Chicago City Council Advances Ward Remap for Three South Side Districts

Chicago City Council has reached a tentative deal to remap the city's 50 aldermanic wards for the next 10 years, splitting Hyde Park from two wards into three: the 4th, 5th, and 20th Wards.

Ward Boundary Changes

The proposed map places most of East Hyde Park and Indian Village in the 5th Ward. The 4th Ward will contain the area between 53rd Street, Hyde Park Boulevard, and Woodlawn and Lake Park avenues. These shifts require final approval before the new lines take effect for the coming decade.

Tax Increment Financing Support

City Council previously approved a $11.3 million Tax Increment Financing assistance for a new $115 million mixed-use project in Hyde Park, which includes 180 apartments and 120,000 square feet of retail space. This funding decision already passed but ties into ongoing development oversight in the affected wards.

Special Service Area Extension

Business leaders in Hyde Park are seeking a 10-year extension for Special Service Area #61, a local tax district established in 2013 that funds expanded services along 53rd and 55th Streets and Lake Park Avenue. The request moves to formal review by the council in coming sessions.

Housing Ordinance Introduction

Alderman Desmon Yancy of the 5th Ward introduced the South Shore Housing Preservation Ordinance to address housing affordability concerns near the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. The measure now enters committee consideration before any vote.

Next Steps for Implementation

Council members will next hold hearings on the remap boundaries and the SSA extension request. The introduced ordinance will advance through standard legislative review while the approved TIF project proceeds under existing oversight. Residents can track updates through ward offices and city meeting schedules.