News & Announcements
📅 OCTOBER 2026 (Active Interventions & Regulatory Rulings)
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Diversey Community Coalition Commends Administrative Law Judges’ Recommendation to the ICC
Diversey Community Coalition Commends Administrative Law Judges’ Recommendation to the ICC
We are grateful for today’s recommendation to the full Illinois Commerce Commission and for the thoughtful analysis from the judges in this case. They found that ComEd has not made its case for the Lakeview substation as proposed, which is the argument the DCC has made from the start—ComEd has not shown it needs a substation of this size.
We also thank the Attorney General’s office for pressing ComEd on the numbers and for acknowledging the community’s concerns about this project. The order recognizes that more than 500, which is now over 1,000, public comments overwhelmingly oppose the proposal.
This is only a recommendation to the full Commission, and the fight is not over. But it is clearly time for ComEd to come to the table and work with the Coalition, our elected officials and the community on a different path forward that puts the community first. We’ve done the hard work and research to identify alternate locations and we hope that ComEd will finally now get serious about selecting one of them.
This is the wrong site, not no site.
Read the Full ALJ Proposed Order PDF →
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DCC & Ald. Knudsen Issue Statement on ComEd’s Response: “Show Your Math”
DCC & Ald. Knudsen Issue Statement on ComEd’s Response: “Show Your Math”
Following the public release of ComEd’s response letter, the Diversey Community Coalition and Alderman Timmy Knudsen issued a statement demanding full transparency and an accounting of the data ComEd used to dismiss 14 community-suggested alternative sites.
The coalition emphasized that ComEd failed to provide financial or engineering studies for alternative sites, used an unapproved 5-transformer baseline to disqualify 1-acre manufacturing parcels while only requesting 3 transformers from the ICC, and continues to move ahead with pre-construction activities without city building permits or state siting approval.
Read the Full Joint Statement PDF →
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ComEd Submits Written Response to Alderman Knudsen’s 10 Inquiries
ComEd Submits Written Response to Alderman Knudsen’s 10 Inquiries
Commonwealth Edison formally replied to Alderman Knudsen’s September 17 letter regarding the proposed electrical substation at 1111 W. Diversey Parkway and the evaluation of alternative sites.
While ComEd claimed alternative locations would impose hundreds of millions in additional costs, it conceded in Question 8 that it “did not evaluate all fourteen sites for cost impact.” The letter also revealed that local substation load growth is forecasted at less than 0.7% annually through 2031.
Read ComEd’s Response Letter PDF →
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Sen. Feigenholtz & Rep. Williams Urge ICC to Fix Comment Bug & Extend Deadline
Sen. Feigenholtz & Rep. Williams Urge ICC to Fix Comment Bug & Extend Deadline
Following reports that public comments submitted over recent weeks were blocked or dropped by a technical intake glitch on the Illinois Commerce Commission website, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz and State Representative Ann Williams sent a joint formal letter to the ICC.
The lawmakers requested an immediate technical audit to recover lost comments and urged the Commission to grant an emergency two-week extension for public comments on Docket 26-0047 to ensure all community voices are fully preserved on the evidentiary record.
View Official Letter to the ICC →📅 SEPTEMBER 2026 +
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Dismissed, Then Contradicted: Sen. Feigenholtz Calls on Governor and AG to Step In
Dismissed, Then Contradicted: Sen. Feigenholtz Calls on Governor and AG to Step In
State Senator Sara Feigenholtz and the Diversey Community Coalition announced that they are submitting a documented pattern of contradictory and inconsistent statements by Commonwealth Edison to the Office of the Governor and the Illinois Attorney General.
The dossier highlights shifting claims regarding peak load, timelines, transformer counts, the unverified dismissal of 14 viable alternative sites, and ComEd’s own 39-square-mile service boundary. As Senator Feigenholtz noted: “When a company’s story keeps changing depending on who’s asking and what they’re trying to justify, the public and the officials responsible for oversight deserve a closer look.”
Read the Official Press Release PDF →
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Community Update Meeting & Massive Neighborhood Rally
Community Update Meeting & Massive Neighborhood Rally
1. Community Update Meeting: Neighbors gathered on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at New Life Church (1110 W. Lill Ave.) to review our ICC legal filings, technical rebuttals, and alternative site studies.
2. Family-Friendly Neighborhood Rally: On Saturday, Sept. 26, hundreds of neighbors stood together at 1111 W. Diversey Pkwy alongside Congressman Mike Quigley, Senator Sara Feigenholtz, Alderman Timmy Knudsen, and Alderman Bennett Lawson to demand housing, kid safety, and honest utility due diligence.
View Event Details & Highlights →
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Alderman Knudsen Rebukes ComEd Rejection of 14 Alternative Sites
Alderman Knudsen Rebukes ComEd Rejection of 14 Alternative Sites
In a formal letter sent in collaboration with Aldermen Lawson and Waguespack, WNA, CLVN, and DCC, Alderman Timmy Knudsen expressed deep frustration over ComEd’s blanket denial of the community’s 14 proposed manufacturing-zoned sites without comprehensive data or engineering analysis.
The letter presents 10 pointed questions demanding answers by October 8th—addressing size double standards, contradictory transformer layouts, undisclosed line costs, and pre-approval capital spending.
Read Alderman Knudsen’s Full Letter →
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Central Lake View Neighbors (CLVN) Officially Endorses Coalition
Central Lake View Neighbors (CLVN) Officially Endorses Coalition
The Central Lake View Neighbors (CLVN) Board voted unanimously to support the Diversey Community Coalition and oppose ComEd’s proposed electrical substation at 1111 W. Diversey Parkway, joining the Wrightwood Neighbors Association (WNA) in demanding equitable transit development and proper zoning oversight.
📅 AUGUST 2026 +
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Wrightwood Neighbors Association Officially Opposes Substation
Wrightwood Neighbors Association Officially Opposes Substation
The Wrightwood Neighbors Association (WNA) has officially voted to oppose the proposed ComEd electrical substation at 1111 W. Diversey Parkway. Thank you to WNA for taking this stand and for their continued support of our community’s efforts to protect transit-oriented land.
Read the Official WNA Announcement →📅 JULY 2026 +
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Crain’s Chicago Business Op-Ed: Protecting Equitable TOD Land
Crain’s Chicago Business Op-Ed: Protecting Equitable TOD Land
Our published commentary in Crain’s Chicago Business, co-authored with Abundant Housing, spotlights the systemic loss of equitable Transit-Oriented Development land to major corporate and utility projects and outlines how vital pedestrian corridors are being eroded.
Read Crain’s Op-Ed (Free Sign-Up Required) →
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Alderman Lawson Joins Effort on Large Utility Projects Code Update
Alderman Lawson Joins Effort on Large Utility Projects Code Update
Alderman Bennett Lawson has joined the push to update Chicago’s zoning code for large utility projects, building on the initial framework introduced by Alderman Timmy Knudsen. The legislative update is currently before the City Council Zoning Committee.
Read the 44th Ward Newsletter Update →📅 JUNE 2026 +
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CUB Testimony Uncovers $1 Billion in Questionable ComEd Spending
CUB Testimony Uncovers $1 Billion in Questionable ComEd Spending
Citizens Utility Board (CUB) testimony uncovers over $1 billion in questionable utility spending within ComEd’s multi-year grid plan, highlighting excessive capital overspend.
Read the CUB Report →
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June 22nd Public Forum: Standing Room Only!
June 22nd Public Forum: Standing Room Only!
WE PACKED THE ROOM! A massive thank you to the hundreds of neighbors, local business owners, and city advocates who turned up to hold ComEd accountable. Olson Auditorium was completely full. With ABC and NBC News filming, our neighborhood made it clear that we reject an out-of-scale industrial dead zone on a pedestrian corridor meant for housing!
Special thanks to the local and state officials who joined us to support our call for equitable Transit-Oriented Development (eTOD).
📥 View Handout & Join the Working Committee →
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June 8th Community Meeting Recap & Slides
June 8th Community Meeting Recap & Slides
A massive thank you to the hundreds of neighbors, parents, and local business owners who packed Olson Auditorium for our defense briefing! The official presentation deck detailing our land-use and load data is available for download.
📥 Download June 8th Presentation PDF →📅 MAY 2026 +
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Coordinated State & Local Legislation Announced
Coordinated State & Local Legislation Announced
State Senator Sara Feigenholtz and Alderman Timmy Knudsen announced landmark legislative initiatives to restore critical community review and close loopholes for large utility projects exceeding 0.5 acres.
Read the Press Release →
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DCC Featured on CBS News Chicago Broadcast
DCC Featured on CBS News Chicago Broadcast
CBS News broadcasted a dedicated segment covering the growing community opposition against ComEd’s proposed electrical substation at 1111 W. Diversey Parkway and highlighting concerns over transit-oriented development.
Watch the CBS News Segment →
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CDOT Permit Hold Requested for Public Way
CDOT Permit Hold Requested for Public Way
Alderman Knudsen formally requested that the Department of Transportation (CDOT) place an immediate hold on all permits for streets and alleys surrounding the site to halt pre-emptive utility work.
Read the CDOT Letter →
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DCC Campaign Featured in Block Club Chicago
DCC Campaign Featured in Block Club Chicago
Block Club Chicago published an in-depth profile tracking the rapid emergence of the Diversey Community Coalition as neighbors organize to contest ComEd’s industrial footprint in Lincoln Park.
Read the Full Feature Article →📅 APRIL 2026 +
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Zoning Administrator Issues Official Response
Zoning Administrator Issues Official Response
The City Zoning Administrator provided an Official Response to the community’s request for a Formal Letter of Interpretation regarding the 1111 W. Diversey site and the “Major Utility” definition.
View the Zoning Response →
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Administrative Hold Requested
Administrative Hold Requested
Alderman Knudsen officially requested that the Department of Buildings place an immediate Administrative Hold on all permits for the site.
Read the Official DOB Letter →
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State & Local Officials Unite on Major Utility Classification
State & Local Officials Unite on Major Utility Classification
Aldermen Knudsen (43rd), Waguespack (32nd), and Lawson (44th) formally petitioned the City Zoning Administrator for a “Major Utility” classification.
Read the Official Newsletter →📅 MARCH 2026 +
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WNA & CLVN Community Meeting
WNA & CLVN Community Meeting
The Wrightwood Neighbors Association and Central Lake View Neighbors hosted an initial community dialogue to discuss ComEd’s 1111 W. Diversey Pkwy substation plans at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital.