Frequently Asked Questions about Upcoming Truman Square Zoned Residential Parking

Sometime in 2013, the residential streets of Truman Square will get zoned residential parking between the hours of 6pm and 6am.  Zone 1268 (already in effect on the 4600-4700 blocks of Kenmore) will be expanded to include the 4600-4700 blocks of Winthrop and the 1000-1100 blocks of Leland.  Here are the answers to questions you may have:

Why did this happen?  Just over a year ago, Ald. Cappleman’s office approached each 46th Ward block club to see if they wanted zoned parking for their block club’s area.  We do not know how many block clubs said they wanted it.  Truman Square Neighbors said yes, for these reasons:

1. A 2012 survey, done by the city, showed that more than 45% of the vehicles parked on 4600-4700 Winthrop and 1000-1100 Leland were not registered to people living in Truman Square;
2. The majority of Truman Square’s streets were already in the process of getting, or already had, zoned parking.  4600-4700 Kenmore has had zoned parking for the past seven years; 4600 Winthrop had already gathered the necessary number of signatures to obtain zoned parking on their block; and 4700 Winthrop was preparing to gather signatures for zoned parking on their block.
3. As we all know, it’s nearly impossible for residents or their guests to find parking on Winthrop or Leland on nights when there are concerts at the Aragon and/or Riviera.  Plans for a revived “Uptown Entertainment District” on Lawrence and Broadway will make it even more difficult for us to find street parking near our homes as the area gets busier;
4. Truman Square will be getting more congested, with Sonic and the FlatsTheatre coming to the northern corners of Kenmore and Wilson; and
5. The three-year construction project on the Wilson L station, slated to begin in the fall, will bring more parking congestion to the area around the station.

When will zoned parking happen?  Sometime in 2013.  The alderman’s office said in an email last week:  “It is official that we will have zone parking this year.  I won't have an idea about dates until after it passes council next month.  The wheels have officially begun to turn.”

If you already park on the 4600 and 4700 blocks of Kenmore:  Nothing will change for you.  Zone 1268, which has been in effect on those blocks since 2006, is being expanded to include the surrounding residential streets.

If you park on the affected streets only between 6am and 6pm:  Nothing will change for you.  The residential parking is in effect only between the hours of 6pm and 6am.

If you park only in an off-street garage or parking spot:  Nothing will change for you.  Even if you live in on a street that is residentially zoned, you are not required to buy a zone parking permit unless you park your vehicle on the street.  You may, however, wish to purchase guest passes.

If you park on 4600-4700 Winthrop and 1000-1100 Leland between the hours of 6pm and 6am:  You will need a Zone Permit Parking sticker or a 24-hour guest pass (officially known as a “Daily Residential Parking Permit”) on your vehicle to park on those blocks during the nights and evenings.

How much will a Zone Permit or guest parking pass cost? 

• You can purchase Zone Parking along with your 2013-2014 City Sticker for an additional $25.  This is good until the next time you buy a City Sticker.
• If you would rather wait until the zone parking goes into effect later this year, you can buy the Zone Parking sticker later for $25, but it will mean that you will need to peel the 2013-2014 City Sticker off your windshield and bring it to the City Clerk’s office to receive a new City Sticker with Zone Parking included. 
• You can buy a book of guest passes (Daily Residential Parking Permits), each one good for a 24-hour period, at the 46th Ward Service Office, 4544 North Broadway, during the office’s regular business hours. The cost is $8 for a pack of 15.  These are also available at the City Clerk’s office and online (there is a two-pack minimum for online purchases).

What about people who visit me between 6pm and 6am who need street parking?  You can buy guest passes, each one good for a 24-hour period, at the 46th Ward Service Office, 4544 North Broadway, during the office’s regular business hours.  The cost is $8 for a pack of 15 passes.  Your guest must fill out the pass and stick it to the windshield of the vehicle parked on the street.  You cannot buy more than 30 guest passes in a 30-day period.

What if I don’t want to pay for guest passes or a permit?  It’s up to you, of course.  There are police officers or city employees who check at least once each night on the zoned portions of Kenmore to ensure that all vehicles parked on the street are compliant.  They issue tickets to vehicles that do not display a guest pass or a daily permit.  (A friend recently received a $75 ticket for not filling out her guest pass when she parked her car on Kenmore.)  Other options are to park in areas outside of Truman Square that have no zoned parking, or to park on any of Truman Square’s main streets (Wilson, Sheridan, Lawrence and Broadway), which will not be included in Zone 1268.

**Every address on 4600-4700 Winthrop and 1000-1100 Leland is currently in the “buffer zone” for Zone 1268.  That means that you can already purchase a parking permit for Zone 1268 when you renew your city sticker.**  City sticker sales for 2013-2014 begin this month.  If you don’t want to have to peel the city sticker off your windshield and make a second trip to the City Clerk’s office when the zoned parking goes into effect for 4600-4700 Winthrop and 1000-1100 Leland later this year, you should buy zoned parking for $25 when you buy your city sticker.

For more information about residential zone parking and how to show residency in the zoned area, visit http://chicityclerk.com/city-stickers-parking/about-residential-parking/. 

To check that your address is included in Zone 1268, go to http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/other/provdrs/clerk/svcs/parking_permit_zonelookup.html

** Please share this with your Truman Square neighbors and businesses that may not be Facebook readers, or post this in your building. **

If you would like a PDF copy of this information to share with your neighbors, please write to trumansquare@gmail.com and we will send it to you.