La Placita de Belmont Cragin

The Project

On May 18th, 2021 Mayor Lightfoot, Choose Chicago, and the Chicago Department of Transportation announced that the Northwest Side CDC was awarded the opportunity to participate in the first round of the revamped Chicago Alfresco program. The program is aimed at supporting neighborhood tourism, small businesses, and activating spaces with arts and culture.

The Northwest Side CDC collaborated with Alderman Village’s office to identify a space in the neighborhood that could support this strategic investment and collaborated on how this space could be activated and maintained as a gateway entrance to the Belmont Cragin community. The proposed plaza will be located at the intersection of W Fullerton and W Grand Avenues and will support street vendors (elotero, paleta, tamale carts and other popular Latin American street foods) in organized “stalls" to support culturally‐relevant dining, public life, community, arts, and culture.

This project is 1 of 15 competitive projects that were awarded and speaks the power of innovative and inclusive collaboration between community, community-based organizations, and their local elected officials to support unique approaches to community and economic development. This builds on the continued placemaking efforts of the Northwest Side CDC which include updated neighborhood banners, new Belmont Cragin branded bike racks, and enhanced micromobility efforts.

Construction of the plaza will start this year. More information to come soon.