Pat Dowell

The Third Ward Alderman Dowell’s office will be closed for Presidents Day from February 16‑17. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has approved environmental remediation at The 78, with Phase 1 scheduled to begin next week and involve about 30 trucks daily transporting contaminated soil to a Joliet landfill. The work will follow CDOT guidelines and include street sweeping to minimize impacts, and it will not affect programming at Ping Tom Memorial Park.

The Third Ward Aldermanic Office highlighted the DWM Sewer Lining Project from Shields to Wentworth as a key infrastructure investment, along with Money Matters initiatives in Bronzeville. The newsletter also promoted a range of community events, including Veterans gatherings, a weekly job‑search session, a Women Veterans coffee social, an urban agriculture certificate program, and a sports clinic for veterans.

The Third Ward aldermanic office announces that early voting for the March 2026 primary election begins on February 12 at the downtown Supersite and the Chicago Board of Elections offices, with ward‑based early voting running from March 2 to March 17. Residents can vote at several local sites, including Dawson Technical Institute, King Center, McGuane Park, Bessie Coleman Library, and UIC Student Center East. All 50 ward early voting sites and the Board Supersite will also serve as vote centers on Election Day.

Alderman Pat Dowell of the 3rd Ward hosted a public hearing on the proposed Chicago Tourism Improvement District and co‑sponsored a resolution to hold a hearing on the city’s split advanced pension payment. The ward is also seeing development activity with the start of construction on the new Bronzeville Regional Senior Center, several Community Development/NOF and DCASE grants awarded to local projects, and a sewer‑lining project on Root Street, while the Roosevelt Road Bridge will be closed for testing from Feb. 4‑6. Additional highlights include Chicago’s hosting of the 2026 WNBA All‑Star Game, a new Adopt‑a‑Landmark grant for the Pierce Arrow Building, and updated parking restrictions for South Loop events during Bears and Soldier Field games.

The Third Ward newsletter focuses on a police alert about vehicle thefts in the Bronzeville area, an emergency closure of the eastbound lane on 47th St. for sewer repairs through February 13, and a Vehicle Safety Day event. No meetings, policy changes, or development approvals were announced. Additional community updates include a Girls in Sports Summit, a donation drive, a conversational Spanish class, and an OEMC employment training program.

The Aldermanic Office of the Third Ward issued a 1/22/26 e‑newsletter that highlighted an extreme cold weather alert and resources for residents. It also promoted Greater Bronzeville Parent University, the Obama Library, and upcoming community tourism prep sessions. No meetings, policy changes, or development updates were announced.

Alderman Dowell of the Third Ward announces a municipal code amendment that permits a sidewalk delivery robot (PDD) pilot program on sidewalks and crosswalks, pending city‑council approval through May 2027. The city will test the Roosevelt Road Bridge from Jan. 21‑23, 2026, closing the roadway to all traffic and providing detour routes, and a new Saturday Real ID service will operate on the same day. Other highlights include Dowell’s recognition at the Illinois Women’s Affordable Housing Network event, the launch of South Loop indoor markets, and updates from Kleo’s Food Pantry and NHS mortgage options.

Alderman Dowell of the 3rd Ward reminds residents of the Chicago Bears game on January 18 (and a possible game on January 25) with fireworks if the Bears win. Residents are invited to vote on Poplar Park’s new splash‑pad design from January 6‑31 and to review the Chicago Seniors Connected brochure, which notes new SNAP work requirements effective February 1. The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grant program remains open with a February 13 deadline, offering up to $250,000 for commercial‑corridor projects, and additional community resources are highlighted.

The Third Ward aldermanic office highlights upcoming SNAP benefit changes effective February 1 and a Property‑Tax Savings webinar, urging residents to update their information and stay informed. It also announces two major state grant initiatives: a $50 million Restore, Reinvest, Renew program for historically underserved communities and a new CEJA Capacity Grant program launching in 2026 to support clean‑energy workforce development. No zoning, development, budget, transit, or street‑safety updates were included in this issue.

The Third Ward Aldermanic Office issued a special auto safety and security alert, offering vehicle protection tips from the Chicago Police Department. No meetings, policy changes, development approvals, budget decisions, transit updates, or street redesign projects were mentioned. The notice includes the office’s contact details at 5046 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60609.

The Third Ward alderman's office highlighted several community initiatives, including the launch of the Shared Cost Sidewalk Program on January 12 and the final submission deadline for the city’s annual "You Name a Snowplow" contest on January 10. Residents are also encouraged to apply for Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grants, with the next deadline on February 13, and to take advantage of the Mobile DMV service and various UChicago youth programs. Additional updates include police alerts on armed robberies and a reminder that the Shared Cost Sidewalk Program requires re‑application each year.