“The Chi” set Gabriel Ojeda
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, TVM Productions, Inc. filmed part of season 7, “The Chi.” The filming location was West side of Kedzie Ave. from 104th St. to 106th St., East side of Kedzie Ave. from 104t53 S. Kedzie to 105th St. and both sides of 105th St. from Troy Ave. to Spaulding Ave., right next to Saint Xavier University’s (SXU) Visual Arts Center (VAC).
Due to “ University parking not being allowed on the streets by the Visual Arts Center, (VAC),” according to SXU, students had to walk a farther distance if they drove. SXU provides a dedicated shuttle bus for students routing from the Warde Academic Center (WAC) to the VAC, however, some students choose to drive.
“Students have to go through different routes since the filming location was taking up the area the students usually take. Plus when the students do find a parking spot, they have to go around the filming set,” explained Gabriel Ojeda, student.
In order to park essential vehicles and equipment for filming, streets in this area were posted as “No Parking/Tow Zone.” This extended from Monday–Tuesday, Thursday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Permits and traffic control were coordinated by the Chicago Film Office and the Chicago Police Department. “We will NOT block driveways, loading zones, fire hydrants, bus stops or disabled parking zones. If you have any additional questions regarding this filming, you may also contact the Chicago Film Office at 312-744-6415,” stated the TVM Productions, Inc Filming Notice.
Ojeda shared, “I do think they handled the traffic very well, especially with the little crosswalk figures.”
There was intermittent traffic control for added safety on Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 7–9 a.m. and 6–8 p.m on Kedzie Ave. from 104th St. to 106th St.
If any questions, concerns or special needs requirements arose residents/students were able to contact their Location Manager, Brian Fairley or On-Site Coordinator, Keila Allen.
