Chicago aldermanic control issue again stalls granny flats

Residential permits across Chicago remained low in 2024, and efforts to increase housing on existing lots have been put off. Some of Chicago’s aldermen want to maintain power over their wards, including thwarting a popular housing solution.

Chicago aldermen’s desire to keep control of their wards led the city council July 16 to defer an ordinance that would have made building granny flats legal across the city.

Opposing City Council members argued such an ordinance would reduce the control they have over development in their wards. Data indicates housing production is too low in most areas and adding housing units to existing single-family structures is a popular solution that has been successful in other cities.

A recent study reported the housing shortage in Illinois would require production rates to double during the next five years. The city of Chicago alone accounts for 20% of Illinois’ population, meaning much of the production burden would fall within city limits. In 2024, many of Chicago’s 50 wards issued fewer than 40 new construction permits, and many issued fewer than four permits per 10,000 people. Housing production needs to increase to keep up with housing demands.

Several wards saw virtually no new residential construction permits granted. These low numbers point to deeper problems in the way Chicago restricts building flexibility.

One issue repeatedly encountered by developers is aldermanic privilege, which gives aldermen the ability to veto developments in their ward. The success of a proposed building can depend entirely on who holds the City Council seat and how they view new development. A fear of new development has led some aldermen to oppose even the low-impact, low-visibility changes that would come from conversion units or granny flats.

“I don’t know what alderman in their right mind wants to give up that authority,” said Ald. Anthony Beale, who voted against the ordinance in the Committee on Zoning. He represents the 9th Ward, which saw a total of six new construction permits approved in 2024. That amounts to 1.3 permits per 10,000 residents.

Another vocal opponent of the legislation, Ald. Marty Quinn from the 13th Ward, said the ordinance would ruin the integrity of single-family blocks, and therefore the integrity of the city of Chicago. He makes this claim despite evidence these small, unobtrusive, or even invisible units when built in an attic or basement help young adults live in the city and allow aging parents to stay close to their families, enhancing single-family neighborhoods. They also give homeowners added income. Only two new construction permits were approved in his ward in 2024 – a rate of 0.4 per 10,000 residents, tying for last place.     

The ordinance included revisions meant to assuage these concerns, including limits of one permit per block per year in single-family zoning and owner-occupancy requirements city wide. These revisions, which would have significantly restricted creation of these new units of housing, was still not enough for the concerned aldermen. Rather than supporting new housing or the rights of property owners, these aldermen are preoccupied with control over their wards.

Chicago can make progress, but only if it reforms. That means trusting their constituents with more control of their own properties and pursuing an agenda that values housing abundance over political control. Legalizing additional dwelling units across the entire city is a necessary place to start.

Contact your alderman using the form below and tell them to vote “yes” on Ordinance SO2024-0008918 at the city council meeting in September.