Two aldermen want to halt all development activity The 606, also known as the Bloomingdale Trail, in Chicago to slow gentrification near the popular linear park.
"Plans to put a 14-month freeze on residential development along The 606 have been delayed, and the proposed ordinance is headed for changes after Mayor Lori Lightfoot raised concerns about its legality," reports Ryan Ori.
"The proposed ordinance called for a 14-month moratorium on tearing down, constructing or redeveloping residential buildings into single-family homes, in an effort to slow gentrification along the trail," adds Ori.
Mayor Lightfoot forced the co-sponsors of the proposal, Ald. Roberto Maldonado, 26th, and Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, to back off an aggressive target for approving the moratorium. "They previously told the Tribune they sought for it to be voted into law by the full City Council at its Jan. 15 meeting."
In follow up coverage of the ongoing controversy surrounding the proposed moratorium, Heather Cherone reports that Maldonado and Ramirez-Rosa were working on a series of tweaks to narrow the scope of the ordinance.
The controversy is further complicated by a 2017 article, by Mina Bloom and Cherone, documents Maldonado's previous profits from land speculation near the 606.
More Cities Pressing Pause on Development as Gentrification, Displacement Concerns Persist
Chicago and Atlanta both approved development moratoriums in areas surrounding new urban amenities this year. Other cities could soon add to the number.
Louisiana City Halts Multi-Family Housing Construction Due to Infrastructure Concerns
The Hammond City Council has paused multi-family development approvals while it studies ways to improve the city's infrastructure.
Aspen Presses Pause on New Construction, Short-Term Rentals
Residents and elected officials of the famously wealthy mountain town of Aspen don't like the way the city is headed.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
Placer County
City of Morganton
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area Management Committee
City of Waukesha, WI
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Indiana Borough
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
