PRESS RELEASES

Arian Ahmadpour 10/27/21 Arian Ahmadpour 10/27/21

Ald. Quinn Secures New Starbucks for 13th Ward: Quinn Leads Extensive Investment in Cicero Avenue Corridor on City’s Southwest Side

Chicago - The full Chicago City Council today passed a measure that paves the way for construction of a new Starbucks at 6413 S. Cicero Ave., a city-owned plot of land that has been vacant for 40 years. Ald. Quinn has pushed for development of the vacant land on the Southwest Side for years.

“I’m excited to move forward on this important investment in our community,” Quinn said. “Breathing new life into the Cicero Avenue corridor is a priority of mine and has brought not just businesses to the area, but energy and jobs to the 13th Ward.”

The new Starbucks location adds to Quinn’s commitment to developing the Cicero Avenue corridor, where he has recruited many other businesses, including Culver’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Lou Malnati’s, Manolo’s Tamales, Taco Bell and others.

The proposed site for the Starbucks in the 13th Ward was a former gas station and will require soil remediation. It also sits in the Midway runway protection zone and can only be 19-feet high. Starbucks has developed a compelling design that will meet all zoning requirements.

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Arian Ahmadpour 10/23/21 Arian Ahmadpour 10/23/21

Guerrero-Cuellar to Convene Hearings Over Soundproof Windows Near Midway & O’Hare Airports

Chicago - Members of the Illinois House Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Roadways, Rail and Aviation will convene two subject matter hearings to hear from local community members and city and state transportation officials about problems and lengthy delays related to the installation of soundproof windows in homes near Midway and O’Hare International Airports.

At the hearings, lawmakers will hear from local community residents impacted by problems with their soundproof windows as well as city and state transportation officials. Lawmakers are working to draft legislation to help address the delays, led by state Reps. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar and Marty Moylan. The legislative hearings are set for:

Midway: 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Balzekas Museum, 2nd floor ballroom, 6500 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago; and
O’Hare: 5 p.m. Monday at Des Plaines City Hall, 1420 Miner St., Des Plaines.

“Problems with soundproof windows and delays in repairing and replacing them have persisted in our community, and many residents have waited far too long for help or not received any help at all,” said Guerrero-Cuellar. “Rep. Moylan and I are committed to finding solutions for every resident who thought their soundproof windows would keep their families safe and comfortable but have caused all kinds of problems instead.”

“Our community members have waited long enough to address the serious issues with soundproofing windows,” said Moylan. “I look forward to working alongside Rep. Guerrero-Cuellar to find solutions and improve the quality of life for families living near Midway and O’Hare International Airports.”

Since 1996, the Chicago Department of Aviation’s Residential Sound Insulation Program (RSIP) has installed soundproof windows for over 20,000 homes around the vicinities of both Midway and O’Hare, but many windows were found to be faulty with both mechanical and chemical issues, including windows emitting foul-smelling gas.

Though previous legislation has been passed in an attempt to remedy these problems, many issues remain to be addressed in the new legislation, including:

Compensating homeowners who have personally paid for and replaced the soundproof windows.
Increasing the number of homes that can have their windows repaired or replaced from 225 per year (a number CDA has provided) to a minimum of 750 per year.
Allowing homeowners with windows that have mechanical issues to qualify to receive repairs.
Preventing homeowners who opted for screens on their windows after the removal of faulty windows from being disqualified from future compensation as they are currently disqualified per CDA’s policy.
Increasing funding for RSIP to repair or replace the windows with reported mechanical and odorous issues.

All attendees at the upcoming hearings must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test on arrival and wear a face covering during the event.

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Arian Ahmadpour 10/20/21 Arian Ahmadpour 10/20/21

Ald. Quinn Paves Way for New Starbucks in 13th Ward: Quinn Leads Extensive Investment in Cicero Avenue Corridor on City’s Southwest Side

Chicago - At the request of Ald. Marty Quinn, the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Housing & Real Estate recently approved a measure that paves the way for construction of a new Starbucks at 6413 S. Cicero Ave., a city-owned plot of land that has been vacant for 40 years. The committee voted unanimously to approve the first step in the process, which includes completing the sale of the property on the Southwest Side.

“Investing in the Cicero Avenue corridor is a priority of mine and has brought not just businesses to the area, but life and energy to our community,” Quinn said. “The Starbucks project, like the others, means much-needed jobs for local residents. I believe the new Starbucks will only add to our thriving neighborhood.”

The next step in developing the Starbucks location along Cicero Avenue is a full vote by the Chicago City Council.

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Arian Ahmadpour 9/20/21 Arian Ahmadpour 9/20/21

Culver’s Brings ButterBurgers and Fresh Frozen Custard to West Lawn; Wisconsin-based restaurant to opens new location

West Lawn, Chicago - The Garfield Ridge/West Lawn Neighborhood is getting a delicious addition. Culver’s® of Chicago-Midway will officially open on Monday September 20, 2021 at 10am. Culver’s is known for its ButterBurgers® and Fresh Frozen Custard.

The restaurant, located at 6541 S. Cicero Ave.. serves quick, casual food, cooked to order, meaning guests' food is not made until after they order it. The location will be open 10 am until 10 pm apart from some holidays. The restaurant is part of GKA Group owned by Guy Hollis which has nine locations in the metro Chicago area. It will be operated on a daily basis by operating partner Casey Quinn.

Casey Quinn is a graduate of the Culver’s Mentoring program. Casey is the youngest operating partner with GKA Group. Casey started working at the Culver’s in Evergreen Park and has developed into one of five mentees under the guidance of Franchisee Guy Hollis. Casey is excited to be a part of this community. He is looking forward to being able to provide work and developmental opportunities to the community.

"We're excited to open and become an active member of the community," said Casey Quinn. "When West Lawn, Clearing and Garfield Ridge, residents are looking for handcrafted meals and tasty frozen treats, we'll be ready to serve them with the warm hospitality Culver’s is known for."

Hollis noted the commitment and relationship with the City of Chicago and local Ald. Marty Quinn (13th Ward). “We have looked at this area for a very very long time but development challenges with various sites prevented us from moving forward. The City of Chicago and Ald, Quinn kept with us the entire time which only reaffirmed our commitment to get a restaurant open on the City of Chicago side of Cicero Avenue.”

“Culver’s has been a wonderful partner in developing a space that further enhances the Cicero Ave. corridor,” Quinn said. “I’m focused on breathing new life into the area and with the help of Culver’s and other businesses, we are seeing incredible growth and new energy throughout our community.”

Culver’s signature sandwich, the ButterBurger, is made with 100% fresh, never frozen beef. It gets its name from its lightly buttered and toasted bun.

Culver’s Fresh Frozen Custard gets its legendary creamy decadence from high-quality, fresh Wisconsin dairy. Each batch is handcrafted throughout the day. Guests can customize their frozen treats with more than 30 mix-ins and toppings. Culver’s offers three flavors of Fresh Frozen Custard every day: vanilla, chocolate and a Flavor of the Day.

Other guest favorites include chicken sandwiches and fresh garden salads. Side options include Crinkle-Cut Fries and Wisconsin Cheese Curds, a Dairyland delicacy. Kids's Meals are also available.

"The outstanding people who serve our guests have helped Culver’s earn our reputation for providing excellent service," said Casey Quinn. "We’re excited to have team members from the surrounding Chicago neighborhoods as part of our team."

Connect with Culver’s of Chicago via eClub. Sign up at https://www.culvers.com/account/register for coupons and delicious menu news.

About Culver’s:
For over 30 years, Culver’s® guests have been treated to cooked-to-order food made with farm-fresh ingredients and served with a smile. The ever-expanding franchise system now numbers over 700 family-owned and operated restaurants in 25 states. The restaurants’ nationally recognized customer service is based on small-town, Midwestern values, genuine friendliness and an unwavering commitment to quality. Signature items include the award-winning ButterBurger®, made from fresh, never frozen beef, and Fresh Frozen Custard, including the famous Flavor of the Day program. For more information, visit www.culvers.com, www.culvers.com/facebook, www.twitter.com/culvers, www.instagram.com/culvers.

All trademarks belong to Culver Franchising System, Inc.

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Arian Ahmadpour 8/27/21 Arian Ahmadpour 8/27/21

Mayor Lightfoot, CPS and Ald. Quinn Celebrate Opening of New, State-Of-The-Art High School on City’s Southwest Side Ahead of the First Day of School on Aug. 30

Chicago - Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Public Schools Interim CEO Dr. Jose Torres, Alderman Marty Quinn (13th Ward), and CPS leadership today joined community members at a ribbon-cutting celebration for the new and improved selective enrollment school, John Hancock High School, located on the Southwest side of the city. The 173,000 sq. ft. high school opens its doors to students on Monday, August 30, and can accommodate more than 1,000 students.

"This celebration serves as an important investment in the long-term success and bright futures of our students from the Southwest Side," said Mayor Lightfoot. "I, alongside Alderman Quinn, Dr. Jose Torres, and members of the community are beyond proud to deliver new, modern facilities and educational resources to support these students and their families just in time for the first day of school."

The new state-of-the-art high school replaces the previous Hancock High School and includes 28 standard classrooms, diverse learning classrooms, two computer labs, four suites for subjects such as science, music, art, and health. In addition, the campus includes rooms for extracurricular activities where students can dance, practice sports and fitness, a gymnatorium, library, media center, theatre, elevators for accessibility, and extra support spaces.

“We are excited to welcome back students at Hancock High School and schools across the city for the new school year, which begins on Monday, August 30,” said Dr. Torres, CPS Interim CEO. “This state-of-the-art high school offers students the opportunity to expand their interests and develop a foundation for future success.”

“Ongoing investments in our schools are a sign of what’s to come for our students everywhere," said Alderman Quinn. "With high-quality academics and a comfortable learning environment, we have invested in the students of Hancock, their education, their hopes, and their dreams.”

Additional educational investments on the Southwest Side include plans to move Sor Juana into the former Hancock School building. CPS will work with the Alderman and the Southwest Education advisory committee to finalize details. CPS will discuss the reuse of the existing Sor Juana building with stakeholders while addressing the need for additional capacity for Early Childhood.

Hancock’s new building joins the ultra-modern Englewood STEM High School as a recent example of the district’s commitment to investing in equal access to high-quality education and resources for all students. CPS will continue to prioritize equity and improving students’ educational experiences in future investments.

Chicago Public Schools serves 361,000 students in 644 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.

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