A Message to our Residents

We are River North. We are dynamic, kind, committed, creative and welcoming. We are the nexus of premier residential life and shopping, revenue generating tourism and the most incredible restaurant and hospitality venues in the city. Unfortunately, many of our residents and businesses have been impacted economically, socially and psychologically by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

In the trying days ahead, we must be resilient and caring.  We must lift ourselves and others up as best we can. Follow all of the health and wellness advisories. Wash those hands meticulously and often, and get your rest. Take care of yourself, your family and those who are dear to you. Practice physical distancing, but reach out to your neighbors to make sure that they are OK.

We have been temporarily transfixed in River North. The energy and opportunities that we bring to the city may be diminished right now, but we will rebound.

Until the hospitality businesses that contribute to our delight and vibrancy can open and begin their recovery process, please consider supporting them and their team members with your take-out patronage.  Let’s show them some hope of surviving the COVID challenge.

Above all else…keep all of the medical professionals, first responders and essential service providers who are on the front line to serve and protect us in your thoughts and prayers. They are heroes.

We are River North!  We will remain strong, vigilant and caring.

Mike Riordan
President, RNRA

Chicago Department of Public Health – Coronavirus Updates

CLICK HERE to keep on top of the latest updates.

Anti-carjacking 101 -18th District Community Policing Office

Make the RIght Call – 911 and 311

Development Update – 225 W. Chicago Avenue/777 N. Franklin Street

(image courtesy of Chicago Dept. of Planning and Development)

The Chicago Plan Commission approved the development proposal at 225 W. Chicago Avenue / 777 N. Franklin Street. Next, the project development team will be required to present their plans for approval to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards and City Council.

Centrum Realty & Development has proposed to build a nine story office development for the southeast corner of Chicago & Franklin. Formerly a Wal-Mart Express, the 15,000 square foot building has been vacant for many years.

The proposed planned development plans to construct a 125′-8″ tall building with commercial uses on the ground floor and office uses above. The building has seven accessory vehicular parking stalls and one loading berth.

Located at the Chicago Avenue Brown/Purple Line stop, and served by the #66 Chicago Avenue bus route, the building will have great appeal to public transit users.

The office plans include a fitness and conference center, in addition to a top floor lounge with large outdoor terrace overlooking the city sky line. The project will include retail at the first level, with a targeted tenant mix designed to complement the office users and further activate the intersection.

The proposal has secured the supports of the River North Residents Association (RNRA). For more information about this proposal, click on the following link to view the project materials.

As part of Alderman Reilly’s transparent community process for new developments, your comments and observations are welcome for this project. Please forward any feedback to development@ward42chicago.com.

Community Business Alert – Burglaries – 18th District (Near North) – February 26, 2020

Community Alert – Wanted for Attempted Child Abduction – 18th District – February 26, 2020

Update on Proposed Cannabis Dispensaries in River North – ZBA Public Hearing March 6, 2020

Over the several weeks the River North Residents Association (RNRA) has hosted several community meetings to discuss proposed cannabis dispensary locations within the 42nd and 2nd Wards. The following community meetings were held:

  • Sunnyside (MedMar Lakeview, LLC) held a meeting on January 28th to discuss their proposed location at 436 North Clark Street (formerly, Baton Show Lounge).
  • MOCA – Modern Cannabis (MOCA, LLC) held a meeting on January 29th to discuss their proposed location at 216 West Ohio Street (currently, Municipal Bar).
  • Sunnyside (PDI Medical III, LLC) held a meeting on February 5th to discuss their proposed location at 60 West Superior Street – Applicant has removed this location as a candidate for the ZBA to review. 
  • Verilife (Pharmacann) held a meeting on February 6th to discuss their proposed location at 444 North LaSalle Street (formerly, English).
  • Greenhouse Group held a meeting on February 7th to discuss their proposed location at 612 North Wells Street (formerly, Carson’s Ribs).
  • Greenhouse Group held a meeting on February 12th to discuss their proposed location at 414 North Orleans Street (formerly, Reverie).

These meetings were held to gather community feedback as a requirement of the Special Use application necessary to open a dispensary in Chicago. The next step in the process is for the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) to consider the Special Use applications at a public hearing.

The ZBA hearing will take place on Friday, March 6th, at 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – City Council Chambers – 2nd Floor.

RNRA will summarize community feedback and share it with ZBA in advance of the hearing. In addition, any neighborhood resident is welcome to forward feedback to the ZBA regarding these pending applications. Objections can be addressed to the ZBA chairman, Farzin Parang.

Farzin Parang
Chairman, Zoning Board of Appeals
121 N. LaSalle St. 10th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602

The Aldermen may choose to offer an opinion on the proposed Special Use to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), but the ZBA ultimately approves or denies Special Use applications based on the criteria in the Chicago Zoning Code. The ZBA is an independent, quasi-judicial body that will consider all public input and is not obligated to give special consideration to comments from the Aldermen or Police Commander.

If the ZBA grants approval of the Special Use permit to any of the proposed dispensary locations, the operators will then build out their space and schedule inspections with the State of Illinois. The first dispensary to pass inspection by the State of Illinois will be issued a license. Once one license has been issued, no other dispensary may open within 1,500 feet of that location.

Community Alert – Aggravated Robberies – 18th District (Near North) – February 24, 2020

Community Alert – Burglaries – 18th District (Near North) – February 20, 2020