Neighborhoods
Hyperlocal stories, news, and guides exploring the unique character and happenings of the city's diverse neighborhoods.
Candyland Prom returns, celebrating Chicago's LGBTQ+ youth
Prom King Macario Meza, Prom Queer Moon, and Prom Queen Iselle Jiménez were honored in Little Village, Chicago, as the 'Candyland' themed prom celebrated LGBTQ+ youth in 2026.
Horoscope for Sunday June 21 2026: Solstice Brings Cosmic Shifts
On Sunday, June 21, 2026, the longest day of the year will not only mark the astronomical summer solstice but also witness the sun's shift into Cancer, following a rare celestial dance of Venus, Jupit
City Hall Artwork Missing from Lightfoot Aide's Office
A 3-foot-by-5-foot abstract painting by artist Bill Cass, estimated to be worth up to $1,000, has vanished from the City Hall office formerly occupied by ex-Mayor Lori Lightfoot's chief operating offi
City Council Approves Mixed-Use Development at 3240 W Lawrence
In a city often defined by its car culture, Chicago's City Council just approved a 26-unit residential development in Albany Park with zero car parking spaces!
City Council Approves Residential Development at 2210 W
The Chicago City Council has given the green light to a four-story building with just six residential units and six parking spaces at 2210 W.
Man, 21, fatally shot in Ford City Mall parking lot
At 2:50 a.m. Saturday, a 21-year-old man from South Bend, Indiana, was fatally shot in the head in the Ford City Mall parking lot. Police identified the victim as Martin Isaac Cantu Murillo, according
CPS grad Destiny Singleton heads to Stanford, overcoming ICE hurdles
Destiny Singleton, who once spoke to the Chicago school board about the trauma of mass immigration arrests, is now headed to Stanford University!
Cities work to fix storm damage
In New York City, the market value of real estate in the 100-year floodplain has surged to over $176 billion, a 44% increase since Superstorm Sandy.
North Side Queer Pride Launches New Rogers Park Celebration Series
After a community survey explicitly requested free events, all North Side Queer Pride (NSQP) celebrations in Rogers Park from June 26-28 will be entirely free to attend, according to...
Save A Lot operator death threatens Chicago food access
On April 10, the sudden death of Yellow Banana CEO Joseph Canfield triggered a default in the company's $13.
Bears Commit $2 Billion to Indiana Stadium Project
With a decisive 95-4 vote, Indiana lawmakers approved a $1 billion incentive package, paving the way for the Chicago Bears to abandon their historic Illinois roots for a new stadium in Hammond.
Foster Beach ramps close June 4-5 amid parking restrictions
Oh, Chicago! Our beloved lakefront, usually a beacon of open access, is facing some serious changes this weekend. Police are gearing up for large youth gatherings at Foster Beach on June 4 and June 5,
Old Town Pour House Reopens in The Loop
Old Town Pour House is set to occupy a sprawling 6,206-square-foot space at 120 N.
Edgewater Street Renamed for LGBTQ+ Activist Lori Cannon
On what would have been her 75th birthday, over 200 people gathered in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood to witness the renaming of a major block of North Broadway to "Honorable Lori Cannon Way.
Mount Greenwood store fights city copyright claim over firefighter swag
A Mount Greenwood store, Shrader's Goods, faces the loss of 70% of its merchandise after the City of Chicago issued a cease-and-desist for selling items with city and Chicago Fire Department logos.
Block Club Unveils 120+ Chicago Sweet Spots 2026 Guide
More than 120 ice cream shops, cafes, bakeries, and paleterias across Chicago are now cataloged in a single, comprehensive guide.
Taste of Chicago 2026 Adds Common, Beach Bunny, and Babyface to Lineup
The Taste of Chicago has already locked in headliners Common, Beach Bunny, and Babyface, alongside 84 food vendors and 20 food trucks, for its 2026 festival.
Cyclists Ride of Silence 2026: Court Cases Advance After Fatalities
On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, hundreds of cyclists rode silently through Chicago, a solemn tribute to fallen riders.
City moves to foreclose on Englewood junkyard owner's vacant lots
After years of inaction, the City of Chicago is now seeking to foreclose on eight Englewood properties owned by Paul A.
Chicago council allows 36-inch native plants in registered gardens
Chicago City Council voted to allow native plants in registered parkway gardens to grow up to 36 inches tall, a significant increase from previous restrictions.
Chicago committee approves Rogers Park affordable housing plan
In a stark contrast to typical Chicago development, the City Council's zoning committee just approved an 80-unit apartment complex in Rogers Park where every single unit will be below market rate, acc
Vocalo launches new live call-in show with DJ Nudia Hernandez
Despite recently cutting 14 positions across its units, Chicago Public Media is betting on a new live call-in show and a massive signal boost to transform its struggling sister station, Vocalo.
What is Gentrification and Why Does it Displace Communities?
Between 2000 and 2019, 25% of Black residents left Chicago due to factors including school closures, the demolition of public housing, increased policing, and a lack of essential resources, according
Neighborhood Revitalization: Impacts and Equity Challenges
In Pittsburgh's historic Hill District, a substantial $468 million in public-private investments over a 16-year period transformed the urban landscape.
Revitalization Programs: Displacement Risks in Older Neighborhoods
In the 1960s, Portsmouth city officials razed most of the North End neighborhood for a shopping mall and commercial development, displacing 300 families.
Community Participation Alone Won't Deliver Equitable Urban Development in 2026.
Residents living near the $9 billion Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park were not invited to its groundbreaking ceremony, let alone consulted on its planning, according to the Chicago Tribune .
New California Laws Rapidly Increase ADU Housing Density
ADU permits in California's coastal zones, once a 6–12 month ordeal, now move in 3–6 months, according to rgj .
Community grants face cuts, threatening neighborhood resilience in 2026.
Under proposed federal rules, a community organization's grant could be terminated not for fraud or noncompliance, but simply because an agency decides it no longer aligns with 'national interest' or
How City Council Decisions Shape Neighborhood Development
At public engagement events shaping local development in 2026, older, white homeowners are often overrepresented, while renters and people of color are frequently left out, skewing decisions that affe