Greyhound is expected to close the West Loop bus depot in coming weeks, but it remains unclear where passengers will go.

Driving the news: Greyhound owner FlixBus' lease at 630 W. Harrison expires on Oct. 20, and the company says it is working on an "alternative location" but would 't specify where.

Why it matters: Chicago hails itself as a transportation hub, but losing the downtown bus station would make travel difficult or potentially impossible for hundreds of thousands of riders who are often lower-income.

• About 500,000 passengers went through the Chicago Greyhound station last year, via dozens of daily routes, including to coastal destinations.

Flashback: Germany-based FlixBus acquired Greyhound in 2021, and Twenty Lake Holdings Co., a subsidiary of Alden Global Capital — which is known for buying then decimating newspapers — purchased the West Loop station in 2022.

Between the lines: Twenty Lake Holdings has been buying stations across the country to make way for new development on prime real estate. Chicago's Greyhound station, between the Loop and Greektown, falls into this category.

Reality check: Advocates for Access Living, Better Street Chicago and Chicago Abortion Fund have stressed to Mayor Brandon Johnson and city officials that closing the intercity bus station would harm students, victims of domestic violence, the disabled community, people seeking reproductive and gender-affirming health care and LGBTQ+ people.

The latest: City and transportation sources tell Axios that Twenty Lake Holdings offered FlixBus a short-term extension while the company determined a new depot location, but FlixBus spokesperson Gilda Brewton said during a webinar last month the company couldn't agree to the terms.

• Twenty Lake Holdings did not respond to Axios' questions.

State of play: FlixBus has been exploring a plan to drop off passengers outside Union Station on Jackson Boulevard between Canal and Clinton streets, a move Union Station's owner, Amtrak, opposes.

• Amtrak president Roger Harris sent a letter to Johnson and city leaders detailing safety and ADA-accessibility concerns, including concerns that passengers would be left in an unsheltered area during cold months.
• The current West Loop depot has restrooms, a snack bar and, most importantly, indoor shelter to keep passengers safe during harsh weather.

What they're saying: Axios asked FlixBus where customers will be dropped off when the current station closes, but the company didn't specify.

What we're watching

This week, Chicago's City Council approved Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) to chair the powerful zoning committee.

The big picture: Burnett, who oversees one of the city's most development rich wards, is now in charge of vetting additions to the downtown skyline and approving permits for new big box stores in neighborhoods.

Yes, but: His record on development in his 27th ward is something of a mixed bag. Developers love him for his willingness to greenlight new projects along Fulton Market or the West Loop, but Burnett's relationship with residents and his record on affordable and mixed-use housing aren't perfect.

The other side: Burnett has been lauded for his insistence on fairness, recently telling developers that there would be no more work in his ward unless they hired more minority construction workers.

What he's said: Burnett says he reluctantly accepted this position to "keep confidence in the development community, so that we can keep the city moving forward."

• He previously said the rapid pace of development helps keep construction alive and sustain local businesses and that it attracts professionals to the 27th Ward.

The bottom line: Burnett's work on the Near West Side has brought lightning-fast development under his watch, but not everyone in the area views that as a positive.

Keep reading

🏀 The Sky will miss the playoffs after a listless performance during last night's 33-point loss to the Connecticut Sun. Several players sat out with injuries. The Sky will have a lottery pick in next year's WNBA draft for the first time since 2019. (Sun-Times)

👮🏼‍♀️ The Illinois Supreme Court ruled this week that the smell of burnt cannabis does not allow police to carry out a warrantless search. (Tribune)

🚧 Road work on Lake Shore Drive damaged some cars, leading CDOT to do more extensive pothole patching. (ABC)

Navy Pier visitors can check out 111 free performances by local artists this weekend during the fourth annual Chicago Live.

Why it matters: The festival represents the largest free arts festival in the Midwest, but many (including all of us here) have never checked it out.

How it works: Festivalgoers can roam the pier's five stages with performances by dance, music, comedy and theater artists from noon to 9pm Saturday and noon to 6pm Sunday.

Zoom in: Headliners include Jeff Tweedy, Joffrey Ballet, Second City, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Black Ensemble Theater and Blue Man Group, as well as pop culture icons like Ginger Minj from "RuPaul's Drag Race," Tony-nominated Felicia Fields and Oliv Blu from "The Voice."

How to navigate

Dog Day at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sept 24: Join the Chicago White Sox and Tito's Handmade Vodka for Dog Day, vs the Angels.

Latine Festival 2024 at 2134 W 18th St on Sept 21: Join us as we celebrate the vibrant culture of the Latino community at our festival located in Pilsen "The Heart of Chicago". Come explore a diverse array of vendors, from tantalizing food trucks to enticing pop-ups.

Hosting an event? Email [email protected].

👋 Hi, it's Monica.

On this last weekend of summer, you can keep the beach vacation spirit alive at Caffe Oliva.

The big picture: Over the past few months we've checked out several lakefront eateries for our Beach Bites series and discovered some real gems.

Dig in: Run by the same folks who operate The Dock at Montrose Beach, Oliva also offers a selection of seafood tacos, burgers and even surf and turf, but at a slightly pricier $15 to $27 range.

• We tried the juicy chicken souvlaki ($20) and the decent beachfront cheeseburger ($17) with an Angus patty and cheddar on a brioche bun.

Drink up: Find a wide selection of wine, beer and cocktails ($7-16), as well as nonalcoholic drinks.

Steps to the water: Just 49 from my table to shore where I took a glorious dip before my souvlaki.

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