🌱 SPNA To Buy Out River North Condos + Franklin Park Train Derailment

Morning, everybody! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter — here to explain all the most important things happening in town.

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Now, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 50 Low: 35.

Shoutout to our other premier local sponsors:

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Here are the top 3 stories today in and around Oak Park-River Forest:

1. Strategic Properties of North America (SPNA) is set to buy out the owners of all 467 condo units in the 51-story Ontario Place building in River North for $190 million, which will be the highest price ever paid for a residential condo building in Chicago. The deal is picking back up after SPNA's financing for the purchase fell through in August. However, some condo owners in the building aren't in favor of the deal and have filed a lawsuit against the developer, claiming the condo association's board improperly handled SPNA's offers and illegally extended a voting period to get approval. (Subscription: Crain's Chicago Business, Free: TheRealDeal)
2. Vendors at the Little Village Discount Mall have been packing up their merchandise after being denied an emergency motion to prevent eviction by the mall’s owner, Novak Development. The firm was unable to come to an agreement with contractors PK Mall, resulting in half of the mall being forced to close. The mall, a cultural hub for the city’s Mexican American community, has been operating since 1991 and generates around $900m in sales annually. The city is working with vendors to find alternative spaces, including former CVS stores on West 26th Street and South Pulaski Road and West 51st Street and South Kedzie Avenue in Gage Park. (Block Club Chicago)
3. Two cars of a Canadian Pacific train carrying wheat derailed in Franklin Park on Mar. 26. No one was hurt and there were no hazardous materials or public safety issues involved, according to Canadian Pacific. The incident occurred less than two weeks after regulators approved Canadian Pacific to acquire Kansas City Southern, the first major railroad merger in two decades, and one that several suburban communities have been opposed to. (FOX 32 Chicago)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Lego Club At Oak Park Public Library (10:00 AM)
• Tuesday Lunchtime Guided Meditation At Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago - Oak Park (12:15 PM)
• Middle School Makers, Grades 5 to 8 At River Forest Public Library (3:30 PM)
• VIRTUAL: Adult Improv At Oak Park Public Library (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Get your creative juices flowing this spring by crafting a cozy abode for our feathered friends! Enter Trailside Museum of Natural History's annual Birdhouse Building Contest and let your imagination take flight. (Forest Preserve District of Cook County via Facebook)
• Attention kids and book lovers! River Forest Public Library's air handler project is making some noise, but don't worry — they've set up a cool pop-up shop in the meeting room with all your fave books, toys, and stuffed friends. (RIVER FOREST PUBLIC LIBRARY 📚 via Instagram)
• Want to be a part of something big? Oak Park District is hiring for over 60 positions at their brand new 42,000 sq. ft. Community Recreation Center opening this May. Join them in roles like facility maintenance, childcare, teen services, and more! (Park District of Oak Park via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest Presents Berlioz Te Deum and World Premiere Symphony (April 3)
• Berlioz Te Deum and a World Premiere Symphony (April 3)
• Wedding Band Event at Bella Cosa Jewelers (April 15)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.