The restroom, provided and operated by JCDecaux, is designed for one user at a time. Visitors press a button to open the sliding door, and after each use an integrated system washes and disinfects the toilet and floor. The facility operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as part of the city's Coordinated Street Furniture Program, managed by the Chicago Department of Transportation with the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Installation cost more than $400,000, including plumbing, covered by the discretionary "menu money" allocated to each alderperson for ward infrastructure projects, according to Ald. Daniel La Spata's office. JCDecaux is providing and maintaining the facility at no cost to the city.

Christian Malatesta, 35, a First Ward resident, emailed La Spata to request the first spot in line after learning about the project. He had used a similar facility in Paris.

"I don't think you should have to buy a $5 cup of coffee to use the restroom," Malatesta said after his visit. "Everything was labeled very clearly, and everything was where I expected it to be. You just press the button, the door opens for you, it flushes for you."

La Spata, who spoke at the opening while holding his daughter, said the city will evaluate the pilot based on safety and usage, with monthly statistics expected from JCDecaux. He suggested assessing it after about a year.

"I really believe in a future in Chicago, where we really live into our identity as a global city," La Spata said. "Global cities provide this amenity to all of their residents."

The location at Milwaukee and Ashland avenues and Division Street serves a busy commercial area near Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village, not just commuters.

Joshua Chodor, 30, a First Ward resident, said public restrooms are particularly important in busy commercial districts.

"I think it is honestly just an element of human dignity," Chodor said. "If you want to have people out and about, we can't just lock bathrooms behind, you know, pay customers only."

Jessie Steckling, 26, a Logan Square resident, said the lack of public restrooms affects people who exercise outdoors.

"A lot of my friends bike a lot, run a lot. Needing a bathroom ends up being an issue," Steckling said. She added the project shows how residents can influence neighborhood investments by contacting elected officials. "I think this is an awesome example of the public emailing their aldermen, asking for what they want and it working."

JCDecaux has expressed interest in hiring an attendant to supervise the facility, La Spata said. Other alderpersons and the Chicago Park District have also expressed interest in the technology, though any additional installations depend on the success of this location.