Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily
City Council Backs Greyhound, New Housing and Airbag Crackdown
Thursday, June 18, 2026 · 13 min
Chicago City Council approved a $19.2 million Greyhound station purchase, major West Loop and Avondale housing projects, and an airbag-resale crackdown, putting transit preservation, housing supply, and practical public-safety enforcement at the center of City Hall’s reform agenda.
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Show notes
Chicago City Council approved a $19.2 million Greyhound station purchase, major West Loop and Avondale housing projects, and an airbag-resale crackdown, putting transit preservation, housing supply, and practical public-safety enforcement at the center of City Hall’s reform agenda.
In this episode
- City Gives Final OK To Buy Greyhound Bus Station — Block Club Chicago
City Gives Final OK To Buy Greyhound Bus Station The Greyhound bus station, 630 W. Harrison St., on the Near West Side. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago CITY HALL — Chicago will officially be allowed to purchase the city’s Greyhound bus station, a major step toward preserving the station and intercity bus transportation. The City Council on Wednesday approved a purchasing agreement to…
- 29-Story High-Rise With Public Park Coming To West Loop — Block Club Chicago
29-Story High-Rise With Public Park Coming To West Loop Proposed residential tower at 215 W Racine. Credit: Archeo WEST LOOP — A 29-story apartment high-rise is slated for the West Loop after receiving approval from the City Council on Wednesday. The project being developed by Domus Real Estate Group at 215 N. Racine Ave. was approved for a DX-16 zoning designation, typically reserved for…
- Avondale Rental Townhomes To Replace Vacant Lot After Getting City Council Approval — Block Club Chicago
# Avondale Rental Townhomes To Replace Vacant Lot After Getting City Council Approval Author: Ariel Parrella-Aureli Published: 2026-06-17T19:57:25+00:00 Source: blockclubchicago.org (blockclubchicago.org) Language: en ## Story Avondale Rental Townhomes To Replace Vacant Lot After Getting City Council Approval The Northeast corner of California Avenue and Melrose Street with the updated…
- Crackdown On Airbag Resellers Passes Council As Thefts Surge — Block Club Chicago
Crackdown On Airbag Resellers Passes Council As Thefts Surge Cars sit backed up on California Avenue during rush hour traffic near the Kennedy Expressway in Avondale on July 10, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago CITY HALL — A measure aimed at curbing the resale of stolen airbags amid a massive surge in thefts of the devices — mostly from Hondas — passed the City Council unanimously…
- Step Back — When a vacant-lot townhouse project or a West Loop high-rise gets City Council approval, why does it still feel like one alderperson can make or break what gets built — what is “aldermanic prerogative,” and how does it shape both housing supply and corruption risk?
Background sources
- Aldermanic Prerogative Showdown on Tap as City Council Confronts Affordable Housing Shortfall | Chicago News | WTTW — WTTW
- Lincoln Park Apartment Complex Set for OK After Aldermanic Prerogative Fight | Chicago News | WTTW — WTTW
- City Council Lifts Ban on Coach Houses and Granny Flats, But Gives Alderpeople Final Say | Chicago News | WTTW — WTTW
- Federal investigation into affordable housing, aldermanic prerogative in Chicago fizzles - Chicago Sun-Times — Suntimes
- Debate grows over Pritzker’s proposed BUILD housing plan | FOX 32 Chicago — Kasey Chronis