Decenial Ward Boundary Redistricting

The Chicago City Council is currently working to re-draw the boundaries of all 50 wards in the City of Chicago as a result of the population data collected via the 2010 Census.

The redistricting of citywide ward boundaries must be conducted every 10 years, to ensure all 50 wards contain roughly the same population counts - the latest count per the 2010 Census: each of the 50 city wards should contain roughly 54,000 people.

The Census data for the past 10 years shows a dramatic population increase in our fast-growing and vibrant downtown Chicago's 42nd Ward. While this continued growth and density is great news for the Central Business District - it also means the population of the 42nd Ward must be cut by more than 25,000 people.  As a result of reapportionment requirements, downtown neighborhoods (or large portions of them) will likely be drawn out of the current 42nd Ward.

The next Public Hearing regarding Redistricting of Chicago's 50 Wards will be held Wednesday, January 11th at 6:00 p.m. at a NEW location - DePaul University's Student Center located at 2250 N. Sheffield Avenue (MAP).  If you are driving you may find metered parking on Halsted, Sheffield or Fullerton. Paid parking can be found at Sheffield Parking Garage at 2331 North Sheffield.  These changes could have significant impact on our community, please plan to attend.

Latest RNRA Newsletter

Gilda's Club Chicago provides a warm and welcoming meeting place people with cancer, and family and friends, join with others to build social, emotional and informational support as an essential supplement to medical care. More...

Chicago Public Library's Near North Branch, 310 W Division, offers a variety of free programs and services all year long!  More...

The Anti-Cruelty Society's Mission is to build a community of caring by helping pets and educating people. More...

Open Books is an award-winning nonprofit social venture that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond. More...

Friends of the Parks is a 501(c)(3) designated park advocacy organization, dedicated to preserving, protecting, and improving Chicago’s parks and forest preserves for all citizens. More...

A Medicine for Melancholy: click here

and you'll feel a little better!

Visit our Philanthropy Page

Cleaning streets and transforming lives - but no longer in River North

Scoop the Poop!

The RNDOA and the RNRA respectfully ask all who walk dogs in River North to clean up after them and please, encourage others to do the same. Thanks!

Chicago Dog Policies

The Chicago Architecture Foundation conducts a walking tour of our community called "River North: Transformation of a Neighborhood"  More...

The Chicago Gallery News conducts Saturday Gallery Tours of River North and the West Loop.  More...

Our hood is featured in a national TV ad! Note: this does not constitute an RNRA product endorsement.  View the ad...

Great Photos of River North "then and now"

CAPS Combined Beat Meeting - Jan 5

Join residents, Police Officers and local business owners working together to solve and prevent crime. Meetings begin at 7:00 PM on the 1st Thursday of every odd month and last 1 hour.  Beat 1831, 1832, 1833 and 1834 meet at Access Living, 115 W Chicago Ave.

Warning - financial exploitation of the elderly, more...

For the health, safety and well-being of pets and humans alike, The 18th District Community Policing Office asks residents to remember the "Laws on Paws"

Danger! Don't walk while texting...

ATM Card Theft

The 18th District Community Policing office advises that enterprising thieves are stealing ATM cards by installing an unobtrusive "card trap" in ATM machines and then conning unsuspecting users out of their PINs.  Click here to learn how the scheme works and avoid being victimized.

Call the Community Policing Office at 312-742-5778 for more info.

Emergency Notification Service

The Office of EmergencyManagement and Communication's new system automatically alertscitizens in case of emergency via phone, pager, fax or email.

Simply click here and select Notify Chicago to register for this free service.

Election Results Are In!

Please join us in congratulating President Mike Riordan and Treasurer Sherry Friedman on their election to new 2-year terms with the RNRA!

Thanks to all of the presenters and guests that attended our 2011 Annual Meeting on September 27.  Thanks also to our hosts at  the Anti-Cruelty Society and to Pizzeria Ora for catering the event.  To view a PDF copy of the slide deck, click here.  To view the 6th amendment to our Bylaws, which was adopted at the meeting, click here.

Help Wanted!

The RNRA is seeking public spirited folks who love their neighborhood and want to help out with:

After-School Resource Chicago Program
Through this website, young Chicagoans and their families can easily learn about and choose from thousands of different afternoon, evening and weekend after-school programs throughout the City.

Users simply input their address or zip code and choose from a variety of program interest areas, including: academic, career, creative, health, life skills, religious, community and sports. Search results are plotted on an interactive map, complete with descriptions of each matching program. The web address is www.afterschoolchicago.org

The Best Playground getting much better!
The much anticipated Ward Park playground expansion is coming soon. At RNRA's Annual Meeting on Sep 27, Park District Senior Project Manager, Bob Foster, gave a detailed presentation about the plans.  More...

 Habitat project at Hubbard/Illinois/Kingsbury

• 360 West Hubbard
• Developer: Habitat Company
• Builder: McHugh Construction
• Construction start: TBD
• 43-story tower with adjacent 8-story garage
• Lot size: 50,000 sf
• 450 units: Studios, 1- and 2-BR
• 400 parking spaces for residents, additional 126 parking spaces underground for East Bank Club (TBC)
• Garage and drop-off entry off Hubbard, garage exit and loading dock entry on Illinois
• Residents' Amenities: Pool and outdoor recreation area on top of garage.
• Public Amenities: 15,000 sf park at corner of Hubbard and Kingsbury, dog run at Illinois Street
• No ground floor commercial space
• Additional street improvements along Kingsbury will: eliminate diagonal parking; add planters on both sides of Kingsbury and provide a wider sidewalk along East Bank Club; create a 20' wide sidewalk on East side of Kingsbury with planters separating sidewalk from vehicular traffic; and create additional turn lanes on Kingsbury @ Hubbard and @ Illinois

AMLI project at Clark & Hubbard

• Clark & Hubbard
• AMLI Residential Partners, LLC & Friedman Properties, LTD
• Walsh Construction
  
• Construction Start: October 2012
• 12,617 sf site
• 50 stories
• 409 rental units (1, 2, and 3 BR)
• 262 parking spaces
• 100% smoke-free building
• LEED Silver Certification
• Amenities on top of adjacent Greenway Self Park garage
• 4,500 sf ground floor retail
  

Contact Development Chair Lana Berkovich here with questions or comments.

Thanks for helping us break every record!

Time to give us your feedback on the event!  Please click here to take our quick and easy online survey.  Thanks!

Alex Ha Photos

Todd McHenry Photos

Trendy Magazine Photos

Taste Page

Thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, food trucks, the Park District, Alderman Reilly, and our guests for helping to make this our best season yet. 

See you all next year!

Communter Water Taxi Service Ends Soon

Shoreline water taxi service from the Erie Street Dock runs Monday through Friday to Michigan Avenue or Willis Tower/Union Station through September 30, 2011.

More...

Schedule:
    • Mornings: 7:00 a.m.–9:20 a.m.
    • Evenings: 4:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m..
    • Fares: $2 each way; all ages. Ten-trip pass $15.
    • Buy tickets at our kiosks or as you board the taxis.

Bike Lanes in River North!

Thanks to Alderman Reilly, River North has two new bike lanes running from the "Lakefront Trail" west to Orleans Street, adding approximately 1.25 miles to the city's network of bike lanes. These lanes are located on the right hand side of Illinois Street and Grand Avenue to provide safe passage for Chicago cyclists.  For more information on biking in Chicago, click here...

Bike Sharing Finally Comes to Chicago!

Mayor Daley has announced last year that Chicago is following Denver's lead and rolling out the B-cycle bike-share program. Riders need a membership card to get a bike and lock. The first half-hour on the bike is free, and each additional half hour is $2.50.

Bikes are available for pickup at McCormick Place, Museum Campus, Buckingham Fountain, the Chicago Park District headquarters at 541 N. Fairbanks Ct., and two downtown locations.

More...