Race for 45th Ward Alderman

The 45th ward includes Jefferson Park, Gladstone Park, Old Irving Park and parts of Portage Park and Forest Glen on the city’s Northwest Side. Progressive Ald. John Arena has taken some heat in recent years for his support of affordable housing in the area. A proposed development on Northwest Highway, which won City Council approval this fall, brought plenty of Arena critics out of the woodwork. Now, he has three opponents. Aside from a neighborhood divide over affordable housing, there are a lot of changes happening in the ward’s prime business district with the closure of Sears at Six Corners. There’s also been a push to bring more art and entertainment to the ward.