Neighbors, 

This week, we share Part IV of our zoning reflection, honor Michelle Morales, and share updates about City Council negotiations. If you’ve reached out to our office with concerns about an unhoused neighbor, I invite you to attend our solidarity event with people experiencing homelessness. Finally, learn about the judges on the ballot, the location of the Senior Wellness Fair, and where you can sign up to receive support on your property tax appeal at our office next week. Let’s get into it. 

The Answer to Investment Cannot Be Displacement

I grew up in Humboldt Park and watched history unfold around me. The Bloomingdale Trail is one of the clearest examples of change. Residents wanted the abandoned rail line transformed into something useful and beautiful. At the same time, long-term residents also warned that without protections, the investment could increase property values and taxes, encourage the conversion and sale of multi-unit homes, and make it harder for existing families to remain nearby. Those concerns were not simply resistance to change. DePaul University's Institute for Housing Studies (IHS) has documented what happened to the housing market around the trail. In the lower- and moderate-income portions of the western 606 that IHS identified as vulnerable to displacement, the median sale price of one-to four-unit properties rose 343.8 percent between 2012 and 2018, from $97,000 to $430,500. Two- to four-flats, an important source of unsubsidized affordable housing in Chicago, went from a median sale price of $97,000 to $462,000. By 2018, only 17.6 percent of the two- to four-flats sold in that area went for less than $300,000, compared with 84.4 percent in 2012.

The effect was not the same everywhere. IHS found that the trail had little effect on housing prices in the already high-cost, higher-income neighborhoods along its eastern end, while producing a substantial price effect in the lower-income, more affordable, and renter-heavy communities to the west. Context, as always, mattered. The same public investment landed differently depending on the housing market and the economic vulnerability of the people living around it. The lesson from that history cannot be that Black and Brown neighborhoods should reject investment. Instead, ask why our communities should have to settle for less to remain in them? Our residents deserve safe and beautiful public spaces. They deserve thriving commercial corridors, good restaurants, neighborhood jobs, quality schools and childcare, healthcare, arts and culture, new housing, homeownership opportunities, and places for families to gather. They deserve vacant buildings brought back to life and public investment that makes daily life better. And they deserve to still be here to enjoy those things.

Investment Is Part of the Work, Too

The same is true for economic development. This same period has also brought continued commercial and economic development to the ward. New commercial spaces and businesses have opened, vacant properties have been put back into use, and other proposals continue moving through community review. That includes the opening of Ivy Hall on Armitage, LYFE's proposed reuse of the long-vacant commercial property at 2735 W. North Avenue, the opening of Chicago Flower Market's permanent home on North Avenue, and the redevelopment of 3347 W. North Avenue. Some have gone through our formal community zoning process, while others have worked with our office on the City approvals and infrastructure needed to open and operate.

And larger commercial developments tell only part of the story. We have celebrated the opening and expansion of neighborhood businesses, organizations, and community spaces across the ward: Smash Jibarito and Sara's Cocina on Division; the Humboldt Park Health Wellness Center; Roots Early Learning Center on Richmond; Sana Healing Collective on North Avenue; Babe's Sports Bar on Armitage; and Collaboraction Theatre's new home on Kimball, among others. We have also supported investments ranging from new homeownership opportunities to rain gardens to school playgrounds to a bike shop providing youth programming.

Not every new business or development requires a zoning map amendment. Not every investment comes before ZAC. Some properties can be developed by-right under their existing zoning. What comes through our community zoning process is only one part of what is being built, opened, and invested in across the 26th Ward.

There is still room for more. Vacant storefronts, lots, churches, and other underused properties throughout the ward represent opportunities for housing, businesses, community spaces, and other uses that can serve the people. Our track record shows that revitalizing vacant and underused property does not require abandoning community input about what replaces it. Black and Brown communities have been told, implicitly or explicitly, that there are only two choices: accept disinvestment or accept displacement as the price of investment. I reject those choices. We remember what happened here, we protect what exists, and we still welcome investment.

Our neighborhoods should be places where the people who sustained them in spite of school closures, vacant buildings, violence, economic hardship, and years of being overlooked can also experience what comes next: new homes, thriving businesses, safer and more beautiful public spaces, jobs, services, and opportunity. Growth should not require them to leave before they get to benefit from it.

Chicago World Homeless Day Celebration 

We are excited to host Solidarity Day in Humboldt Park next Saturday, October 10. Over 40 community organizations will be offering services, breaking bread, and in community with people experiencing homelessness from all over the city. There will be food, haircuts, showers, vet appointment-making, harm reduction, advocacy orgs, legal aid, housing services, arts & crafts, and more! For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected].

Another way to help. All month long, our office will serve as a drop-off site for Socktober, the Chicago Dream Center’s drive collecting new socks for our unhoused neighbors before the extreme cold sets in. Bring new pairs to our office at 2511 W. Division St. or to Smash Jibarito at 2534 W. Division St. throughout the month of October. Or purchase donations online HERE.

Michelle Morales’ Flowers

At City Council last week, I had the privilege of honoring Michelle Morales.

Michelle has been forging movements, justice, and people since I met her at the age of 16. For over three decades, Michelle has been uplifting the most marginalized in our community. She worked to free Puerto Rican political prisoners. Fought against police brutality and gentrification. As a science teacher, as an executive, as a mother, and as a friend, she has been uplifting racial justice across the city of Chicago. 

So many of us organizers, young leaders, teachers, elected officials, and women carry Michelle’s fervor to do what is necessary. Michelle, it is my honor to give you your flowers.

Special City Council

On Tuesday, we held a special City Council meeting on three items, the Protecting Renters Ordinance, the sale of the parking meters, and the bond issuance threshold change. The PRO vote has been delayed, and Alderwoman Hadden and the coalition have committed to continuing to work on ensuring renters get a fair shake between PRO and the competing FAIR ordinance. I am grateful to the alders who worked on the negotiation of the parking meter deal. Because of the Progressive Caucus’ advocacy, we have been able to secure guarantees that Stonepeak sells Omni Air International and any data collected is not shared or sold. With the upcoming budget hearings, know that I will be reaching out to constituents for your input on how we prioritize our funding.

Help Filing Your Property Tax Appeal

Property taxes are one of the biggest barriers for long-time homeowners' ability to stay in the community. On Thursday, October 8th, my office is partnering with the Cook County Commissioner’s Office and State Representative Lilian Jiménez to help you file your property tax appeal with the Cook County Board of Review. Appointments are required.

📅 Thursday, October 8, 9-5pm

📍 2511 W. Division St.

📲 Appointment required: 773-395-0143 

Taking Housing to TEDx Chicago

Tomorrow I’ll step onto the Harris Theater stage for TEDxChicago: We The People. 

Humboldt Park raised me and taught me what it means to belong to a place and what it costs when neighbors, family, and friends are pushed out of it. I’m carrying our stories onto the stage to speak on what displacement takes from us and what is possible when we treat staying rooted in our communities as a right and not a privilege the market hands out.

📅 October 3, 2026, 10 AM to 6:30 PM

📍 Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.

🎟️ Tickets: HERE

Injustice Watch: Judicial Election Guide

Have you ever gotten to the bottom of the election ballot, saw the long list of judges and panicked? The Injustice Watch is dropping their new nonpartisan Cook County judicial guide ahead of the November election at a conversation with the reporters who researched every judge on your ballot. Stop by for information, food, and drinks.

📅 Monday, October 5, 6 to 9 pm

📍 The California Clipper, 1002 N. California Ave.

✍️ RSVP: HERE

Senior Wellness Fair

Join us for our annual Senior Wellness Fair! In two weeks, our ward office, alongside State Senator Aquino, State Rep. Jiménez, and 8th District Cook County, will bring together community organizations, government agencies, and service providers to connect older adults with valuable resources, including healthcare, legal assistance, transportation, benefits, and more.

Last year, more than 100 seniors joined us, and we’re excited to welcome our older adults back for another day of resources, activities, and community!

📅 Thursday, October 15, 2026  

⌚ 10:00 AM–1:00 PM  

📍 Mozart Park, 2036 N. Avers Ave.

🤙 RSVP today! Register online or call our office at 773.395.0143

Construction on Kedzie and Division

We’re excited that more neighbors in the 26th Ward will have access to clean, lead-free water! The sewer main construction on Kedzie and Division is installing new copper pipes, helping provide clean water to the neighborhood from City water mains. 

Earlier in September, crews encountered a large sewer collapse on Kedzie, requiring immediate replacement. Despite the unexpected work, construction is moving forward and is scheduled to be completed by the end of October.

In Solidarity,

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes

26th Ward Office Updates

Community Resources

26th Ward Events

Immigration Rights Resources

Construction Projects

26th Ward Zoning

During the month of September, our office will pause the intake and review of new zoning change requests and development proposals. Regular zoning intake and review will resume in October.

We appreciate your patience and understanding and look forward to continuing to work with residents, businesses, and community partners through our community-centered zoning process.

Reproductive Justice

If you know someone looking for reproductive justice resources in Chicago, they can go to this Department of Public Health resource page to use the City’s digital community resource directory. There is also a free talkline (1-888-493-0092) where operators are available to share information on various reproductive justice options.