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Growing Green 2026

■ West Sub landlord sues Hospital CEO PAGE 3

FREE Vol. 40 No. 17

April 29, 2026 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com

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Special Section Page B1

Mars Wrigley backs McCaffery Interests’ Fraternite Galewood redevelopment proposal Notre Dame pantry loses support

Plans face backlash at latest community meeting By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

It was more of the same for a controversial proposal for the redevelopment of the Mars Wrigley’s Galewood property. Almost five months after three community meetings in December on the proposed redevelopment of the plant site drew backlash, Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) and Galewood Neighbors community organization changed the format – and got a similar response at the latest meeting: some support but a lot of criticism. The next step remains unclear, as parties work to get a plan that is acceptable to the community and economically viable for the former plant at 2019 N. Oak Park Ave. Taliaferro for one said he still hoped for a positive outcome. “I’m glad that we were able to come together as a community to discuss this project,” he said. “As we continue to have community meetings, we’ll see some changes to the development [plan], and I’m still hopeful that, at some point, the developer will present a development that both the community and the developer can benefit from.” The earlier meetings had McCaffery Interests, the developer Mars chose to redevelop the site, present their plans to the community. The latest meeting, which was held on Apr. 21 at Trinity

Greater Chicago Food Depository says the religious order’s Austin program discriminates By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

IGOR STUDENKOV

Galewood residents respond with a show of hands during the April 21 community meeting. Galewood Church, 1701 N. Narragansett Ave., also included Mars and Chicago Department of Planning and Development officials. The city will need to sign off on zoning changes that would inevitably be required if the property is used for anything other than industry.

Move than 100 people attended the meeting which was standing room only. Some attendees who spoke were willing to entertain the concept, even if they had concerns about details. But others who See MARS WRIGLEY on page 5

BREAKING

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, which distributes food to over 800 partners in Cook County, notified Fraternite Notre Dame on April 20 that, in 60 days, it would no longer deliver food to its pantry or soup kitchen. The Greater Chicago Food Depository said it terminated Fraternite Notre Dame’s operational agreement after food depository employees on recent site visits reported issues with food safety and discrimination at the Catholic religious order’s facility. They said Fraternite Notre Dame, at 502 N. Central Ave. across the street from Austin Town Hall Park, has failed to provide an equitable, dignified experience for guests who get food there. Sister Marie, who’s a part of Fraternite Notre Dame, told Austin Weekly News that the religious order in Austin serves, on average, 300 See FOOD PANTRY on page 8