A Cleaner, Safer & More Compassionate Neighborhood

What is River North Clean Streets?

Now in it’s third successful year, River North Clean Streets is a 501(c)3 non-profit, founded by the River North Residents Association and the River North Business Association and endorsed by both Alderman Brendan Reilly and Commander Daniel O’Shea.

The 2019 Season ran from May through October 2019:

• 629 bags of trash and 309 bags of recyclables (over 11 tons) were removed from our streets.
• Nearly 100 hard-working crew members received potentially life-changing opportunities.

The Problem: Unfortunately, our many visitors often leave a shocking amount of litter behind when they head home after a night on the town. Since the Department of Streets and Sanitation has limited resources on weekends, the neighborhood has to live with unsightly and unsanitary streets and sidewalks until Monday morning.

The Solution:  The River North Clean Streets has arranged for Cleanslate Chicago to tidy up our neighborhood on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  In their bright yellow vests, the friendly, well trained Cleanslate crews pick up tons of garbage and recyclable materials, leaving our community cleaner, safer and healthier.

The Benefits:  Keeps our neighborhood looking great, promotes recycling, deters crime, improves public health and safety and provides life-changing support, training and temporary employment for hardworking Cleanslate interns eager to move toward self sufficiency.

Thank you to our Sponsors: This program is made possible by local businesses, organizations and individuals who are willing to become block or program sponsors.  We wish to express our gratitude to all of our sponsors who are helping to maintain a cleaner, safer and more compassionate River North.

• To view participating Block Sponsors, click here.
• To view participating Program Sponsors, click here.

Click here to learn about the amazing deal and current service area. To become a sponsor click here.

Congratulation to our “2019 Intern of the Year” Lena Gladney from Cleanslate Chicago.

Lena, an intern with Cleanslate Chicago was presented the Award at the 2019 RNRA Annual Meeting on 11-12-19 at Tao Chicago in recognition of outstanding performance in time management, communication, professionalism, conflict resolution and teamwork for her performance on the River North Clean Streets program.

From left to right: Brian Israel (RNCS President), Lena Gladney (Cleanslate Chicago Intern), Brady Gott (Cleanslate Chicago Managing Director), Mickie Gordon (RNCS Board of Directors)

This holiday season the Art Institute of Chicago is staying open select evenings until 8:00pm. That means you have more time to visit the critically acclaimed Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again, more time to see iconic artworks, and more time to enjoy the galleries.

Be sure to check the schedule of evening hours, including new free hours for Illinois residents. Further information about admission opportunities can be found on the Art Institute of Chicago’s website.

On Monday December 9 , Alderman Reilly hosted a community presentation for a new mixed-use development proposal at 344 North Canal Street.

(344 North Canal Street, image courtesy of Habitat Company & SCB)

The proposed project would include a 33-story building containing 343 residential units, 124 enclosed parking spaces, and ground floor commercial space. The project also provides for bicycle parking spaces within the building.

The 343 residential units are divided into: 75 Efficiencies (21.9%), 25 Jr 1 Bedroom (7.3%), 186 1 Bedroom (54.2%), 57 2 & 2+ Bedroom (16.6%). The building will achieve 100 points under the City’s sustainability policy. The architects have not yet determined the specific mechanisms to achieve the points.

(View looking northbound Canal Street, image courtesy of Habitat Company & SCB)

If you were unable to attend the Monday, December 9th meeting, please click on the following links to view the slideshow presentation and traffic study.

(Ground floor site plan, courtesy of Habitat Company & SCB)

The traffic study was conducted by Gewalt Hamilton Associates Inc. and accounts for traffic impacts from Wolf Point East as well a possible development on the vacant lot (approx. 527 W. Kinzie Street), adjacent to 344 North Canal Street. A brief summary of the traffic study is below:

(Entry Court on Canal Street, image courtesy of Habitat Company & SCB)

Alderman Reilly uses community feedback to negotiate across the table from the development team. This transparent development review process has yielded significant improvements to projects proposed in the 42nd Ward, and has resulted in substantial community benefits implemented at private expense.

This holiday season, in partnership with ChiGivesBack, Alderman Reilly’s 42nd Ward Office will be a donation site for the 3rd Annual Chicagoland Toy Drive! Over the past two years, nearly 8,000 toys were donated to low income children and families suffering from homelessness.

Between now and December 10th, the toys collected help provide holiday joy to children living at local homeless shelters and families who are residents at the Chicago Housing Authority. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at Alderman Reilly’s Office, located at 121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 200, between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm. Please let the desk staff know you are dropping off toys for Alderman Reilly’s toy drive.

Vision Zero Chicago (VZC) is the commitment and approach to eliminating fatalities and serious injuries from traffic crashes. The Vision Zero Chicago Action Plan called for the creation of the Vision Zero Downtown Task Force, which Alderman Reilly chairs.

In line with recommendations that the Task Force developed, Alderman Reilly is very pleased to announce the recent completion of Left Turn Traffic Calming treatments at five intersections along State Street, between Ontario Street and Kinzie Street.

State Street and Kinzie Street, Before (top) and After (bottom)

Called a Rapid Delivery Project, these projects are “low-cost, quick hit changes to the street” that can be adjusted based on project results, impacts, and community feedback. These are an interim solution to safety challenges and will be evaluated for effectiveness in improving safety.

Alderman Reilly authorized a significant portion of his menu funds for this Rapid Delivery project which included speed bumps and vertical posts to “harden” the centerline of the intersection.

State Street and Hubbard Street, Before (top) and After (bottom)

Left Turn Traffic Calming works by guiding drivers to take a safer path when turning left, improving drivers’ visibility of pedestrians crossing the street and encourages drivers to take turns at slower speeds.

About the Vision Zero Downtown Task Force: The role of the Task Force is to inform stakeholders about Vision Zero and discuss potential roles and responsibilities for implementing the Action Plan.

Alderman Reilly serves as the Chairman of the Vision Zero Downtown Task Force and looks forward to continuing to work with CDOT and Task Force Partners to increase safety through the Downtown Vision Zero Plan.

Alderman Reilly invites you to join him at an informational presentation regarding the development proposal for the site located at 344 North Canal Street. The proposed project would include a 33-story residential building containing 343 apartments and ground floor commercial space, along with 124 enclosed parking spaces.

Representatives of The Habitat Company and their architects, Solomon Cordwell and Buenz (SCB), will present their plans and answer any questions you may have about this development proposal.

WHAT: Development Proposal – 344 North Canal Street

WHO: Hosted by Alderman Brendan Reilly

WHEN: Monday, December 9 from 6:00-8:00pm

WHERE: East Bank Club, 500 North Kingsbury Street

As you know, Alderman Reilly works hard to provide an open and transparent community review of all local development proposals. This project has not received Alderman Reilly’s support, and this informational meeting is only the beginning of his rigorous, transparent review process.

Alderman Reilly looks forward to hearing any concerns and comments you may have about this proposal.