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Dear Neighbors,
This is the final week of voting ahead of the March 17th primary election! See below for hours through the remaining days of the election. As a reminder, our neighborhood early voting and Election Day site is located at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (814 W Nelson), which also offers bilingual Spanish assistance for voters. Residents can check their sample ballot, check or update their voter registration, and view more information on the Chicago Board of Elections website here. You can also see the language assistance capabilities at all early voting sites here. Before Election Day, residents may vote at any early voting site no matter where they live in the city.
On Election Day, you can vote at either your own precinct, or any of the 51 vote centers across the city open that day. Read more about Election Day voting here. Same day registration is available at all early voting sites, and sites open as vote centers on Election Day.
44th Ward Voting Location:
Advocate IL Masonic Medical Center (814 W Nelson)
Weekdays: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Election Day (March 17th): 6:00am - 7:00pm
If you’re planning to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, consider keeping it local. The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce has put together a helpful guide highlighting neighborhood restaurants, bars, and shops offering festive St. Patrick's Day specials, themed events, and holiday deals. Whether you’re looking for brunch, live music, or a place to raise a green glass, you can explore the full guide here and celebrate right here in Lakeview.
 
In public safety news, the 19th Police District is hosting a catalytic converter theft deterrence event later this month. Officers will help residents permanently mark catalytic converters to discourage theft and reduce resale value. Spots are limited, and residents can reserve appointments in advance by calling 312-744-0064 or emailing [email protected]. The date and location will be provided upon registration. Additionally, the Second Unitarian Church of Chicago (656 W Barry) will be hosting an Immigrant Justice Volunteer and Resource Fair tomorrow from 10:00am-4:00pm. The event will include trainings on rapid response, protest and digital safety, opportunities to get involved in community efforts, and time to connect with others working to support immigrant justice. See their flyer here and Facebook event page here for more details.
There are several fun community events coming up this month. On Sunday, March 22nd from 10:00am-1:00pm, the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce will host the Lakeview Coffee Stroll, where participants can explore Southport and nearby Lincoln Avenue businesses while sampling coffee, tea, and pastries from local cafes. The Southport portion alone features over a dozen participating shops and cafés, and proceeds from the event support Friends of Lakeview, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the neighborhood’s local economy and enhancing public spaces. Each ticket includes a souvenir ceramic tasting mug, free beverage and pastry samples, exclusive retail discounts, and complimentary bike cab rides between Southport and Paulina Station. See the Chamber's full events calendar here.
The Chicago Park District is encouraging residents to enjoy “March in the Parks,” with a wide range of seasonal activities including youth sports, art programs, fitness classes, and senior activities at Gill Park and Sheil Park, and other facilities. See the full list of nearby programs here. Whether you’re looking for classes for kids, creative workshops, or ways to stay active, it’s a great time to check out the many programs available throughout our park system this spring.
 
The development team for the proposed project at 2800 N Sheridan has provided an update as they continue to study the site. This updated concept represents what they describe as a “largest case scenario” for the property, increasing the building height from 24 to 28 stories and the total unit count from 303 to 355. The proposal would also revise the northern section along Sheridan to include approximately 10,000 square feet of second floor medical office space and 25,000 square feet for a commercial fitness user, which would be open to the public.
In addition, the development team has committed to preserving the two historic Egon Weiner “Brotherhood” sculptures currently located on the site. They will either keep the sculptures on site as part of the new development, or partner with the Chicago Park District or another organization to place them on display elsewhere in the city. Read both versions of their proposals here, which include shadow and sightline studies. The developers are also working on a forthcoming traffic study, and additional renderings to show the building from different angles.
The Chicagoland HIV Integrated Planning & Action Council (CHIPAC) is currently seeking new members to help guide regional efforts to reduce new HIV infections, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes. The council works with the Chicago Department of Public Health to help set priorities and guide federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding. CHIPAC is looking for members whose perspectives reflect the diverse communities impacted by the HIV epidemic, and participants are expected to attend their monthly council meetings and committee meetings. See here to learn more or apply.
Applications are also open for the City’s summer youth employment program, Chicago Youth Works (formerly One Summer Chicago). The program connects young people ages 14-24 with paid summer jobs and internships that help build skills, confidence, and career pathways. This year the City aims to support more than 29,000 summer opportunities, including placements with community organizations, businesses, City departments, and aldermanic offices. Programming runs from June 22nd to July 31st, and youth can indicate preferences when applying. Applications are open now through May 29th here.
We invite residents to participate in a new statewide housing survey being conducted by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. This effort will analyze housing conditions across Illinois and help guide future policy and investment decisions by gathering input on issues such as affordability, development costs, housing for older adults, and supportive housing needs. This will lead to the creation of a 2027 Illinois Housing Blueprint, and we encourage you to help shape it by completing the survey here and reading their flyer here.
The City of Chicago has launched the TaxSmart Mortgage Credit Certificate Program, a new initiative to help eligible residents achieve affordable homeownership. The program provides qualified homebuyers with a federal income tax credit based on a portion of the mortgage interest they pay each year, helping reduce housing costs and increase purchasing power—particularly for first-time and income-eligible homebuyers. Interested residents can apply for a Mortgage Credit Certificate through participating lenders when purchasing a home in certain jurisdictions. To learn more about eligibility and participating lenders, visit their website here.
If you plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, please do so safely and responsibly while enjoying everything our neighborhood has to offer!
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Have a great weekend,
Alderman Bennett Lawson
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LAKEVIEW DOG PARK - DONATION PAGE
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44th WARD INSTRUMENTS DRIVE
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OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL EMERALD AUCTION - TONIGHT
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STEM DAY AT LAKE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL - TOMORROW
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DIGNITY DINER & PURE GREEN PARTNERSHIP - MAR 14-15th
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OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL OPEN HOUSES - MAR 23rd & APR 24th
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VIRTUAL OVERDOSE RESPONSE TRAINING - MAR 26th
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ST ANDREW'S FISH FRY - MAR 27th
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NAVY PIER TEEN BASH - MAR 28th
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CENTRAL LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORS WINE TASTING - APR 19th
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MERLO LIBRARY - MARCH PROGRAMS
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- Film Screening: 'Rear Window' (PG) - 3/15, 2:00-4:00pm
- Play Time - 3/19, 11:00-11:45am (0-5 years)
- Film Screening: 'Sense and Sensibility' (PG) - 3/23, 5:00-7:00pm
- Canvas & Conversation - 3/24, 11:00am-1:00pm (13+)
- Click for all program details
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FREE VIRTUAL LEGAL SEMINARS (NEXT ON MAR 18th)
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OLMCA PLAYGROUP - NOW THRU APR 24th
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ST ANDREW'S SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION
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COOK COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE LOCATION OPEN DOWNTOWN
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To submit a small business for our weekly shoutout, please complete the form here.
Webinar: Check Your Taxes Before You File March 18th, 3:00-4:30pm
Webinar: Ways to Finance Your Business March 20th, 9:30-11:00am
City Public Safety Vendor Fair - March 31st, 10:00am-12:00pm
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PUBLIC SAFETY & 19th DISTRICT WEEKLY REPORT:
March 2nd - March 8th
Local Public Safety Statistics:
My office is in regular contact with the 19th Police District about crimes that have occurred recently in our area and that are reflected in the statistics below. The majority of 19th District crimes have occurred outside of our ward. The 19th District also includes the surrounding neighborhoods of Uptown, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Bricktown, Ravenswood, and Lincoln Square.
Please view our website's public safety page here for both proactive measures to stay safe before crimes occur, and also how to respond in the event of a crime.
In order to stay safe, please find the most relevant key safety tips below, and the full list of CPD's safety tips here:
-General
-Personal
-Robbery-specific
-Vehicle-specific
Below you'll find Week 10's CompStat breakdown of crime in the 19th District.
Please note, these statistics are a reflection of the entire 19th District. The boundaries are from Lawrence Ave to Fullerton Ave, from the Chicago River to the Lake.
Here are the key points:
- Year to Date, Robberies are down 29%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 are down 59%
- Year to Date, Aggravated Battery is up 17%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 is up 46%
- Year to Date, Burglaries are down 53%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're down 27%
- Year to Date, Thefts are down 8%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're up 8%
- Year to Date, Motor Vehicle Thefts are up 19%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're up 58%
For a list of crime definitions, please see CPD's website here.
See full report below:
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MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE RESOURCES
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SCOOTER REPORTING
Please click here to submit a scooter removal request and here for Divvy bike removal. We appreciate your assistance in helping keep our neighborhood clean. By contract, shared bike and scooter companies must remove their property within two hours of a 311 removal request.
Please contact our office directly if you see illegal/dangerous activities on green Lime scooters (riding on the sidewalk, two people sharing one scooter, etc). We are able to work with Lime to potentially administer fines, suspensions, or bans if you can include a photo/video of the behavior, and a time and location.
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See below for ongoing construction and infrastructure projects in our neighborhood and on our website here!
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REPORTING POTHOLES
Please report any potholes you see by entering in all requests through the 311.Chicago.Gov website for those in the street or alley. If possible, be sure to upload images as well so crews are able to identify the exact location.
For more severe potholes that may need immediate attention, please reach out to my ward office either by email ([email protected]) and include the location and images of the pothole or by calling the office at (773-525-6034).
If your vehicle was damaged due to a pothole, you may be entitled to a financial claim here.
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TIPS FROM TOMMY K - MARCH
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GARBAGE & RECYCLING
Recycling pick-ups for the 44th Ward are occurring the week of March 16th. You can find your full garbage and recycling pickup schedule here.
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See below for a list of job fairs, networking events, and more!
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THE CITY IS HIRING
Looking for a job? Try working for the City! Click here to see the full list of job openings currently seeking applicants.
Local government employment opportunities:
- City
- City of Chicago
- Chicago Public Schools
- Chicago Transit Authority
- Park District
- County
- All - Cook County
- Cook County State's Attorney
- Cook County Sheriff's Office
- State/Other
- State of Illinois
- Secretary of State of Illinois
- PACE bus system
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44th WARD 2026 COMMUNITY MEETINGS
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