Hi, Neighbors—

Thanks to all who packed the room for our Fall Alder Forum, to the Alders for again participating in a frank conversation, to guest moderator Eric Zorn (subscribe here https://ericzorn.substack.com/ to his excellent, free, twice-weekly newsletter) and to the many volunteers who made this possible. Did you attend? Please reply to the group to share your take-aways.

Many thanks to Carrie Dahlquist for the summary below as well as the itemized next steps. We’ll discuss them at future meetings and, in the meantime, welcome volunteers for each item.

Delighted to report that Ald. Dowell stepped up the very next morning on item #4, offering to coordinate a meeting focusing on traffic management around developments at The 78, bringing together officials from CDOT, the consultant who prepared the traffic study for the Chicago Fire, OEMC, a South Loop Neighbors representative versed on the Connector/bus rapid transit proposal and any other necessary participants. More info as this plan comes together, ideally at our Oct 27 meeting.

This is exactly how our members have asked that these Forums work. That is, we use these meetings to understand the views of all four Alders impacting our community, and to share our views with them. Then, we want to work together with our Alders to bring subject matter experts into follow-up meetings to zero in on solutions and next steps related to major issues raised at the Forums. We are grateful to Ald. Dowell for her offer to help do that to better understand traffic management options in and around The 78. 

In the meantime, enjoy these photos from Allan Hippensteel, Liz Wallace, and Connie Murray. Take a look at the next steps and the summary below, and share your feedback, ideas, and concerns. NOTE: this mail is set up to reply only to Marj to avoid overloading your inboxes with direct responses. But we know there’s great interest in your feedback on these issues so recommend you set your reply to the full group when of general interest. And, be sure to RSVP here for our next meeting, October 27 and share this RSVP link with neighbors: https://tinyurl.com/OctMeet2026

Marj & the One Community Team

NEXT STEPS

1. Obtain and publicly share Amtrak’s environmental reviews of a potential new site, including noise, vibration, air-quality, and operational analyses.
2. Pursue an independent third-party environmental impact study of the Amtrak plan using current site conditions as the baseline.
3. Hold the requested City Council subject-matter hearing on the proposed Amtrak relocation and clarify local options despite federal exclusions for certain review studies.
4. Coordinate with Ald. Dowell to schedule a dedicated traffic impact meeting with Chicago transportation officials, bridge experts, Chicago Fire representatives, alderpersons, and community members, related to developments at and near The 78.
5. Advance and fund a feasibility study for the Roosevelt Road bus rapid transit proposal, including cost, route, frequency, ridership, governance, and game-day impacts.
6. Request the financial model for the taxpayer-funded parking facility at the Fire stadium, including projected revenue, operating assumptions, repayment terms, and break-even timing.
7. Clarify the process and viable locations for a South Loop high school, as well as a strategy for community members to influence Chicago Public Schools officials, the elected school board, the Mayor, and state partners.
8. Develop a coordinated public safety improvement plan for Roosevelt CTA, Jewel, and its Wabash sidewalk, clearly assigning responsibility among the City, police, sheriff’s office, CTA, and Jewel.
9. Continue work on connected bike and pedestrian infrastructure, including broader corridor-level planning as well as technical review to alleviate the dangerous bike and pedestrian crossing at State and 13^th.
10. Provide the Alders with unanswered audience questions that could not be addressed during the forum, for further review and response.

FORUM SUMMARY

Summary of the ONE COMMUNITY NEAR SOUTH 9/29/26 ALDER Forum

On September 29, approximately 140 residents gathered at Grace Place for a community forum with Alds. Lamont Robinson, Nicole Lee, Bill Conway, and Pat Dowell. Because attendance exceeded expectations, the event was moved from the general-purpose room to the sanctuary. The discussion covered major development and quality-of-life issues affecting the South Loop and surrounding neighborhoods, including the proposed relocation of Amtrak’s maintenance operations, plans for The 78 and potential White Sox and Chicago Fire stadium development, Roosevelt Road traffic and transit, a possible South Loop high school, housing affordability, public safety, and bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

AMTRACK RAIL YARD

Amtrak’s proposed relocation of its maintenance operations emerged as the most urgent and contentious issue. Ald. Lee strongly opposed moving the facility from its current industrial location to the Union Pacific yard near thousands of residents. She and residents raised concerns about placing a 24-hour industrial operation close to homes, including potential noise, vibration, diesel fuel, air-quality, traffic, and property-value impacts. They also object to limited public disclosure and community engagement, Amtrak’s reported ability to bypass local zoning through federal authority, and the lack of a publicly available independent environmental impact study. Alds. Dowell, Robinson, and Conway supported Lee’s opposition and call for further City Council review. The proposal is closely tied to plans for a possible new White Sox stadium west of the river across from The

The 78

Discussion of The 78 reflected a broader tension running through the Forum:residents generally support investment and development, but they want infrastructure, financial assumptions, and neighborhood impacts addressed before projects move forward. Questions focused on traffic along Roosevelt Rd, the age and capacity of the Roosevelt Rd bridge, and the combined impact of the new Chicago Fire stadium and a possible 35,000- to 38,000-seat baseball stadium. Residents also asked for more information about the taxpayer-funded parking facility, including its projected revenue and break-even period. Ald. Dowell offered to participate in a separate meeting with Chicago Department of Transportation representatives and the Chicago Fire’s traffic-planning team, but no detailed financial analysis of the parking facility was provided during the forum.

ROOSEVELT CIRCULATOR/BUS RAPID TRANSIT STUDY

A feasibility study for the Roosevelt Rd transit connection proposed by South Loop Neighbors received broad support from the alderpersons. The concept would study a bus rapid transit route linking the Ogilvie and Union Station area with Roosevelt Rd, The 78, and Museum Campus area. Ald. Dowell said she had asked city departments to identify funding for the feasibility study, potentially through the upcoming city budget or tax increment financing funds. Although participants supported this feasibility study, important questions remain about cost, route governance, service frequency, ridership, and coordination with NITA, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority which recently replaced the Regional Transit Authority (RTA).

NEAR SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

The forum also returned to the long-standing goal of a Near South high school. Ald. Dowell reiterated her support but clarified that the approved plan for The 78 does not include a school. She identified One Central as a possible location, although some community members questioned whether that site would adequately serve the residential Near South. Ald. Dowell suggested moving the idea forward would require support from the Mayor, Chicago Public Schools leadership, the elected school board, and potentially the Chicago Teachers Union. State funding may be available, but the location and political path remain unresolved. Answering an attendee’s follow up, Dowell explained the Mayor (and City Council) could have a role if the new school needed zoning or other building approvals.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

In a wider discussion about how Chicago approves and supports development, the Alders agreed the city needs substantially more housing and that its approval process is too complicated. They pointed to several possible strategies, including consolidating city reviews, converting vacant commercial buildings to housing, rehabilitating vacant properties, increasing density near transit, developing underused public sites, and securing affordable units when developers seek zoning changes, city land, or public funding. Potential South Loop opportunities mentioned included the former armory, the Burger King property on Michigan Avenue, and vacant land near 22nd and State. While the need for more housing was broadly shared, limited land, infrastructure constraints, procedural complexity, and disagreements over location continue to slow progress.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Public safety concerns were concentrated around the Roosevelt CTA station, Jewel, and the adjacent Wabash sidewalk. Residents described problems with cleanliness, lighting, blocked sidewalks, and conditions involving unhoused individuals. Ald. Conway acknowledged that the sheriff’s satellite presence had not been as effective as he expected and described coordination problems among the City, police, the sheriff’s office, and Jewel, particularly because portions of the affected area are privately owned and the store needs to file complaints and follow up in court. A broader discussion with Jewel and law-enforcement partners was identified as the next step.

MOTORCYCLE CARAVANS

Residents also remained frustrated by motorcycle caravans and noise. Ald. Conway said an automated-enforcement pilot did not advance because it lacked support from the Mayor’s office, while Ald. Dowell noted the City Council had approved stronger penalties and authority to confiscate illegal vehicles. Police representatives explained that pursuits, roadblocks, and spike strips are generally avoided because of the safety risks, leaving residents dissatisfied with the current enforcement options.

BIKE LANES AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Here, the Alders agreed on the need for safer infrastructure and agreed projects should form a connected network and be planned at the corridor or neighborhood level rather than block by block. Currently established bike lanes make that coordinated process a challenge. They also stressed the need for meaningful community and business input and for designs that account for driveways, alleys, parking, turning movements, transit, and accessibility. A pedestrian beacon, stop sign, or another safety improvement at State and 13th was raised for technical review.

Across these issues, transparency and coordinated planning were the clearest themes. Residents and Alders repeatedly called for independent analysis, public information, and meaningful engagement before major development and infrastructure decisions are finalized. The Alders showed a relatively united position against the proposed Amtrak relocation, even as questions remain about the City’s authority in the face of federal preemption. The conversation also underscored that transportation planning must precede development and consider traffic, transit, bridge capacity, pedestrian access, and bicycle connections together rather than project by project.

Several of the most important questions remain unanswered because they require technical, environmental, legal, or financial study and further public input. It did, however, reinforce residents’ view that the South Loop, Chinatown, Bronzeville, Bridgeport, Armour Square, and surrounding neighborhoods are interconnected and should be considered as one region when decisions are made.

Marj Halperin

The Dance Center of Columbia College Launches The Shirley Mordine Dance Maker Award

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago has announced the launch of the Shirley Mordine Dance Maker Award. “A living legacy to Shirley Mordine’s dedication, prolific contributions to Chicago dance, and her prodigious and life-long love of dance making, the Shirley Mordine Dance Maker Award provides Chicago-area early-to-mid career choreographers with unrestricted $1,000 grants and mentorship to create a new dance work,” Columbia announces. Shirley Mordine passed away in 2025. Applications are due October 23. Eligible applicants are emerging to mid-career choreographers based in Chicago and prepared to premiere a new work in 2027. More here.