CDOT Begins La Placita Plaza Project in Belmont Cragin

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Alderman Gilbert Villegas of the 36th Ward, and the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation have started construction on La Placita at Belmont Cragin. The project will transform an underused lot at Grand and Fullerton Avenues into a public plaza designed for neighborhood events and gatherings. It is the first of three plaza improvement initiatives CDOT is undertaking this year to expand public space across Chicago.

Alderman Villegas noted the importance of the site for residents. “Since 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic, we have worked to activate La Placita as a vibrant hub for our community. With City Light Church hosting our very first meeting, and with the continued partnership of Northwest Community Development Corporation and Funtastic Chicago, we’ve brought this space to life for small vendors and community events every summer and holiday season for the past four years—including our annual tree lighting celebration. Grand and Fullerton serve as the welcoming gateway to the 36th Ward, and I’m excited to see all the great things that will continue to come to the Grand Gateway.”

Jason Estremera, Executive Director of the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation, highlighted the broader vision. “We’re thrilled to be creating this new public plaza in partnership with Alderman Villegas’ office and CDOT. This space will serve as a home for culturally relevant programming, vibrant street vendors, and neighborhood markets—bringing people together at the intersection of culture and commerce.”

The site was chosen through collaboration between Alderman Villegas’s office and Northwest Side CDC, with funding from Community Development Block Grants. Planned features include a performance area with lighting, shaded seating, a walking path for art displays, landscaped areas with trees, bike racks, trash bins, and entry columns reflecting local branding and Latin American culture.

Completion of La Placita is expected in spring 2026.

CDOT Acting Commissioner Craig Turner emphasized the agency’s priorities. “This project reflects CDOT’s commitment to working hand in hand with communities to deliver meaningful projects. La Placita is the first of three new plazas we are building this year to invest in vibrant public spaces that strengthen neighborhood life across Chicago.”

Alongside La Placita, CDOT is also moving forward with two additional plaza projects this year: the refurbishment of 18th and Leavitt Plaza in Pilsen near Ann School, which will add seating and a butterfly garden, and the transformation of Jose De Diego Academy Plaza in Wicker Park. That project will turn a closed roadway into a flexible space between the school and Roberto Clemente Park, with landscaping and play mounds for students and families.