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Chicago DNC 2024: Parking restrictions begin for Chicago Democratic National Convention at United Center, McCormick Place


Chicago DNC 2024: Parking restrictions begin for Chicago Democratic National Convention at United Center, McCormick Place

CHICAGO (WLS) — The restrictions and road closures will take effect Monday morning ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which is now less than a week away.

For people who live near the United Center, it can be difficult to find parking and get home.

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Setup at the United Center is well underway on Sunday, and more fencing will be erected around the United Center and McCormick Place for the DNC on Monday. Of course, homes and businesses are also affected by the security perimeter, and some residents expressed how frustrating the whole process was for them.

Installation of the fences will begin at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, so parking will not be permitted on some streets surrounding both venues.

READ MORE | Chicago DNC 2024: What you need to know about the Democratic convention, including road closures

There will be some road closures and parking restrictions on Monday from Damen to Wood Street and on Wolcott Street between Washington and Warren.

People who live around the United Center on the West Side are already frustrated by the hassle of hosting the DNC in their backyard.

“I think it’s a little bit good, but you still have to think about us, because I’m at the back… I’m right here in the middle… what about me?” said a resident named T.

T didn’t want her face on camera, but said the Secret Service and city employees have already knocked on her doors for security reasons to check who lives there. She also said the city just finished some renovations to the building to make it look nicer for Congress.

RELATED | Secret Service and Chicago police comb the area around the United Center before the party convention

“It’s a band-aid… They’re fixing this part or doing that… they just redid the whole ground floor of our building… repainted it just for image,” T said. “And when the DNC is gone, it’s going to be, ‘Who cares?'”

Around the United Center, vehicle restrictions in the yellow zone and restrictions for pedestrians with ID in the red zone will go into effect on the Saturday evening before the convention.

Around McCormick Place, enforcement of similar restrictions begins one night earlier.

There are a few businesses near the United Center that are actually benefiting from the security perimeter. This includes a taco shop on Wood Street, just outside the perimeter. They are preparing for a boost in their business.

“We’re very excited because this has never happened here before,” said Ashley Franco, an employee at Su Taqueria El Rey Del Taco. “We’ll also have a lot more employees at that time and we’ll be setting up a taco stand here so people can get in and out very quickly.”

SEE ALSO | Chicago companies hope for economic recovery from Democratic Party Convention

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