{"id":774972,"date":"2026-05-05T13:27:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/774972\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T13:27:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:27:20","slug":"could-united-center-redevelopment-help-a-landmark-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/774972\/","title":{"rendered":"Could United Center redevelopment help a landmark church?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, Chicago. \u2736<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd0e Below<\/b>: Residents and leaders are criticizing Walgreens\u2019 decision to close its only Chatham location when the South and West sides have fewer pharmacy locations than other areas of the city.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f Plus<\/b>: Lawmakers tackle a deadline to keep the Bears in Illinois, what major redevelopment around the United Center may mean for a 140-year-old church and more news you need to know.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdd Keeping score<\/b>: The Cubs beat the Reds<\/a>, 5-4; the White Sox shut out the Angels<\/a>, 6-0.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udce7 Subscribe<\/b>: Get this newsletter delivered to your inbox weekday mornings.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u23f1\ufe0f: An 8-minute read<\/p>\n

TODAY\u2019S WEATHER \u2601\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Mostly cloudy with a high near 60.<\/p>\n

TODAY\u2019S TOP STORY \ud83d\udd0e<\/p>\n

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\"Flanked<\/p>\n

Ald. William Hall (6th) speaks at a news conference criticizing the planned closure of the Walgreens store in Chatham.<\/p>\n

Leaders, residents decry Walgreens\u2019 decision to close only Chatham location<\/a>By Mariah Rush<\/a><\/p>\n

Store closing<\/b>: Dozens of South Side residents gathered Monday outside of a Chatham Walgreens, waving signs saying \u201cSenior Lives Matter\u201d and \u201cEnd Corporate Abandonment,\u201d after learning the store will be closing June 4. Walgreens said theft and violent incidents led to its decision to close the shop at 8628 S. Cottage Grove Ave. It\u2019s the only Walgreens in the neighborhood, with the nearest location more than one mile away.<\/p>\n

Residents\u2019 concerns<\/b>: Neighbors and local leaders say low-income families visit the store because it\u2019s within walking distance, and that the area has a large population of older adults who don\u2019t drive and rely on the pharmacy for medication access.<\/p>\n

Key context<\/b>: Since 2025, at least seven Walgreens locations on the South Side have shuttered or will close, including the area\u2019s only specialty pharmacy at 2351 E. 71st St., which will shut May 19. The South and West sides have fewer pharmacies than other areas of the city. Access to the two largest pharmacy chains in Chicago, Walgreens and CVS, is much higher in the city\u2019s majority white communities than in majority Black or Latino areas.<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

STADIUM SAGA \ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f<\/p>\n

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\"Renderings<\/p>\n

Rendering of a proposed Bears stadium in Arlington Heights.<\/p>\n

Provided by Manica Architecture<\/p>\n

Homeowners\u2019 property tax relief is \u2018negligible\u2019 in current Bears stadium bill<\/a>By Mitchell Armentrout<\/a><\/p>\n

Not settled<\/b>: A residential property tax relief provision helped the Chicago Bears\u2019 stadium bill pass the Illinois House last month, but Gov. JB Pritzker\u2019s office says any help for homeowners under the proposal would be \u201cnegligible.\u201d <\/p>\n

Clock is running<\/b>: That sends lawmakers back to the drawing board to hammer out so-called megaproject legislation that can keep together a diverse Democratic caucus \u2014 and keep the Bears in Illinois. The Illinois Senate reconvenes Tuesday with four weeks left to reach a deal.<\/p>\n

Key context<\/b>: Dozens of other states have such megaproject legislation to incentivize large-scale developments, allowing companies that invest in big projects to negotiate discounted payments with local taxing bodies. Pritzker has long pushed for such a measure to attract business to Illinois.<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN \ud83d\udcd0<\/p>\n

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\"Greater<\/p>\n

Greater Union Baptist Church on Chicago\u2019s Near West Side was built 140 years ago as Church of the Redeemer.<\/p>\n

Anthony Vazquez\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n

Could United Center redevelopment effort help a landmark church?<\/a>By Lee Bey<\/a><\/p>\n

Once-grand landmark<\/b>: It\u2019s hard to miss the 140-year-old Greater Union Baptist Church\u2019s imposing red brick Romanesque Revival exterior at 1956 W. Warren Blvd. It was built for a congregation of 600, but today has about 40 members, and has been closed for services since 2022 due to a faulty HVAC system. Gas service to the building is also shut off because of an unpaid $14,000 bill. <\/p>\n

Key context<\/b>: The church, a protected city landmark since 2023, is on the north edge of the area covered by The 1901 Project, the United Center owners\u2019 $7 billion plan to convert acres of parking lots around the stadium into a new community of residential, retail, parks and entertainment spaces.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next?<\/b>: Much of the neighborhood that once supported Greater Union was wiped away by years of demolition; in more recent decades, residences closest to the stadium were bulldozed to create parking. Will the historic church somehow benefit from the new neighborhood that will rise around it? Sun-Times columnist Lee Bey considers the outlook.<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

MORE NEWS YOU NEED \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f<\/p>\n

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\"Members<\/p>\n

Members of the Chicago Zoological Society teamsters picket Monday outside the Brookfield Zoo.<\/p>\n

Anthony Vazquez\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n