Abby Miller

Quantum Shore developers expect to spend millions on site remediation at old South Works site Related Midwest and CRG re-enrolled the 440-acre project into a remediation program with plans to install barriers to minimize health risks and improve resident safety, as recent tests found metals an...

Developers Related Midwest and CRG will pay upward of $100 million to remediate the former U.S. Steel South Works site, where petroleum hydrocarbons, metals and other isolated substances have been found in the soil and groundwater:
chicago.suntimes.com/environment/...

Transcript: Gregory Bovino says arrestees in downtown Chicago chosen partly based on ‘how they look’ WBEZ reporter Chip Mitchell spoke with U.S. Border Patrol commander about a deportation blitz downtown and in the upscale River North neighborhood. Here is the transcript and unedited audio interview.

Gregory Bovino, commander-at-large of the U.S. #BorderPatrol, claims a @wbez.org/@chicago.suntimes.com report about his comments Sunday in downtown #Chicago was "grossly inaccurate" and taken out of context. So we've posted the interview's unedited AUDIO and TRANSCRIPT:
www.wbez.org/immigration/...

Former Cabrini-Green site gets a new developer, with plans calling for apartments, condos and townhomes The Chicago Housing Authority selected a new development team for its 7-acre vacant plot of land, after the project's previous developers backed out.

The Chicago Housing Authority selected a new development team for its 7-acre vacant plot of land, after the project’s previous developers backed out.

Sending National Guard to Chicago could cost taxpayers nearly $1.6 million a day, analysis says The estimated cost is based on figures from past deployments and on 3,000 troops potentially being sent to Chicago, though no official number has been made public.

Sending National Guard to Chicago could cost taxpayers nearly $1.6 million per day, analysis finds

(No paywall at the Chicago Sun-Times/Chicago Public Media)

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Trump’s planned Chicago blitz would use naval base to house ICE agents, possibly National Guard Agents with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement would operate out of Naval Station Great Lakes near North Chicago throughout September, according to an email from a Navy captain who said there were "a lot of concerns and questions" about the plan.

EXCLUSIVE: DHS, ICE and CBP agents — and possibly National Guard troops — would operate from a suburban naval base for much of next month as part of President Donald Trump’s plan to target Chicago, per an email from Navy leadership obtained by CST.

They'd be at Naval Station Great Lakes Sept. 2-30.

Cutting parking for homes built near transit aims to ease housing crunch A recently passed city ordinance that eliminates some parking minimums could lead to lower building costs, more housing and lower rents, experts say.

Meeting Chicago’s parking requirements for housing developments has been a headache for developers. But an ordinance eliminating parking minimums near public transit could change that — and with it, bring more housing to the city at a time where it's desperately needed:

Chicago's iconic Merchandise Mart could soon be up for sale The possible listing comes at a time when office vacancies continue to hit record highs across Chicago's neighborhoods — including River North, where the Mart sits along the river.

The Merchandise Mart’s New York-based owner is eyeing a sale of the building as Chicago’s office market continues to post record-high vacancies: chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...

Lincoln Yards was supposed to transform the North Side. What went wrong? Developer Sterling Bay is losing the Lincoln Park site to impatient lenders. Now, Chicago's JDL Development is close to swooping in, sources tell the Sun-Times.

Lincoln Yards was supposed to transform the North Side. What went wrong? Developer Sterling Bay is losing the Lincoln Park site to impatient lenders. Now, Chicago’s JDL Development is close to swooping in, sources tell the @chicago.suntimes.com
chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...

Woman, 66, suffers broken arm in hit-and-run during downtown Chicago anti-ICE protests, police say The woman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released, Chicago police said.

A 66-year-old woman suffered a broken left arm in a hit-and-run Tuesday evening while during a downtown anti-ICE protest, officials said.

buff.ly/wHV1ATT

How to build more affordable housing? Tax vacant properties, say University of Chicago students Three undergraduate students at the University of Chicago won a new housing challenge for proposing a citywide vacancy tax. The tax would fund affordable, infill housing.

Could implementing a citywide vacancy tax help solve Chicago's affordable housing crisis? Three students at the University of Chicago found the tax could raise $30 million annually to fund infill housing in the city:

Owners of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Oak Park home selling after nearly 27 years The home, designated as a landmark in Oak Park, was among Wright's first homes to include a picture window and other mainstays seen in his later work.

The owners of a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Oak Park are hoping that the property’s next owner has a passion for preservation. After nearly 27 years, Tom and Deb Abrahamson are selling their home at 515 Fair Oaks Ave. for an estimated $1.9 million.

Chicago's 'missing middle' housing program adds more neighborhoods, extends developer deadline The program aimed at turning vacant city land into housing for working middle-class families recently expanded to include three South Side neighborhoods.

ICYMI: The city of Chicago is opening up its missing middle housing program to three South Side neighborhoods this year. Community organizations are hopeful the program can reactivate their neighborhoods' vacant lots and help new homeowners build generational wealth:

The CST Guild is aware of the third-party “summer guide” content in the May 18 edition of the Sun-Times newspaper.

This was a syndicated section made externally without the knowledge of the members of our newsroom.

We’re deeply disturbed that AI-generated content was printed alongside our work.

Illinois food businesses in the crosshairs of trade war Trump says will boost U.S. manufacturing Produce from warm climates can’t be re-shored to the U.S. for year-round consumption, like some industrial and consumer goods.

President Donald Trump says his tariffs will re-shore U.S. manufacturing, yet food businesses like those in Illinois are especially hard hit by his trade war.

Trump Tower plaza barricades pulled back after months of complaints The fencing violated the planned development ordinance requiring open access to the 1.2-acre public plaza, according to the city’s Department of Planning and Development.

After months of the public being blocked from using the riverfront plaza outside Trump Tower, the building’s management relented Tuesday and moved the fences under pressure from city officials.
With Fran Spielman and @szreports.bsky.social: chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...

'Broken system' of property tax appeals put extra $2 billion on Cook County homeowners, treasurer says Chicago had some of the worst disparities in the county, with businesses’ tax bills dropping nearly 20% while residential bills increased by more than 16% during the 2021 to 2023 reassessment cycle.

Cook County is saddled with a “broken system” of property tax appeals that gives breaks to business owners and wealthy white homeowners — while shifting nearly $2 billion of tax burden to the lowest income homeowners, according to a report from the county treasurer’s office.

Some notable numbers 🧵⬇️

Cabrini-Green investor departures force CHA to regroup on Near North development site The agency has reissued a request for developer interest in property at Clybourn Avenue and Larrabee Street, where it wants mixed-income housing.

The Chicago Housing Authority has posted a new call for developers interested in the vacant property at Clybourn Avenue and Larrabee Street after initial investors backed out. With David Roeder:
chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...

Developer Sterling Bay hands over portion of $6B Lincoln Yards site to lender CEO Andy Gloor called the land surrender “an unfortunate pause” in a letter to investors but said they “remain committed" to the vision for megadevelopment Lincoln Yards.

CEO Andy Gloor called the land surrender “an unfortunate pause” in a letter to investors but said they “remain committed” to the vision for megadevelopment Lincoln Yards.

A wronged Wright on Chicago's West Side could receive long-needed repairs Preservationists see the correction of building code violations at the Walser House as a critical first step toward the early Frank Lloyd Wright home being saved and reused.

Today, the Sun-Times announces expanded architecture coverage with my switch from editorial board member/monthly architecture columnist to full-time architecture critic. "The change reflects Chicago’s strong interest in the built environment — and the forces that shape it ..."

A sad day at work today.
Relieved about no layoffs, but these 30 buyouts include 23 people from the newsroom. 💔

Support your local news outlets 🙏

To protect public media we need more journalists in our newsroom — not fewer. #ProtectMyPublicMedia

Trump's latest tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China have Illinois businesses facing 'scary times' From breweries to farms, businesses are bracing for higher costs as well as product and supply chain disruptions — and the hits could impact what consumers pay.

Trump's latest tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China have Illinois businesses facing 'scary times' chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...

United Center owners scoop up parking lots near the stadium ahead of 1901 Project's planned kickoff An affiliate of the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families paid nearly $10 million for two surface parking lots, after trying last year to purchase the lots for an estimated $8 million.

The United Center’s owners have bought two more parking lots near the stadium as they aim to start a planned $7 billion transformation of the surrounding area this summer: chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...

After McDonald's rolled back its DEI initiatives last month, I reviewed the policies of 15 other major Illinois-based companies. Many still referenced DEI online and in annual reports, but some have changed their policies within the last month. 1/8

Divisive Old Town residential development going before Chicago Plan Commission Ald. Brian Hopkins and developer Fern Hill reached a compromise for the project, but some local groups still aren't happy with the plans.

Chicago Plan Commission meets at 10 a.m. this morning with a divisive project on its agenda: a 379-foot residential tower in Old Town. The developer and Ald. Brian Hopkins reached a compromise to reduce the project's scale, but some neighbors are still opposed: chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...

Black-owned bookstores in Chicago struggle after 2020 surge 'as if supporting us was a trend' Black bookstores saw a spike in interest after 2020's social justice movement. But that support has waned, they say, and with the economic downturn since the pandemic and competition from online retai...

Black-owned bookstores in Chicago struggle now after 2020 surge 'as if supporting us was a trend'
chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0... by @mariahrush.bsky.social

Collaboraction Theatre breaks ground on 'transformative' Humboldt Park space The Emmy-award winning theater company's new space, House of Belonging, is designed to uplift, connect and make an impact as an arts and community hub.

Emmy Award-winning Collaboraction Theatre Company broke ground Thursday with the House of Belonging, a new space designed to serve as an arts anchor and community hub in Humboldt Park.

Trump's impending tariffs on Chinese goods create uncertainty, higher costs for Chicago businesses The 10% tax on Chinese imports has Chicago businesses bracing for higher costs and other rippling effects on their operations, including getting caught in an escalating trade war.

Trump's impending tariffs on Chinese goods create uncertainty, higher costs for Chicago businesses: chicago.suntimes.com/politics/don...

Taxpayers are out more than $30 million on University of Illinois' scuttled South Loop project That's how much taxpayers had to pay when the University of Illinois pulled the plug on plans for its Discovery Partners Institute research hub at the sprawling 62-acre South Loop site being marketed…

Taxpayers are out more than $30 million after the University of Illinois pulled the plug on plans for its Discovery Partners Institute research hub in South Loop.

Donald Trump's tariff threat has Chicago's construction industry bracing for impact Some developers and contractors are taking a wait-and-see approach, while others are scrambling to prepare for taxes that could increase prices.

Trump's tariff threat has Chicago's construction industry bracing for impact.

“Before there was even talk of the tariffs, we’ve had an issue with not enough cranes in the sky,” said Tom Cuculich, executive director of Chicagoland Associated General Contractors.

chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...