Dear Neighbors,
As many of you may know, last night’s “Town Meeting 250” was postponed by the event organizer, the Institute of Cultural Affairs. Once updates become available regarding the rescheduled date, information will be shared accordingly.
New Businesses in the 43rd Ward
During the last few years, our 43rd Ward commercial corridors have been revitalized and a substantial number of previously vacant storefronts have been filled. With business rents increasing, it is a good reminder to shop local when you can, so that we can preserve our community’s healthy array of business types. A few recent openings I want to highlight are:
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Regions Wine Cellar (2505 N Lincoln Ave): A couple of years ago, French wine professional Frank Ferru met with our office to discuss the potential of a wine shop/bar on Lincoln Avenue. After securing the right location and gaining the support of both the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce and Wrightwood Neighbors Association, we are thrilled to welcome “Regions” to our community - a local and independent place to enjoy a glass or grab a bottle of wine.
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Givanne Shoppe (2104 N Clark St): Givanne Shoppe on Clark Street quietly opened a few weeks ago with immediate fanfare. Described as “a year-round-gift-guide”, Givanne is the perfect place to pick-up a curated gift for someone.
Reminder of Lincoln Avenue Public Safety Letter
As many of you are aware, last week I directed the Lincoln Avenue Public Safety Letter to Liquor Commissioner Shannon Trotter and Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Commissioner Ivan Capifali, requesting the full revocation of The Dime’s public place of amusement and liquor licenses. We are thankful to the community’s help in this, as we gathered over 800+ physical signatures to include with the formal complaint. I will continue to work with the departments for our desired results, and will share updates as they become available.
Update on the Cortland Street Bridge Closure
The Cortland Street Bridge has been closed to vehicles since last September — and what was originally intended to be a rehabilitation project has turned into something murkier. Built in 1902, the bridge has areas that are hard to inspect by modern standards, and CDOT's closer look during construction uncovered structural problems well beyond the original scope. It can't safely carry vehicles right now, and CDOT is still conducting an engineering review. Pedestrian and bike access remains open.
Nearly a year later since this began, we have not been provided with a clear scope of work or a reopening timeline, and I understand the frustration that comes with that. Although not in the 43rd Ward, losing this river crossing has meant longer commutes and worse congestion for residents and businesses absorbing the fallout of a project that hasn't been managed with sufficient transparency. That's exactly why I joined an ordinance this year, with many Northside Alders, requiring CDOT to develop traffic mitigation plans — detours, parking adjustments, and other measures — for any closure lasting over 30 days. It's already been triggered for other projects citywide.
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen
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P.S. Wishing all 43rd Ward CPS families a fantastic last week of summer in the sun!
P. P. S. Art on Clark Returns This Sunday! Stop by Clark Street from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in front of Target at 2650 N. Clark for Art on Clark! Join local artists in creating colorful chalk art on the sidewalk, or stop by throughout the day to watch the work come together and see the finished pieces.
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A huge "thank you" to everyone to joined our lakefront cleanup on Monday!
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Modernizing The 43rd Ward Office
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Last 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 & 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. 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), is officially in effect. 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.
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MWRD issues Overflow Action Alert
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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 33 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 33 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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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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Police District Council Monthly Meetings
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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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Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend: Get ready to refresh, recharge, and feel your best during Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend!
Health & Wellness Showcase: This event is open to the public & free to attend! Explore 30+ local businesses offering free mini-treatments, exclusive giveaways, and more. Pick up a Health & Wellness Passport when you arrive for your chance to win a Health & Wellness Weekend Swag Bag! Saturday, August 29, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Lincoln Common Plaza, 2335 N. Lincoln
Free Outdoor Workout Classes: Sign up for free outdoor workout classes on Saturday, August 29 – Sunday, August 30 - and click here to sign up for classes.
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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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Saturday, August 22, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in front of Target (2650 N. Clark)
Join neighbors on Clark Street this summer for live chalk drawings with Chicago artists led by muralist and educator Cheri Lee Charlton! This event is free and open to all ages, no signup required!
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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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