Illinois Quick Hits: Downtown Chicago office vacancies hit another record high

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Downtown Chicago’s office vacancy rate has risen to a record high for the 15th consecutive quarter.

Crain’s Chicago Business reports that vacancies climbed to 28.6% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 28.2% at the end of 2025.

TEACHERS UNION OBTAINS RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST CHICAGO FLIPS RED

A court hearing is scheduled for April 22 after the Chicago Teachers Union obtained a workplace protection restraining order against Chicago Flips Red founder Zoe Leigh.

The order alleges that Leigh made repeated threats of violence while protesting outside CTU headquarters “almost every week” from January 5 through March 23.

Chicago Flips Red Vice President Danielle Carter-Walters said in a social media post that CTU doesn’t want CFR talking about child sexual misconduct cases in Chicago Public Schools that taxpayers are paying for.

STUDY: IL ALCOHOL USE DROPS

A new report says 54.5% of Illinois adults drink alcohol, down from 60.7% in 2018.

Using data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Trace One cited shifting cultural norms and the expanding market for alcohol alternatives.

Nationally, 51.1% of adults reported alcohol use.