35TH WARD ANNUAL REPORT

LETTER FROM THE ALDERMAN

Dear Neighbor,

I am proud to present a 35th Ward Annual Report following my appointment as your Alderman in April 2025. It is an honor to represent our diverse and vibrant neighborhoods of Irving Park, Avondale, Logan Square, and Hermosa. I invite you to join our 35th Ward Annual Report Town Hall on Wednesday, August 5, at Avondale-Logandale Elementary School, 3212 W. George Street, to reflect on our progress and to craft future priorities.

Over the past year, my office has worked to deliver meaningful improvements, advance policies that support working-class families, and help thousands of residents with city service requests. Together, we have worked to protect our neighbors from ICE, invest millions of dollars in our parks, improve local infrastructure, and secure funding for affordable housing.

This report highlights our accomplishments and the services our office provides. To stay informed about community events, construction projects, and ward updates, I encourage you to sign up for our weekly email newsletter at www.ward35.org.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My team and I are here to help you.

Sincerely,

Anthony Quezada

Alderman, 35th Ward


CHICAGO’S 35TH WARD

The 35th Ward is home to culturally diverse communities and portions of four neighborhoods. Residents can learn about street-sweeping schedules, residential permit parking zones, local schools and parks, and more through our interactive ward map at ward35.org/35th-ward.

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

Alderman Quezada is working to modernize local infrastructure and improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Learn more about our infrastructure investments at www.ward35.org/infrastructure-projects

No Traffic Fatalities in the 35th Ward in 2025: Our office invested in pedestrian, cyclist, and traffic-safety improvements to reduce accidents and improve accessibility. As a result, the 35th Ward recorded no traffic fatalities in 2025.

Participatory Budgeting: Each year, 35th Ward residents ages 14 and older help decide how to invest more than $1 million in local infrastructure improvements. This year’s winning project categories include pedestrian safety improvements, sidewalk repairs, street and alley resurfacing, and public art and beautification.

In 2025, over a dozen 35th Ward neighbors joined our volunteer Participatory Budgeting committee, and we collected over 150 infrastructure improvement ideas and had over 680 people vote across each neighborhood in the ward.

Milwaukee Avenue Streetscape Project Completed: The project, started in May 2024, delivered street and sidewalk resurfacing, curb extensions, raised crosswalks, new streetlights, new trees, and two new pedestrian plazas across Avondale and Logan Square.

You can learn more about this project by visiting this link.

Arterial Street Resurfacing Projects: This year, Kimball Avenue between Diversey and Wellington and Fullerton Avenue between Lockwood and Kimball will be resurfaced. Improvements include upgraded crosswalks, curb extensions, and new traffic lane markings.

Water, Sewer, and Lead Service Line Replacement in Irving Park: The Department of Water Management started a project to improve stormwater management and access to clean water in Irving Park by replacing sewer lines, water mains, and lead service lines on Kimball, Bernard, and St. Louis between Elston and Addison, and on Waveland between Kimball and Central Park.

Secured $5 million for Avondale Park: Improvements include a new roof, new windows, and enhanced ADA accessibility at the park's fieldhouse.

Logan Square Megamall Plaza Project: Located at the southwest corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Logan Boulevard, between Andros Taverna and La Boulangerie, this new pedestrian plaza will include site furniture, custom pavers, lighting, trees, and landscaped areas, a pavilion structure, and a children’s play area.

POLICY AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT

Alderman Quezada is working to make the 35th Ward more affordable, safe, and equitable by advancing policies and investments that strengthen our neighborhoods, support working people, and build thriving communities for all residents.

Secured Funding for 96 Units of 100% Affordable Housing: Alderman Quezada secured funding and city support for the Metropolitan L Apartments. These apartments will be near public transit in Logan Square.

Expanded Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU): Alderman Quezada opted the 35th Ward into the City’s updated ADU ordinance, allowing coach houses and basement apartments on existing residential properties. This will help preserve existing housing and expand lower-cost rental opportunities throughout the ward.

Fair Notice Amendment: Alderman Quezada passed an amendment to the City’s Fair Notice Ordinance to strengthen tenant protections by preventing eviction filings when landlords fail to provide proper notice.

Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) Amendment: Alderman Quezada co-sponsored and passed an ordinance empowering COPA to investigate allegations of collaboration between the Chicago Police Department and ICE.

Introduced the Abolish ICE resolution: In collaboration with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Alderman Quezada introduced a resolution calling for the abolishment of ICE and for the implementation of positive immigration reform that includes a pathway for citizenship for America’s 11 million undocumented residents.

Community-Driven Zoning and Development (CDZD): Alderman Quezada empowers ward residents to review zoning change requests and provide feedback to help shape zoning policies. Since being appointed in April 2025, Alderman Quezada has approved the creation of 118 new homes in the 35th Ward, including 21 affordable units through the Affordable Requirements Ordinance through CDZD. As a member of the City Council Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards, Anthony has voted to approve thousands of new housing units across Chicago.

You can review all zoning changes on our website here.

Community Development Grant Funding: The Department of Planning and Development announced $4,697,990 in Community Development Grant funding for projects in the 35th Ward. These grants are funded through the 2024 Housing and Economic Development Bond. These funds are intended to support business-related investments to help maintain a vibrant commercial and civic fabric and social safety infrastructure throughout Chicago. I was proud to write letters of support for the four projects in the 35th Ward that were selected for funding. 

  • Grace’s Furniture Building Redevelopment Project (Logan Square): This project will redevelop the 20-year vacant Grace’s Furniture building located at 2618 N Milwaukee Avenue into the Logan Square Athletic Club, which will be owned by the locally owned and operated company, Chicago Athletic Clubs. The project team worked extensively with local community stakeholders to establish community benefits, including preservation and refurbishment of the vintage sign, living-wage jobs, local hiring, discounted gym membership rates for residents of the Lucy Gonzalez Parsons apartments, and assistance with maintenance of the adjacent Paseo Prairie Community Garden. Award Amount: $3,000,000.

  • Puerto Rican Arts Alliance Cultural Campus Expansion Project (Avondale): This project will expand PRAA’s exhibit space and cultural programming. Award Amount: $1,323,909.

  • Terra Coffee (Avondale): This grant will help cover the costs of interior rehabilitation of a vacant storefront into a cafe at 3341 W. Belmont. Award Amount: $124,081.

  • The Afterlife Bar and Restaurant (Logan Square): This grant will help fund the buildout of a bar and restaurant in a former funeral home located at 3601 W Diversey Ave. Award Amount: $250,000.

CONSTITUENT SERVICES AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Our office provides effective city services. We partner with neighborhood organizations, schools, and park advisory councils to host community events and connect neighbors with essential resources and services.

Delivering Responsive and Effective City Services: Since Alderman Quezada took office, our office has processed more than 10,000 city service requests. We also go door-to-door to bring our services to your home.

Protecting Our Immigrant Neighbors: Our office is a founding member of the Northwest Side Deportation Defense Network – a coalition of neighbors, community organizations, and elected officials working to protect residents facing deportation. The network educates residents about their constitutional rights, responds to reported ICE activity, and connects impacted families with legal resources and support services.

Supporting Our Schools: Alderman Quezada visited every school in the ward to meet with principals, teachers, and students and assess infrastructure needs, advocate for more resources, and discuss ways to support their school communities.

Cleaning Our Neighborhoods: The 35th Ward office has organized and supported community cleanups across our neighborhoods. These events bring neighbors together and help keep our communities clean and beautiful. Residents interested in hosting a cleanup can contact our office for supplies and promotional support.

Organized over 30 Community Events: Our office partnered with local organizations and elected officials to host job fairs, health clinics, tenant and worker rights workshops, mobile DMV services, food distributions, community clean-ups, and other essential programs and resources that support our neighborhoods.

Helping Our Unhoused Neighbors: Homelessness is a public health crisis that requires compassion, wraparound health services, and a housing-first approach. Our office works with city departments to connect unhoused neighbors with available shelter and housing options, food, and case management services.

Coffee With Your Alderman Events: Our office hosts “Coffee With Your Alderman” meetings to connect residents with city services and discuss legislation, neighborhood projects, and community concerns.

ALDERMAN ANTHONY QUEZADA IS HERE TO HELP

Contact our office for assistance with any city service request, including garbage and recycling cart replacements, street and alley pothole patching, street and alley light repairs, graffiti removal requests, rodent baiting, and more.

  • Utility Billing Relief Program: This program provides income-eligible residents with a reduced rate on their water, sewer, and water-sewer tax bills and debt relief for those who demonstrate they can manage the reduced rate bills for one year.

  • Protect Our Neighbors By Reporting Suspected ICE Activity: If you see or suspect ICE operations, please call the Family Support Hotline at (855) 435-7693. For more information on how to get involved, please visit www.linktr.ee/nwsrr

  • Residential Parking Guest Permits: Eligible residents can purchase daily parking permit stickers at our ward office. Permits are printed on demand and can be purchased in sheets of 15 for $15.00 (limit 45 guest permits (3 sheets) per dwelling unit address every 30 days)

  • Disability Parking: Residents with disabilities can apply for a reserved accessible parking spot in front of or near their residences. To apply, you must have a disabled placard or plate issued by the Secretary of State.

  • Block Party and Garage Sale Permits: You can apply for a block party and garage sale permits at our ward office or by accessing the application forms on our website. Block party permits require a petition circulated and signed by most registered addresses on your residential block.

  • Private Sewer Drain Program: If you have issues with water in your basement after it rains, this program will repair the sewer line on the public side of the property and help alleviate homeowners' financial burden.

  • Senior Citizen Sewer Service Charge Exemption: This exemption allows seniors age 65 or older who live in their home and have separately metered water service or a separate City water assessment for their residential unit to be exempt from paying sewer service charges for that residence.

  • Property Tax Exemptions and Appeals: Our office helps eligible homeowners apply for exemptions to lower their tax bill. If you are a senior citizen (65+), a senior with a total household annual income of $65,000 or less, a person with disabilities, or a veteran with disabilities, you may qualify for a property tax exemption. We can also help you file an appeal with the Cook County Assessor or Board of Review. Appeals contest the assessed value of your property. If the reviewing body reduces it, you will see a reduction in your property taxes.

  • Food Assistance Programs: Get help applying for SNAP benefits and find free groceries or a meal at a local food pantry by visiting www.chicagosfoodbank.org