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11th Ward Newsletter - June 21, 2026

Nicole Lee Ward 11 📞 773-254-6677 ✉️ [email protected]
Relevance: 3/10
zoning_or_development_meeting_or_approval city_budget

Summary

In the City Council, Ald. Nicole T. Lee (11th Ward) supported approving a motion to buy the building housing the Greyhound bus terminal and to fund upgrades to heating/cooling and add security. She also voted against Ald. Raymond Lopez’s proposed substitute ordinance on “teen takeovers” after concerns about vague language, undefined terms, and penalties without a clear service plan; Lee also introduced a municipal code amendment to tighten licensing of massage establishments tied to illegal activity and a resolution calling for a CPD Victim Services subject-matter hearing. On the policy/budget and development front, the mayor’s plan to use TIF funding for the redevelopment of the 78 parcel (including river wall, Metra improvements, and public structures) was discussed as something Lee will review, and Lee notes upcoming committee meetings including a 6/25 Finance hearing on transferring Chicago parking meters. Other ward items include community zoning meetings on 6/22 (345 W 25th Place) and 6/29 (3439 S. Morgan), ward events like Motoblot, the Ping Tom Dragon Boat Race, and the St. Barbara Church Carnival, plus Chinatown Community Picnic (June 28) and the Bridgeport Mega Yard Sale (July 11).

Email from Alderman Nicole T. Lee

3659 S. Halsted | Chicago, IL 60609 | 773.254.6677


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June 21, 2026




Dear neighbors, 


I’m heartbroken over the mass shooting in Roseland and the five lives lost to guns reported over the weekend. This is a troubling reminder of how far we have left to go in stopping gun violence in our city.


A very Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers and father figures out there. We’re grateful for all you do and how you give back to the community. 


Now that school is officially out, let’s have a safe and productive summer.


All pools are open in the city–Armour Square Park’s outdoor pool opened on Thursday. Check summer programming at parks throughout the ward, including Armour. 


It was a busy weekend of events in the ward this week despite the rain that came earlier today.


I was glad to welcome the Motoblot Festival to the ward, a motorcycle-themed street festival, over the weekend! This is one of the largest festivals we’ve had in the ward in recent memory. Is this something we should do again? 


This weekend was also the Ping Tom Dragon Boat Race for Literacy on the South Branch of the Chicago River in Ping Tom Park. More than 30 teams participated this year, including our very own CPD 9th District. I got to join the 20+ year-old event raising money for schools and literacy. Another successful year in the books–thank you to everyone for coming out on a gorgeous day!


The St. Mother of Theresa of Calcutta Parish brought back their St. Barbara Church Carnival on Throop Street, by all accounts all went well. I know many people were excited to see the carnival return! It’s great to see so many options for our residents and the broader community to gather. We truly had something for everyone this weekend!


We learned of the passing of Thomas Donovan, a longtime active community member and son of Roy and Dorothy Donovan of Bridgeport this week. His legacy within Chicago politics and the Chicago Board of Trade will live on for generations to come. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Misericordia Heart of Mercy in his memory.


We are still seeing reports of damaged trees come in. Thank you, and keep them coming as we continue to clean up the ward! 


Have a great week,


Ald. Nicole Lee

This Week in City Council

This week in City Council, we approved a motion to buy the building housing Greyhound, which was formerly privately owned by Alden Capital. Without maintaining this space, Chicago would be one of the only cities without a major bus terminal. Besides providing affordable transport, the bus station also serves as one of the top hubs for people traveling from states with reduced reproductive health options available such as Wisconsin and Indiana. The city will provide funding for upgrades to the heating and cooling systems as well as add upgrades to the security. 


Ald. Raymond Lopez attempted to disapprove a report of the Committee on Public Safety which had made a “do not pass” recommendation on an ordinance aimed at holding parents responsible for teens who participate in “teen takeovers.” He wanted to have the report disapproved so that he could replace that ordinance with an updated one. Ald. Lopez sent the substitute ordinance to members of Council the day before we met as a full body. I voted against the disapproval of the report. Ald. Lopez’s proposed substitute ordinance contained several disconcerting elements and I did not think it offered sound policy as written. Among my concerns are:


  • Language that was vague and overly broad. Several key terms were not clearly defined
  • Unrealistic penalties. Fines of $1,000 or 75 hours of community service may not seem extreme to some, but there was also a requirement for 75 hours of family counseling. Compliance with these requirements assumes resources are available to meet them. “Community service” is not defined, and with Cook County being short some 15,000+ behavioral health workers, and no plan to provide the services,
  • Opens the City to legal challenges and lawsuits. As written, I agree with the Department of Law that the ordinance would open the City to more potentially costly lawsuits. 


The issue of “teen takeovers” is a real challenge that poses a direct threat to public safety. I believe that we need more accountability, but I could not support this proposal. I am committed to protecting the safety of the community as well as the safety of the teens involved in these events. This is a nationwide issue happening in cities all over the country–not just here, so we should also look to other locations for new ideas and tactics. We can keep increasing safety through innovation. Parents, please make sure you’re having a conversation with your kids about these often dangerous events and avoiding participation.


Mayor Johnson has proposed a plan to cover $425 million of improvements to The 78 parcel with TIF funding. This would come from $450 million which was set aside eight years ago for the same purposes–the development of public infrastructure on that parcel of land. The proposal uses this money for a number of projects, including things, as summarized by the Chicago Sun-Times, including: “$216 million for public structures, plazas and open space…$34 million for river wall improvements along the south branch of the Chicago River; $36 million for Metra improvements.” 


I will be thoroughly reviewing this initial proposal from Related Midwest and the Mayor. With a conversation starting regarding aspects of the project which are now beyond the stadium and linked to public funding, we need to make sure the process continues to be open, accessible, and community-oriented. I will keep you aware of all updates from my office. 


I also introduced two items of note last week:


  • An amendment to the municipal code regarding massage establishments. This ordinance will be an important tool to shut down the shady so-called “massage parlors” in our ward that have become a hub for sex trafficking and other abusive and illegal behaviors. The ordinance would unify all massage establishments under the same licensing requirements, address the proliferation of massage establishments, and enhance violation penalties. There is currently a loophole around the types of massage not licensed by the state, which the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection currently issues as a Limited Business License instead. This proposal closes that loophole and requires all massage establishments to get the Regulated Business License, which has a higher threshold of requirements including fingerprinting and background checks.  
  • A resolution calling for a subject matter hearing on the Victims Services division of the Chicago Police Department. While overall violent crime is down citywide, domestic violence is up 15%. The City’s budget provided an increase of $3.9M to CPD’s Office of Victim Services to address this problem. I requested this hearing after recent news coverage highlighted the concerns of gender-based violence advocates, who say this money has not been an effective use of resources. We need to better understand the goals of the office, how they serve victims, why police referrals to the Illinois Domestic Violence hotline have decreased significantly at the same time resources have been increased for the office.  


Upcoming in City Council

Committee Meetings for committees I am a part of: 

  • 6/25: Committee on Finance - Subject Matter Hearing on the transfer of Chicago Parking Meters
  • 6/30: Committee on Police and Fire 
  • 7/15: Next full City Council meeting 

Events in the Ward

June 28: Chinatown Community Picnic at Ping Tom Park 10am-2pm. Free event for all, bring your kids and families for a fun day in the park with your neighbors.


July 11: Bridgeport Mega Yard Sale. Sell or join the sale, which now includes 40+ yards! Sign up here.


Zoning


June 22: Community zoning meeting for 345 W 25th Place. See flyer below for more information.  


June 29: Community zoning meeting for 3439 S. Morgan. See flyer below for more information. 

Public Safety

Please be extra careful driving with school not in session. There are many more kids and families out and about and traveling in many ways, including walking and cycling. We have distributed posters and flyers in Chinatown and on Halsted St. promoting safe habits for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. 

Ongoing Construction &

Street Closures

Ongoing Project - Water Main, Sewer Main & Lead Service Line Replacement Project - Pershing Road:


Schedule: 6/15/2026 - 6/19/2026 (Weather Permitting)

All underground work & Miscellaneous work were completed for the project last week . Restoration items will carry over this week.

One lane open in each direction (east and west) during construction hours from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. One lane of the westbound roadway between S Stewart Ave and S Wentworth Ave will be closed for restoration work.



  • Final Connections and Concrete Cap - Ongoing between Lowe and Canal (90% complete) same as last week S Stewart to S Wentworth - ongoing


The ComEd Project






Most Recent Updates - 6/15/2026


A ComEd notification was issued for work beginning May 25, identifying the full design area (31st street to 39th street between Lituanica to Normal Street) as potentially impacted. The project has been segmented into smaller work areas to enable more precise notifications. Scheduled work updates will be provided weekly. Below is the Pershing project work planned for the upcoming four-week period.

Due to storm restoration efforts requiring our crew’s attention through the week, we were unable to complete Week 1 activities as scheduled. We will continue with the remaining Week 1 work during the upcoming week.



  • Weeks 1 -3 WEEK (6/8/26 – 6/26/26)

We will be working between 33rd Pl & 33rd St and Lituanica Ave & Halsted St. We are reframing two existing poles and replacing four existing poles. We are installing 270’ of new Overhead wire.

  • Week 4 (6-29-26 to 7-3-26)

We will be working on 34th St between Lituanica Ave & Halsted St. We are replacing four existing poles and reframing two poles. We are replacing two existing overhead transformers.

  • Week 5 (7-6-26 to 7-10-26)

We will be working between 33rd Pl & 33rd St and Lituanica Ave & Halsted St. We are replacing two existing overhead transformers and adding wildlife protection.  

Peoples Gas South Station Remediation

Most Recent Updates - 6/5/2026


  • Peoples Gas contractors continue environmental cleanup activities at 2730 S. Eleanor Street.
  • The primary activities at the site in June will be excavating and hauling away soil, followed by backfilling excavations with clean stone. Trucks will continue to visit the site throughout the day to pick up soil and deliver stone. 
  • 24-hour air monitoring is taking place and will continue during all intrusive activity.
  • As a reminder, if you have questions about this project, please contact the Peoples Gas project number at 877-380-0522.

Photos of the Week 

Dr. Knapp's retirement celebration took place at Knapp Medical Center located at 3303 S Halsted St. on June 18th 2026.

Recognizing his years of dedicated service and contributions to the community. The event brought together colleagues, friends, Cook County Commissioner John P. Daley and community members to honor his distinguished career and wish him well in his retirement.

Events around the ward!

Announcements & Information 
Flyer from Alderman Nicole Lee (11th Ward, City of Chicago) titled “11th Ward 2026 White Sox Residential Zone Parking Updates,” featuring a background image of a night baseball game at Guaranteed Rate Field. The flyer is divided into two sections: Traffic Updates: “This season, 35th Street will be closed between Wentworth and Normal in both directions 90 minutes prior to the start of a game or event at the ball park and will reopen one hour after the close or when OEMC advises. The street will remain open for emergency vehicles, CTA Buses, IDOT and cyclists. Small map showing 35th Street closure area near the ballpark. “Parking Lots”: Event guests will be directed to access Lots A, B, C and G from Wentworth & 33rd Street. Lots F and L will be accessible from Pershing Road. Accessing residential streets: We recommend using 31st Street to access all North South Streets between Wentworth and Wallace. From the South, we recommend Pershing from Wallace to Halsted Reminders: If you live within the White Sox Park Residential Parking Zone and have a vehicle registered with the city of Chicago at that address, a packet with a decal and supply of season and single game guest passes was mailed to you in the last week. If you do not receive your packet in the mail, you may come to the 11th Ward Office beginning Monday, March 23rd to pick up decals and passes. Vehicles parked in White Sox Residential Zone Parking during events at the ball park must display a decal or valid guest pass. Decals are only valid on vehicles that also display a valid City of Chicago vehicle registration sticker. White Sox Park Residential Zone Parking is enforced two hours prior to the start of a game or event and one hour after. For areas where there is a city designated Residential Permit Parking and White Sox Residential Parking Zone - vehicles must display both permits or guest passes or be subject to citation. Pay close attention to signs on the street within one block of the perimeter of the ball park for additional restrictions. All signs will be updated to No Parking 4 hours prior and 2 hours after events.
Flyer titled “Residential access to local streets” explaining traffic and access changes for residents near a ballpark. Top section: Asks if the reader lives north of 33rd Street and south of 31st Street between Wentworth Avenue and Normal Avenue. A map highlights streets in this area with colored markings indicating closures and access routes. Text explains: o access Wells St., Princeton Ave., Shields Ave., Stewart Ave., Canal St. and Normal Ave., area residents are advised to come from the north and utilize 31st Street. Two hours prior to the start of an event, 33rd Street from Wentworth Ave. to Canal St. will be converted to a one-way, west bound street for parking access only – this means no residential access to Wells St., Princeton Ave., Shields Ave., Stewart Ave., or Canal St. Northbound from 33rd St. Access to Wells, Princeton, Shields and Stewart will be for residents only at 32nd Street. Once the game is over, 33rd Street from Canal St. to Wentworth Ave. will be converted to a one-way, East bound street to expedite traffic from parking lots. Bottom section: Asks if the reader lives south of the ballpark between 35th Street and Pershing Road, and between Normal Avenue and Wallace Street. A second map shows this area with marked routes and restrictions. Text explains: To access Wallace, Parnell, and normal to/ between 37th and 38th streets, area residents are advised to come from the north and utilize 35th Street at Wallace or from south and utilize Pershing rd. Access to 37th St. and 38th St. will be for residents only at Normal Ave.

A direct and compelling headline

Community Programs and Events

Jobs & Opportunities

Park District Programs

Services
Home Energy Savings Program - For Spanish
For Spanish
For Spanish
For Chinese 中文
For Polish

Link

Link

Link

Link

Link

Link

Link

Link
For Chinese

11th Ward

School and Parish Information

one hope united Affordable Child Care - Spanish and Chinese

Waste Management

11th Ward

2026 Constituent Education Resource Card

The 11th Ward office is happy to announce has a free ‘Constituent Education Resource Card’ available to residents wishing to visit select museums and zoos in the Chicagoland area. Constituents can reserve our Constituent Education Resource Card on a first come first serve basis (more instructions below), to visit any of the following museums in 2026:


  • Adler Planetarium
  • The Art Institute of Chicago
  • Brookfield Zoo
  • Chicago Botanic Garden
  • Chicago Children’s Museum
  • Chicago History Museum
  • Dusable Museum of African American History
  • The Field Museum
  • Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
  • Lincoln Park Zoo
  • Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Museum of Science and Industry
  • National Museum of Mexican Art
  • National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
  • Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
  • John G. Shedd Aquarium


Only one group of up to four (4) can reserve the pass at a time. The pass must be picked up and brought back to the 11th Ward Office. Constituents need to call for an appointment to come to the office to pick up the pass before visiting the museums. We recommend calling two business days before your scheduled visit.


It is strongly recommended that families utilizing the card contact the museum they plan to visit to learn if pre-registration is required to visit. 

Chicago Public Libraries

9th District Police District Council & Beat Meeting Schedules

The office has extended hours on Monday nights until 7:00 p.m., is open on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00am - 12:00 pm, if it's a holiday weekend, the office will

be open the following Saturday and/or Monday.


Alderwoman Lee will be happy to see residents on Monday nights from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. If you'd like to make an appointment, please call the ward office at 773.254.6677.
 

11th Ward Office| 3659 South Halsted Chicago, IL 60609 | 773-254-6677

 
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Alderman Nicole T. Lee | 3659 S Halsted Street | Chicago, IL 60609 US
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