongoing. The incident has not been identified as apart of a pattern.
We are in close contact with CPD requesting updates to this incident and have confirmed additional patrols in the area will be placed. As updates become available, we will communicate them through our weekly newsletter in the public safety section.
Incidents such as this are of the utmost priority for our office. If you or anyone you know has information that may help with this investigation, please call the Area Three Detective Unit at 312-744-8263. As always, please be aware of your surroundings and if you haven’t done so already, please click here for a full list of public safety tips provided by CPD.
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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 9 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 9 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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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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The Chicago Police Department recently released its February public safety report, highlighting citywide trends from the past month. According to the report, several major crime categories, including robberies, burglaries, violent crime, property crime, and transit-related offenses, are down compared to last year, with decreases ranging from roughly 7 to 27 percent. CPD also reported recovering 652 illegal firearms in February, averaging about 23 per day.
The department also released an executive summary of its Workforce Allocation Study, a data-driven review of staffing levels and deployment designed to better align resources with public safety needs across the city. In addition, CPD has opened registration for Community Training Observation Days, which allow residents to observe portions of recruit training at the Police Academy. You can read the full update 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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Savor Lincoln Park returns as Chicago’s premier indoor neighborhood food festival, bringing together more than 25 of Lincoln Park’s top restaurants for one unforgettable evening celebrating our local dining scene.
With one ticket, guests can enjoy sample bites from each participating restaurant, explore new favorites, and experience the incredible culinary talent right here in our community.
Attendees will also have access to the event’s silent auction, featuring curated packages and experiences from some of Chicago’s top destinations. Get your tickets here, and see the full list of participating restaurants here.
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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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