NWNA Chicago

nwnachicago.orgNeighborhood Associations | NWNA Chicago

5 Sept 2025

Are YOU 🫵 signed up for your ward's newsletter? It's a great way to learn about transit, bike lanes, housing, and more in your ward. We've compiled instructions on how to sign up for (almost) EVERY ward newsletter: nwnachicago.org/knowledge_hu... (You can even sign up for more than one 👀)

Am I happy being screamed at by a homeless man? No, not really. Am I happy that he was using the bench we built? Absolutely.

NWNA Chicago reposted

Chicagoans Who Bike

@chiwho.bike

Join us tonight for a winter biking class!

Chicago, Bike Grid Now!@bikegridnow.org

Winter will be here before you want it. Get you and your bike ready for cold weather season before it hits. BGN will teach you about layering, winter maintenance, assessing road conditions, making bail-out plans, and when it's unsafe. 📍 Beermiscuous, 2812 N Lincoln ⏰ Wed 10/21 6pm

link.nwnachicago.orgRSVP to Bench Paint Day | PartifulCreate party invitations online for any event. Design custom invites in seconds, and send invites instantly with our free invitation maker!

Earlier this month, we built two more benches to be deployed at Humboldt Park bus stops - and this Saturday, we’re painting them! Come help out 🎨 (no artistic ability required I promise) link.nwnachicago.org/paintday

At some point, Chicago urbanists are going to have to reckon with the fact that housing advocacy groups are endorsing anti-bike alders and bike advocacy groups are endorsing anti-housing alders. Right now we take every victory we can get. But what happens when these forces fight each other?

View full thread

Are we willing to roll back bike lanes for the sake of more housing? Are we willing to sacrifice housing in the name of better access to transit?

@starlinechicago.bsky.social

The crossfire has already begun, and it will get worse. Already there are races where both candidates could be considered urbanist-adjacent, and other groups have begun to pick sides. Chopping up the city into bike fans, transit fans, and housing fans like it’s Pokémon Go isn’t working.

Without a cohesive worldview to back it, single-issue advocacy will, sooner or later, jeopardize the broader movement for an accessible, livable Chicago. Many well-meaning urbanists have been pulled into this self-destructive pattern by those who cosplay as true believers.

NWNA Chicago reposted

Star:Line Chicago

A 73% cut in fare evasion that doesn't require more cops at a station is a success story that Chicago should learn from

Spectrum News NY1@spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social

The gates have saloon-style doors, and use sensors and cameras to detect whether someone has paid. They also are designed to close after a person walks through without injuring them. Read more: http://specne.ws/HyYe6V

specne.wsNew subway fare gates cut evasion by 73% at some stations, MTA saysThe gates have saloon-style doors.

Zap!

Alder Andre Vasquez, Political Account@andrefor40th.bsky.social

Today, I, along with @daniellaspata.bsky.social and an overwhelming number of our colleagues, introduced the expansion of the Smart Streets pilot! When this passes, the map with be citywide, and it will be an ongoing program, not a pilot! We will also partner with the Mayor’s office to budget it out

NWNA Chicago reposted

Lake. Big Lake.

@lakebiglake.bsky.social

Letter to the editor supporting @srkovnar.bsky.social ‘s bus stop benches.

@bikelaneuprising.bsky.social

Sounds like Rogers Park is in need of a bench building squad 😎

Streetsblog Chicago@chi.streetsblog.org

@suntimes.bsky.social LTTE: "Bravo to Sam Kovnar and Eddie Lehwald of the @nwnachicago.org for facilitating some return to sanity and hospitality in reinstalling seating at city bus stops." chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-t...

NWNA Chicago reposted

Bike Lane Uprising

22 Sept

At the request of Juan's family, please join us for a ghost bike installation & vigil this Saturday at the crash site. Juan Martin Márquez was killed biking to work last Monday by a hit and run, & the driver who is still at large.

NWNA Chicago reposted

Abundant Housing Illinois

@abundanthousingil.bsky.social

21 Sept

Housing supply and tenant's rights go together like Old Style and Malört. The best housing policy out right now is BUILD. The best tenants rights policy out right now is mostly PRO. Aldermen and the Mayor should push both.

link.nwnachicago.orgRSVP to NWNA September Meetup | PartifulWe’ll be talking about benches, Western Green Line station, housing in the 26th Ward, and more!

21 Sept

Reminder! We have our September meetup this Thursday (9/24) at 6pm at Easy Does It. We’ve got a lot to talk about, from benches to the Green Line to housing. Come meet your neighbors! RSVP at link.nwnachicago.org/september!

NWNA Chicago reposted

Chicago Sun-Times

@chicago.suntimes.com

14 Sept

Several people praised the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance online for building the benches in an online post. But the group is waiting to build more until the city makes the next move. Technically, the benches are illegal.

chicago.suntimes.comThis group is building benches at bus stops that don't have one. Will the city let them?

NWNA Chicago reposted

Block Club Chicago

@blockclubchi.bsky.social

15 Sept

Chicagoans fed up with a lack of benches at CTA bus stops installed their own. buff.ly/E5qdLa8

NWNA Chicago reposted

Streetsblog Chicago

@chi.streetsblog.org

14 Sept

Update: This morning Ald. Walter Red Burnett sent us a detailed message stating that's he's actually strongly in favor of a Western Green Line station, and other new transit stops in his ward, and provided actions he has taken to make them happen. Update added: chi.streetsblog.org/2026/09/11/i...

NWNA Chicago reposted

Streetsblog Chicago

@chi.streetsblog.org

11 Sept

Guest post by Sam Kovnar, founder of the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance: "It’s time to build the Western Avenue Green Line Station." @chicagocta.bsky.social @activetransportation.org @betterstreetschicago.org @andrefor40th.bsky.social @yonahfreemark.com

chi.streetsblog.orgIt’s time to build the Western Avenue Green Line Station - Streetsblog Chicago

link.nwnachicago.orgTell Alderman Burnett that you support a Green Line station at Western Avenue!The lack of a Green Line station at Western Avenue is a critical gap in Chicago's transit system. Help us convince Alderman Burnett to fight for the construction of this station!

10 Sept

Ever wondered why there’s no Western Avenue Green Line station? Us too! Today, the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance is officially launching a petition to urge CDOT and the 27th Ward to build a Green Line station at Western Avenue. link.nwnachicago.org/westerngreenline

Because it’s an election year, we have a unique opportunity to make building this station an election issue. Walter Burnett III has hinted at this project but hasn’t committed to anything yet. His challenger, Nate Cornell, has made it a campaign promise. We need to push both of them on this.

10 Sept

Chicago transit needs to serve all of us. We’re looking to gather as many signatures as possible, especially if you live nearby.

Building a Green Line station at Western Avenue has the potential to connect a valuable but underused rail line with Chicago’s third busiest bus Line, Route 49/X49.

10 Sept

This would give Green Line riders access to a north/south connection that is fast, frequent, and runs 24 hours a day, and would give Route 49 riders a straight shot to Fulton Market and West Loop.

8 Sept

This week, we put out two benches at bus stops in the neighborhood. A place to sit should be the bare minimum for a bus stop, and yet it often costs the city thousands of dollars and months of paperwork to put in a bench.

8 Sept

As long as there are bus stops without places to sit, we will keep building more benches.

8 Sept

If you’d like to help us do more of this, fill out our contact form! link.nwnachicago.org/contact

28 Aug

🚨 Housing alert! Potential housing adaptive reuse at 3601 W Cortland. More details hopefully pending. When: Thursday, September 3rd, 6pm-7:30pm Where: TBD RSVP: bit.ly/zoning3601

22 Aug

Everyone deserves a place to sit. Help us finish up these benches and get them out into the world! Many hands make light work 🙌 Saturday, September 5th, @ 1pm RSVP at link.nwnachicago.org/benchday No painting expertise needed!

20 Aug

Toxic masculinity is accepting that you’d rather get run over by a car than inconvenience somebody

Christopher Owen@oysta.au

found another new type of guy

@aldermanlaspata.bsky.social

20 Aug

🚨 HOUSING ALERT in the 26th Ward tonight to discuss a 38-unit development at 3208-3216 W Armitage Ave When: Today, August 20th, 6pm-7:30pm Where: Mozart Park Fieldhouse, 2036 N Avers Ave

NWNA Chicago reposted

Alderman La Spata

14 Aug

🚨 CDOT will be presenting plans & answering questions on a series of pedestrian improvements along Chicago Ave between Ashland and California at a town hall on Mon., Aug. 17, at 6PM at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. Residents are invited to attend and learn more about the project!

NWNA Chicago reposted

Michael McLean

@michaelmclean.me

14 Aug

Hearing that this incredible proposal could be in jeopardy due to deference to local NIMBYs. Please overwhelm zoning@the1stward.com with your support.

Michael McLean@michaelmclean.me

2758 N. Mozart St - under review by @daniellaspata.bsky.social If you are a 1st ward resident, please send a note of support to zoning@the1stward.com blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/14/4...

NWNA Chicago reposted

Michael McLean

@michaelmclean.me

14 Aug

Replying to @michaelmclean.me

2758 N. Mozart St - under review by @daniellaspata.bsky.social If you are a 1st ward resident, please send a note of support to zoning@the1stward.com blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/14/4...

8 Aug

Build a Western Avenue Green Line station next!

Governor JB Pritzker@govpritzker.illinois.gov

Rail line by rail line, station by station, Illinois is building a safe, reliable, and accessible transit system our people deserve. We're celebrating the Austin Green Line Station's improvements today, 125 years after opening.  A victory for accessibility and equity for all.

State Senator Mike Simmons - IL-7th

31 July

Not our usual content, but these kinds of laws are really bad for digital privacy. JB and other Democrats are making a big mistake here. @eff.org has tons of literature about why these kinds of bills are actually about surveillance, not protecting kids.

Governor JB Pritzker@govpritzker.illinois.gov

Illinois is saying enough is enough to Big Tech. We are making it clear that we will not stand idly by while our children's attention, privacy, and mental health are bought and sold. Today, I’ve signed the Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act into law to protect our kids.

NWNA Chicago reposted

@senmikesimmons.bsky.social

31 July

IT’S OFFICIAL! House Bill 3564 is set to become law on January 1st, 2027! HB3564 establishes a $50 cap for rental application fees, bans 11 types of junk fees, caps move-in fees at 20% of rent, and requires move-in fees to be itemized, among more protections for renters. (1/2)

Chicago cannot be bothered to make even surface-level, bare-minimum decisions to encourage cycling. The change that is needed in Chicago government goes much deeper than bike lanes.

Streetsblog Chicago@chi.streetsblog.org

Bad: Millennium Park Bike Station, Chicago's only public indoor bike parking facility, became police-only post-COVID. chi.streetsblog.org/2023/03/24/c... Awful: Its plaza is now locked, and the *outdoor* parking (I designed) is gone! There wasn't neatly enough bike parking last night. - JG

🚨 Call to action! (esp 36th warders) There’s an ordinance currently being proposed that would re-legalize building classic Chicago-style duplexes on many lots across the city. But, unless @gilbertv36.bsky.social changes his mind, it might not even make it to committee. Here's how you can help 🧵

Right now, the chair of the Zoning Committee, @gilbertv36.bsky.social , is blocking this ordinance from being added to the committee's agenda, meaning it cannot move forward. We need your help changing his mind!

link.nwnachicago.orgTemplate Letter for Alderman Villegas - RS3 Minimum Lot OrdinanceDear Alderman Villegas, My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am writing to urge you to add Alderman Matt Martin’s ordinance regarding minimum lot area per dwelling unit in RS3-zoned lots to the agenda for t...

Please call or email Alderman Villegas's office to say that you support getting more infill housing built in Chicago. ☎️ +1-773-745-4636 📫 ward36@cityofchicago.org Not sure what to say? We have a template at link.nwnachicago.org/rs3letter. (If you live in his ward, please let him know that too!)

It all comes down to a rule called the minimum lot area per dwelling unit. An ordinance introduced by Alderman Matt Martin (Ward 47) would loosen the rules on this requirement in certain areas, allowing duplexes to once again be built.

link.nwnachicago.orgW47 - RS3 ordinance.pdf

You can take a look at the ordinance at link.nwnachicago.org/rs3draftordi... - it's a pretty small change. But, before it can be voted on, it has to make it to committee.

Even if you're not familiar with duplexes (a.k.a. "two flats") - if you live in Chicago, you’ve definitely seen them! These buildings are all over town. They’re super popular because they blend so well with the existing neighborhood fabric.

The problem is, in addition to being a Chicago staple, they are also impossible to build on most lots in the city - even on lots where they are technically allowed by the zoning code. But, there's an ordinance that could change this.

@starlinechicago.bsky.social

28 July

If you're planning on stopping by our monthly meetup, reminder that we are meeting in Humboldt Park this month to enjoy the weather! Stop by between 6-8pm on this Thursday, July 30th. Come find us by the SE corner of the park, near Division and California. Bring picnic blankets if you have them!

NWNA Chicago reposted

Star:Line Chicago

24 July

The Trib wants your parking meter takes

Chicago Tribune@chicagotribune.com

Letter to the Editor: The fundamental systems of our planet are approaching desperate physical tipping points. The situation may seem hopeless, but we cannot give up on the work to restore a livable world for our kids and future generations.

chicagotribune.comLetters: We can’t waste time in dealing with climate change. Let’s speed up our transition to renewables.