Mayor Brandon Johnson joins West Side leaders to mark the ribbon cutting of the Soul City Corridor in Austin (Photo Courtesy of the City of Chicago Office of the Mayor).
A major step forward in revitalizing Chicago’s West Side took place this week as city leaders, residents, and business owners gathered for a ribbon cutting along the “Soul City” corridor in Austin.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, joined by 29th Ward Alderman Chris Taliaferro, 37th Ward Alderwoman Emma Mitts, and community partners, celebrated the newly redesigned stretch of Chicago Avenue between Austin Boulevard and Central Avenue—part of a larger vision to invest in and uplift the historic corridor.
“This project shows what’s possible when we invest in our neighborhoods and work hand-in-hand with the people who live and work here,” said Mayor Johnson. “The Soul City Corridor is becoming a reflection of the Austin community’s pride and potential. These infrastructure improvements create opportunity, support small businesses, and build a stronger West Side for future generations.”
New Look, New Energy
The upgrades aim to make the corridor safer, more vibrant, and more walkable. The city widened sidewalks, added new street trees and landscaping, installed upgraded lighting, and included several features to improve safety and mobility.
CDOT Commissioner Tom Carney said the project was driven by feedback from the community and designed to meet both practical and aesthetic needs.
“This project brings long-overdue investment to Chicago Avenue, delivering traffic safety improvements, upgrading aging infrastructure, and creating a vibrant, welcoming corridor that reflects the strength of the Austin community,” Carney said.
The improvements are part of what officials call “Soul City West”—the first of three planned segments that will eventually stretch east to Cicero Avenue.
Key Enhancements:
- Roadway and intersection safety improvements
- Wider sidewalks with natural parkway pavers in bold accent colors
- New street trees, landscaping, and site furnishings
- Curb extensions and raised crosswalks to reduce vehicle speeds and improve pedestrian safety
- Bus boarding islands for better transit access
- Upgraded street lighting
- Full-width roadway resurfacing, drainage upgrades, and new curbs and gutters
- Raised bike lanes
- New pavement markings and high-visibility crosswalks
Designed With—and For—the Community
Local input helped shape every part of the project, from the amenities to traffic calming measures. One of the standout features includes a series of circular benches known as Peace Circles. Created with help from youth designers at Austin-based nonprofit Territory, these public gathering spots reflect local identity through original artwork and community storytelling.
“This streetscape is a great addition to the 29th Ward and supports the local businesses and organizations that make Chicago Avenue such a vital corridor for our community,” said Alderman Taliaferro.
“I’m proud to stand with our partners and neighbors to celebrate this milestone and look forward to seeing the Soul City corridor continue to grow and thrive,” said Alderwoman Mitts.
Malcolm Crawford, Executive Director of the Austin African American Business Networking Association, emphasized what the project means beyond physical upgrades: “We see this as not just a streetscape improvement project. This project means hope, it means investing in our businesses, our community and our future.”
What’s Next
CDOT will next launch Soul City Central—extending the improvements from Central to Laramie Avenue—followed by Soul City East, which will reach from Laramie to Cicero Avenue.
As each phase builds upon the last, city officials hope the Soul City corridor becomes not just a gateway to Austin, but a symbol of what’s possible when a neighborhood’s future is shaped by the people who call it home.
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