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No plans to house migrants at Hotel Chicago, mayor's office says after alder's criticism

A contractor from the migrant shelter in the former Inn of Chicago cleans the sidewalk outside the shelter on Oct. 18, 2023.
A contractor from the migrant shelter in the former Inn of Chicago cleans the sidewalk outside the shelter on Oct. 18, 2023. Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), who on Monday criticized the City for what he described as plans to house migrants at Hotel Chicago, described the efforts at the Inn of Chicago as a "failed model."
Chicago Tribune via Getty Images

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) said he is concerned about indications that the City might use a River North hotel to shelter migrants — even though City officials have said they have no plans to do so.

Reilly said he got word that the Hotel Chicago might be used for new arrivals.


"My office was tipped off by the administration that they're strongly considering this as a site for a future migrant hotel," he said.

Reilly said it's in the middle of a very active area.

"The Hotel Chicago is located just across the driveway of the House of Blues and just feet away from the two corn cob towers, also known as Marina City," he said. "This is an area that's already under a gang and drug hotspot monitoring from our police department."

The alderman pointed to an effort to house migrants at Streeterville's Inn of Chicago, which he described as a "failed model," as evidence that the City should not move forward with a similar plan at Hotel Chicago.

In an email, Reilly instructed constituents who were opposed to housing migrants at Hotel Chicago to email the Johnson Administration. A spokesman for the mayor's office, though, suggested it's not their idea at all.

There are no plans to convert Hotel Chicago into a shelter, they said.

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