Leslie Hairston

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.