WEST LOOP — The West Loop is seeing main improvement, new companies and declines in almost each main crime class, metropolis and police officers stated Wednesday through the 2025 State of the West Loop assembly.
Held by group volunteer group Neighbors of West Loop, the assembly drew a crowd of about 80 residents to listen to updates from Ald. Invoice Conway (thirty fourth), Close to West (twelfth) District Commander James M. Baier, 2nd District Cook dinner County Commissioner Michael Scott and several other state legislators.
Highlights included updates on pending and accepted developments within the thirty fourth Ward, along with 2025 crime statistics for the neighborhood boundaries of the West Loop.
The West Loop was beforehand principally represented by former Ald. Walter Burnett (twenty seventh), who had been alderman since 1995. In 2022, through the metropolis’s most up-to-date spherical of redistricting, the thirty fourth Ward relocated north from the South Aspect, encompassing a part of the West Loop. The West Loop neighborhood is now cut up roughly in half between the thirty fourth and twenty seventh wards.
Burnett retired as twenty seventh Ward alderman in July. Earlier this month, Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced he had chosen Burnett’s son, Walter Redmond Burnett, to fill the emptiness, with Metropolis Council anticipated to substantiate the appointment subsequent week.
Conway represents Greektown, West Loop Gate and the business hall alongside Madison Road. If confirmed as twenty seventh Ward alderman, Walter Redmond Burnett will oversee Fulton Market, the United Heart and areas round Union and Skinner parks, in addition to components of East Garfield Park.
Walter Redmond Burnett attended Wednesday’s occasion, introducing himself to residents within the crowd. Whereas he didn’t have a proper presentation, he harassed his pleasure to get to work if Metropolis Council approves his affirmation subsequent week.
Listed here are key updates for the West Loop.
West Loop Crime Trending Down
Crime within the West Loop is down in almost each main class this yr in comparison with the identical interval final yr, Baier instructed residents Wednesday.
Robberies have fallen about 17.6 %; burglaries dropped 33 %, from 115 to 77 incidents; and motorized vehicle thefts declined almost 20 %, from 316 to 254 incidents. Baier credited the reductions to focused midnight patrols in enterprise corridors hit laborious final yr and software program upgrades in Hyundai and Kia automobiles most weak to thefts.
The West Loop has seen two homicides to this point this yr, the identical quantity as final yr: One in Conway’s ward concerned a shootout between two males on the CTA Blue Line that killed a beloved West Loop doorman, and the opposite within the twenty seventh Ward was a home incident.
The police division shared the next figures by ward to this point this yr: The twenty seventh Ward logged 15 aggravated batteries, 11 legal sexual assaults, 21 burglaries, 170 motorized vehicle thefts, 55 robberies, three automotive jackings and 302 felony thefts. The thirty fourth Ward to this point has reported one capturing, eight aggravated batteries, 10 legal sexual assaults, 41 burglaries, 131 motorized vehicle thefts, 20 robberies and 181 felony thefts.
Baier attributed the general declines to a mixture of know-how, together with metropolis and personal surveillance cameras, red-light and pod cameras, Ring doorbells and group cooperation.
He additionally closely credited group violence interrupters, calling them “our secret weapon” for stopping conflicts earlier than they escalate.
“Some folks suppose it’s snitching, nevertheless it’s not,” Baier stated. “These are folks attempting to make the group safer.”
“All of it comes collectively like a cohesive puzzle,” he added, noting that suggestions from interrupters and residents give police essential data to focus on drawback areas and cease crimes earlier than they occur.
Key Improvement Updates In The thirty fourth Ward
There are no less than 4 developments within the thirty fourth Ward which might be in numerous levels of approval and development. Conway offered transient updates for every venture.
1220 W. Van Buren St.: An adaptive reuse of the previous Oxford Clothes manufacturing facility will create 112 residences, together with 22 reasonably priced models. Conway stated he relaxed parking necessities to assist the venture.
1016 W. Jackson Blvd.: A 380-unit residence complicated with 76 reasonably priced models and a ground-floor Aldi grocery is advancing after receiving group enter and changes to loading zones and nook design.
23 S. Sangamon St.: Plans for a mixed-use constructing with a three- to four-story group heart stay beneath dialogue. Conway stated he’s working with the Park District to handle the proposed heart and stability constructing top issues close to Mary Bartelme Park. The venture was first reported by Block Membership final yr.
8 N. Morgan St.: Basis work is underway for a luxurious bathhouse and spa at Madison and Morgan streets; pile driving is full and development continues.
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