Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are having a good start to May! On Tuesday, I joined the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Mariyana Spyropoulos, for a virtual Know Your Rights Workshop and Town Hall. This event was attended by over 300 people and we shared information on how to access county resources that can be helpful for families impacted by the deportation of a loved one, like transferring guardianship, how to designate a power of attorney, what to do after an ICE arrest, deed transfers for property, and more. I am thankful for the intergovernmental partnership between our offices.

I will be joining the Friends of the Chicago River tomorrow morning for Chicago River Day, a dedicated day of action to support the Chicago River by removing invasive plants, cleaning up litter, and mulching trails. The day of action includes events throughout the region, and includes several within the 35th Ward. You can find more information and sign up here! 

Additionally, I invite you to join my office and community members at our upcoming community bike ride on Saturday May 16th, beginning at 9 am at Logan Square’s Milwaukee Avenue Plaza (near the Comfort Station at 2579 N Milwaukee Avenue). This is a wonderful, family-friendly, annual ride through our northwest side communities.

I would also like to provide updates on two major infrastructure improvement projects we previously announced after our Capital Improvement Briefing earlier in the year.

The Department of Water Management is proceeding with its planned work in the Irving Park Community (you can review the project details on our website). Their phased work will begin with replacing the sewer and water main on St. Louis from Elston to Waveland. Next week, work will begin on the water main installation. You can find a more detailed update in the Ward Updates portion of the newsletter. You can sign up for project updates here.

Additionally, the Chicago Department of Transportation will be commencing the Fullerton Avenue Arterial Resurfacing Project later this month, between Kimball Avenue and Lockwood Avenue. This project will include the resurfacing of the roadway, installation of curb extensions at some intersections, and renewed traffic lane striping. Our office will be hosting a community meeting with the Chicago Department of Transportation on Tuesday, May 12th, at 6 pm at Logan Square Elementary to share information with the community.

Lastly, I would like to extend a heartfelt Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! I hope that it is a special day for you and your family. If you are able, I encourage you to shop for gifts and eat locally to support our neighborhood businesses.

Sincerely,

Anthony J. Quezada

Alderman, 35th Ward

Community Resources:

• Food Bank Locator and SNAP Updates

• Utility Billing and Relief

• Immigration Resources | Family Support Hotline 855-435-7693

• Parking Ticket Relief

• Tenants Rights Resources

Ward Updates

Fullerton Avenue Arterial Resurfacing Community Meeting

After much anticipation, the Chicago Department of Transportation has announced that it will soon begin work on a Fullerton Road Arterial Resurfacing Project, between Kimball Avenue and Lockwood Avenue. Alderman Anthony Quezada was proud to have secured some of the funding for this resurfacing project when he was our 8th District Cook County Commissioner, and is elated to see this work commence.

This project will include the resurfacing of the roadway, installation of curb extensions at some intersections, and renewed traffic lane striping. Work is expected to begin in mid-to-late May at the eastern end of the project at Kimball and Fullerton, and will progress throughout this summer. 

Parking restrictions will be posted for milling and paving operations on the street, and when sidewalk and curb work is actively being performed. Our office will be hosting an informational meeting regarding the project on Tuesday, May 12th at 6:00pm with the Chicago Department of Transportation at Logan Square Elementary, located at 3651 W Schubert (please enter for this meeting on the Monticello side in door 4). We hope to see you there!

Irving Park Department of Water Management Project Updates

This last week, the Department of Water Management continued sewer work at the intersection of W Grace and N St Louis avenue, and began Lead Service Line Replacements on the 3700 block of N Central Park. Additionally, contractors performed a test hole excavation between Grace and Waveland to verify the location and depth of the existing water main. 

Please see below further details on upcoming work in the area:

Week of May 11th, 2026 – May 15th, 2026 

• Work will continue on the sewer connection at the intersection of W Grace St and N St. Louis Avenue. This work is expected to be completed later in the week. 

• Site layout for new watermain installation on N. St. Louis Ave between N. Elston Ave and W. Grace St (Scheduled for 5/11/2026).

• Saw cutting pavement on N. St. Louis Ave between N. Elston Ave and W. Grace St (scheduled for 5/12/2026).

• Begin watermain installation at the intersection of N. St. Louis Ave and N. Elston Ave (Source connection) – (Tentatively scheduled for 5/14/2025).

• Pending source connection, continuation of watermain installation on 5/15/2026.

Additional Notes:

• During the source connection at N. St. Louis Ave and N. Elston Ave there will be an interruption of water service for all addresses on N. Elston Ave between N. Bernard St and N. Drake Ave and on N. St. Louis Ave between N. Elston Ave and W. Grace St.

California Avenue Arterial Resurfacing Project

The Chicago Department of Transportation has notified the 35th Ward Office of an upcoming infrastructure upgrade. CDOT will be resurfacing California Avenue, from Byron Street to Montrose Avenue, a portion of which lies in the 35th Ward. Work is tentatively scheduled to commence on June 8, 2026. 

The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement as needed for ADA and drainage compliance, pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.

During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above.  These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work.  All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed September 30, 2026.

Upcoming CDOT Paving Dates

The Chicago Department of Transportation has notified the 35th Ward Office that weather and equipment permitting, they will be repaving the following streets and alleys in the 35th Ward on the dates below:

Grace Street from California Avenue to Francisco Street 5/15/26

Dickens Avenue from Tripp Avenue to Kildare Avenue 5/18/26

Alley bound by George/Diversey/Sacramento/Whipple 5/18/26

You can check out permitting work going on in your neighborhood at chistreetwork, the public-facing portal to view work permitted on the public right of way. If you have any questions, please reach out to our office! 

Property Tax Exemption Applications Are Now Open

Applications for property tax exemptions are still open until May 15th. You can learn more about each of these exemptions, including eligibility requirements, on the Assessor's website at this link. You can check which exemptions you receive by entering your address or PIN at this link and clicking “Exemption History & Status.” In addition to filling for exemption for this year, you may still apply for any missing exemptions for 2024-2021. Please reach out to our office if you would like assistance checking which exemptions you receive or applying for exemptions for 2024-2021.

If you are interested in setting up an appointment with our office for assistance, please give us a call at 773-985-3510.

This Sunday, May 10th will be the first official Logan Square Farmers Market! The market will begin at 8:30am, and is held in the Milwaukee Avenue Plaza as well as Logan Boulevard, between Kedzie Boulevard and Milwaukee Avenue. For more information, please visit the Farmers Market website.

Upcoming Paseo Prairie Garden Work Days

The Friends of Paseo Prairie Garden will be hosting upcoming volunteer work days. Each work day will be held from 10am-11:30am at Paseo Prairie Community Garden, located at 2614 N Kedzie, and volunteers can assist with weeding, trash pickup, watering and planting.

Upcoming dates:

Saturday May 9th

Sunday May 17th

Saturday May 23rd

Sunday May 31st

ChiArts Grant Program

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is launching its application process for its 2026 ChiArts Grant Program. This grant has two program focuses, and offers support for General Operating Expenses of Project Specific Grants for Chicago-based arts and culture nonprofits of all sizes. They will be having two upcoming opportunities to learn more during informational webinars on May 12th at 10am and May 20th at 2pm. You can learn more, and find the link for the webinars on the program website.

Policy and Zoning Updates

Public Meeting on Zoning Change Request at 2739-2743 W. Belmont Avenue

On Tuesday, May 19, my office will be hosting a meeting from 6:30-8:00pm at the Brands Park Club Room, 3285 N. Elston Avenue, to gather feedback on a zoning change request for 2739-2743 W. Belmont Avenue. The applicant owns three lots at 2739-2743 W. Belmont.

It is a unique lot configuration as there is a body shop on 2739 W. Belmont, a 3 flat on 2741 W. Belmont (the body shop is also on this lot to the rear), and a 2 flat on 2743 W. Belmont. The applicant is seeking a zoning change from M1-1 to B2-3 to replace the body shop with a 3.5-story 6-flat while preserving the existing 3-flat and 2-flat. 

At this meeting, the applicant will present information to the 35th Ward residents on the zoning map amendment they seek. 35th Ward residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input on the proposed zoning map amendment. Alderman Quezada will use the input from this meeting to decide on the proposal. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] or call (773) 985-3510.

Currently Accepting Feedback on Zoning Map Amendment Request for 3231-65 N. California Ave./2752-62 W. Melrose St.

On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the 35th ward office hosted a community meeting to gather feedback on a zoning map amendment request for 3231-65 N. California Ave./2752-62 W. Melrose St. This proposal was previously presented at a community meeting on October 14, 2025. It originally consisted of two five-story multi-family buildings at the north and south ends of the property, and 26 three-story townhomes between them, for a total of 152 residential units and 126 parking spaces. Access to the site was provided from California as well as from the alleys along the south and east sides of the property. In response to community feedback, the applicant revised the project to reduce the number of units, increase the parking ratio of units to parking spaces, and eliminate access to the property from the alleys to the south and east of the property. Specifically, the changes include:

• Replacement of the north multi-family building with 14 three-story townhomes, reducing the total number of units from 152 to 105, a 31% reduction in density.

• Parking for 112 cars is now proposed, resulting in an improved parking ratio from the prior 83% of the number of units to 107%.

• To address a concern with drop-off activity on Melrose, the entrance to the Melrose/California multi-family building was moved to California, with a loading zone proposed in front of the main door on California.

• Elimination of access to the property from the east-west alley (Riverview Parkway) and the north-south alley, with the dedication of the 8 feet of the property adjacent to Riverview Parkway, is still proposed to expand that roadway to 16 feet.

• One bicycle parking space per unit is still included.

• Twenty-one affordable units are included in the development, including 8 affordable townhomes.

At the community meeting, the applicant presented their proposal and residents had an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. In line with our Community-Driven Zoning and Development process, the 35th Ward Office will accept additional feedback until 5pm on Friday, May 15. At the end of this two week period, the Alderman will decide whether he supports the project based on the feedback received. 

You can view the presentation from the meeting and a traffic study for the project here. You can provide feedback here. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call (773) 985-3510.

Summer Youth Opportunities

Chicago Youth Works

Chicago Youth Works is a centralized hub for youth summer and year-round job and program opportunities. It also has more information for employers who are interested in participating in the program by hosting youth at their workplaces. You can find more information on their website.

35th Ward Aldermanic Internship

The 35th Ward office will be hosting a summer intern through the Chicago City Council Summer Internship Program. This is a paid, full-time, 10 week program for currently enrolled students, where interns will get hands-on experience in city government by assisting the neighborhood services team. 

Tasks will include:

• Community Outreach / Canvassing for events, construction projects, and programs,

• Email communication between various City Departments,

• Connecting residents to vital services,

• Surveying the community for service needs,

• Engaging in research,

• Website Development, 

• Social Media support,

• And tabling events.

If you are interested in applying for this internship opportunity, please send a resume and cover letter to Sara at [email protected].

Upcoming Community Events

Constituent Resources

35th Ward Office Phone: 773-985-3510

35th Ward Office Email: [email protected]

DSS recycling and garbage schedule:  chicagorecycles.org

Parking Zone Lookup:   http://smartchicago.github.io/zone-parking/  

Snow Plow Tracker: https://plow-tracker-chicago.hub.arcgis.com/

Street Sweeping Schedule: 2026 Street Cleaning Schedule

Street Sweeper Tracker: www.cityofchicago.org/sweepertracker

Street Sweeper “We The Sweeple” App: https://www.wethesweeple.com/Elected Official Lookup: https://chicagoelections.com/en/your-voter-information.html

Backyard service rodent abatement: (312) 746-5230

35th Ward Staff

Scott Jaburek - Chief of Staff

Alberto Cuevas - Ward Superintendent

Sara Rodriguez - Neighborhood Services Director

Chas Sirridge - Policy Director

Juan Cardenas - Neighborhood Services Advocate

Food Resources

May Schedule for Northwest Side Solidarity Network Events - 3000 N Kedzie Ave

Thursday May 14th

Free hot meals to-go: 12:00-1:30pm

Car Seat Inspections: 10am-12pm

Wednesday May 20th

Free Groceries: 12:30-1:30pm

Free Adult Health Screenings 10am-1:30pm

Thursday May 21st

Free hot meals to-go: 12:00-1:30pm

Thursday May 28th

Free hot meals to-go: 12:00-1:30pm

Employment Opportunities

The Illinois Department of Human Services is hiring! Check out open positions here.

People’s Gas is also hiring! You can find open positions in the region on their website.

The City of Chicago is hiring for several positions. You can find these positions at www.cityofchicago.org/jobs.

To find open positions at the Chicago Park District, please visit this link.

Public Safety (CAPS) Meetings

CAPS meetings are an opportunity for residents to meet with the Community Engagement officers of their local police districts to discuss public safety concerns in their neighborhoods. The 35th ward includes portions of the 14th, 17th, and 25th districts of the Chicago Police Department. Visit the CPD website to find your beat.

1733/1732 Beat Meeting - Wednesday May 13th at 6:45pm Athletic Field Park 3546 W Addison