Southport Corridor News and Events – Chicago, Illinois – Page 59 – Chicago’s Southport Corridor in Chicago’s Lakeview Neighborhood. All the latest news of what is happening in and around Lakeview's Southport Corridor neighborhood.

Cubs unveil plans for Wrigley Field DraftKings Addition

Cubs going before the Commission on Chicago Landmarks today with plans for a two-story addition to Wrigley Field, which would house the team’s sportsbook. First look at new renderings here:

The Chicago Cubs are seeking city approval to build a two-story addition to Wrigley Field that would house one of the first betting operations at a major U.S. pro sports venue, a move that comes as a City Council committee sits on a proposed ordinance to allow it.

The team is slated to go before the Commission on Chicago Landmarks today to present its plans for a 22,350-square-foot structure that would be developed along the southeast corner of the stadium at Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street, team plans show.

It’s a key step toward building the future DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field—part of a sponsorship deal the team struck last year with Boston-based DraftKings—and stands to make gambling an integral part of game day at the Friendly Confines.

Illinois school mask mandate to take effect immediately in K-12 schools, daycares, Pritzker says

The decision is being praised by school mask advocates, and criticized by those favoring choice.

Gov. JB Pritzker announced a statewide school mask mandate Wednesday afternoon as the delta variant spreads in Illinois. It will apply to all K-12 schools and daycares, both public and private.

Pritzker made the announcement after watching key COVID indicators going up – and after seeing so many school districts across the state deciding to make masking optional.

2022 Chicago Cubs Schedule

From The Chicago Cubs and MLB:

Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs today announced the tentative 2022 regular season schedule. The Cubs will open their 147th season at the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, March 31, with the Wrigley Field opener taking place Monday, April 4, against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cubs will open their 147th season Thursday, March 31.

Watch: CTA Moves 1,000-Ton Historic Building 30 Feet

If you thought your last move was a hassle, CTA has got you beat: The agency just relocated an entire building.

For 127 years, the Vautravers Building stood at 947 W. Newport Ave. in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. It now sits roughly 30 feet to the west and 10 feet to the south after a two-day herculean effort this week to slide the 1,000-ton structure out of the way of the CTA Red and Purple Line tracks.

Here is what is coming to 3347-49 N. Southport Avenue

It’s been close to a year since this abandoned building has been torn down for a new Transit-Oriented Development.

Two years ago, proposed plans came out on a new TOD development replacing an abandoned building at 3347-49 N. Southport. The original proposal was not received too well by the community, and the developer came back with a new plan, going from 6 floors down to 5 back in November, 2019.

Uncommon Ground requiring proof of vaccination or mask up

Starting August 3, Uncommon Ground announced via Facebook proof of vaccination or required masks. A number of local businesses are starting the vaccination trend including SoulCycle, Sidetrack, DS Tequila and The Metro.

The Metro requiring COVID-19 vaccinations to attend concerts

Iconic North Side concert venue the Metro is requiring concertgoers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

In a tweet Tuesday, the venue made the announcement by stating it’s “acting in the best interest of our most vulnerable communities.”

The venue just held a series of Lollapalooza aftershows, where they recommended masks due to Cook County being in an area of “substantial COVID-19 transmission,” as defined by the CDC.

Metro said that a current negative COVID-19 test will be sufficient for entry. They said the policies are subject to change based on city and state guidelines.

The venue’s next show is scheduled for Friday. Riot Fest headliner Taking Back Sunday will be playing an aftershow at Metro on Sept. 19.

Want to dine in restaurants and bars in North Halsted like DS Tequila and Sidetrack? Get vaccinated.

The city is working on a way for people to digitally prove their vaccination status.

If you want to dine in restaurants and bars in North Halsted like DS Tequila and Sidetrack, you better have proof of COVID vaccination, as it’s now required to get in.

More and more restaurants and nightclubs around Chicago area making that move as COVID cases once again surge, driven by the spread of the delta variant, especially in unvaccinated populations.

These Southport Corridor businesses are now hiring

Practically every business up and down Southport Avenue are currently hiring

Looking for work in the neighborhood? Plenty of places are hiring, and here is a direct link to all the opportunities in and around the Southport Corridor. Details at this link.

When will M2 Boutique be leaving Southport? And more national retailers coming

New national retailers are coming to the former DavidsTEA, Gearhead spaces as well

M2 has lost their lease, and will vacate their current space “30 days after “new” tenant signs.”

And even more national retailers are coming to Southport including the former DavidsTEA location and Uncle Dan’s/Gearhead space – with “large, complicated build-outs.”

See the listing for M2 here from Loopnet.

SoulCycle to require proof of vaccination starting in September

SoulCycle parent company Equinox Group said Monday that its members, riders and staff will be required to show one-time proof of vaccination in order to enter its facilities, beginning early next month.

The company will kick off this effort in New York City, it said in a press release.

To get a sense of vaccination status, Equinox said it recently conducted a survey and found that 96% of its members reported having already been vaccinated against Covid-19, along with 89% of employees.

The high-end fitness chain added that an “overwhelming majority” of its paying customers are in support of mandating vaccines in order to enter its clubs and cycling studios.

“We have a responsibility to take bold action and respond to changing circumstances with urgency,” said Equinox Group Executive Chairman Harvey Spevak. “We encourage other leading brands to join us in this effort to best protect our communities.”

Tom Ricketts issues letter to Chicago Cubs season ticket holders after ‘difficult’ moves at the trade deadline. Read it here.

He commended Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Báez for the joy they brought to fans and as ambassadors to the franchise and city as well as their successes that included awards, franchise records and a World Series title.

From The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts issued his first extended comments since the organization dismantled its core at the trade deadline in an email to season ticket holders Monday morning.

Ricketts, who called this past week extremely hard on everyone, stated “while we believe the decisions we took were right for our organization, they were nonetheless difficult to make.” He commended Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Báez for the joy they brought to fans and as ambassadors to the franchise and city as well as their successes that included awards, franchise records and a World Series title.

In a letter to #Cubs season ticket holders, chairman Tom Ricketts says, in part, “As we reset our team, please know we share your higher expectations. … We’re focused on replenishing our farm system and reloading our roster to build our next great Cubs team.” pic.twitter.com/UJ2Xfzrk97
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) August 2, 2021

“Their individual and collective contributions to our organization cannot be overstated. They are forever etched in Cubs history and the hearts of our fans.”

Ricketts said the last few weeks made it clear the direction the franchise was heading, prompting decisions be made with a focus on the future and not the past.