After Lincoln Park Shooting, Ald. Knudsen Eyes New Restrictions On Late-Night Bars

LINCOLN PARK — Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd) is considering new restrictions on late-night bars near the intersection of Lincoln and Belden avenues following a shooting this month that critically injured a woman.

Knudsen said his office is exploring ways to pressure city departments to impose stricter regulations on businesses along the corridor, where residents and business owners have long complained about noise, littering, illegal parking and violent altercations.

“Residents and businesses alike deserve to feel safe where they live and work,” Knudsen told Block Club Chicago. “When any actor in the ward makes this less likely, I firmly believe stricter rules and regulations need to be applied to support public safety.”

The renewed concern about late-night crowds comes after a 39-year-old woman was shot multiple times about 4 a.m. June 7 in the 600 block of West Belden Avenue, just west of the six-way intersection at Lincoln Avenue and Orchard Street. The woman drove herself to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition, police said.

In an interview with CBS Chicago following the shooting, Knudsen said the people involved in the altercation had come from The Dime, 2262 N. Lincoln Ave.

The Dime is among several bars and nightlife establishments near the Lincoln and Belden intersection and advertises DJs, themed parties and bottle service. The bar is open until 2 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays and until 3 a.m. Saturdays, according to its website.

Block Club reached out to The Dime for comment by phone and email but had not received a response as of Wednesday afternoon.

Area Three detectives continue to investigate the shooting, according to Chicago police. Department officials said there were no updates in the case as of Tuesday. In a public safety update sent to constituents June 12, Knudsen described the shooting as an isolated incident.

The shooting has stirred up a yearslong debate over nightlife activity along Lincoln Avenue, where residents and business owners have complained about noise, littering, illegal parking and public safety issues tied to overnight crowds.

Since taking office in 2023, Knudsen said his office has received repeated complaints about businesses along the stretch, including reports of public defecation, trash dumping, littering, loud music, illegal parking, property damage, loitering, excessive noise and violent altercations.

Ideas for more restrictions for the area include limiting late-night licenses and putting stricter parking enforcement on Belden Avenue, which sees a lot of late-night activity during the weekend, Knudsen said.

The alderman’s office said it has regularly coordinated with police, the Department of Finance and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection in response to those complaints.

Those efforts have included parking enforcement requests, business violation investigations, temporary closures, increased oversight and plans of operation for businesses, according to the office.

Despite those efforts, complaints have continued.

In a statement to Block Club, a spokesperson for the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said the agency is “committed to the highest level of public safety” and works closely with Chicago police to ensure businesses operate safely and legally throughout the city.

“For illegal activity, BACP works with CPD,” the statement said. “To address public nuisance complaints, BACP utilizes the community meetings process.”

While licensing and enforcement authority ultimately rests with city departments, Knudsen said he is evaluating additional options used elsewhere in Chicago and intends to continue pushing for stronger oversight of businesses connected to recurring public safety concerns.

“With the safety of 43rd Ward residents as our first priority, we are actively urging city departments to work with us on additional tools that will help ensure nothing like this happens again,” Knudsen wrote in his newsletter.