Chicago allows coach houses after 64-year ban, but with restrictions

By Noah Shaar

06/21/2021

Chicago issued permits for about 160 coach houses and granny flats after banning the alternative housing for decades. But restrictions may damage the experiment, especially in areas that most need affordable housing.

TAGS: affordable housing, Chicago, zoning

Chicago may soon allow in-law flats, coach houses for first time since 1957

By Robert Brutvan

05/26/2020

Chicago introduces an ordinance to remove restrictions on accessory dwelling units, paving the way to encourage entrepreneurship and further combat the city’s affordable housing crisis

TAGS: Chicago City Council, regulations, zoning

Suburban mayor opposes adding 1,500 jobs as Illinois struggles with employment

02/24/2020

Amazon bought the old commercial property, but Bolingbrook’s mayor opposes putting 1,500 jobs on it. Illinois’ job growth was below the national average in 2019.

TAGS: Amazon, Bolingbrook, economic growth, employment, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor force participation rate, Roger Claar, unemployment, zoning

Legal marijuana sales may be restricted from most of downtown Chicago

By Vincent Caruso

09/18/2019

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has proposed zoning changes that would keep marijuana dispensaries out of most of the downtown business district after recreational use becomes legal on Jan. 1 in Illinois.

TAGS: Brendan Reilly, Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, marijuana, zoning

Expanding aldermanic power spells disaster for Chicago businesses

By Chris Lentino

05/04/2017

Since Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office in 2011, aldermen have been on the defensive regarding their power. The latest attempt to retain some of that power is taking place along a stretch of 71st Street in the 5th Ward.

TAGS: Chicago, Leslie Hairston, zoning

New ordinance will reduce building downtown, raise rents in Chicago

By Mark Adams

06/06/2016

If Chicago wants to alleviate poverty and economic inequality, the city needs to reform its zoning laws to allow more building – not institute a new tax on development.

TAGS: Chicago, zoning

How zoning rules are helping Houston overtake Chicago as America’s 3rd-largest city

By Mark Adams

06/03/2016

As Chicago’s population shrinks, Houston is set to overtake the Windy City as the third-largest city in America. Illinois’ slumping economy is a major reason for that, but the cities’ different zoning rules show how regulations can promote growth – or stifle it.

TAGS: Chicago, housing, regulations, zoning

How Chicago’s affordable-housing mandates make housing less affordable

By Mark Adams

05/17/2016

Affordable-housing mandates are sold to voters as a way to balance development with the need to build housing for the least well-off. In reality, these mandates add to the barriers that prevent developers from making housing more affordable and give rise to corruption in Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, zoning

Zoning restrictions are making housing unaffordable and shrinking the middle class in Chicago

By Mark Adams

05/16/2016

Bad zoning laws drive up the cost of home ownership and put a middle-class lifestyle out of reach for too many Chicagoans.

TAGS: middle class, regulations, zoning

Chicago remains a segregated city by race and income – and government deserves much of the blame

By Mark Adams

03/04/2016

City zoning policies serve to keep many neighborhoods segregated. These rules also keep lower-income residents of all races out of popular areas, allowing city officials to shape who can live where and making housing more expensive.

TAGS: zoning

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Cathy Stuehmeier

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students