McDonald's near 95th & Dan Ryan closed?

 I found this photo below on Facebook stating that it's now permanently closed.

Via Joe Myers on Facebook

This location has been here since the early 2000s and it was shocking within the last week to see that there was no one in the parking lot and drive through within the last two or so weeks. With it's location it's very odd that there was no one there or that it was closed.

On the other hand in the handful of times that I've been there as a customer I found that the customer service left a lot to be desired. One time I ordered something and the cashier said nothing and just pointed as if I knew what she was trying to say or ask. So my first thought was that well people finally got wind of the customer service up there and they started to lose business. Though again, this location was always jumping even if I rarely ordered any food there.

Other explanations I've seen has been about violent crime near this McDonald's say some people got shot. As you see in the above pic there is plywood over some of the windows though I don't know if there was a shooting there that affected the building or anyone inside or not.

Another explanation is that just as was done with the lots on the east side of the Red Line's 95th Terminal which used to have a Jim's polish stand, two gas stations and a strip mall, they also bought the property on the west side of the terminal. Just curious how much of this property CTA bought and can be expected to be demolished in the near future.

Regardless looking for something to eat once you get off the bus or train on 95th Street. McDonald's is now one less place to do so.

WGN: Chicago mayoral candidates debate with less than month before election day

 

[VIDEO] Nine mayoral candidates debated last night on WLS-TV from Paul Vallas to Ald. Roderick Sawyer to Chuy Garcia to JaMal Green to Brandon Johnson to Willie Wilson to Kam Buckner to the incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot to Ald. Sophia King. In this report from WGN above they discussed issues such as keeping the Bears in the city, the issue of crime especially on CTA, and of course the issue of migrants being sent to Chicago which is a sanctuary city.

I didn't watch last night's debate however WLS-TV shared the live stream on their YouTube channel which I will share below [VIDEO]

I hope you're all staying warm out there... #Chiberia

 Well, I'm glad there wasn't a lot of snow Thursday night. At the same time it was a beast to get around if the streets and expressways weren't clear.

The snow has given way to frigid temperatures as I look on my phone this morning at about 9:30 AM -5°F out there according to my Yahoo weather app. I hope you have heat at home, if not from Mayor Lori Lightfoot on twitter, there are warming centers out there for you.

Winter Storm is coming! DFSS six community service centers operates as warming centers & are open from 9am-5pm. Our Garfield Center is available 24/7 to connect residents to shelter!

Call 3-1-1 to find your nearest warming center & for well being checks! #StayWarmChicago ❄️ pic.twitter.com/Bvszwnll9N

— Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (@ChiFamSupport) December 22, 2022

Of course call 311 if you want more updated information on warming shelters.

How are you preparing for the winter storm?

 

[VIDEO] This WGN report shows shoppers going to their local Pete's Fresh Market in Matteson to stock on food and supplies. I'm sure there could be a report on going to a hardware store picking up shovels, salt or snowmelt among other things to dig out of the snow.

Here's a report from NBC 5 about the snow storm. Of course I would recommend using a weather app on your phone - iPhone especially - I like to use the WGN weather app to check radar. Of course you can use it to check for weather forecasts also.

I hope you don't have to get out of the house once the storm hits of course save for having to go to work. :(

Also I'm hearing about very low temps, time to buy a new coat also. BRRR...

Trains Are Awesome: Metra has a holiday train

 

[VIDEO] YouTube channel Trains Are Awesome shows the Holiday Train that runs on the Metra Electric line. We know about the CTA Holiday Train which is currently running through Christmas, but I never knew about a Metra Holiday Train which is chronicled here as Thom boards that train from Homewood to come into the Randolph Street station for gift bags and a hot chocolate from Starbuck's.

Here are some more details from Metra however note tickets are sold out, however, there's always next year now that you know. The train itself runs on three Saturdays this month and sadly today Dec. 17th is the last day it will run this month. So there's always next year if you want to check it out.

Happy holidays.

CBS Chicago: City council approves funding for CTA Red Line extension

 

[VIDEO] Here are a few more details from Crain's, this TIF was noted in a recent CTA video about the future extension from 95th Street to 130th Street.

The City Council on Wednesday approved the creation of a new tax-increment financing district to create $950 million over three decades to help pay for the $3.6 billion extension of the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line from 95th Street south to 130th Street.

“Our community has been disconnected” from the city, said Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, whose Far South Side ward will be home to much of the extended rail line. Beale, who’s a frequent critic of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, thanked the mayor for pushing for the TIF to support the project.

The new TIF will capture future property tax growth within portions of five wards—the 3rd, 4th, 11th, 25th and downtown 42nd—to pay for land acquisition and other costs involved in the project.

The 5.6-mile extension plan also includes four new stations to be located at 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue (between 115th and 116th streets) and a new 130th Street terminal.

Anyone see the holiday train this year

[VIDEO] It ran on the red line over the past weekend and will be in service through Christmas and there is a holiday bus that will also be in service through Christmas. You can find a schedule for the holiday train and bus here.

Meanwhile you can check out what artistmac recording when the Holiday Train stopped at 47th Street on the red line recently. I do hope this raises your spirits this holiday season.

WBEZ: The other Michigan Ave in Roseland poised for a comeback

 I would like to see the shopping strip south of 111th Street at least get the attention it needs. From Chicago Public Radio:

Roseland is the last of the 10 communities targeted for redevelopment under the city’s ambitious INVEST South/West economic program; Michigan Avenue is a centerpiece. Compared to other neighborhoods struggling with vacant land, this part of Michigan Avenue has comparatively few – only 10 empty lots, according to my informal count.

The city owns three vacant lots in the vicinity, including the former Gately’s department store at the corner of 112th and Michigan. The city’s vision for that location is housing with retail stores. The planned CTA Red Line extension is a few blocks south near 116th and Michigan, and the city wants to develop the land next to it. And there’s a third vacant lot that was the site of a movie theater that Cox sees as a blank canvas.

Other elements of the city’s revitalization plan include affordable housing, transit-oriented development and retail connected to the emerging medical district anchored by the nearby Roseland Community Hospital. Normally when the city looks to redevelop land it owns, its department of planning and development, which Cox leads, puts out a request for proposals.

“We found that that was an unfair barrier for a lot of Black and brown developers,” Cox said. Instead Cox says the city is asking for a request of qualifications for Michigan Avenue. Developers and architects will then be matched up to create a joint venture. Those teams will each get a $20,000 to $30,000 stipend from a philanthropic foundation to pitch a proposal.

“We eliminate that barrier of smaller emerging developers from being able to compete and having to advance those dollars to come up with their proposals,” Cox said.

The community will hear the proposals by March 2023.

Read the whole thing. Perhaps this is something that those candidates running for Alderman in Ward 9 where this strip is located can express their ideas.

Oh and there is a theater in the neighborhood still standing waiting for redevelopment although if that vacant lot that once had a theater is the State Theater perhaps if they could make a good deal with the Post Office. 

Capitol Fax: Chicago poll shows crime and public safety far above any other issues for voters

A poll showing the standing amongst likely voters of the candidates running against incumbent Mayor Lightfoot also who do Chicago's likely voters view the crime issue. Is the crime issue important to them?

Chicago poll shows crime and public safety far above any other issues for voters https://t.co/9iO4jMcAsJ

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) December 13, 2022