1st Ward Newsletter | March 31, 2026
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Dear neighbors,
Happy Tuesday! This is Victoria from the ward office, I am coming to you this morning with a couple of 1st Ward infrastructure updates. The Plaza project at Jose De Diego (pictured below) is wrapping up and contractors anticipate work will be complete early this Summer. Our office has been notified that the Grand Avenue Reconstruction will also be starting in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing the completion of this long awaited project as it is the final puzzle piece for the Grand Ave corridor, making the street safer and more welcoming for our surrounding neighbors, commuters, and school communities.
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As a heads up, I also want to let you all know that street sweeping will start April 1st! Please check the 2026 Street Sweeping Map on our website to identify your street sweeping dates for 2026! Now I am going to pass it over to our Chief of Staff, Nick...
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Hi neighbors, here are some items we are discussing with the Alderman this week:
- 1628 W Division: There is a pending crane permit for 1628 W Division Planned Development. Our office has requested a neighborhood meeting for adjacent neighbors to receive and discuss construction logistics directly with the development team. Stay tuned for details.
- Policy meetings! Last week, I took meetings with the City to discuss further regulation of video gaming terminals (video gambling). Research suggests that video gambling is exceptionally addictive, and recent news shows that these machines are drawing increased smash and grab burglaries. Since the 1st Ward has one of the highest concentrations of tavern licenses and incidental consumption on premises restaurants, our neighborhoods could see a significant number of VGTs. We take the public safety and consumer protection aspects of this proposed plan very seriously, and will continue to update our neighbors on this topic.
- Tax Incentive Feedback: Neighbors should know that at City Council, there is a proposed tax incentive at the 1901 project (United Center redevelopment), which could cost the City more than $50 million of future property tax payments. Staff are discussing this matter with the Alderman, and we are trying to get as much information as possible from the City.
- Stop feeding the rats! This time of year, we begin receiving more complaints about neighbors placing food on the ground for any number of beloved critters. As a reminder, eliminating food sources is arguably the most important rodent abatement strategy. Please do not throw food on the public way; if you are aware of a neighbor doing so, please call 311 and our office, we will be happy to assist.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you're enjoying the start of baseball season thus far.
Nick
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P.S. Click here to open this newsletter in another tab!
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In this week's newsletter, you'll find:
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Join the 1st Ward Office and the Wicker Park Advisory Council for a day of service! Help us clean and care for local parks across the ward so they remain safe, welcoming spaces for everyone. Volunteers will kick off the day at Wicker Park, where you’ll pick up supplies like gloves and garbage bags before heading out to your assigned park.
Volunteers are then invited back to Wicker Park for greenfest, an eco-friendly, sustainability-focused festival with vendors, live music, and more!
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Join Ald. La Spata and Cook County Commissioner Degnen for our annual Spring Bike Tune-Up event! We’ll be at Pulaski Park with mechanics from The Recyclery generously volunteering their time to get 1st Ward/12th District bikers ready for the warm weather. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ups will be accepted.
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Bond sold!
As you may be aware, unfortunately the City Council's 2026 budget included more than $400 million in bond borrowing for operating expenses (police settlements and Fire Department backpay). Technically speaking, borrowing for operating expenses is typically a municipal finance "no no", and as a reminder Alderman La Spata voted "No" on this borrowing plan. We are following the City's future bond issuances this year, because the City has formally sold the 2026A and 2026B General Obligation bond series, which together will finance more than $51 million of capitalized interest to delay principal payments; $434 million in operating expenses; $23 million in capital (infrastructure) improvements; and issuance costs. The City has additional refunding bond sales likely planned with the right market conditions in Q2 2026, so stay tuned for additional updates because the financial outlook of this borrowing could rapidly change this year in the event that the City has a successful refinancing sale.
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Tax Increment Financing, 10 Year Report
The City of Chicago recently published their updated 10-Year Report for Tax Increment Financing districts. This report demonstrates how the City extended certain TIF Districts last year rather than allowing them to expire (which returns property tax proceeds to their statutory distributions). It also demonstrates a number of large capital planning programs that are being TIF-funded, such as bridge reconstruction projects, which would be more traditionally funded with General Obligation bonds.
The 1st Ward Office is conducting detailed studies to determine where and how long-term funded programming changes from last year's published report; this is an important exercise because as the City more regularly uses increasingly large TIF Surplus proceeds to fund budget gaps for the Chicago Public Schools and the City's Corporate Fund, we need to better understand any opportunity costs for development priorities that could have otherwise been funded with TIF.
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The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) will be hosting a Special Meeting with CPD Superintendent Snelling on April 2, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. This meeting builds on the Commission’s January 8 listening session, where community members came out to share concerns about potential collaboration between the Chicago Police Department and federal immigration enforcement agencies, including ICE and CBP. Register for the virtual meeting here.
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First Fridays is a FREE self-guided monthly art walk throughout Wicker Park and Bucktown hosted by the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce. You will find galleries, local artist pop-ups, artist talks, and more each month. This month's event will take place this Friday, April 3, from 6 – 8 p.m. Learn more here.
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The Chicago Financial Future Task Force is developing recommendations to support the city’s long-term financial stability and economic strength — and community input is a critical part of this work.
They are launching a citywide engagement effort to ensure that residents across Chicago have an opportunity to share what matters most to them and help inform the Task Force’s recommendations. There are several opportunities for residents to participate:
- Take the Survey: Share your perspective on Chicago’s future through a short citywide survey.
- Attend a Town Hall: Join one of five deliberative town halls across the city to learn more and participate in guided discussions.
- Participate in a Focus Group: Take part in a small group discussion on key city finance topics. Participants will be compensated.
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Coming Soon
- We are aware of some outstanding zoning intake packets for the lot at Diversey/Mozart
- Stay tuned for a virtual 1st Ward First look for a 3-story, 6-unit zoning change proposal at 1028 N Ashland
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Recent Negative Policy Recommendations
- VIABLE ALTERNATIVE EXISTS – 2423 W McLean: A developer reached out about a proposed demolition upzone, to replace an existing two flat with a three flat. The listing suggests the property is a two flat, and the predominance of the block matches this building, therefore 1st Ward Office recommended preserving existing two flat. (received March 2026)
- SUITABLE ZONING EXISTS – 1320 N Bosworth: A property owner reached out about zoning options for a demolition upzone at the property. Since the property already has RT4 zoning, the zoning lot already has effective zoning for neighborhood infill multi-unit residence. 1st Ward Office recommended against demolition upzone. (received February 2026)
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