Howard Street Closed Through Noon For Groundbreaking Ceremony

EVANSTON, IL — Part of Howard Street was closed to traffic in both directions Wednesday for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Illinois headquarters for Lubavitch Chabad.

Evanston police and city staff said the closure runs from 9 a.m. to noon from Dodge Avenue to Grey Avenue.

Drivers were encouraged to avoid the area and use alternate routes. The groundbreaking event is due to start at 10 a.m. and to continue until about noon. Parking is prohibited all morning along Howard Street from Dodge to Grey avenues.

Following the groundbreaking of the Michael S. Maling Chabad of Illinois Headquarters at 2833 W. Howard St., Chicago, the organization is sending out 22 "Mitzvah Mobiles" to spread throughout the city distributing information and supplies for Passover, including special matzah handmade in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro that was shipped out just before the war.

According to Chabad representatives, the new headquarters is set to be built in a Gothic revival style in the model of the Lubavitch world headquarters building in New York.

“The Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasized the importance of doing random acts of kindness to bring more good into the world, and the mitzvah tanks will go a long way in spreading this message,” parade organizer Levi Moscowitz said in a statement. “We’re excited to do our part to make a difference and to encourage others to do so as well."

The parade of Passover Mitvah Mobiles is set to arrive in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago around 11:45 a.m.