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Leslie Hairston

Leslie Hairston
Leslie Hairston

Desmon Yancy, The First Black Man To Represent Chicago’s 5th Ward, Makes The Jump From Organizer To City Council

Yancy, who will take over for longtime Ald. Leslie Hairston, looks forward to "leading our community through a really important transformation" as the Obama Center is built.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Promontory Point Is Now A Chicago Landmark, A Major Victory For Activists Who Fought For Decades

Ald. Leslie Hairston, who advocated to "save the Point" for two decades, saw it landmarked in her final City Council meeting before retirement.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Promontory Point Landmarking, Pullman Coffee Roaster, Bronzeville Co-Working Hub Head To City Council Votes

The Point's limestone steps have been at the center of the effort to landmark the park in recent years. The City Council's zoning committee approved the landmark proposal Tuesday.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Ald. Leslie Hairston Hosts Her Last Ward Meeting Before Leaving City Council: ‘I Will Still Be Around The Neighborhood’

Hairston's brief sendoff touted the Obama Center, Regal Mile Studios, Local Market in South Shore, the Greater Grand Crossing library and other projects in the 5th Ward during her 24-year tenure.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

11 Hopefuls Aim To Replace Ald. Leslie Hairston In Packed 5th Ward Race

The South Side's 5th Ward, which includes parts of Hyde Park, Woodlawn and South Shore, is a hotbed of economic and political attention as the home of the future Obama Presidential Center.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Ald. Leslie Hairston Won’t Seek Reelection After 24 Years Serving Hyde Park

Hairston is the fifth City Council member retiring in 2023. "For more than 30 years, I have held jobs serving the public and it is time for me to look at the next chapter of my life," she said in a statement.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Jeffery Pub Hit-And-Run Victim Donald Huey Moved To L.A. To Get Out Of Chicago. Visiting For His Grandma’s Birthday, He Was Killed, Sister Says

Huey was thriving in California before he was killed outside the bar. As police look for the driver, loved ones and the alderperson are questioning why it reportedly took more than 20 minutes for police to arrive to the scene.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

300 Apartments Near Obama Center Will Remain Affordable For Decades As Jackson Park Terrace Sells For $25 Million

The commitment to maintain affordable housing at Jackson Park Terrace comes as Woodlawn residents work to prevent displacement amid the Obama Center’s construction.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

$15 Million Fund To Help South Shore Condo, Co-Op Owners Fix Up Housing Approved By Council

The program will be piloted in a Crandon Avenue building to make repairs and stabilize the homeowner association’s finances. But Obama CBA organizers have criticized the move.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

$15 Million Fund To Help South Shore Condo, Co-Op Owners Fix Up Housing Up For Final City Council Vote

If passed, the fund would direct $5 million of affordable housing funds per year toward loans and grants for struggling homeowners associations and residents of shared-ownership housing.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Wallace Goode, Former Hyde Park Chamber Director, To Run For City Council Seat Held By Leslie Hairston

Goode stepped down last month from the Hyde Park Chamber, after nearly doubling its membership totals during his time as executive director. Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) has not yet announced whether she'll run again.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Promontory Point Lovers Celebrate Rep. Kelly’s Request To Fund Long-Delayed Study Into Saving Park’s Limestone

With earmarks returning to Congress this year, Rep. Robin Kelly has requested $550,000 for an independent study into preserving Promontory Point.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

UChicago’s $3 Million Plan For Dozens Of South Side Surveillance Cameras Gets City Council Approval

City Council accepted $3 million from the university Monday. Ald. Sophia King said she'll use ward money on more cameras and security to complement the university's efforts.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

2 Vacant South Shore Properties Will Be Redeveloped — And The City Wants Neighbors’ Ideas

At a ward meeting, UHaul also shared plans to add two floors to its 71st Street store and a developer previewed plans to build a 14-unit apartment building in Woodlawn.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

UChicago Offers City $3 Million For More Surveillance Cameras, License Plate Readers Near South Side Campus

More than 100 cameras and plate readers will be placed in communities around UChicago's Hyde Park campus after City Council unanimously approved the funding.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

South Shore Building To Get Loan, Grant Money For Repairs As City Pilots Fund To Support Neighborhood’s Condos, Co-Ops

The fund will help existing South Shore residents "remain in their home [and] access needed repairs and maintenance," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Police Say More Cops, Traffic Stops Coming To University Of Chicago Campus — But Students Ask: Will That Make Us Safer?

After two murders and gunfire near the University of Chicago campus Nov. 9, the city and university have set a clear focus on boosting policing and surveillance.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

More Police, Surveillance Cameras Coming To Hyde Park After South Side’s ‘Downtown’ Shot Up, 2 Killed In Separate Incidents

UChicago Police will immediately increase its off-campus presence, officials said. "We're not going to police ourselves out of this. We're not going to program ourselves out of this. It takes a bunch of work," Ald. Leslie Hairston said.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

Dine-In Cinema, Bowling Alley And Creole Restaurant In South Shore Now Eyeing 2023 Opening

Developer Alisa Starks said the entertainment center will be done by November 2023 at the latest, eight years after project plans leaked.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore

$3 Million Project To Replace Century-Old Water Mains In South Shore Kicks Off In October

Residents along 67th and 69th streets and Cornell, East End and Ridgeland avenues will see temporary water shutoffs, traffic closures and parking restrictions while the pipes are replaced.

Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore
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